Workshop Shows How To Follow Child’s Lead
Parents have the most important job on the planet, says Dr. Kent Hoffman, a Spokane father and psychotherapist. He underscores the importance of the parent/child relationship in his workshop, “Getting Together With Your Baby: The Joys of Attachment,” beginning Thursday at the St. Joseph Family Center.
Geared for new parents, Hoffman’s workshop explores the theme of bonding and attachment, which he says begins in the womb and continues in the first moments after birth and during the first or “core” year.
“A baby is born with 50 trillion neurons established in the brain,” says Hoffman, “but those cells only become functional as a result of outside stimulation.” The training will give parents ways to read the cues from the child as to how they want to be stimulated, a concept Hoffman calls “attunement.”
“As parents, too often we ask the child to follow our lead,” Hoffman says. The focus of his workshop gives parents permission to follow their infant’s lead.
Hoffman believes it is impossible to spoil an infant in the first nine months; rather, he says, the degree to which a parent responds to the infant during these months directly translates into a greater degree of security for the infant.
The four-week workshop is from 7-8:30 p.m. Thursdays through May 25 at the St. Joseph Family Center, 1016 N. Superior, in Spokane. The cost is $50 per couple. For more information or to register, call (509) 483-6495.
Storytelling adventures
Throughout May, the Children’s Corner Bookshop in Spokane offers Saturday storytelling at 10 a.m. beginning this Saturday with local storyteller Freddie Jenkins. All ages are invited to hear “Old Black Fly” and other “buzzin beasts” in story as well as Jenkins’ own song.
Cecelia McGowan of the Spokane Public Library celebrates spring on May 13, with stories including “The Dancing Skeleton” and “The Cat Bride” for all ages.
On May 20, author Peg Kehret will read and autograph books from her new series of mysteries, “Frightmares” geared to children 8 and up. The bookstore is in the River Park Square skywalk.
Remember Mom’s Day May 14
“From Me To You” by author Linda Schwartz (The Learning Works, $4.95) is a unique gift idea where the child writes about the person who will receive the book. Each page invites creativity with sections such as: Two Wishes For You, A Poem For You, Your Life Story, A Movie About You and more. Mothers and grandmothers will treasure it. To order, call (800) 235-5767.
The Current company has Mother’s Day gift ideas at reasonable prices. The Perfume Pencil is a petite case that unscrews to hold Mom’s favorite fragrance and can be refilled, for $3.50. Or The Heart Correspondence Set includes 10 heart-shaped note cards with envelopes and 15 different heartshaped stickers, inspired by patchwork quilts, for $4.95. Current also has heart pins, locket key rings and photo frames to show your appreciation.
To order or receive a Current catalog, call (800) 643-0042.
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