Jewish Family Service of MetroWest NJ (JFS) will begin offering a free parenting series, “The Parent Academy,” for parents of children of varying ages, throughout the 2022-2023 school year.

The first Parent Academy, “Big Feelings for Little People,” will be tailored to parents of 2- to 3-year-olds and will be taking place from 10 a.m. on Thursday, November 3 at The Woodland, 60 Woodland Road, Maplewood, New Jersey.

Topics of interest to be discussed include:

Attachment in early childhood (how to be your child’s “safety base”)

Developmentally appropriate versus atypical behaviors in young children

Early language and communication skills

Parent and child emotional regulation skills and managing tantrums

The workshop will be facilitated by Sara Mendez Emma, LCSW, director of clinical services at JFS. She has been working with children and families for more than 20 years, specializing in issues of abuse, early childhood/developmental trauma, divorce and separation, developmental delays, and socialization/anxiety issues. Sara is also a certified clinical social work supervisor. She enjoys educating professionals and parents on topics such as parenting, child and adolescent development, mental health and trauma-informed care.

For more information and to register, visit www.jfsmetrowest.org/parentacademy