“Passing on Traditions and Values”
Nov. 22 from 7 to 8 a.m. on 98.1 KISS-FM and streamed live on Childhoodmatters.org. Rona Renner, RN, and guests discuss Native American traditions and family rituals.

“The Teen Brain in the Digital Age”
Nov. 29 from 7 to 8 a.m. on 98.1 KISS-FM and streamed live on Childhoodmatters.org. Rona Renner, RN, and Beth Samuelson of Student Organizational Services discuss teens, the media and how to help your teens improve their learning skills.

“Don’t Lose Your Child to Video Games, the Internet and Texting”
Dec. 3 from 6:45 to 8 p.m. Seven Hills School, Walnut Creek
Lecture and Q&A by Richard Freed, a Bay Area psychologist who specializes in children’s media issues, including internet addiction. This is the second of three parent education workshops at Seven Hills. Admission is $15 per person (educators are free). Register at Educators are admitted free of charge. Click here to register.

Something to add to the list? E-mail us the details or click “comments” and add it right here.

“Chaos to Connection: Parenting Teens Workshop”
Nov. 14, 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. St. Agnes Spiritual Life Center, 1611 Oak St., San Francisco
Parenting workshop for families with problem teens, including teens with substance abuse issues, led by Andrea Dindinger, MFT, therapeutic team leader for Vive’s Chaos to Connection. Workshop is $69, rsvp to adindinger@vivenow.com.

“How Being Homeless Affects Children”
Nov. 15 from 7 to 8 a.m. on 98.1 KISS-FM and streamed live on Childhoodmatters.org. Rona Renner, RN, and guests discuss homelessness, poverty and children.

“CPR and First Aid Training”
Nov. 15 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Bananas, Oakland
This 15-hour course in English, offered in 2 sessions, includes CPR, First Aid and Preventive Health. Pre-registration and payment is required – call 510-658-7353.
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“Living with Threes and Fours
Nov. 3 at 7 p.m. at Bananas, Oakland
Meg Zweiback leads this workshop on preschoolers. Free.

“Cyberbullying Community Forum”
Nov. 7 at 10 a.m. Community Presbyterian Church, 2800 Georgia St., Vallejo. A community forum for parents of teens and pre-teens, sponsored by the Benicia-Vallejo AAUW with speakers from the Benicia and Vallejo school districts and Napa AAUW Cyberbullying Task Force. Free.

“The Doctor is In”
Nov. 8 from 7 to 8 a.m. on 98.1 KISS-FM and streamed live on Childhoodmatters.org. Rona Renner, RN, and guests discuss ways to keep your kids healthy and strong.
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“Underage Drinking in Our Community”
Oct. 27 from 7 to 9 p.m. Miramonte High School Theater, Orinda
Panel discussion on the problem of underage drinking. Panelists include Orinda Police Chief Bill French, Miramonte Principal Adam Clark and medical experts. Free.

“Childhood Matters 7th Anniversary Show”
Nov. 1 from 7 to 8 a.m. on 98.1 KISS-FM and streamed live on Childhoodmatters.org. Rona Renner, RN, and guests discuss parenting issues and trends.

“Living with Threes and Fours
Nov. 3 at 7 p.m. at Bananas, Oakland
Meg Zweiback leads this workshop on preschoolers. Free.
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“The Emotional Side of Learning”
Oct. 25 from 7 to 8 a.m. on 98.1 KISS-FM and streamed live on Childhoodmatters.org. Second in a six-part series on navigating the middle and high school years. Rona Renner, RN, and guest Beth Samuelson, director of Walnut Creek’s SOS (Student Organizational Services), discuss ways to recognize the different pressures your teen is facing, how to stay connected and provide support and resources.

“Underage Drinking in Our Community”
Oct. 27 from 7 to 9 p.m. Miramonte High School Theater, Orinda
Panel discussion on the problem of underage drinking. Panelists include Orinda Police Chief Bill French, Miramonte Principal Adam Clark and medical experts. Free.

“Cyberbullying Community Forum”
Nov. 7 at 10 a.m. Community Presbyterian Church, 2800 Georgia St., Vallejo
A community forum for parents of teens and pre-teens, sponsored by the Benicia-Vallejo AAUW with speakers from the Benicia and Vallejo school districts and Napa AAUW Cyberbullying Task Force. Free.

Something to add to the list? E-mail us the details or click “comments” and add it right here.

“Teens, Stress, Perfection and Mental Health: The Current Crisis for Girls (and Boys)”
Oct. 13 from 7 to 9 p.m. Miramonte High School Theater, Orinda
Speaker: UC Berkeley psychology professor Stephen Hinshaw, author of “The Triple Bind.” Free.

“Closing the Achievement Gap”
Oct. 18 from 7 to 8 a.m. on 98.1 KISS-FM and streamed live on Childhoodmatters.org. Rona Renner, RN, and panelists
discuss ways parents can help close the achievement gap and do something about California’s appalling dropout rate (1 in 4 high school kids drops out of school).
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“Art and Skill of a Happy Marriage”
Oct. 10 from 1 to 5 p.m. Founders Grove, Lafayette
A couples workshop to revitalize your relationship and rediscover the joy of marriage, led by Catherine Freemire, LCSW, and Steven Freemire, MFT. ($169 per couple by Sept. 19, $199 after)

“Community Response to Emergencies”
Oct. 11 from 7 to 8 a.m. on 98.1 KISS-FM and streamed live on Childhoodmatters.org. Rona Renner, RN, and Ana-Marie Jones, executive director of Collaborating Agencies Responding to Disasters, and Kathy Dervin, Berkeley’s public health preparedness coordinator, discuss family and neighborhood emergency prep, as well as the swine flu.

“Teens, Stress, Perfection and Mental Health: The Current Crisis for Girls (and Boys)”
Oct. 13 from 7 to 9 p.m. Miramonte High School Theater, Orinda
Speaker: UC Berkeley psychology professor Stephen Hinshaw, author of “The Triple Bind.” Free.

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“Communication Skills that Build Connection: A Workshop for Parents”
Sept. 30 at 7 p.m.Orinda Intermediate School – Multi Purpose Room. Workshop moderated by communications consultant Jamie Anderson. Sponsored by OIS. Free.

“Raising a Child who Loves to Read”
Oct. 4 from 7 to 8 a.m. on 98.1 KISS-FM and streamed live on Childhoodmatters.org. Rona Renner, RN, and Diane Frankenstein, author of Reading Together: Everything You Need to Know to Raise a Child Who Loves to Read, discuss how to raise book-loving kids.

“Art and Skill of a Happy Marriage”
Oct. 10 from 1 to 5 p.m. Founders Grove, Lafayette
A couples workshop to revitalize your relationship and rediscover the joy of marriage, led by Catherine Freemire, LCSW, and Steven Freemire, MFT. ($169 per couple by Sept. 19, $199 after)
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“How Does Your Teen Learn?”
Sept. 27 from 7 to 8 a.m. on 98.1 KISS-FM and streamed live on Childhoodmatters.org. This is the first of a 6-part series on “Teen Matters: Navigating the Middle and High School Years.” Rona Renner, RN, and co-host Beth Samuelson, MA, Director of Student Organizational Services discuss teens, learning styles and why your kid struggles with some schoolwork and aces others.

“Communication Skills that Build Connection: A Workshop for Parents”
Sept. 30 at 7 p.m.Orinda Intermediate School – Multi Purpose Room. Workshop moderated by communications consultant Jamie Anderson. Sponsored by OIS. Free.

“Art and Skill of a Happy Marriage”
Oct. 10 from 1 to 5 p.m. Founders Grove, Lafayette
A couples workshop to revitalize your relationship and rediscover the joy of marriage, led by Catherine Freemire, LCSW, and Steven Freemire, MFT. ($169 per couple by Sept. 19, $199 after)
Read the rest of this entry »

When Michael Jackson died in July, the custody battle for his three kids began. The situation raised a point that many of us don’t like to think about —if something terrible happened to us, who would take care of our kids? Times and Trib features writer Laura Casey is exploring the subject of guardianship, how it’s decided and what happens when the worst happens, for an upcoming story about naming someone to take care of the kids in the event that you can’t. If you’ve tackled this subject in your family and are willing to share your thoughts, please contact her at 925-952-2697 or lcasey@bayareanewsgroup.com.