Date: Fri 26-Sep-1997

Publication: Bee

Author: MICHEL

Quick Words:

Parent-Effectiveness-Training

Full Text:

Training To Become A More Effective Parent

BY MICHELE HOGAN

The Parent Effectiveness Training program (P.E.T.) starts Tuesday, October 7,

from 7 to 10 pm at the Newtown Middle School. The program runs for eight

weeks, allowing parents plenty of time to try out various parenting

techniques, talk about what works, and build on each others' ideas for making

parenting fun and effective.

The program is taught by Mary Beth Hickey, MSW, Masters in Counseling and

Certified Parent Effectiveness Training Instructor.

Alice Walsh, mother of a first grader and an 18-month-old, who took the course

here last year, said that with the course, "I changed the way I speak, some of

the words I use. We learned about solving problems with children, not for

children.

"Since it was an eight-week course, it let you learn something in the class,

go home and try it, then review it the following week. It provided the

opportunity to practice it, talk about it, and perfect it," says Mrs Walsh.

She picked up some tips on dealing with sibling rivalry and she also found a

practical solution to one of the everyday hassles of raising kids.

Her kindergarten child wanted to play in the morning before school, and would

put off getting into his school uniform as long as possible. One day when "I

was yelling at him to get ready, I stopped and said `this isn't fun.' I asked

him `how can we make this more fun?' He said that he could sleep in his

uniform, so he wouldn't have to get ready, and I agreed. His eyes lit up. He

had a solution. I said `Let's try it.' It worked. We had fun with this idea,

and would joke about putting his backpack on at night so he wouldn't have to

do anything in the morning. Finally, with his solution, we had these quiet fun

mornings."

Information on this course is available in all local schools, and is being

sent home with the children. Judy Blanchard at the Newtown Middle School is

collecting the registration forms.