Parent University

Walk-ins accepted on January 26!

Navigating a course
for your child's success
in school and in life 

Saturday, January 26, 2008
8:30 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Naperville Central High School
$25/person, $45/household

Información en español

Parent University is a one-day opportunity for parents to
attend various workshops geared toward increasing parenting effectiveness. 

You may choose three workshops from 27 offerings presented by experts. The focus of Parent University is on positive parenting strategies, and is aligned with 40 identified Developmental Assets which enable students to become independent and successful adults.

This year’s workshop offerings have been developed to provide parents of students at all levels strategies for addressing the complex issues facing their children in the 21st century.

During lunch, attendees will have the opportunity to chat with presenters in an informal setting. A variety of community social service agencies will also have information available for you to take home regarding the health and well-being of children, youth and families.   

To register, please click here to open the Parent University booket and registration form. Print, complete, and mail registration with payment as directed on the form.

WALK-INS ACCEPTED! Just bring your completed registration form with payment to Parent University on  January 26, 2008.

Keynote Speaker

This presentation will address parenting factors that contribute to the development of a sense of entitlement in a child. There will also be a focus on the styles of parenting and the impact that these styles have on the social and cognitive development of a child. Finally, the impact of entitlement on a child’s ability to manage challenges in his/her daily life will be addressed.

Dr. Young is the Director of Neuropsychological Services at New Life Resources; Chief Psychologist at the 7 C’s Counseling Center; Consulting Neuropsychologist for Brotoloc Health Care Service; adjunct at Marquette University and clinical faculty at the Medical College of the University of Wisconsin.

Workshop Descriptions

All Ages      Early Childhood      Elementary     Middle/High School 

Workshops for All Ages

Beware of Pirates

Presenters: Naperville and Lisle Police Department School Resource Office Unit Staff
Sessions offered: A, C
This session will instruct parents in how to protect their children from predators kids might encounter on the Internet. Learn how to talk with your child(ren) about uncomfortable issues, how to build self-confidence and awareness in your kids, and how to motivate them to help keep themselves safe - all without making them paranoid or fearful.

Guiding Your Sails

Presenter: Krista Sherinian, Isenberg & Associates
Sessions offered: A, C
Learn her top ten defenses and alternatives to help your family learn and grow. With her tips and resources, you'll reach smooth sailing by letting go of old power struggles on the "Path of Least Resistance."

Helping Your Crew Learn the Ropes

Presenters: Becky Bewersdorf & Camille Jones, West Suburban Educational Associates
Sessions offered: B, C
This workshop is designed to help parents work with their children in positive ways during homework time, creating a positive learning environment, and how to be an effective homework coach throughout the process of studying.

Maintaining an Even Keel 

Presenter: Dr. Ken Potts, Samaritan Interfaith Counseling Center
Sessions offered: A, B
Stress - can't live with it, can't live without it. Stress occurs every time we confront change in our lives. There are healthy ways to respond to stress and some not so healthy ways, too. In this workshop we will focus on how to understand and respond to the stress in our lives so that we can better deal with it, rather than letting it deal with us.

Moving from Port to Port

Presenters: Diane Overgard & Janice Rubin, Family Impact
Session offered: B
Parents will gain an understanding of normal developmental behaviors in children when a family relocates. They will also discover specific temperament traits in their own child which impact transition to a new home, school, and community. Practical tips from families who have moved will be shared.

Set Your Sails for Success

Presenter: Dr. Philippa Norman
Sessions offered: A, B
It's a fact: healthy children and teens are better prepared to learn. Find out how to boost academic success at any age with the latest on brain food, sleep and exercise.

Smooth Sailing through the Storm

Presenter: Jennifer Logston, Fox Valley Institute
Sessions offered: B, C
Workshop will focus on understanding the impact of divorce on children and the ways in which communication can help reduce the problems that this stressful life event can create. Both parent/child and parent/parent communication issues will be addressed.

Traversing the Muddy Waters of Affluence

Presenter: Vickie Coletta, NCO Youth & Family Services
Session offered: B
Description of America's new at-risk child. Learn how affluence works against development of self and the challenges of effective parenting in a culture of affluence.

Treasures on Board

Presenter: Gregory O'Donnell, Metropolitan Family Services
Sessions offered: B, C
Understanding and protecting the true treasures within yourself, including: self worth; self discovery; relationship building; knowing your own values; pride and accountability; learning and growing; a balanced life.

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Early Childhood Workshops

The Maiden Voyage

Presenter: Susan Getz, Parents as Teachers
Sessions offered: B, C
Help ensure your child is ready for Kindergarten. This workshop will provide information to enhance your decision making skills in regards to choosing books, activities and materials for your blossoming learner.

Overcoming Mutinies

Presenter: Anne Felt
Sessions offered: A, B
Who has the upper hand at your house? What do you do when you feel like the children are "swabbing the deck" with your emotions and your energy?  Learn 5 effective ways to motivate and teach responsibility while maintaining the peace.

Raising a Healthy Young Crew

Presenters: Kathy Oleson & Peggy Kiefer, Parents as Teachers
Sessions offered: A, C
Information for parents of children birth to 3 years old related to healthy eating, sleeping and temperament.

Staying the Course in Choppy Waters

Presenters: Noni Downing & Cindy Navin O'Meara, Parents as Teachers
Sessions offered: A, B
Most parents of young children find themselves struggling with the challenging behavior of their children ages 2-5. This presentation will provide you with effective strategies to use in your family when dealing with problems and frustrations.

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Elementary Workshops

Avoid Your Family Capsizing

Presenter: Angela Michalak, NCO Youth & Family Services
Sessions offered: A, B
Do you ever feel like your family is going to capsize? By the end of this presentation, you will be able to determine the difference between soft and firm limits, understand how to give clear messages to your children, avoid power struggles, effectively use natural and logical consequences as well as engage cooperation from your children.

Building Their Internal Compasses

Presenter: Dr. Thor Johansen, Samaritan Interfaith Counseling Center
Sessions offered: B, C
Workshop will focus on what parents can do to reduce family stress and simultaneously encourage their children to become more responsible and independent. Parents will learn how to foster self-confidence and new ways of building their child's self-esteem through positive discipline.

Finding Calmer Waters

Presenter: Dr. Terry Young, Keynote Speaker
Session offered: A
This workshop takes a realistic look at the expected behavioral difficulties typical for most children. Guidance will be provided regarding effective responses by parents that will move a child toward better self-containment of difficult or challenging behaviors.

When Not to Throw Out the Lifeline

Presenter: Claudia Evenson
Sessions offered: B, C
Parents will gain a better understanding of what it means to allow their children the ability to fall and fail, without feeling guilty. Participants will also be able to explore myths about parenting and expectations that society places upon us.

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Middle/High School Workshops

Getting Underway with the Wind at Your Back

Presenters: Ginny Sharp & Lori Poore, Indian Prairie School District 204 School Counselors
Sessions offered: A, C
How we live our lives is based on the skills we have and the values we believe in. Parents will learn about the Seven Habits of Highly Effective Teens and how to use those habits to guide their students as they navigate the choppy waters of the teen years.

Helping Kids to Captain Their Own Ships

Presenter: Dr. Michael Litow, The Education Center
Sessions offered: B, C
Learn four key skills that will: 1) empower your children; 2) increase problem solving abilities; 3) instill confidence in them, and 4) motivate them to succeed in life. This workshop will encourage you as a parent, and affirm the very best in you as an individual.

Helping Your Children Captain Their Dating Relation"ships"

Presenter: Kathy Catenacci, Central DuPage Hospital Behavioral Health Services
Sessions offered: A, C
Learn about healthy and unhealthy boundaries in dating. How to recognize unsafe emotional relationships.

The Love Boat

Presenter: Dr. Kelly Matthew Flanagan, Alliance Clinical Associates
Session offered: C
Couples will learn scientifically-proven skills for improving marital communication, an essential component of the teamwork that will be required as your adolescent demands more and more autonomy in the year before graduating high school. In addition, couples will learn effective ways to translate these valuable communication skills to emotionally-charged interactions with their adolescent.

Navigating the Stormy Waters of ADHD

Presenters: Ron Hume & Jessica Lieberman, NCO Youth & Family Services
Sessions offered: A, C
Raising a child who has ADHD can be a very daunting task, much like sailing in a storm, at night, without a map or flashlight. This session will help parents to understand what the ADHD storm is really like, and help you to develop some course strategies and corrections that will guide you to a safe harbor.

Reading the High Tides and Low Tides of your Tweenage Daughter

Presenter: Margaret Duffy
Sessions offered: B, C
One minute they are laughing; the next minute they are sobbing. Learn how to navigate the rough seas called the tweenage years. "Why are they so moody?" "How do I survive?"

Sailing Rough Waters

Presenter: Dr. Charla Waxman, Linden Oaks at Edward
Sessions offered: A, C
From punk to goth and from industrial to emo, the newest teen music and behavioral trends are confusing. Now add vampirism and parents are not only confused, but frightened. Attend this workshop to learn more abut these new teen interests and how to respond.

Teen Overboard

Presenter: Dr. Helen Morrison, Provena Mercy Medical Center
Session offered: B
What can you expect of the adolescent years? This workshop will focus on several pertinent topics including conflicts between parents and their teens, drinking and drug use, peer groups and their importance to your teen and you, physical and emotional changes in your teen and letting go.

Toward the Horizon

Presenters: Diane Overgard & Janice Rubin, Family Impact
Sessions offered: A, C
Help your child unveil his/her future. Parents will learn to empower teens to make significant contributions with their lives, gain skills for conducting caring conversations with their children and understand how determining strengths can lower depression and increase motivation.

Trying to Reason with Hurricane Season

Presenter: Dr. Laura L. Faynor-Ciha
Sessions offered: A, B
This workshop will help participants identify and understand the range of typical adolescent development and behavior, learn how to identfy and cope with unhealthy behavior and distinguish typical adolescent behavior from clinical depression, bipolar disorder and other severe mental illness.

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