Toddler Explorations! New Parent Toddler (6 mos. - 4 years) Classes Added!

Join our early childhood classes and reap the benefits of play! Recent child developmental research shows that young children learn best through play. Our 75 minute class offers movement, music, arts, sand and water play, trains, blocks and much more!

• Music, Art and Play - Tuesdays 9-10:15 a.m. & 10:30-11:45 a.m.
• Yoga, Art and Play - Wednesdays 9:30-10:45 a.m.
• Music, Art and Play - Thursdays 9-10:15 a.m. & 10:30-11:45 a.m.

Details:

Parenting Q&A

Get the wise insights of Smart Love
on common parenting concerns.

Dr. Sara Johnson promoted to Director of Training and Professional Development

Sara Johnson, Ph.D., LCSW, is a psychotherapist who received her Master’s and Doctorate degrees in Social Work from Loyola University Chicago. She joined Smart Love Family Services as a part-time therapist three years ago and was recently promoted to the full-time position of Director of Training and Professional Development. In her new role, Dr. Johnson will lead Smart Love’s efforts in providing training in Smart Love for agencies, schools and other professionals. She will also develop Smart Love’s Internship Training program for social work students. Dr. Johnson’s clinical interests include play therapy, adult psychotherapy, marital therapy, substance abuse treatment, treatment for trauma, and children with developmental disabilities. Dr. Johnson also has extensive experience coordinating and evaluating services for children and families in the foster care system, as well as providing supportive services to individuals with special needs and disabilities.

Smart Love Preschool

Call for a private tour! Now accepting applications!

Smart Love Preschool, opening Fall 2010, will offer 3, 4, and 5-year-olds, morning or afternoon sessions. The preschool features a dedicated children’s library located in a beautiful historic mansion and a fully enclosed outdoor space for active outdoor time as well as a school garden. Our address is 800 W. Buena Avenue, a tree-lined street conveniently located off Irving Park Road and Lake Shore Drive in Chicago.

The curriculum is play-based and designed to stimulate children’s intellectual creativity while developing their social and emotional health. Current research shows that a play-based curriculum preserves and nurtures children’s inborn enthusiasm for learning and discovery! Lay the foundation for your child’s long-term school success at Smart Love Preschool. We welcome and encourage parent involvement in our school. We also offer child development programming to enrich and optimize family life.

Details:

Fall Child Development Seminars Now Open for Registration

Register online at smartlovefamily.org

All Seminars are scheduled from 7:15-8:45 p.m.

Fall 2010

Discipline Redefined Chicago Monday September 20th

Discipline Redefined Oak Park Thursday October 14th

Self-Esteem Chicago
Wednesday October 20th

Winter 2011

Toddlers & Preschoolers Chicago
Monday February 7th

Sibling Rivalry Chicago
Monday March 7th

Discipline Redefined Chicago Wednesday April 13th

Discipline Redefined Oak Park Thursday April 21st

Baby’s: Sleep & Development Chicago
Monday May 9th

$30 pp/couple
All seminars are co-sponsored by The Intrapsychic Humanism Society.

Professional credits offered for DCFS Licensed Daycares, Licensed Clinical Social Workers, Teacher and EI Providers( Illinoiseitraining.org.)

Parenting Questions - Smart Love Answers

My 3-year-old reader won’t read when we request it

Q:My three-year-old has amazed her father and
me by learning to ready by herself (with a little help
from “Sesame Street”). She can read chapter books.
We are so proud that we often ask her to show our
friends and relatives. I would think she would enjoy
the admiration, but she has begun to refuse to read
when asked. Now I find that she doesn’t want to read
to her father and me anymore. I don’t understand
this behavior and don’t know what to do. Should
we insist that she read since we know she can?

It is wonderful that you have a child who enjoys reading
enough to teach herself how to do it. However, like
all children her age, she resists doing things (even
things she likes) on command. Reading out loud was
fine as long as it was her idea, but once it became a
requirement, the fun went out of it for her. Because
reading will be such an important part of the rest of

your daughter’s life, you want to act quickly to
preserve it as a source of pleasure for her. We suggest
that for the time being you “forget” that she can read.
Don’t mention this ability to anyone, don’t ask her
to read to others or yourselves, and go back to reading
to her. Once she realizes that the pressure is off, she
may begin to read words or sentences again. Simply
say, “Good job!” and continue reading to her. In
other words, remove reading from the sphere of conflict
and let it be entirely her choice once again. Then
your daughter will reconnect with the enjoyment she
first felt from reading and she will be back on track for
success at school and in life.

To get more answers click here to purchase
Parenting Questions-Smart Love Answers

The Smart Love approach to parenting was developed by Martha Heineman Pieper, Ph.D., and William J. Pieper, M.D., and is described in their book, Smart Love: The Compassionate Alternative to Discipline That Will Make You a Better Parent and Your Child a Better Person, (Harvard Common Press, 1999). Also published under the title, The Smart Love Parent: The Compassionate Alternative to Discipline, (Innova Publishing).

Smart Love Family Services • P.O. Box 578579 • Chicago, Illinois 60657
773.665.8052 • www.smartlovefamily.org
© 2010 Smart Love Family Services. All rights reserved.