A two-part, in-person intensive
for parents of children ages 9 and under
Parenting asks us to make hundreds of decisions every day.
When do I step in, and when do I let my child struggle?
When should I hold a boundary, and when should I adjust my expectations?
How do I respond to difficult behavior without getting pulled into a power struggle?
How do I support my child's feelings without trying to fix them?
There isn't one right answer to every parenting question. Children are different, families are different, and what works at one stage may not work at another.
Foundations of Parenting is designed to help you develop a framework for making those everyday decisions with greater clarity and confidence.
Rather than offering a set of rules or one-size-fits-all techniques, we'll explore the principles that help children develop competence, responsibility, emotional resilience, and a strong sense of belonging. You'll also learn practical tools and communication skills for putting those principles into practice in everyday family life.
What You'll Learn & Practice
Over two interactive mornings, we'll explore how to:
Set clear boundaries and expectations while responding to the individual child in front of you
Understand what may be driving difficult behavior and respond without getting pulled into unnecessary power struggles
Encourage cooperation without relying primarily on rewards, punishment, or repeated reminders
Know when to step in and when to allow children to struggle, make mistakes, and experience natural consequences
Respond to strong emotions without dismissing them, escalating them, or taking responsibility for making them disappear
Use encouragement and attention intentionally to foster confidence, contribution, and responsibility
Communicate in ways that strengthen connection while still holding limits
Repair after the inevitable moments when you don't respond the way you wish you had
We'll draw from Adlerian parenting principles, developmental psychology, emotion regulation, and relationship research, while keeping the focus practical and applicable to everyday family life.
What You'll Take Away
You'll leave with:
A clearer framework for deciding when to step in, when to hold a boundary, and when to let go
Practical tools for setting limits and responding to challenging behavior
Communication skills that support cooperation and connection
Strategies for fostering independence, responsibility, and resilience
Ways to respond more effectively to difficult emotions—your child's and your own
A better understanding of your own parenting patterns and how they influence interactions with your child
The goal is to leave with a stronger understanding of what your child needs from you, along with practical tools for responding with greater confidence and intention.
What to Expect
This isn't a lecture about how you should parent.
We'll combine teaching with discussion, reflection, skill practice, and application to real-life situations. You'll have opportunities to bring questions and challenges from home and think through how the principles and tools we're discussing apply to your particular child and family.
The group will be intentionally small, so there is time for conversation and individualized application—not just presentation.
Who It's For
Foundations of Parenting is designed for parents and caregivers of children ages 9 and under who want to establish strong patterns while their children are young.
You don't need to be facing a particular parenting problem. The Intensive is an opportunity to step back from the day-to-day demands of parenting and think more intentionally about the foundation you're building—for your child, your relationships, and your family.
Details
Fridays, September 18 & October 2, 2026
9:00 am–12:30 pm
South Nyack, NY
Registration includes both sessions. Because the two mornings build on one another, participants should plan to attend both.
$275 per person
$495 for two co-parents
Limited to 8 participants to allow time for discussion and individualized application.
Exact location details will be provided to registered participants.
If You've Been Reading The Practice of Parenting
Each week in The Practice of Parenting, we've looked closely at one of the small decisions that shapes family life—when to step in, what to let go, and how we respond to mistakes, difficult feelings, and the unexpected moments that inevitably arise.
Foundations of Parenting steps back from those individual moments to explore the larger framework connecting them.
We'll have time to go deeper, practice concrete skills, apply these principles to your own family, and think together about the parenting questions that don't have simple answers.