Counselors and psychologists in the Neenah Joint School District are helping parents tackle many of their toughest issues in a seminar called “Parenting the Love and Logic Way.”
With six two-hour sessions held on Thursday nights at Spring Road Elementary School from April 17-May 22, parents are learning skills such as how to motivate, respect, discipline and relate with their children.
Katie Kessen-Checki, a first-year counselor at Hoover and Tullar Elementary Schools, helped bring the program to Neenah and has worked with a team of District counselors and psychologists, who are all trained to facilitate the program. Love and Logic is a nationally-based program that began in 1977 and has been used by schools and parents worldwide.
“Love and Logic is such a positive way to parent,” said Kessen-Checki, who worked with the program the past seven years in the Oshkosh Area School District. “I love it as a parent and a counselor. I use the skills all the time to build long-lasting relationships with my students and my son. My hope is to pass this knowledge on to other parents and staff within the District so they can feel the same way.”
Other Neenah staff members involved with the program are Renee Briester, Amanda Kilsdonk, Jamie Lasee, Lori Marzahl, Felicia Torres and Linda Wunderlich. Each of them went through the training and have been facilitating the sessions. Childcare is provided at the sessions by Neenah High School and Middle School students and District staff members. The sessions are limited to 40 parents and costs just 10 dollars per person.
“The parents are thoroughly engaged and asking so many great questions,” Kessen-Checki said. “They must be enjoying it because they continuously come back.”
One parent said, “The class has been very helpful with changing my thinking. It seems like common sense, but it takes practice. I have been able to use the techniques to help with control issues with my three-year old daughter and we both seem calmer.”
Another class is being prepared for the fall and signups will be offered in late summer. |