How To Register for MOPS for 2017-2018

Thanks for stopping by the Green Lake MOPS blog!

Registration is currently open for the 2017-18 season. For registration inquiries, please email glmopsreg@gmail.com.

We'd love to see you at MOPS this year!

Speakers: Katie Gruver and Anne Granperson of Positive Parenting Seattle

Our second-to-last speakers of the season were Katie Gruver and Anne Granperson of Positive Parenting Seattle (website here).

One thing to remember from their talk were their three bullet points / suggestions for parenting preschoolers:

• Do vs Don't
• Limited Choices
• Special Time

Is that ringing any bells?! We hope that whether you completely agree with the parent philosophy or not, you were able to take something away from their talk.

(And remember that they offer classes and coaching! Go to their website for more info.)

Speaker: Dr. Tina Sellers

Breaking free from sexual shame

I don't think I'm alone when I say that having Dr. Tina Sellers come and speak at MOPS the last 3 years has been a mind and heart altering experience... and hey! maybe even a BODY altering experience?  (Re-member!)

We are so happy to be able to share her talk with you here.  And I don't mind saying that I'm really looking forward to digging into this topic more deeply when her book comes out.  Here is a link to her talk that she gave on 2/14/17, as well as the corresponding handouts with excellent discussion questions and resources.

For those of you who watch the video, at the end during the Q&A, there was no sound on the questions being asked.  For reference, the main questions asked were with regards to little boys and how to handle their discovery of special parts of their bodies and how to handle that.  

Enjoy! 

http://s3.amazonaws.com/BCC_Public/Mops_Tuesday_2_14.mp4

And the powerpoint and resources:

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B3PHiZzPzemUclVTZzd1VlFEYms

Speaker: Janice Jacobson

Just in time for New Years resolutions (okay, I'm just saying this because I'm so horribly late in writing this blog post, but just go with me on this), let's think back to Janice Jacobson's talk in November. If you recall, Janice is a co-op preschool teacher who spoke to us about the importance of play, fun things to do inside and outside, and some of the impacts of screen time.

I wanted to make sure you all have access to the documents that we passed out at the meetings in case you misplaced them or weren't there to hear the talk, so they're attached to this post!

Janice also recommended this website that helps families plan for a technology "diet".

I know that my table had some great discussions about technology and our kids after her talk, so I hope you found it helpful as well!

Resources from her talk:

Early Literacy Websites

Get Children Ready To Read

Ideas for Open Ended Play

Milestones for 1-2 Year Olds

Mind in the Making - Seven Essential Life Skills Every Child Needs

Recommended Websites

What Children Learn Through Play

Thanks for sharing so much of your wisdom with us, Janice.

Speaker: Amy Steingard

Wasn't the talk this past week fantastic?

Amy Steingard (a former MOPS member!) spoke to us about owning and living into our stories and the importance of vulnerability and owning our stories instead of allowing them to own us.

If you want to read more of her writing, Amy writes at her blog "Tiny Uprisings". On her blog she introduces herself, "I'm Amy.  A southern girl transplanted to the Pacific Northwest...mom to three amazing, spirited tiny humans, seeking to reclaim my own place in my own life.  It's easy to get lost in there, but I'm rising up and digging out! I'm a purpose-seeking, authenticity-loving, relationship-needing, beauty-creating, faith-hugging regular Jane, trying to make the most out of this one life here on earth and encourage other women to do the same.  It might be a bumpy ride, but hopefully you'll join me."

Thanks for sharing your story with us, Amy!