Stepping Stones Parenting Conference Based on The “Solid Foundation” Saturday, February 27, 2010 8:30 am to 12:15 pm at First Byron Christian Reformed Church 2450 85th Street, Byron Center, MI

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WORKSHOPS

Home Discipleship, Keynote Address

Steve Elzinga, Pastor of Pathway Church, Byron Center, MI will be delivering the opening keynote address for the conference. He will be discussing the importance of “Home Discipleship” -- the quality of church together is largely dependent on church at home.

1. Shepherding a Child’s Heart

   Pastor Dale Van Dyke, Harvest Orthodox Presbyterian Church, will take the principles of the book “Shepherding a Child’s Heart” and share   how the gospel is the critical but often neglected tool of Christian parenting. Using his own successes and failures as a parent of four, he will help you learn how to raise kids who are not simply moral but who have learned to live in the gospel.

2. Avoiding Power Struggles

   Dave Blakeslee, Training Coordinator, Wedgwood Institute. During this workshop, you will explore the components that lead to no-win clashes of willpower, offering tips on understanding our own needs as parents and techniques for de-escalating conflicts with children. (ages 4—10)

3. A Firm Foundation: Introducing Structure and Scripture as a Framework for Parenting.

   Jamie Bosch, M.D., Pediatrician and homeschooling mother of four, will share insights on establishing home routines and using Scripture in training young children. (infant— preschool)

4. Angry Teens — How to Keep Your Cool When They Have Lost Theirs

   Megan Lee, LLMSW and Sharon Ronan, MA, LLP, CAAC, Bethany Christian Services. Tips and techniques for understanding anger in teens   as well as creative ways to respond. The focus will be on ways to recognize and intervene positively when you see signs of anger in your             adolescent. Miss Lee has a wealth of experience both as a special education teacher and school social worker. Mrs. Ronan has worked with      teens and their parents as a teacher and in-home therapist.

5. Improving Study Skills: Linking School & Home

   Aimee Paulson, The Traveling Teacher. Because each student deserves every opportunity to succeed, this workshop will highlight learning styles and how they can be utilized in studying, time management for students and tips for helping your child study for tests.

6. Air, Technology and Social Networking — The Challenges of Parenting in the Midst of a Technological Change.

        Prof. Darwin Glassford, Assoc. Prof. of Church Education, Dir. of M.A. Programs, Calvin Theological Seminary. Parenting is a challenging                 endeavor; parenting in the midst of rapid social and technological change intensifies the challenge. Explore the challenges of parenting in light of the         increasing popularity and explosive devel-opment of social networking sites like Myspace, Facebook; and micro-blogging sites such as Twitter.
       

Registration Form