Helping parents help their children

AMENIA — The Mothers’ Group that meets at Amenia’s Temple Beth David sporadically is more than just a retreat for moms looking for a social outing — it’s a local resource for caregivers (mothers and fathers, grandparents, nannies and others), offering information and support for child rearing. It’s also an opportunity for young children of similar ages to play with one another. Amenia Free Library Children Activities Director Lesley Gyorsok spearheads the group, which currently serves mostly moms from Amenia, Wassaic, Dover, Sharon and Kent.“We’re trying to do it on a regular basis,” Gyorsok said, adding the sessions are free and open to the public. The library also offers story hours on Thursdays at the temple at 10 a.m., for children up to age 5, in the company of a caregiver. “The groups are nice,” she said. “Everybody’s gotten to be very close and friendly, and with the Mothers’ Group it’s expanded and given us an opportunity to come together and talk about issues that need to be discussed, like parenting.”There will be such a discussion on Tuesday, March 29, at 10 a.m. at Beth David. “Understanding Your Child’s Development,” facilitated by educator Amanda Forbes, will be followed by an Astor Head Start Developmental Screening, facilitated by Maureen Shilkunas.The Astor screening will focus on five areas of child development: communication, gross motor skills, fine motor skills, problem solving and personal and social development. They are all skills most parents tend to be aware of on an innate level, according to Forbes.“I think most parents do have an ability to nurture these skills, but sometimes they need validation they’re doing the right things,” she said. “We’re not necessarily looking for problems. One of the things Lesley and I wanted to get across to parents is that as parents, the more we can know about our children, the more power and information we have and the better parents we can be.”Gyorsok agreed. She is encouraging area residents to bring their children to Tuesday’s screening, even if they have never participated in any of the library’s offerings in the past.“It’s free, and it’s a good way to let parents know where their kids are developmentally, both socially and emotionally, and if they qualify for services — if there’s a need,” she said. “It won’t be intimidating at all because we’re a pretty casual group.”Those who attend will begin to learn some basic fundamentals they can build on, ideally through continuing with the Mothers’ Group.“You want to have the most information you can to help your children in the best way you know how to,” Forbes said, adding there’s a natural learning curve to parenting. “What I really want to get across to parents is they shouldn’t be afraid to have conversations with their child. It’s not just about talking to their child, but talking with their child, and getting feedback, having an interactive conversation, even with young children. “We really want parents to understand their children better so they can foster that development at home,” she added. “Parents are their child’s first teachers, and we want to give them all the tools they need to help grow their children in the best way possible.”Registration is required for the Astor screening. To register, or for more information about the event, call Gyorsok at 860-248-3070 or e-mail ameniastoryhours@gmail.com. Temple Beth David is located on Route 343 in Amenia, just east of the Sears store.