Parenting is hard. In each generation, students face new pressures while parents struggle to keep abreast of the latest trends. Mustang Public Schools has invited experts to help parents navigate the rougher waters of helping their children grow up. Parent University is free and will be held from 6 p.m. to 8:15 p.m., Feb. 9, at Centennial Elementary, 700 S. Czech Hall Road. Mustang High School National Honor Society students and FCCLA members will provide free childcare.
Kim Baker, crisis counselor at Mustang High School, said the topics were chosen based on the data from recent student surveys. Event organizers also talked to the school counselors at every level about what issues they are seeing impact children.
“Parents cannot be too educated on what their children are facing in school and in society,” Baker said. “They need to have every bit of information they possibly can so they can help their kids. The data shows that kids are vulnerable and sometimes all it may take is a little bit of knowledge that might prevent a child from going down the wrong path.”
Parents will have the opportunity to attend any two of the following sessions.
• Understanding Your Child’s Anger – presented by Justine Smith from the Canadian County Children’s Justice Center
• Planning for Your Kid’s Future – information on scholarships and preparing your child for life after graduation by MPS Counselor Christie Lorenz
• Drug Trends Facing Our Kids Today – presented by Mike Snowden, Agent-in-Charge of Training and Education with the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs
• Health Issues Facing Today’s Kids – presented by the Mustang Public Schools nurses, including topics like cutting in today’s youth
• HIV/AIDS Awareness – presented by Mustang Public Schools’ nurses
• Bullying Prevention and Interventions for Parents – presented by Michael Ellison from the Canadian County Children’s Justice Center
Baker said every year she has good parents who are stunned by something they learn about their child.
“Children filter what they tell their parents,” she said. “They often don’t want their parents to worry about them or maybe they are afraid they’ll get in trouble. Earlier this year I had a set of great parents in my office who were flabbergasted about what they discovered their child had been doing. They had no idea what warning signs to look for.”
Registration begins at 6 p.m. Please pre-register if possible by calling the district administration office at 376-2461 so the event organizers will have a adequate seating available. Participants who cannot pre-register may still attend and register at the door. A community resources room with information on programs and services in Canadian County will be available. Attendees are encouraged to walk through the community resource room before and in-between sessions.
