Lessons in parenting combined with lessons in understanding a parent
By: Kara Fitzpatrick
For the eight families that participate in the Corner House’s new Strengthening Families program, a lesson in parenting functions as a Tuesday night dessert.
The Strengthening Families Program which is nationally recognized and offered throughout the country aims to enhance the relationship between parents and their children through communication and boundary-setting skills.
The 14-week program, which began in Princeton seven weeks ago and is open to all families with children between 6 and 11, was made available locally through a state grant.
"Parenting is tricky business," said Lynn Shell, Corner House’s certified prevention specialist. Ms. Shell is one of four Strengthening Families Program teachers. "It’s not something we’re born knowing how to do."
The 2½-hour sessions start with a sit-down meal among the families.
After dinner, parents and children are separated in order to learn complementary lessons. The parents attend sessions with Ms. Shell and teacher Nicole Bullock and the children work with teachers Dana Hughes and Ashante Thompson.
All Strengthening Families teachers must participate in a two-day training program administered by certified program trainers, Ms. Hughes said.
During the sessions for children, interactive activities such as puppet shows and games are used to teach various lessons, including how to communicate with parents or say no to peers. Ms. Hughes said rewards and praise are offered to children who participate in the lessons. The focus on rewarding positive behavior is hopefully continued by parents at home, she said.
"Reward the positive behavior, ignore the negative," Ms. Hughes said, referring to a philosophy the program aims to teach parents.
During the parent sessions, themes such as the importance of rewarding good behavior, setting reasonable goals for children and spending quality time with family are addressed.
"We really encourage that families spend time together," Ms. Shell said, adding that incentives promoting quality time together are given to the families for example, movie theater gift certificates were recently given to participants.
The impetus of the program is not only to enhance the quality of life for area families, but also to avert future substance-abuse problems that are more likely to develop in children whose home life is unhealthy, Ms. Shell said.
The program, which has now reached its halfway point, seems to be benefiting families, Ms. Shell said.
"I’ve heard from, I think, every person at least one story of something that has changed in their house" as a result of the program, Ms. Shell said. "The families are noticing that the program is making a difference in their lives."
Ms. Shell said all families no matter how many children could benefit from the program.
"Parenting is one of the most important tasks that we undertake," Ms. Shell said. "There is not a single person who is a parent that, I think, wouldn’t benefit from this program. The benefits of a strong parent-child relationship are huge and so multifaceted."