FSN News:
While most families appreciate the importance of navigating through the tweens and teens safely and successfully, many struggle to connect with high quality, relevent resouces.
Family Strengths Network focuses on providing such resources to the community and has teamed up with some well respected partners to bring you instructive and fun workshops this spring.
Family Strengths Network will host IMPACT of Santa Fe for two special events in April. IMPACT Personal Safety 101 and Healthy Relationships will be offered together on one night for people age 15 through adult 6-8 p.m., April 23 at the Los Alamos Teen Center. Seventh and eighth graders can benefit from this important workshop with appropriate content 6-8 p.m. Thursday, April 29 at FSN.
This class empowers participants by teaching them what assailants look for and how to avoid being chosen as a target. Students practice awareness skills, body language, and using their voices.
Learn strategies for dealing with creepy strangers, pushy people who “won’t take no for an answer”, and other uncomfortable situations. Learn about relationship “red flags” and the progression of controlling and abusive behaviour.
Everyone benefits from understanding how to safely navigate relationships, particularly before they head off to college. What may appear first to a young person as flattering attention can soon progress to a controlling or abusive relationship trap.
Prepared and informed people have more tools to recognise and protect themselves from becoming a victim. This valuable and engaging information is served up with pizza for all participants! Register today at www.lafsn.org (search IMPACT.)
Tweens to Teens for girls ages 9-13 and their moms or another female adult will be offered 6-8:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 14.
How will you talk to your girl about puberty? Although the topic can make kids squirm, this workshop uses games and activities to foster fun, supportive discussion. We will review the biology of puberty – what physical and emotional changes she can expect and how to deal with them. We will also learn about feminine hygiene products.
As kids enter adolescence, communication patterns may also change. We will work on maintaining open communication and shared values. Families will leave with the book The Care and Keeping of You.
Facilitator Felicia Branch RN is the Los Alamos County Public Health Nurse and she will be joined by Jennifer Bartram who has been helping teens and parents communicate for 16 years.
A $35 registration fee includes a pizza dinner and the book.
FSN is delighted to have Dr. Tom Csanadi returning with Scott Johnson to facilitate the boy’s version of Tweens to Teens 5:30-8 p.m., April 23.
Pediatrician Tom Csanadi has been practicing medicine in Los Alamos for 13 years. Scott Johnson was the 2008 Los Alamos Teacher of the Year. He has been teaching for 15 years and is currently a first grade teacher at Mountain Elementary School, a speaker at educator workshops on gender differences, and a Restorative Justice facilitator.
Families will find targeted information for their young men regarding how hormones can cause mood changes, and how to deal with the social, emotional, and physical changes that occur at this time of life.
Families will enjoy a pizza dinner and leave with the book The Guy Book: An Owner’s Manual. Register online for the girl’s and guy’s version at www.lafsn.org and search Tweens to Teens.
Don’t sit on the sidelines during this important period in your child’s life. Much of identity and relationship concepts are formed in the tween and teen years. Be proactive and join other FSN families in utilizing these high quality resources to improve your child’s experience and strengthen your family.
