"Parents Survive & Thrive" Speaker Program at Preschool Family!
Friends of Preschool Family’s Speaker Program is a wonderful addition to our community of parents, teachers and alumni as well as a terrific resource for the community at large. Created to supplement Preschool Family’s commitment to parent education, the Speaker Program features leading experts in the areas of parent education, childhood development, family counseling, forgiveness and other topics relevant to our community. Survive and Thrive Speakers Series events are open to the community, free of charge.
Up Coming Events
Spring 2019
Survive & Thrive Series — Teaching Kindness to Kids
by Muffie Waterman, PhD on Wednesday, March 27th, 7:30pm to 9:00pm at Cubberley Theatre
Kindness is more than just being nice. An attitude of kindness enables all other things to flourish, including mental and physical well being, and effective collaboration. Come hear how we can grow our children's innate desire to help others, preparing them also to thrive in a fast- paced world.
Muffie Waterman is author of Wired to Listen: What Kids Learn from What We Say, a book about choosing our words when we talk to our children.
The free event takes place Wednesday, March 27, from 7:30 - 9pm at the Cubberley Community Center Theatre. Arrive early (at 7pm) to mingle with classmates and enjoy complimentary drinks at the espresso cart.
Prior Events
On Nov. 7, 2018, Keri Bates, a Greendell School Psychologist, and Stephanie Bowen, an educational specialist at Greendell, spoke about Developmental Red Flags and how families can seek services at Greendell and elsewhere if they are concerned about speech, physical or other developmental delays in their children.
On March 5th, 2018, Kristene Geering spoke on the neurological significance of parents making a loving attachment with their children.
On March 23rd, 2017, Sylvia Ford spoke on Young Minds Require Creative Discipline.
On March 14, 2016, Dr. Robert Brooks, psychologist on the faculty of Harvard Medical School, spoke on Raising Resilient Children.
On November 5, 2015, Rachelle Doorley spoke on How to Inspire Creativity through Hands-on Making for Toddlers.
On March 3, 2015, Matthew C. Andrews, Ph.D. spoke on How to Create Play and Projects that Promote Lifelong Learning for the Whole Family.
On February 3, 2014, Kate Williams Browne spoke on Guiding Young Children: Social-Emotional Problem Solving. Kate Williams Browne received her MA in Early Childhood Education from The University of Michigan, and a BA in Psychology from Stanford University. She is the head of Skyline College’s ECE/EDU Department.
On November 21, 2013, Dr. Annye Rothenberg spoke on Toilet Learning. Annye Rothenberg, Ph.D., is a San Francisco Bay Area child/parent psychologist and a specialist in childrearing and development of young children.
On February 25th, 2013, Mike Lanza spoke on children: “players” vs. “doers”
On May 3, 2012, Sylvia Ford spoke on creative discipline.
On Feb. 23, 2011, Bonnie Maldonado spoke on infectious diseases and immunization.
On Mar. 23, 2011, Dr. Grace Yu spoke on food allergies and dermatitis.
On Feb. 3, 2010 Dr. Thomas N. Robinson spoke on health and disease prevention for children, adolescents and families. He is the Irving Schulman Endowed Professor in Child Health at Stanford University. Dr. Thompson is a Professor of Pediatrics and Medicine and is the Director of the Center for Healthy Weight at the Stanford University School of Medicine and Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital at Stanford.
On March 2, 2010 Dr. Rafael Pelayo spoke about children and sleep. Dr. Pelayo is a Bay Area specialist in pediatric sleep disorders and associate professor in the Stanford Sleep Disorders Clinic at Stanford University School of Medicine.
On March 11, 2009 we hosted a lecture on the subject of nutrition for children, given by Dr. Raquel Burgos.
On April 7, 2009 we hosted a lecture/discusion titled "Ask the Sleep Doctor". Dr. Rafael Pelayo, a bay area specialist in pediatric sleep disorders, spoke about children and sleep, followed by a Q&A session.
On March 6, 2008, we hosted a lecture/discussion with Sylvia Ford, M.A., an Early Childhood Consultant in the Bay Area for over 25 years. She highlighted how early brain development relates to childhood behavior, and how parents and other adults can use techniques to promote positive self-guided behavior in children.
On April 19, 2007, we hosted an interactive lecture on new ways to help children acquire the skills they’ll need to gain self esteem and self respect for future success. The evening presentation featured Philippe Rey, Psy.D., Executive Director of Adolescent Counseling Services. Dr. Rey is a nationally recognized expert in the field of adolescent and developmental psychology. His presentation focused on steps parents can take in the early years to stock their child’s emotional toolbox to help ensure future emotional health and success. A Q and A time followed and more than 100 parents were able to enjoy the evening presentation.
On Feb 8, 2006 and May 18, 2005, it was our pleasure to have Fred Luskin, bestselling author of Forgive for Good, and Stress Free for Good at the kick-off event for our Speaker Program. More than 150 people were in attendance at Cubberly Auditorium as Dr. Luskin spoke on the topic of parallel parenting — being the best person you can be while allowing your child to become the best person he or she is meant to be. After the lecture, Dr. Luskin signed copies of his latest book, Stress Free for Good and mingled at the reception hosted by Friends of PreSchool Family and catered by PSF’s own Jane Dick and BethAnn Goldberg, Partners in Food.
Fred Luskin |
the audience 
Sheryl Klein, board member, |