21st Century Exploring Parenting—Facilitator training

ECTC consultants are available to prepare staff members for facilitating the 21st Century Exploring Parenting group curriculum. This parent group design is based on the original Exploring Parenting philosophy developed by the Head Start Bureau: Parents know their children best; There is no single best way to parent; Parents have a right to make their own child-rearing decisions; and Co-facilitators are helpers and fellow learners, not experts or teachers. It has also been enhanced and strengthened by applying the latest research in brain development, attachment theory, and the contributions of noted child development experts—Stanley Greenspan, Daniel Siegel, Arthur Dorbins, and T. Barry Brazelton.

The training format for the Training of Facilitators is three days of experiential learning, practice, and peer feedback. Participants will experience, learn, and apply a range of effective adult learning strategies while becoming familiar with the curriculum materials, including:

• Co-Learner facilitation approach-acting as helpers and learners rather than experts and teachers
  
• Use of family story books
  
• Small and large group discussions
  
• Role-playing
  
• Brainstorming
  
• Observing and analyzing behavior
  
• Practicing skills
  
• Flexible delivery- able to be customized to respond to needs of communities and individual families

This training can be scheduled flexibly in order to meet the scheduling needs of the program. Please contact us to schedule a training. 503-725-4815

Overview of the 21st Century Exploring Parenting curriculum program goals for parents

• To get to know yourself better
  
• To get to know your children better
  
• To use this knowledge in making decisions about how to raise your children

Group sessions

• Our Family Story
  
• Getting Involved in Your Child's World
  
• Communicating with Your Child
  
• Dealing with Feelings
  
• What is Development?
  
• Nurturing Development Through Play
  
• Valuing Discipline
  
• Keeping Our Families Safe
  
• Coping with Stress
  
• Our Stories Continue

Parents can make a difference in how well-prepared their children are to learn. Parents can make a difference in how children feel about school and learning. Parents are their children's first and best teachers.

"Being a parent is the most important job a person can have. You are your child's primary teacher and your influence will have the greatest and most lasting impact on your child."