Families enjoy Rapid City "Fun Night"
January 20, 2009
The Rapid City PTA and F.O.R.C.E.S. (Friends of Rapid City Elementary School) organizations hosted a Family Fun Night for area families on Jan. 15. The evening included games and activities for the children, and an education session for the parents. Thirty-two families participated, bringing 43 adults and 65 children to school on a frigid January night.
Following a tasty dinner of sloppy joes, salad and drinks (all
provided by the PTA), children were able choose from a variety of
activities. Their parents, meanwhile, attended an educational
session presented by Lisa DeJonge from Community Mental Health.
Lisa presented information on parenting topics such as consistency,
expectations, rewards and consequences, and encouragement and
praise. Parents engaged in a meaningful discussion about their own
challenges and successes as parents, which provided many good ideas
for everyone.
Lisa also guided parents through a “step-process” for gaining child
compliance, and offered instruction on how to design a reward
chart. Parents were able to design their own reward charts and take
a chart and stickers to use at home.
In a follow-up survey, parents praised the meal, children’s
activities, and parenting information, with an approval score of
70%. Suggestions for future topics were offered by the parents,
including split/step-families, child behaviors and discipline,
money management, and helping children learn.
