Diane Marasciulo directs workshop participants in a game while sharing ideas during her Mindful Parenting and the Well Developed Child presentation. Courtesy/UNM-LA
UNM-LA News:
The University of New Mexico-Los Alamos (UNM-LA) and the Juvenile Justice Advisory Board’s (JJAB) Parenting University: Tool Up for Parenting workshop held last weekend was another big success, according to Lisa Caldwell, program coordinator for Community Education at UNM-LA.
“I spoke with many participants who appreciated the high quality and usefulness of the presentations. Some of the attendee comments included,‘I received an abundance of information,’‘really applicable, lots of activities to take home,’ and ‘please do this again!,’” Caldwell said.
Twenty-five parents and caregivers attended the workshop while children K-6 were entertained with enrichment activities on-site,andchildren 6 months thru preschool were cared for by the Ark Child Development Center.
The day kicked off with a light breakfast followed by sessions on mindfulness techniques for families and child development milestones. Kristine Koblentz discussed the benefits of practicing mindfulness techniques and led participants through a variety of exercises, while Kristy Nadler presented information on how to work with children through progressive levels of development.
After a mid-morning break for refreshments, the workshop resumed with sessions on effective parenting strategies and special education services. Diane Marasciulo conducted training on parenting styles and personality types along with a variety of topics including self-control, discipline, communication, chores, etc. Cindy Lafon, of Parents Reaching Out, provided advice on teambuilding and collaboration to create effective Individualized Education Programs for children.
In addition to the support provided by JJAB, a variety of sponsors contributed to the workshop. Zia Credit Union paid for childcare, the Los Alamos Smith’s Marketplace donated gift cards for prize drawings, and the Family Strengths Network lent materials from their library for checkout to participants.
Gabe Baca, UNM-LA program manager for Adult and Community Education said, “I’m happy we are continuing our partnership with JJAB to host these great opportunities for parents. Folks were really engaged in the sessions, and I saw a lot of interaction between parents. I appreciate the support of our sponsors and the greater UNM-LA campus and I hope to see parents return for our spring 2016 workshop.”
