The following programs and courses are offered free of charge.

For more information please contact your local FCSS office or Parent Link Centre or check the activity calendar in your area.

Parenting

Stay & Play
Stay and Play is an exciting program for children (birth to 5 years old) and their parents to attend together. There is no charge and registration is not required. Come, drop in and see how you can help your child learn, grow and progress. Songs, rhymes, stories, sand and water play, dress up and housekeeping, blocks, science and creative art activities are all available in an inviting and safe environment.

Infant Massage
Would you like to learn how massage can benefit you and your baby? Research shows that touch is essential for healthy growth and development. Massaging your baby can help:

• soothe your baby
• promote strong parent-child relationships
• relieve colic or "gassy spells"
• stimulate circulatory and gastrointestinal (digestive) systems
• baby learns to relax
• baby sleeps longer and deeper

In this 5 week course, you will learn the special massage strokes that can benefit both you and your baby.

Growing Great Kids
This is an exciting program for parents. It is for everyday parents who want to avoid problems, learn new ways of doing things and just want to do the best job for their children and families. Parents of children of all ages will meet for 6 weeks to:

• gain practical skills
• learn to foster healthy communication
• discover what to expect at all ages
• build on family strengths
• share ideas

COPEing with Toddler Behaviour
COPEing with Toddler Behaviour is an 8 session course for parents of 12 - 36 month old children. The program is facilitated by trained individuals and is designed to improve your parenting knowledge and reduce the stress you feel as a parent. Through videos, discussion and skill building exercises you will learn about encouraging and nurturing a good relationship with your child and to use strategies to promote positive behaviour and prevent challenging behaviour.

For registration information and details please go to your local Parent Link Centre Activity Calendar.

Baby and Me
A great opportunity for parents of children newborn to 18 months to learn about the challenges and rewards of parenting. Bring your baby and come as often as you like to:

• get new ideas
• address concerns
• gather information
• make new friends
• have interesting conversations.

Parenting The Strong-Willed Child
This workshop is for parents of children ages 2 - 6 years of age whose behaviour is resistant and oppositional. This course runs over 6 sessions held once a week. You will be learning a series of five skills that, when put together, should have a significant, positive impact on your child’s behaviour. The course will involve group discussion as well as learning and practicing skills. Registration is required but there is no charge.

You Make The Difference
You know your child best and care about him the most. You want to help her grow up to be the best (s)he can be. This workshop helps you to understand how to connect with your child and how you can facilitate the kind of learning that leads to success. The course runs weekly for 8 weeks. There is no charge but registration is required.

Moms & Tots
This is a drop-in program for all parents or caregivers. The group of adults and children meet together to share parenting tips, offer support for one another and discuss the wonderful yet stressful journey of parenting. The children play together and develop their social skills while the moms supervise, play with their children and chat.

Daddy & Me
Dads have many responsibilities. Did you know that playing with your child is one of them? What your children get out of playing with you:

• fun
• safety
• new ideas
• positive attention from someone they love
• a memory bank of good times spent with Dad!

This program is geared for Dads and kids 0 - 5 years, older siblings are welcome.

Marriage and Relationships

Relationship Building
Based on Dr. John Van Epp’s internationally acclaimed "How To Avoid Marrying a Jerk", this class will highlight information and processes that lead to strong, enduring and rewarding relationships. Although there aren’t many guarantees in life, it doesn’t hurt to stack the deck for yourself and one you care for!

Bringing Baby Home
This course is for couples from mid-pregnancy to parents with children up to 18 months of age. The contents helps parents understand the effect of a new-born child on the parents relationships and provides strategies on how to strengthen that relationship. You will also learn how to assist your child to grow, learn and progress and to reach her potential. Bringing Baby Home is a 14 hour course and can be weekly over a period of weeks or can be provided in fewer, longer sessions. There is no charge but registration is required.

For more information please see the brochure.

Coping

Self-Management/Caregiver Support Group – Coaldale
People who are living with chronic conditions are welcome to join our group for mentoring support, guest speakers and fun. For more information contact Linda Martens at 403-345-3000 or 1-866-345-8800.

Stress Management
This class will address such topics as “What is the stress response?” What changes does the “stress hormone” cortisol have on the body and how/why are they supposed to work? What can work for you?

Developmental Disability Support Group
Are you sometimes overwhelmed by the challenges of a developmental disability in a child in your family? Parents, Grandparents and caregivers are welcome to join a support group for families who are affected by a developmental disability. Enjoy a guest speaker, conversation, support and social activities.

Empowering Parents of Teens
Need a parenting boost? Time to tweak your parenting approach in preparation for your child's teen years? This is the course for you. Interactive instruction sessions are designed to give you the skills you need to carry on with the not-so-straightforward task of guiding your child toward adulthood. We'll talk about effective parenting styles for teens, adolescent development, ways to improve communication with teens and some strategies to resolve conflict. Topics will vary with the interest of the parents registered. For additional information and to register, please call Kerry Heggie in Taber at 403-223-4403, ext. 251.

The Child to Adult Transition
Need a parenting boost? Time to tweak your parenting approach in preparation for your child's teen years? This is the course for you. It is four nights of interactive instruction designed to give you the energy and fuel you need to carry on with the not-so-straightforward task of guiding your child toward adulthood. We'll talk about effective parenting styles for teens, adolescent development, ways to improve communication with teens and some strategies to resolve conflict. Topics will vary with the interest of the parents registered. For additional information and to register, please call Kerry Heggie in Taber at 403-223-4403, ext. 251.