Wednesday, January 13, 2016

Parenting talks at libraries

Kildare Library Service has resumed its series of free Parenting talks with a schedule for February and March, writes Brian Byrne, which includes sessions on the challenges of communicating with children, managing social media, equipping children to cope with the challenges of modern life, and other relevant advice for these times.

The talks are supported by the HSE Primary Care Psychology Team,TUSLA Child and Family Agency, Mental Health Ireland, Public Health Nurse HSE, Pieta House, IFPA, and An Garda Síochána, and the programme is funded by Kildare County Council.

Attendance at all of the events is free of charge and open to everyone but advance booking is required. Please contact the library where the talk is happening to book your place. All talks begin at 7pm.

A brochure outlining all the talks and workshops will be available from your local library later this month. For further information please check out www.kildare.ie/library

The challenges and rewards of parenting will be the theme of a talk by retired prison service governor John Lonergan (pictured) and counsellor/psychotherapist Caroline Crotty, in Leixlip Library on Thursday 11 February.

Child psychotherapist Colman Noctor will speak on the importance of communicating and learning to see through children's eyes, at Naas Library on Tuesday 23 February and Leixlip Library on Thursday 3 March.

Public health nurse Sinead Lawlor will offer advice helping babies and young children to sleep better, in Celbridge Library on Thursday 4 February.

Sheila O'Malley, relationship and parenting mentor, will advise on relationships with teenagers, in Athy Library on Tuesday 9 February.

Mental Health Ireland's Finola Colgan will provide advice on mental wellbeing and self-care strategies for parents, in Celbridge Library on Thursday, 25 February.

Digital marketing consultant Fiona Ashe will discuss social networking and cyberbullying in Maynooth Library on Wednesday 24 February.

The contact details for the county's main libraries are below.

Athy Library : Tel 059 8631144 Email athylib@kildarecoco.ie

Celbridge Library : Tel 01 6272207 Email: celbridgelib@kildarecoco.ie

Kildare Town Library: Tel 045 530235 Email: kildarelib@kildarecoco.ie

Leixlip Library: Tel: 01 6060050 Email: leixliplib@kildarecoco.ie

Maynooth Library : Tel 01 6285530 Email: maynoothlib@kildarecoco.ie

Naas Library: Tel 045 879111 Email: naaslib@kildarecoco.ie

Newbridge Library: Tel 045 448353 Email: newbridgelib@kildarecoco.ie