Many parents today are terrified of the toilet training process, having heard horror stories from friends about the power struggles and stress they encountered. This workshop will address ways to approach potty learning in a way that is developmentally appropriate, respectful to the child’s growing need to feel in control of his or her body and which frees parents from unnecessary stress and anxiety. The workshop will also address ways to manage typical challenges that arise during the process.

Raising children to build a just world is a life-long process, as well as a difficult challenge for parents to navigate. Join us for a two-part series with expert educator Dr. Nabina Liebow, who will take us through the learning and practical steps necessary to raise anti-racist children and help us create a cohort of race conscious parents in our community.

This workshop is designed for anyone who wants to understand how white supremacy and white privilege affect all parts of our lives and how to bring these ideas into conversation and action in parenting. It is meant as a beginning, and not to be comprehensive or all-encompassing.

Although we understand that life is unpredictable, we request that you commit to both Part 1 and Part 2 of this workshop in order to honor the learning process and receive the full benefit of this workshop. Attendance will be capped in order to create an intimate cohort of parents.

Part 1 (January 7, 8:00-9:30 PM): Discussing race and racism with your children is a vital part of antiracist and race conscious parenting. But some people might feel a little rusty on the basics! In the first part of the workshop, Dr. Liebow will give a “Crash Course in Racial Literacy” to provide an important framework and context for race conscious parenting. This session will go over the basics of anti-racist thought and ideology, as well as challenge participants to explore their own biases and thought processes before they are able to address these ideas with their children. By the end of this session, participants will gain a deeper understanding of race, white supremacy, white privilege, and antiracism.

Part 2 (January 14, 8:00-9:30 PM): In the second part of the workshop, parents will learn strategies for helping their child develop an antiracist consciousness and how to apply concepts learned in the first session to raising their children.

Part 3 (optional): As follow-up to Dr. Liebow’s sessions, we are offering a monthly 1-hour meeting for parents who have participated in this workshop to come together and follow up with each other, insure accountability, share thoughts and resources, and continue the work of anti-racist parenting. This monthly meeting will be facilitated by Sonya Weisburd, MSW, EDCJCC’s Director of Social Justice and Volunteer Programs.

This program is brought to you by the Edlavitch DCJCC Parenting Center and Morris Cafritz Center for Social Responsibility

This group is currently full. Please email Miriam at mszubin@edcjcc.org to get on the waitlist and/or to be informed if we are able to schedule another group.

3 Thursdays: January 21, January 28, and February 4
8:00-9:00 PM
$36 for the three-week session
Facilitated by Taylor Lerner, Psy.D

Are you expecting baby #2? Looking to create a community with other second time parents to exchange ideas and find support? This group will meet weekly via Zoom for three weeks to provide a safe space for second time parents-to-be to discuss their experiences and learn from one another. We will explore several topics, including: managing your big kid’s (big!) feelings before, during, and after welcoming the new baby; kid-care and self-care with two; navigating new relationships and new roles; and the complicating factors of Covid-19. The group will be kept small so that connections can be fostered easily, even in a virtual space, and also so that in-person outdoor meet-ups can be organized safely if the group wants.

It’s a fact of family life that each child is driven to define their individuality and worth within the family system, and that this drive leaves to conflict. This workshop will help parents understand the roots of sibling rivalry and offer approaches to helping siblings ultimately work through the inevitable challenges they encounter in forging their lifelong relationship. It will also address typical challenges of managing multiple children.