Anoka-Hennepin Community Education

A new twist for those young preschool-aged children and their siblings! All children will enjoy classroom activities with their parents, but the fun really begins when parents go to their parenting discussion and the big kids (ages three through five) get to "practice" going to preschool in the classroom while the younger siblings play in the sibling care classroom. There will be learning activities in small and large groups similar to those in preschool. Discussion topics will focus on helping children learn preschool skills as well as topics that foster growth and development. 

These three parenting issues can be challenging. Learn strategies and techniques to help smooth the rough edges of these essential tasks.

Studies prove that spending time outdoors builds confidence, promotes creativity, provides unique stimulation, and gets children moving, all while reducing stress and fatigue. Parents and children will learn about the outdoors and nature, both in and out of our greenhouse, through artwork and sensory experiences. Class will be spent inside and outdoors - even through the winter months.

As your children grow and change, so do their interests, needs and behaviors. Are you noticing how you parent might need to grow and change too?Meet with other preschool, to grade three parents along with a licensed parent educator, for coffee and conversation. Join us for friendship, sharing of ideas, information, strategies and support. Bring your own coffee or you can purchase coffee or other beverages in the Gathering Place.*Child care is available for children ages birth to kindergarten - $5/child. Registration is required.

Develop your child’s curiosity and learning through messy play and creative exploration. You and your child will benefit from the hands-on exploration of art materials while they create their own messy masterpieces. Join us for all of the fun without the stress of cleaning up!

Learning activities designed for children on the move. Parenting discussion occurs in the classroom so children can practice independence with a parent/caregiver nearby. Topics include responding to new behaviors, encouraging language development, preventing temper tantrums and more.

An evening packed with solid practical advice for parents of children from toddlers to teenagers, that shows you how to utilize the very stuff of family life – chores, mealtime, sibling rivalry, toilet training, bedtime and more – to create a home environment in which children can become self-disciplined, compassionate, responsible, resourceful, resilient human beings.  This is an adult only event - no childcare is available.Topics discussed: Alternatives to bribes and threats. Setting effective rules.  Power struggles - what, how, why, and when not to engage. Discipline and punishment - why one works and the other only appears to work. Keeping your cool without putting your feelings on ice. The online community - how to teach kids to be cyber savvy, civil, and safe. About the presenter:  Barbara Coloroso is an internationally recognized author, speaker and consultant on parenting, teaching, school discipline, positive school climate, bullying, grieving, non-violent conflict resolution and restorative justice. A mother of three, she has appeared on Oprah, CBS, NBC, ABC, CNN and NPR and has been featured in publications including the New York Times, Time, U.S. News & World Report and Newsweek.Barbara is the author of four international bestsellers: Kids are worth it! Raising resilient responsible, compassionate kids; Parenting with Wit and Wisdom; Parenting Through Crisis: Helping Kids in Times of Loss, Grief, and Change; The Bully, the Bullied, and the Bystander; and Just Because It’s Not Wrong Doesn’t Make It Right: From Toddlers to Teens, Teaching Kids to Think and Act Ethically. Among her video programs is the critically acclaimed Winning at Parenting.