Set for March 23 is a parenting conference being led by Berrien RESA.
RESA Early Childhood Education Director Kerenda Applebey tells us “Parenting Matters in Berrien County: Navigating Your Parent Journey” will feature workshops and presentations on a variety of topics that could be helpful to parents.
RESA started holding these conferences prior to COVID and got a strong response. The goal is to help improve the educational performance of children in the county.
“If you want kids to do well in school, then you have to make sure their parents have all the tools that they need because parents are their children’s first and most influential teachers,” Applebey said.
Applebey says when the conference was brought back last year after a COVID break, it attracted renewed interest. Already this year, more parents have registered than in 2023.
What are some of the topics that will be covered?
“We have a couple of workshops on father’s role in parenting. We have a workshop called Seashells, Pizzas, and Acorn Soup, which is about how to support preschool kids with learning. And of course, we have stuff on language and literacy skills.”
Other presentations will be on emotional development, potty training, and the value of playtime.
The event will be Saturday, March 23 at the Berrien RESA Administrative Conference Center in Berrien Springs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. They’re offering free childcare for the day, and attendance is free.
