Helping Families Thrive: Fostering Families Committee Begins Workshops

Re-printed from the Winter 2010 Piper
By: Joy Peacock, Community Vice President, 2010-11

Fostering Families is one of our Community Projects and was featured in our Fall 2010 Piper magazine. This reprint features the upcoming classes planned for this League Year.

FOSTERING FAMILIES 2010-2011 CLASSES

At the beginning of each session, children will be grouped with a leader for dinner that includes a fun “ice breaker” to establish a social connection. They will be given an opportunity to practice and improve their basic everyday etiquette. Following dinner, the children will participate in a craft project related to the evening's curriculum. After completing the craft, the children will re-group to practice in social transitions. The new group will engage in a team-building exercise that explores emotional expression and how that affects their ability to communicate with others. At the conclusion of the evening, the children will return to their original group and be given an opportunity to share their experiences. A take-home packet reinforces each evening’s program.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT
Self Esteem
Sept 13th, 5:30 - 8:00 PM
Self-Talk
Oct 4th, 5:30 - 8:00 PM

This first curriculum will focus on personal development and a child’s sense of self through games and exercises relative to the topics below. Following dinner, the children will participate in a craft project that explores and affirms the inherent good in every child, fostering self-esteem and exploring their inner voice (self-talk).
Exercises:
• Self-Talk
• How to Communicate with Friends and Family
• The Concept of Self-Esteem
• Listening Skills
• Interpersonal Communication

INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION
Assertiveness
Nov 8th, 5:30 - 8:00 PM
Conflict Resolution
Jan 10th, 5:30 - 8:00 PM (to volunteer for this click here)

The second curriculum will focus on interpersonal communication and improving a child’s communication skills through games and exercises relative to the topics below. Following dinner, the children will participate in a craft project that focuses on how they feel in their relationships with family, healthy assertiveness, and managing conflict.
Exercises:
• Assertiveness at Home and at School
• Managing Conflict
• Maintaining Good Emotional Health
• Emotional Expressiveness

RELATIONSHIPS
Respectful Behavior
Feb 7th, 5:30 - 8:00 PM (to volunteer for this click here)
Anger Management
Mar 7th, 5:30 - 8:00 PM (to volunteer for this click here)

The third curriculum will focus on relationships and helping a child understand their value in relationships through games and exercises relative to the topics below. Following dinner, the children will participate in a craft project that focuses on how they feel in their relationships with family and friends, the power of respectful behavior, and the damage caused by un-harnessed anger.
Exercises:
• The Impact of Respectful and Responsible Behavior
• The Impact of Abuse and Dishonesty
• Anger Management Techniques
• Community Development


Get Involved!
This year, to further support Fostering Families you can volunteer to be either an assistant at one of the sessions described above, or help prepare and serve dinner. Actives can fulfill their DIAD obligation and get a sneak peek of the project for possible placement on next year's committee! Open to Provisionals, Actives and Sustainers, you can even
bring your family (children over 12 welcome) to prepare dinner. For more information, please see our website, www.thejuniorleague.org.

Our next DIAD shift is Monday, January 10th. Available shifts are for Kitchen Assistants 4:30-6:30pm and Table Assistants (assisting the children with projects) 5-8:15pm. Sign up online: Member Area/Volunteer Shifts (in Quick Links), choose January, 10 2011.