MI Parenting Center Classes

Explore our Innovative Parenting Center
Did you know we have a nationally recognized Parenting Center right here at the SJCC Early Childhood School?

The SJCC Parenting Center offers activities in a warm and nurturing environment for people of all ages: infants, toddlers, preschoolers, parents, and grandparents. Our educational classes and lectures, support groups, and baby playtime brings our Parenting Center alive with activity and learning. Our programs, classes, and support services are designed to strengthen emotional bonds between parents and children and promote optimal child development.

We would like to invite you to join one of these Parenting Center classes. As a parent, this is truly one of the best gives you can give yourself and your family.

Reflective Parenting

This innovative eight-week worship is for parents of children between the ages of 18 months to 8 years of age. The aim of the program is to help parents develop skills to enhance their ability to understand and build stronger relationships with their children.In Reflective Parenting groups parents gain confidence by expanding their understanding of the meaning of their children’s behavior. Parents who are able to regain a state of calm are more engaged, more effective, and therefore feel empowered and successful. For more information about future class dates and to register please visit www.communityofmindfulparents.com or call 206-275-0104. 

Parenting with a Jewish Lens with Rivy
Fridays through June 7, 9:40-11 a.m.
20 sessions - a year of learning
SJCC Members $100/Non-members $130
Internationally renowned Jewish educator Rivy Kletenik, Head of School at Seattle Hebrew Academy, and known for being one of the best Jewish educators in the country is starting a Jewish parenting program at the J.

This program, part of the National Florence Melton School, will provide an opportunity for you to bring the Jewish conversation home to share with your children and will tackle a variety of Jewish topics around parenting in a Jewish context. Topics will include day to day values, giving respect/expecting respect, creating Jewish space, and stories of hope.

What parents have said about this program: “Rivy’s class was one of the most memorable and impactful experiences that I have ever done as a parent,” and “I learned how to create meaningful moments for my children and family that I will carry through as they grow.”

Register now >>

Contact SJCC Senior Director of Family Education and Outreach Dana Weiner at DanaW@sjcc.org or 206-388-1992 for more information.

Creative Beginnings
18-30 months with parent/caregiver

9:45-11 a.m.
SJCC Mercer Island campus

Creative Beginnings is a time for your child-together with a parent or caregiver  to explore the richness of our preschool program through art, creative play,music, and storytelling. Parents and children will facilitate exploration and socialization alongside longtime Early Childhood teacher Laura Selby. As your children are developing social, emotional and cognitive skills in this group setting, the parents and caregivers are also developing a community of new friends and entering the J family. Open exploration is followed by a group time over refreshments; parents and teacher take turns supplying small snack.

Summer Sessions offered are:

June Mondays SJCC member $30.88, guest $37.40

July Mondays SJCC member $77.20 guest $93.50

July Wednesdays SJCC member $77.20,guest $93.50

August Mondays SJCC member $30.88,guest $37.40

August Wednesdays SJCC member $30.88,guest $37.40

July/August Mondays and Wednesdays SJCC member $216.16,guest $261.80 (14 classes)

Minimum 5/Maximum 9 (will add second section if needed)

Register Now>>

If you would like more information, please contact Instructor Laura Selby at lauraselby@comcast.net.

Listening Mothers™ 
Moms with babies up to 6 months old 
SJCC Mercer Island Campus
Thursdays, May 2-June 6
10 a.m.-noon
Instructor: Stephanie Hardwick

The Listening Mothers™ program offers a unique opportunity for parents of babies, birth through six months of age, to discover the joys of parenting. Study after study shows that today's parents are more stressed than ever before. Are you one of these well-intended but overwhelmed parents? If you are, we have a program just for you. Our researched-based curriculum will turn the present moment into a pleasant moment! The program includes:

* Non-judgmental environment in which each parent can discover and share their own inner wisdom.
* Easy-to-master mindful-based skills that help reduce stress and increase sense of well-being.
* Experienced facilitators who are trained in healthy emotional development who will explore with parents the possible meanings of their baby’s behavior as well as the impact of the baby’s behavior on the parents.
* A chance to learn the importance of self regulation: skillful ways of staying calm in the face of a storm.
* A way of being with your baby that is effective, nurturing, trust building, and joyful.
* Skills on becoming more attuned to yourself and your baby.
* A community of like-minded supportive parents who, like yourself, aspire to be the best parent they can be and are willing to embark on the parenting journey with an open mind, curiosity, and wiliness to explore!

Lil' Bubblers Swim Experience
6 months to 3 years; parent and child class
Sundays 9 a.m. and 9:45 a.m.

See Aquatics for more information>>

Mindful Interactions with Your Baby
7-14 months with parent
Tuesdays, 9:45-10:45 a.m.
January 8-June 4
Mercer Island SJCC
Instructors: Vicki Smolke and Beverly Pressey
This year-long class will provide an opportunity for parents to focus on nurturing and establishing an authentic and trusting relationship with their child through observation and interaction. Additional topics will include developmental stages, positive discipline, play and learning, and sleep. Parents will engage in discussions to better understand their child’s point of view and respond respectfully and sensitively to the cues given by their child. The infant-oriented environment will encourage the infants to focus on exploring and mastering new tasks at their own pace. Max 10 participants.

For more information or if you would like to join after the start date please contact SJCC Senior Director of Family Education and Outreach Dana Weiner at DanaW@sjcc.org or 206-388-1992.

Tot Shabbat 
No registration necessary   
Fridays, 9:45- 10:30 a.m. 
Auditorium Foyer, MI SJCC
Join us with your children and celebrate Shabbat with songs and challah on Friday mornings.

2012-13 Tot Shabbat Schedule - Mercer Island campus
May 10 - Eric Lawson
May 24 - Eric Lawson at 9:45 - then at 10:30 join PJ Library for storytelling an a book activity
June 7 - Cantor Bradlee Kurland, Herzl-Ner Tamid
June 7 - Eric Lawson
June 21 - Eric Lawson at 9:45 - then at 10:30 join PJ Library for storytelling an a book activity
July 5 - Eric Lawson
July 19 - Eric Lawson
August 2 - Eric Lawson
August 9  - Eric Lawson

For more information about any of the following programs please contact SJCC Senior Director of Family Education and Outreach Dana Weiner at DanaW@sjcc.org or 206-388-1992.