Becoming a parent brings about an incredible time of change and growth. Parents begin a brand new role, becoming familiar with and adjusting to their new babies and to their own new lives. This 2 part series explores both aspects of this change. Participants leave with an understanding of their own adjustment to parenthood and a knowledge of the developmental milestones of the first year of life.

Baby Steps consists of 2 sessions:

1. Adjusting to Parenthood- Expectations, Realities, Joys and Challenges
2. Infant Development

Note: Baby Steps can be presented as a 1 or 2 session workshop.

1. Adjusting to Parenthood: Expectations, Realities, Joys and Challenges

The transition to becoming a parent and the first year of a child’s life is an exciting time period. By coming to this workshop, participants learn more about being a parent, share ideas and meet others with similar questions and concerns. Infants bring joy and amazement into parents’ lives but also bring exhaustion that feels like it will never end. This workshop focuses on the changes that have happened in parents’ lives and the adjustments parents continue to make.

2. Infant Development

Babies vary in their abilities and the ages at which they reach particular milestones. However, it is helpful to have an understanding of the stages infants go through and approximate ages at which they achieve certain skills. This workshop focuses on the development in the domains of physical development, psycho-social development and cognitive development that occur in the first year of life. Participants explore the stages infants move through and how they can support the ongoing changes that occur during this busy year of life.