PULLMAN, Wash. — Up to 400 parent educators are expected to attend the 2nd Annual Northwest Regional Parenting Conference, Oct. 30-31 in Yakima.
Promoting peace in families is the theme of the conference, says Margaret Ray, Washington State University Cooperative Extension human development specialist.
“A wide diversity of professionals, including community educators; public health nurses; drug, alcohol and substance abuse counselors; parent advocates; parent coordinators in early childhood programs, kindergarten through 12 grade teachers and psychologists from throughout the Pacific Northwest and a few from across the nation will attend the conference,” said Ray.
Speakers will include nationally prominent writers and educators. A special speaker will be Mac Bledsoe, director of the Drew Bledsoe Foundation. Bledsoe’s topic will be, “The Role of Self-Esteem in Parenting.”
“Making Peace at Home” will be presented by Susan Beekman and Jeanne Holmes, authors of “Battles, Hassles, Tantrums and Tears: Strategies for Coping with Conflict and Making Peace at Home.”
“Parents as Educators for Peace: Building Skills for Living at Home and in the World,” will be presented by Judy Myers- Walls, Purdue University.
“Parenting Education in a Culturally Pluralistic Society” will be presented by Martha Lopez, University of California.
Gloria DeGaetano will present workshops on “Media Violence, Stimulus Addiction and Children’s Brains,” and “TV or Not TV: Understanding and Managing Television at Home.”
Topics for convention workshops include spanking, the emotional growth and development of new mothers, teaching adults new tricks and hands-on activities that work with parenting groups.
Extended learning workshops on Oct. 29 will include speakers on anger management, cultural traits of Latino parenting and conflict resolution.
Conference registration is $95, or $80 for one day.
The program is sponsored by WSU Cooperative Extension, the Passport to Parenting Program of Yakima Valley Memorial Hospital with support of five other organizations. All meetings are in the Yakima Convention Center.
For more information on the conference, contact Chris Eder, 305 Hulbert Hall, Pullman, WA 99164-6230, (509) 335-2954, FAX (509) 335- 2959, e-mail: edercj@wsu.edu.
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