Programs

Alberta Parenting for the Future Association (apfa) provides programs to families and family members that encourage and support individuals to strengthen their relationships within their families and communities.

apfa's family and parenting programs are confidential and most are free!!

Spring 2013 Program Schedule

Registration

Pre-registration is required for all apfa programs except Parent and Tot Drop-In.  To register in our programs, phone 780-963-0549.

Program Groups

Parent Education

Early Learning & Care

Family Support

Youth Programs

Programs for Fathers

Information & Referral

1-2-3 Magic (effective discipline for children ages 2-12)  

If you can count to three, you've got a good shot at changing your child's unacceptable behaviour.  1-2-3 Magic is an effective disciplining technique that has proven helpful for thousands of parents. 1-2-3 is very gentle. No arguing or yelling.  This technique gives children responsibility for their own behaviour.  You will help your children to stop unacceptable behaviours and to start acceptable ones.

(Almost) Everything You Want to Know About Parenting

This program is a variety of single night topics on current parenting issues such as:

• Parenting styles, what type are you? The Jellyfish, the Brick Wall, or the Backbone?
• Family Communication, I messages, body language, listening, using age appropriate language and direction.
• Rivalry within the family - sibling rivalry; parent to parent; and parent and child.
• Discipline - why is it important?  Consistent, clear directions!  Say what you mean and mean what you say!

Discipline - Who's in Charge?

This is a program that looks at tips for behaviour management of children two to six years old.  It will review:

• Stages of development and
• Strategies for managing unacceptable behaviours.

Kids Have Stress Too

This is a program to help parents recognize stress factors in their children and to develop coping strategies for them.  Too much stress can affect the physical, emotional, and social well being of the child - learn to recognize the signs.

Activities include strategies for identifying emotions and problem solving skills with the intent of reducing stress and increasing emotional and social intelligence.

Kids Really Do Listen

Learn some ideas that may help so everyone hears.  This is a program for parents and their children 6 to 12 years old.

PABA - Parenting-A Balancing Act
Parents explore ways to find a balance between being too harsh or too soft; too distant or too close.  They learn ways to adjust their parenting to deal with challenging situations.  Explore how to maintain a position of authority while supporting healthy family relationships.

Nobody's Perfect
This is a parenting education and support program for parents of children from birth to age five.  It builds on what parents already know and do for themselves and their children.  Discover positive ways of parenting.

Raising Amazing Kidz

This is a program that helps parents to be intentional about choices, knowing that what they do can have a tremendously positive impact in shaping the lives of children.  Research clearly shows what parents can do to build assets in their kids, so that they'll have a greater chance for success.

Raising Your Strong Willed Child

Do you have a child between 4 and 12 years old who is testing your parenting skills?  This program aims to help you improve your relationship with your child and raise your self confidence.  During program time, you and your child will have a chance to practice the ideas from the group.

Surviving Sibling Rivalry

This is a program for parents and their children 6 to 12 years old. It will help parents learn to focus on the strengths and abilities of their children encouraging healthy independence/interdependence and support patterns that produce self-confidence in their children. 

Triple P - Positive Parenting Program

How is it that children from the same family can be so alike in some ways and yet so different in others?  Answers to questions like this are available.  Triple P encourages as much parental self-reliance as is practical and helps parents understand the way their family works.

This is a program based on a system of simple routines and small changes that make big differences within families.  It is delivered in packages that are tailored to different age groups, developmental milestones, and family issues through groups, seminars, and one-on-one sessions.

Triple P - Primary

For parents with children newborn to nine years old, these information seminars and groups provide practical help with common parenting problems such as crying, tantrums, fighting, sleeping, feeding, homework, teasing and so much more.

Triple P - Teen

Positive parenting is an approach to parenting that aims to promote teenagers' development and behaviour in a constructive and non-hurtful way.

This program helps parents raise confident, competent, responsible teenagers who are connected to their community.

Delivered by accredited staff who are trained to provide each parent with tools directly relevant to the specific needs of their family, this program is for every parent.

Imagine being confident that your parenting is giving your kids the best start to life.  This is for every parent with children of every age.

What Now?
This is a program for parents and their children, newborn to six years old.  Learn positive parenting skills, such as limit setting, communication, and appropriate consequences for behaviour.

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"Making Connections" Aboriginal Playgroup

This is an opportunity for Aboriginal families to build on the bonding between parents and their children newborn to 6 years.

Books for Babies

Literacy can begin as soon as a child is born.  This program enhances literacy and is for parents and children newborn to 18 months.  Learning is enhanced through:

• Puppets   
• Rhymes
• Songs
• Storytelling and
• Lots of fun activities

Come Play With Me

This is an interactive play group for parents and children 18 to 36 months designed to enhance your child's development.

Parents will be introduced to activities that:

• Support developmental milestones
• Encourage child directed play
• Foster a strong parent/child bond

"Ages and Stages" Developmental Screening

apfa provides free, confidential "Ages and Stages" developmental screening and social/emotional screening for children ages 4 months to 60 months. 

This is an opportunity to learn about your child's development and ways to continue to support healthy growth in the following areas:

• Gross Motor Skills
• Fine Motor Skills
• Communication Skills
• Problem Solving Skills
• Personal and Social Skills

Tick Tock Time

This is an early literacy program for parents with children newborn to 4 years old.  At our sessions, you will learn rhymes, songs, and stories that may bring joy to your daily parenting routine.  This program will help develop a child's imagination and early language skills along with helping strengthen the bond between parent and child.

This is one of our most popular programs and is available in the following languages:

• English
• French/English
• German/English

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ADHD Support Group

This is a drop-in group for parents to share their challenges, concerns, and successes raising children with ADHD.  This program will help parents gather resources to support them to have a clearer understanding of ADHD and how to support their children.

In-Home Visitation

This is a voluntary, long term (up to 3-5 years) early intervention program for new parents. The family is visited in their home on a weekly basis to help the parents build on their own strengths, develop new skills, create supports, and achieve their goals.  They will receive information on:

• Child development
• Parenting tips
• Activities that promote healthy development of the child
• Community resources available to them.

Health for 2

This is a program to support a mother with a healthy pregnancy to ensure a healthy baby.  This is a free community based program for women wishing to learn more about a healthy pregnancy, delivery, and the care and nutrition of infants up to 6 months old.

Parents and Tot Drop-In

This is a drop-in program for parents with children newborn to 5 years old. Parents visit, kids play, and everyone can enjoy a little Tick Tock Time.

Pre-registration is not required for this program.

Parents Helping Parents

This is a support group for parents of children with special needs.  This group meets monthly to share their challenges and successes.  Are you looking for resources or have you found some resources you'd like to share with others?  Come and join the group - everyone has something to contribute.

Play Gym

Our indoor Play Gym is designed for children up to age 5; is free to use and is open daily.  It offers gross motor challenges in a small, friendly atmosphere.  Please call for times and dates as they change seasonally.

Postpartum Depression Group

Do you need information, or do you just need someone to talk to who understands because they are in the same situation?  This is a group that meets weekly and free child care is provided on site.  Please call Westview Public Health Nursing to register at 780-968-3700.

Walk 'N Talk

Bring your stroller or your wagon and your children to enjoy walking and talking with other parents.

Young Moms

This program is designed to meet the unique needs of pregnant and parenting moms up to age 24.  It is a place to meet others with the same concerns as you, share experiences, and learn parenting skills.  Children are Welcome!!

This program is co-presented with Spruce Grove FCSS.

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Hands-On-Dads

A two-hour evening program at the Westview Health Centre (with a Public Health Nurse) for dads-to-be, to provide them with a practical hands-on baby nurturing experience. 

Fathers-to-be will be coached in a safe, supportive, and understanding all-male environment by experienced dads who will bring their infants 6 to 12 months old to the session.

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Summer Day Camps

Day camps are for fun - fun for children aged 6 to 12 years.  These camps are offered in English as well as a French Immersion format.  Each spring the summer program will be available on our website.

Take the Lead (girls 9 to 13)

This is an interactive program just for girls 9 to 13 years old. A fun, interactive program that brings out their inner strength and encourages them to "Take the Lead" in their own life.

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apfa is a resource centre with a large selection of resources for everyone.  Call or come in, our staff are familiar with what the community and the region has to offer.