Free Talk Aims To ‘Destress’ Parents

By John Voket

Suzanne Lang, a local mother who established a grassroots group supporting families of children with learning and developmental disabilities is hosting a follow-up talk to help parents and caregivers become less stressed and more confident.

“Anyone who attended the recent screening of the documentary Race to Nowhere or who reads and is concerned about the stress that young people in our society are facing on a daily basis should benefit from attending this free talk,” Ms Lang said.

On May 12, from 7 to 9 pm, her group, Newtown PAC (Parents Advocating for their Children) along with Newtown’s Special Education Advisory Board will present “Raising Resilient Children.” The two-hour program will be presented by LeAnn Nickelsen in the lecture hall in Newtown High School.

The program is free and open to the public. Free babysitting will also be provided with advanced reservations.

Ms Nickelsen presents nationally to parents and teachers alike, and she is known for delivering a wealth of information in an active, fun format with very specific, practical examples.

“Teen depression and suicide are on the rise,” Ms Lang recently told The Newtown Bee. “We can reduce the homework, try to eliminate all of the pressures, yet eventually everyone experiences stress. We all want what’s best for our children, so what as parents, teachers, and caregivers can we do?”

Ms Lang believes parents can be proactive and teach children how to handle those stresses. And anyone who attends the May 12 event will not only learn from the presentation, but will receive a packet of information to take home.

“LeAnn will clearly define what a resilient child looks like and the parental characteristics that support this growth,” Ms Lang explained. “She will give these characteristics to parents in a Parent Report Card. This report card will help you set goals for you and your children.” 

Parents will also learn about negative scripts versus positive scripts’ optimism among family members and disciplining in ways that promote resiliency.

To sign up for babysitting or for more information contact Suzanne at newtownpac1@aol.com or visit NewtownPAC.com.