The Mower County Parenting Fair is coming Monday to Ellis Middle School in Austin.

Sunday, March 25, 2001

The Mower County Parenting Fair is coming Monday to Ellis Middle School in Austin.

Then, it’s time for the Celebrate Week of the Child activities on April 7.

Both events are designed to offer answers to the myriad questions about families.

Monday night’s Parenting Fair begins with a free meal served from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. followed by the keynote speaker’s address at 6:40 p.m. and break-out sessions the rest of the evening.

In addition, there will be 17 displays designed to offer more help to families.

The Parenting Fair is being organized by the Children Are the Responsibility of Everyone (CARE) Council and is sponsored by the Parenting Resource Center, Family Connections and the CARE Council.

Dean R. Arnott, a psychotherapist from Owatonna, will present the keynote address on the subject "How To Get My Kids To Do What I Want (And Other Parenting Fantasies)."

Arnott, who has been a breakout session leader at previous Parenting Fairs, will examine effective communications techniques.

Preregistration is required for the meal and child care. Call 437-8330 or (800) 714-11416 to make reservations. No preregistration is necessary to listen to the keynote speaker or attend any of the breakout sessions.

Each of the breakout session topics has been selected by the sponsors of the Parenting Fair.

The topics include "How Do You Tell When Your Child/Adolescent Needs Counseling;" "What Is A Healthy Student?;" "How Do You Set Limits and Consequences: The Real Love of Children;" "Go Fishing! How Important Is Play?;" "Why 20 Minutes A Day?;" "Are Your Kids Involved In Risky Behavior?;" "Can I Get A Little Respect?;" "What Is Positive Parenting?;" "What Are Assets and How Can They Help Me Parent?;" and "What Is It Like To Grow Up In A Bi-Cultural World?"

Terese Amazi, chief deputy of the Mower County Sheriff’s Department, and Travis Heichley, Austin Police Department liaison officer to Austin Public Schools, are among a diverse group of breakout session presenters.

They will discuss drug-use symptoms and signs of gang activity.

Also speaking at a breakout session is Nona Yancy, who works for the Minnesota Department of Human Rights.

According to Maryanne Law, executive director of the Parenting Resource Center, this year’s Parenting Fair is making a special effort to involve more Hispanic families.

She also praised Family Connections, Sheltering Arms Foundation and Hy-Vee Food Stores of Austin for their support.

Celebration with learning

Paul Bartemes of Family Connections said: "Kids don’t come with an operating manual."

Bartemes hopes the April 7 events will help parents gain some insights into the difficult job of parenting and reinforce what the Parenting Fair offers.

Bartemes, who is a family facilitator, also will be a breakout session presenter at the Parenting Fair.

The April 7 events at OakPark Mall will include a variety of family fun activities that "celebrate children in our community," according to Bartemes.

In addition, there will be a resource table available with community agencies’ literature providing resources on what is available in Mower County.

It’s a free family fun event scheduled from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 7 and sponsored by the Mower County Interagency Early Intervention Committee.

Shannon Hart, the Parenting Resource Center’s child-care resource referral coordinator, said the purpose of the annual April celebration is to "focus public attention on the needs of young children and their families and to support the early childhood programs and series that meet those needs."

One national organization recommends families "recommit ourselves to ensure that each and every child receives the type of early environment – at home, at child care, at school and in the community – that will promote their early learning," according to Hart.

The April 7 events at OakPark Mall is one means of spotlighting the goals of the Celebrate the Week of the Young Child.

For more information, contact Hart at 437-8330.

Call Lee Bonorden at 434-2232 or e-mail him at newsroom@austindailyherald.com.