Keeping Children Safe and Secure Online: A Project Safe Childhood Presentation for Families on May 29

The U.S. Attorney General’s Office will host a presentation: Keeping Children Safe and Secure Online: A Project Safe Childhood Presentation for Families on May 29, 2018, from
7:00 pm – 8:30 pm at ARMS.

The presentation will include: being safe and secure online; Social Media 101; Digital Footprint; Gaming; Sexting and Cyberbullying; Sextortion; and Internet Predators

Click here for further information.

Valley ADHD Parent Support Group Monthly Meeting on May 7

next meeting:

Monday, May 7, 2018

1st Monday of Every Month

6:30pm - 8:00pm

Northampton Area Pediatrics, LLP

193 Locust St., Northampton

Conference Room

          Join other area parents and caregivers to...

-         Receive ADHD information and support

-         Be heard without being judged

-         Hear how others cope with similar issues and challenges

-         Learn about local resources for families

-         Hear from area specialists on pertinent topics

-         Learn new strategies to try at home

-         Leave feeling empowered and hopeful

Light refreshments will be available.

Questions?  Please contact:

ValleyADHDfamilies@gmail.com

Basic Rights in Special Education Workshop on March 19 at 5pm

Please note that the Basic Rights in Special Education Workshop scheduled for 3/12/2018 has been rescheduled for March 19. Details below:

Basic Rights in Special Education. Monday March 19, 2018 @ 5:00 PM, ARHS Library.  Please mark your calendars and join us for this informative workshop for parents and professionals.

RSVP to SEPAC@ARPS.org or call (413) 687-4255.

Tenga en cuenta que el taller de derechos básicos en educación especial programado para esta noche, 12 de marzo de 2018, ha sido reprogramado. Detalles a continuación:

Derechos básicos en educación especial. Lunes 19 de marzo de 2018 @ 5:00 PM, Biblioteca de ARHS. Por favor marque sus calendarios y únase a nosotros para este taller informativo para padres y profesionales.

RSVP a SEPAC@ARPS.org o llame al (413) 687-4255.

Basic Rights in Special Education Workshop – English

Basic Rights in Special Education Workshop – Spanish

What To Know About Kids And Screen Time

ARHS Principal Mark Jackson shared the following information about screen time:

What To Know About Kids And Screen Time

Almost as soon as they can focus past the end of their noses, babies today are waving at Grandpa on video chat and swiping the screens on all kinds of devices. There’s a lot of panic, anxiety, guilt and shame out there about kids and screens.

And now there’s a book from one of NPR’s Ed team members. Anya Kamenetz’s latest, The Art of Screen Time: How Your Family Can Balance Digital Media And Real Life, set out to answer the question: What’s the best approach to take to tech? She says she feels it— all of it — as a mother. And as a reporter she has been interested in the intersection of children and technology for many years.

Take the Screen Time quiz

Check out our previous coverage on young children and small screens

View a round up of some of the latest research on screen timeAs always, send tips, responses or story ideas to npred@npr.org.

As always, send tips, responses or story ideas to npred@npr.org.

Northampton Area Pediatrics Parenting Workshop on January 21

Marijuana and Vaping: Are They Really Harmless?

Parents and teens are welcome to come hear a presentation and open discussion on these two subjects. Among the topics covered will be: how does THC effect the developing brain, what are the current medical uses of marijuana in the pediatric population, what are the latest vaping devices, what do we know and what don’t we know about the health consequences of vaping.

Presenters will be Jonathan Schwab, M.D., Medical Director of Northampton Area Pediatrics and Melinda Calianos, Director of Hampshire Franklin Tobacco Free Community Partnership.

New time (for this workshop only)!

Sunday, January 21st

1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.

193 Locust St., Northampton

RSVP by calling 413-517-2226 or email contactus@napeds.com

Parenting workshops are open to the community and free of charge.

Helping Our Toddlers, Developing Our Children’s Skills (HOT DOCS)

Helping Our Toddlers, Developing Our Children’s Skills (HOT DOCS)

A Partnership Between the University of Massachusetts Amherst School Psychology Program and the ARPS Family Center

The ARPS Family Center is working with the University of Massachusetts School Psychology program to offer ARPS parent/guardian a unique opportunity to sign up for a 7-session workshop to improve family interactions, decrease stress, and build parenting skills! 

HOT DOCS is a parent/guardian education program for families of young children (2-7 years of age) who have some challenging behaviors. This program is appropriate for caregivers and parent/guardian of all children, including those with disabilities.  During the (7 week) 2-hour group sessions, you will be able to connect with other parent/guardians to learn specific strategies and parenting tips to prevent and manage your child’s problem behaviors. 

HOT DOCS Course Preview:

Week # 1 – Early Childhood Development.

Week # 2 – Routines, Rituals, and Development.

Week # 3 – Development and Behavior.

Week # 4 – Developing Preventions.

Week # 5 – Teaching New Skills.

Week # 6 – Planning New Responses.

Week # 7 – Reducing Stress the HOT DOCS Way

This program has been used with thousands of families who report improvements in family well-being and decreased parent stress.  Together with other parents, you will learn more about child development, engage in hands-on activities, watch and discuss videos, and practice applying HOT DOCS problem-solving approach to real-world parenting scenarios.

At home, you will complete brief daily activities with your child to practice the skills learned in class. After you complete the training, you will be able to figure out why your child misbehaves, and have the tools necessary to help your child be more successful at home and at school.

We will offer HOT DOCS in two seven-week session on Tuesdays.  Each session will last for 2 hours.  Light refreshments will be served.

The first session will meet on Tuesday mornings from 9:00am – 11:00am on:  9-26-2017 / 10-3-2017 / 10-10-2017 / 10-17-2017 / 10-24-2017 / 10-31-2017 / 11-7-2017

The second session will meet on Tuesday evenings from 5:30pm – 7:30pm on:  11-14-2017 / 11-21-2017 / 11-28-2017 / 12-5-2017 / 12-12-2017 / 12-19-2017 / 1-3-2018

Baby and Me 2017-2018 Home Visiting Program

September 13 is the deadline for enrollment in the Baby and Me 2017-2018 home visiting program. 

This free program includes home visiting for expecting parents or families with children 3 and under (at the time of enrollment), free books and toys during visits with an emphasis on reading, talking and playing and an 8 week parent education group.

Click here for a printable flyer: https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B-2bHm-1AjRfVHJuVUxSbjdTZzQ

Community Dialogue Co-Sponsored by EmbraceRace and ARPS on September 18

Charlottesville and the threatened end of DACA are only the most recent in a

seemingly endless series of potentially traumatizing racialized developments. Come hear from--and share insights, observations, and concerns with--other caregivers

working to support children in trying times.

Date: Monday, September 18, 2017

Time: 6:30 p.m.

Location: Library, Amherst Regional High School

If you plan to attend the September 18th parent/guardian event co-sponsored by ARPS and the organization Embrace Race and will need childcare, please remember to contact Debbie Westmoreland at 362-1823 or westmorelandd@arps.org no later than Wednesday, September 13.

Click here for a printable flyer: https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B-2bHm-1AjRfSGJmY2s1bWYxNUE

Community Dialogue Co-Sponsored by EmbraceRace and ARPS on September 18

All are invited to an important community dialogue co-sponsored by ARPS and the local organization Embrace Race. The event will focus on providing a space for conversation and connection concerning the role parents/guardians play in supporting their children's responses to, and experiences of, recent national events such as that which recently occurred in Charlottesville, Virginia. 

Please mark your calendars for Monday, September 18 at 6:30 p.m. and join us in the High School Library for this important conversation. If you want to come but will need childcare, please contact Debbie Westmoreland at 362-1823 or westmorelandd@arps.org no later than Wednesday, September 13. 

Learn more about Embrace Race through these resources:
10 Tips for Teaching and Talking to Kids about Race (Spanish)
10 Tips for Teaching and Talking to Kids about Race (English)

SEPAC Event: "Raising a Happy Child" on Tuesday, April 26 at 6:30 pm in ARMS Auditorium ... Open to All!