Free workshops offer support to parents

Learning how to communicate with your children, dealing with TV and computer concerns, and gaining the skills to guide today's children are some of the topics in a new workshop series, "Parenting in the 21st Century," being offered by the Family Support Center at Spencerport Central School. The programs, free and open to the public, will be held in Room 17 in the district Administration Building, 71 Lyell Avenue, in February and March.

All the programs will be offered from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursdays and will be facilitated by John Berardicurti, a teacher at Cosgrove Middle School, and Robin Schiffrin, a family counselor at the center.

"The topics represent themes and issues that parents are bringing to our center, asking teachers about and discussing with each other," said Mark Fish, director of the center. "These workshops will give parents an opportunity to explore these topics with other parents."
Programs and dates are:

"Why is it harder to be a parent today?," February 17. This session will look at societal trends and give parents a chance to explore what issues are important to them and to learn about their own parenting style and which styles are most effective in our society today.

"Communicating with our kids," March 3. This program will help parents learn how to influence children in making good decisions.

"But all my friends are allowed to do it!," March 17, will look at setting reasonable limits and helping parents band together to create similar limits.

"The impact of screens on our children's lives" on March 31 will address the effects of TV, video, computer games and Internet on children and how and when parents need to "pull the plug."

Parents can attend just one or all of the sessions. For information, call the center at 349-5155.