Parent Education and Support

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Parent programs are offered on a variety of topics and range from one-time workshops to multi-week series. Programs provide parents an opportunity to answer questions and develop new skills in a supportive and confidential environment. Class schedules are published quarterly and include such topics as growth and development, empowerment, empathy, positive discipline, and co-parenting. Most classes are offered free of charge and many include dinner and childcare. On-going support groups are also offered. Please see our current schedule for a list of upcoming programs, and look below for a more detailed description of each. To register, please call (603) 524-1741 or email frc@lrcs.org. Upcoming programs can also be seen on the LRCS Calendar.

Parenting Programs

Active Parenting of Teens

Monday evenings from 6:00-8:00 pm (6 weeks)
Active Parenting of Teens will give parents of middle and high school students the guidance and support needed to turn the challenges of raising a teenager into opportunities for growth. Topics include: methods of respectful discipline; skills for clear, honest communication; strategies to prevent risky behavior, how to be an encouraging parent; and issues such as teens on-line, bullying and depression. $20 materials fee per family. Scholarships are available. Get the current session information.

Parenting Journey *

Monday evenings from 5:30-7:30 pm (12 Weeks)
A twelve week curriculum designed for parents who want to learn more about themselves, their relationships, and the resources they need to effectively parent their children. In a warm and nurturing environment parents are supported and encouraged to care for themselves and each other while participating in a series of experiential exercises. Get the current session information. Dinner served from 5:30-6:00

Nurturing Skills for FamiliesTM *

Tuesdays evenings from 5:30-8:00 pm. See schedule for current modules.
In this evidence-based program parents will learn new beliefs, knowledge, and skills that improve their family’s overall level of functioning. The course is made up of four modules—Developing Empathy and Self-Awareness; Positive Discipline Practices and Techniques; Developing Personal Power and Keeping Kids Safe; and Understanding Children’s Growth and Development. Each module is made up of five classes, and incoming parents will be asked to participate in an orientation offered at the start of each module. Once orientation is complete, parents and other caregivers can choose to join us for one module or for the entire series. Get the current session information. Dinner served from 5:30-6:00.

"... the very helpful and genuinely caring, understanding, nonjudgmental staff that I've grown to respect and really appreciate"

Parent Education participant

READY! for Kindergarten *

Thursday evening from 5:30-7:30 pm
READY! is a free program for parents of children ages birth to five, available to Laconia families. Get new information about how children learn and grow, plus easy learning activities that are fun to do at home. Get the current session information, and visit http://www.readyforkindergarten.org/laconia.

Cooperative Co-Parenting *

Thursday evenings from 6 - 8 pm (3 weeks)

This series is for divorced and / or separated parents and other caregivers who are raising children. Topics include: coping through stress and transition, skills for dealing with stress and anger, positive communication, how to reduce conflict, negotiating agreements, mediation and guardianship. Get the current session information.

Step Ahead Program

The goal of Step Ahead is to assist families with children under the age of eighteen with supports and services. We believe that support needs to be given on an individual basis. This enables the family to be in control of their own future while assisting them to meet the needs it identifies as concerns. This is best achieved through a process, which includes encouraging families to identify their strengths and needs and assisting them in concrete problem solving and resource acquisition. Through this process, we aim to empower and strengthen families as to how they can help themselves in the future and create support network. This is a voluntary program and referrals come from a variety of sources, including this referral form. Services are free and include the following:

Home visiting

Family Aides

Health Education

Child Development Education

Health Education

Life Skills Training

Resource Coordination

Childcare Resources

Family Empowerment

Information and Referral

"The home visits bring information and assurance (that) I am doing okay. "

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"The best part of the program? Just knowing that I was doing the best I could with what I had."

On-Going Programs & Support

Connecting the Puzzle: Intensive Autism Supports for Families

Class times vary. Call for current schedule.
For families with children ages birth to five on the Autism Spectrum. Connecting the Puzzle aims to create a learning environment that teaches parents to encourage, educate, support, and advocate for their child with ASD. Parents spend three days per week in the center working directly with their children, overseen by educators and therapists. In addition, families receive one home visit per week to ensure that strategies can be implemented in a variety of settings.

Get more information on Connecting the Puzzle.

Piece by Piece: A Group for Children with Autism and their Siblings

Monday and Thursday afternoons from 3:30- 4:30pm. Call to enroll in next session. (8 weeks)
A learning opportunity for children and their families to come together to develop strategies for integrating meaningful activities into their daily routine. Families will be invited to share in activities such as snacks, crafts and movement games with visual supports that will carry over into the home environment. A limit of 8 children. An 8-week commitment is requested. $10 fee per week. Scholarships available.

Get more information on Piece by Piece.

Giggles and Grins Playgroup

Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday mornings from 9:00-11:00 am

A free, inclusive community playgroup that provides young children with the opportunity to play and develop critical social-emotional skills. Families have the chance to share parenting ideas and concerns, establish friendships, and decrease isolation. Get more information on Giggles and Grins.

Music with Mar

Most Monday mornings from 10:00-10:45 am
A weekly class where caregiver and child participate together in musical activities which enhance the four main areas of development-cognitive, social, motor and language. A good music foundation, as well as an all around good academic foundation, is laid through the use of well thought out lyrics and movements.

Get the current schedule here.

Better Together

Fourth Thursday of the month from 4:00-6:00 pm at Laconia Middle School

Better Together is a grassroots effort to rekindle our spirit of neighborhood and community in the Lakes Region. Join us at the Laconia Middle School to share your vision for our community and lend your energy and enthusiasm to various teams and projects working to make the Lakes Region the best place for children and families. Get more information on Better Together, or visit www.bettertogetherlakesregion.org.

LRCS' Family Resource Newsletter!

Please enjoy our Family Resource Newsletter, which includes information on where to find assistance in a variety of areas.

Join our email list

Family Resource Center

719 North Main Street * Laconia NH 03246 * (603) 524-1741 * Email: frc@lrcs.org

Please Consider Making a Donation

Each year, LRCS supports more than 1200 Lakes Region residents. Your
tax-deductible donation to LRCS will help ensure that everyone in our community
has the chance to lead a fully inclusive life.