Cornell presents parenting and nutrition workshops for parents

MIDDLETOWN — This fall, Cornell Cooperative Extension offers a wide variety of parenting and nutrition programs for parents and caregivers with young children to those with adult children who are still at home.

Healthy Children Healthy Families is a fun, free, interactive eight-session series to help parents to learn how to make healthy habits happen within their family by combining nutrition, physical activity and positive parenting practices. The first series will be held at Cornell Cooperative Extension, 18 Seward Ave., Middletown starting Sept. 25 from 6 to 8 p.m. each day and the other will be held at the Welcome Center, 191 Washington St., Newburgh starting on Oct. 3 from 10 a.m. to noon.

Strengthening Families is a free, seven-session series designed to help parents/caregivers and their youth, ages 10 to 14, strengthen communication, work through problems together and develop peer resistance skills. The series will be held at Warwick Valley Middle School, 225 West St., Warwick beginning Oct. 2 from 5:45 to 9 p.m. A light family meal and child care for children ages 3 to 9 will be provided with pre-registration.

What Do You Do With the Mad That You Feel? This four-session series will help parents learn strategies to address children’s anger and frustration. It also will address bullying issues. The program will be held at Little Britain Elementary School, 1160 Little Britain Road, New Windsor beginning on Oct. 3 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. There is a $40 per family fee.

Discipline is NOT a Dirty Word is a foundational, fun and interactive three- or four-session series to help parents and caregivers learn and practice seven principles of positive discipline. Sites include: Infant Saviour Church, 14 Holland Ave., Pine Bush beginning on Oct. 8 for four weeks from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. and Cornell Cooperative Extension, 18 Seward Ave., Middletown, on Nov. 6, from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. for three weeks. There is a $30 or $40 per family fee depending upon series length.

They’re Back…or They Never Left! This new three-session series will assist parents and caregivers who have adult children in their home, either because they have returned or never left. Topics will include “house rules,” division of responsibility, respectful communication strategies and financial issues. This program will be held at Cornell Cooperative Extension, 18 Seward Ave., Middletown beginning Nov. 7 from 6 to 8:30 p.m. The fee is $40 per family.

Getting Ready for the Teen Years is a four-session series that will explore the changing dynamics in families with teenagers. Topics including parent-teen communication, keeping kids safe and technology related issues. The series will be held at the Newburgh Board of Education, 124 Grand St., Newburgh, beginning Nov. 12 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. There is a $40 per family fee.

Early pre-registration is required as space is limited. Cornell Cooperative Extension’s Family and Consumer Sciences Department provides additional parenting, nutrition, and family economics education and resources. Call for more information at 845-344-1234, or to obtain program brochures or visit the “Parenting and Family Life” page on the Web-site, www.cce.cornell.edu/orange.