Parents & Families

For Oakland families starting school (TK or K) for the first time next year, now is the time to explore your public school options and apply. Join the team from EnrollOak.org for a public school enrollment workshop to learn more about the Oakland School finder tool and online applications for Oakland Unified School District (OUSD) and charter schools. This is a great chance to meet with the staff from OUSD who will be available to provide 1-1 application support in both English and Spanish. For more information, contact Ashley Renick at ashley.renick@enrolloak.org or call 510-454-9360.

Join us for a workshop all about parenting toddlers! At this exciting age, children become very curious and their self-confidence grows as they begin to walk and explore their surroundings. They also become more effective at talking and forming sentences. It is during this time when many toddlers would love to test limits and say no. At this workshop, you will discover how children see the world and how you, as a parent, can overcome the typical challenges—such as temper tantrums and getting through transition times. We will talk about the developmental milestones, strategies on how to respond to toddler behaviors at different ages and stages, and so much more.

It’s time for Baby Yoga! Yoga is a great way to regain shape, strength, and energy after giving birth. It’s also a great way to learn about breath and body awareness. This workshop includes exercises for breathing and getting centered. We’ll also learn poses with and without baby, songs for bonding with baby, and calming exercises for you and baby. Taught by Elika Aird, a certified yoga instructor and doula, the class is designed for mothers and their pre-crawling babies, but babies of all ages are welcome.

There is a lot to know about the many bonding and nurturing qualities of baby yoga, so we hope you’ll join us at this event. You’re encouraged to bring your questions, concerns, and your baby along with you!

Don’t miss our other upcoming workshops in this series covering a variety of topics designed just for new and expectant parents.

Jan 23: Booties Camp: Baby Massage

Join us for this workshop on baby massage. This workshop is all about relaxation, bonding, and the power of touch. The benefits of baby massage are amazing. When you massage your infant you can reduce crying, increase sleep, improve blood circulation and digestion, balance breathing, inspire relaxation and better self-esteem, and create a loving parent-child bond. In this hands-on workshop, you will learn simple massage techniques that your baby will love.

This series is based on the idea of a parenting “boot camp” that will give you the skills, confidence, and connections to raise a healthy, happy infant. You don’t have to attend all the workshops; just choose the ones that are a good fit for your family. Babies and partners are welcome! 

The Spirited Child workshop is back! Are you the parent of a child who is strong-minded and has intense feelings? Or a child who may have endless energy, gets easily frustrated, or is very shy? Would you like to learn parenting tools that work with your child’s personality and stage of development? Rebecah Freeling is a Wits’ End Parenting coach and former center director who has 20 years of experience in early childhood education. You will learn ways to deal with tantrums, aggression, shyness, and other challenging behaviors often displayed by “spirited” children.

Note that when you register for the first workshop, you are registered for the entire series.

Series dates: 1/23, 1/30, 2/6, 2/13, 2/20, 2/27

If you’re thinking of hiring a nanny, then this is the workshop for you! At this event, Hand in Hand: The Domestic Employers Network will talk about the legal details of being an employer, including your rights and responsibilities. By offering a variety of resources such as tips for establishing wages, how to ensure a fair and safe workplace, and best practices for evaluating employee-employer arrangements, the network will set you up with all the tools you need.

They’ll also offer ideas on how to create a positive, long-term relationship with your employee. You will have a chance to talk about your own experiences, ask questions, and share concerns. This will be a safe space to learn from other parents who have hired a nanny or in-home child care provider.

BANANAS is offering Choosing Child Care at Room to Bloom Family Resource Center!

This workshop will introduce you to the variety of child care options and offer guidance on how to begin the process of finding a child care provider or preschool program that’s right for your family. Subsidized or low-cost child care options will also be discussed and our knowledgeable counselor will help explain various eligibility options.

We know that choosing the right child care fit for your child can be a hard decision. There are a lot of things to consider, such as the cost, hours, and type of child care that is best for your family. You may have questions about the differences between a family child care, a center, or other available options. With so many types of care to choose from, many parents aren’t even sure where to start. We’ll discuss each type of care so you can connect with the right provider. Come meet other parents and learn all there is to know about choosing child care.

Eligiendo el Cuidado de Niños a Room to Bloom Family Resource Center
Este taller realizado en Room to Bloom le presentará las distintas opciones de cuidado infantil disponibles y ofrecerá orientación sobre cómo comenzar el proceso de encontrar un proveedor de cuidado infantil o un programa preescolar adecuado para su familia. También se le informará sobre opciones de cuidado infantil subsidiado o de bajo costo y nuestro consejero le ayudará a entender cómo inscribirse si califica para recibir asistencia.

The Spirited Child workshop is back! Are you the parent of a child who is strong-minded and has intense feelings? Or a child who may have endless energy, gets easily frustrated, or is very shy? Would you like to learn parenting tools that work with your child’s personality and stage of development? Rebecah Freeling is a Wits’ End Parenting coach and former center director who has 20 years of experience in early childhood education. You will learn ways to deal with tantrums, aggression, shyness, and other challenging behaviors often displayed by “spirited” children.

Note that when you register for the first workshop, you are registered for the entire series.

Series dates: 1/23, 1/30, 2/6, 2/13, 2/20, 2/27

You’re invited to our free, four-part New Moms Support Group series! We want to congratulate you on becoming a new mom. Right now you may be feeling a lot of emotions. If you’re excited, worried, overwhelmed, and overjoyed, then you’re totally normal. Fortunately, finding a circle of support is a great way to lessen the stress of caring for a newborn. At each of our support groups, moms will get to share their feelings, ask questions, and build friendships with one another. Alexis Azzam, a mom and licensed marriage and family therapist, will offer lots of information along with tips for decreasing isolation and bonding with your infant. This will be a safe space to connect with others and build a community around the experience of motherhood. Bring your baby along too!

Series dates: 2/5, 2/12, 2/19, 2/26

The Spirited Child workshop is back! Are you the parent of a child who is strong-minded and has intense feelings? Or a child who may have endless energy, gets easily frustrated, or is very shy? Would you like to learn parenting tools that work with your child’s personality and stage of development? Rebecah Freeling is a Wits’ End Parenting coach and former center director who has 20 years of experience in early childhood education. You will learn ways to deal with tantrums, aggression, shyness, and other challenging behaviors often displayed by “spirited” children.

Note that when you register for the first workshop, you are registered for the entire series.

Series dates: 1/23, 1/30, 2/6, 2/13, 2/20, 2/27

You’re invited to our free, four-part New Moms Support Group series! We want to congratulate you on becoming a new mom. Right now you may be feeling a lot of emotions. If you’re excited, worried, overwhelmed, and overjoyed, then you’re totally normal. Fortunately, finding a circle of support is a great way to lessen the stress of caring for a newborn. At each of our support groups, moms will get to share their feelings, ask questions, and build friendships with one another. Alexis Azzam, a mom and licensed marriage and family therapist, will offer lots of information along with tips for decreasing isolation and bonding with your infant. This will be a safe space to connect with others and build a community around the experience of motherhood. Bring your baby along too!

Series dates: 2/5, 2/12, 2/19, 2/26

The Spirited Child workshop is back! Are you the parent of a child who is strong-minded and has intense feelings? Or a child who may have endless energy, gets easily frustrated, or is very shy? Would you like to learn parenting tools that work with your child’s personality and stage of development? Rebecah Freeling is a Wits’ End Parenting coach and former center director who has 20 years of experience in early childhood education. You will learn ways to deal with tantrums, aggression, shyness, and other challenging behaviors often displayed by “spirited” children.

Note that when you register for the first workshop, you are registered for the entire series.

Series dates: 1/23, 1/30, 2/6, 2/13, 2/20, 2/27

You’re invited to our free, four-part New Moms Support Group series! We want to congratulate you on becoming a new mom. Right now you may be feeling a lot of emotions. If you’re excited, worried, overwhelmed, and overjoyed, then you’re totally normal. Fortunately, finding a circle of support is a great way to lessen the stress of caring for a newborn. At each of our support groups, moms will get to share their feelings, ask questions, and build friendships with one another. Alexis Azzam, a mom and licensed marriage and family therapist, will offer lots of information along with tips for decreasing isolation and bonding with your infant. This will be a safe space to connect with others and build a community around the experience of motherhood. Bring your baby along too!

Series dates: 2/5, 2/12, 2/19, 2/26

The Spirited Child workshop is back! Are you the parent of a child who is strong-minded and has intense feelings? Or a child who may have endless energy, gets easily frustrated, or is very shy? Would you like to learn parenting tools that work with your child’s personality and stage of development? Rebecah Freeling is a Wits’ End Parenting coach and former center director who has 20 years of experience in early childhood education. You will learn ways to deal with tantrums, aggression, shyness, and other challenging behaviors often displayed by “spirited” children.

Note that when you register for the first workshop, you are registered for the entire series.

Series dates: 1/23, 1/30, 2/6, 2/13, 2/20, 2/27

You’re invited to our free, four-part New Moms Support Group series! We want to congratulate you on becoming a new mom. Right now you may be feeling a lot of emotions. If you’re excited, worried, overwhelmed, and overjoyed, then you’re totally normal. Fortunately, finding a circle of support is a great way to lessen the stress of caring for a newborn. At each of our support groups, moms will get to share their feelings, ask questions, and build friendships with one another. Alexis Azzam, a mom and licensed marriage and family therapist, will offer lots of information along with tips for decreasing isolation and bonding with your infant. This will be a safe space to connect with others and build a community around the experience of motherhood. Bring your baby along too!

Series dates: 2/5, 2/12, 2/19, 2/26

The Spirited Child workshop is back! Are you the parent of a child who is strong-minded and has intense feelings? Or a child who may have endless energy, gets easily frustrated, or is very shy? Would you like to learn parenting tools that work with your child’s personality and stage of development? Rebecah Freeling is a Wits’ End Parenting coach and former center director who has 20 years of experience in early childhood education. You will learn ways to deal with tantrums, aggression, shyness, and other challenging behaviors often displayed by “spirited” children.

Note that when you register for the first workshop, you are registered for the entire series.

Series dates: 1/23, 1/30, 2/6, 2/13, 2/20, 2/27