Op-Ed on Parenting: Setting Up Expectations, Enforcing Rules, Giving Rewards to Adolescents

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What is the difference between rules and expectations? And how do I enforce them? Adolescence is a time of self-exploration. It’s the time when kids are beginning to individuate and separate from their parents and decide what values are their own. The goal of adolescence is to answer the question: “Who am I?” This time can be difficult for parents, and yet parents provide a key role in a kid’s adolescence: create and maintain a framework — we call it a “Family Frame” — that gives kids limits and boundaries so that they can safely explore their development.

How Can I Get My Teens Off Their Smartphone? Presentation on Strategies for Parents

One of the most common questions parents ask is how to get their teenagers to unplug from their iPhones, iPads, and computers. It’s an important question because screen time increases depression, anxiety and social isolation.  It also has negative impact on physical health and reduces opportunities. David Ezell, LMHC, LPC, CEO at Darien Wellness, will offer strategies to help parents get their teens off devices and into the world.  Darien Wellness & The Depot Lunch & Learn ~ Bring your own lunch, Beverages provided

What Is (Wrong) Right With My Child?

Do you ever wonder why your child acts a certain way? Learn how to understand and celebrate your child as the unique individual he/she is! Discover ways to appreciate and nurture your child even if they are very different from yourself or siblings in this presentation by Alexandra “Bunny” Potts. This joint meeting of Parent Teacher Councils in New Canaan is free, but register here.

Toddler girl crying photo by Crimfants on Wikimedia Commons https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Crying-girl.jpg

Tantrums, Toys and Traditions: How to Survive the Holidays

This workshop will help you prepare for the holidays. We will explore tips for common holiday challenges: handle tantrums, prioritize important family activities, whittle down gift lists and more. Learn how to re-focus on the giving aspect of the season. This free presentation by Barbara McLaughlin takes place in the Lamb Room of New Canaan Library. Register here.

Tracey Masella LCSW Silver Hill Hospital

Helping Kids Manage Stress

Just like adults, some kids have a hard time managing anxiety caused by stress. Understand what causes anxiety and explore simple strategies to better manage stress and anxiety for both kids and parents. Learn helpful tips from Tracey Masella for more effective communication with your kids to help navigate the tricky terrain of childhood. The event at East Elementary School, 54 Little Brook Road, New Canaan, is free, but register here.

New Canaan Panel Resilience 02-18-17

Experts Offer Parents Tips on Building Resiliency, Respecting Kids While Holding Them to Standards

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Parents can be respectful and show love to their children while they enforce rules; parents ask questions rather than make assumptions in a confrontation; and they can show sympathy while avoiding the temptation to fix problems that children are better off fixing themselves. And parents should let emotionally healthy kids get experience in bouncing back from failures themselves — it builds resiliency, an important ability that the child will need later in life. Those were some of the suggestions that a panel of experts gave in a recent public discussion, “Building Family Resilience in a World of Booze, Bongs and Benzos,” held in New Canaan. Three of the panelists live or live and work in Darien. As part of the presentation, a counselor and two New Canaan High School actors demonstrated in a series of skits toward the end of the panel presentation, Feb.

‘Permissive Parenting’ — Discussion for Parents at The Depot

Members of SADD Darien Chapter will be hosting an open discussion on permissive parenting for PARENTS from 7:30 to 9 p.m., Wednesday May 18 at The Depot. Topics covered will include:

Underage parties (liability, citations)

Social pressures (social media, who are your kids’ friends)

How to be an ACTIVE parent (open communication with youth)

and MORE

Please register here.  

Talk: How to Set Boundaries with Your Teens: Wednesday

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Parents are invited to a talk on “Setting Boundaries With Your Teens: Tools You Can Use” from noon to 1:30 p.m. Wednesday at Darien Library. Those attending should register by Tuesday. An announcement from Communities 4 Action (formerly the Lower Fairfield County Regional Action Council):

If you are a parent  or work with parents, bring your lunch for an interactive presentation and discussion with Maud Purcell, Founder and Executive Director of the Life Solution Center of Darien. Setting Boundaries With Your Teens : Tool You Can Use

Wednesday, June 24th, 12 – 1:30 PM @Darien Library, 1441 Post Road

Most parents understand that setting and maintaining health limits with their teens helps them to become more manageable and agreeable young people.  Hear Maud Purcell explain the lesser-known and long-term implications of appropriate boundary-setting, and share effective tools for establishing and maintaining these boundaries with your teens. Please RSVP by Tuesday, June 23rd  to 

mcoughlan@communities4action.org  or Ph:   203-588-0457

 About the Presenter: Maud Purcell , MSW, LCSW, CEAP Maud Purcell is a Psychotherapist, and the Founder and Executive Director of The Life Solution Center of Darien, a consortium of over 35 businesses and practices designed to treat the whole person.  She treats teens, adults and couples, giving her a well-rounded picture of what’s happening in today’s families.