Parenting Center

Parenting Center

The Parenting Center provides families with the support, guidance, and enrichment needed to raise young children in the city.  LGBTQ and straight, couples and single parents, Jewish and non-Jewish, biological and adoptive, people of all colors and abilities — all families are warmly welcomed.

Classes and programs are designed to meet the developmental and social needs of infants and toddlers (newborns through age 4), to create meaningful bonding experiences for caregivers, to provide Jewish family engagement opportunities, and to provide practical skills and solutions, advice, and community-building opportunities for parents and parents-to-be.

We offer a wide variety of Sunday and weekday classes for children ages 0-4 and their caregivers, Jewish family engagement programs, and workshops for parents, parents-to-be, and folks who want to be parents.

Upcoming Workshops

Jun
14
Wed
VIRTUAL WORKSHOP: Feeding a Picky Eater
Jun 14 @ 8:00 pm – 9:30 pm

Feeding your family is not an easy task, especially if you have a picky eater in the mix. In this workshop, registered pediatric dietitian Brittany Shapiro, of Capital Pediatric Nutrition will provide guidance on achieving stress-free family meals! You will leave the workshop with concrete ideas and strategies on how to meet your child’s nutrition needs. Bring your questions and specific scenarios!

Intended for parents of 1-6 year olds, but all are welcome.

REGISTER FOR THIS WORKSHOP

Jun
22
Thu
Parent Coffee: Intro to Infant Massage (IN PERSON)
Jun 22 @ 10:00 am – 11:00 am

INTRO TO INFANT MASSAGE
Thursday, June 22, 10:00 AM

Join us for coffee, the company of other new parents, and a relaxed conversation about (and demonstration of!) infant massage techniques. Khyati Desai-Seltzer of Vyana Infant Massage LLC will discuss how infant massage can improve sleep and immunity, bring relief from gas and constipation, and help you bond with your baby. She will also demonstrate some massage strokes that you can use with your baby at home. Babies and expecting parents are warmly welcomed!

 

REGISTER FOR THIS PROGRAM

Jun
25
Sun
Summer Splash Party!
Jun 25 @ 10:00 am – 11:30 am

Help us ring-in Summer 2023 by joining us and other neighborhood families at the Palisades Recreation Center & Playground! We will meet at the splash pad–don’t forget to bring your water play gear! Snacks will be provided, but we recommend bringing your own water and picnic blanket. Please register so we know how many to expect.

 


This program is brought to you by JFamily in partnership with the Washington Hebrew Congregation Edlavitch-Tyser Early Childhood Center.

NESTED Childbirth Education Boot Camp (IN PERSON)
Jun 25 @ 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm

Nested’s In-Person Childbirth Education (CBE) Boot Camp is a comprehensive class that will prepare you for your journey through labor, delivery, and the postpartum period!

In this class we will:

  • Review common third trimester issues and what to expect at your 36-week visit
  • Learn about the signs of labor, when to call your obstetrician, and what should be on your hospital bag packing list
  • Discuss each stage of labor and what can help alleviate and relax the mom, including options for pain management and potential interventions during the labor process
  • See what the hospital process will look like and what to expect from your healthcare team
  • Discuss the “typical” childbirth scenario  as well as how to prepare for the unexpected, including inductions, assisted vaginal births and c-sections.
  • Learn from experienced labor doulas as they demonstrate specialized comfort techniques to help with labor pain
  • Learn and practice tips, tricks and techniques for Prenatal Wellness: Pelvic Floor Health, Ergonomics & Exercises from a physical therapist

At Nested we know the importance of optimizing the physical and mental health of both parents during pregnancy and the postpartum period. With coping strategies, empowerment, education on diet & exercise and community resources, parents will leave feeling prepared for the doctor’s office, the delivery room and the trip back home.

We recommend taking this class on the earlier side of your pregnancy (24-39 weeks).

REGISTER HERE
Note: 1 registration ticket allows for up to 2 people (1 ticket = 2 people) to attend the class and access the course resources.

 

 

PJ Play Date: Nate the Great
Jun 25 @ 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm

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It’s a Play Date at Imagination Stage with your friends from the Bender JCC, Edlavitch DCJCC, Pozez JCC, and PJ Library! Join us for this lively show based on a beloved children’s book and meet other PJ families. We’ll have a special gift for you before the show, too! Purchase your tickets directly from iStage using our promo code (Book25) to get 25% off of your tickets. (Note: this promo code is good for all Nate the Great performances if you can’t join us for the June 25th one.)

The showtime is 1:00 PM.

Cost: purchase tickets directly from Imagination Stage. Use code Book25 for 25% off

Register: Visit Website

The Parenting Center at the Edlavitch DCJCC has been my hub for everything kid-related from early pregnancy to post-delivery and now into the toddler years. In a transient city like DC, the EDCJCC plays a crucial role in fostering a sense of community among new parents. The people I met in my Beyond the Bump group and in classes such as Musical Infants, are some of my closest friends today. I love that our kids have been playing together from the very beginning and some of them are now entering preschool together. The resources the Parenting Center offers are phenomenal -- offering a supportive environment and much needed advice, holding helpful workshops for navigating parenting challenges, and providing engaging activities for infants and toddlers. I feel incredibly fortunate to have benefited from all that the EDCJCC has to offer!
Shannon, mom to a 4 year old