Parenting & Family Education

Boomerang Character Education Program

The Boomerang Character Education Program is a thought-provoking series for 4th through 8th grades, where youth learn character traits that prepare them to become positive, productive members of their family, school, and community.  It emphasizes character and life skills development as well as learning through experience.  Each monthly session consists of a learning experience focused on a different character trait.  The program was created using the Native American Circle of Courage model of youth development, which focuses on the four basic needs youth have to have met in order to become persons of good character.  Boomerang gives high school youth the opportunity to be Team Teachers and lead elementary students through character building educational activities. 
For more information, please click here Boomerang Brochure. 

 Better Kid Care

UW-Extension offers DVD based workshops from Penn State Cooperative Extension’s Better Kid Care Program which provides educational materials, learning experiences and program ideas to child care providers, parents, and employers.  Each Better Kid Care session is offered in all three local counties:  Calumet, Outagamie or Winnebago.  The workshops are held at various times to accommodate a variety of schedules. 

Parenting Newsletters

Parenting the First Year

Becoming a parent is an exciting change in your life.  But it can be a stressful and trying time too.  In this set of 12 newsletters, find out from child development experts how your baby changes during each month of the first year.  Get the latest information on child development, nutrition, health, safety, child care, changes in family life, and much more.  Revised in 2006, the newsletters include new articles on if baby is premature, routines for baby, and separation distress, as well as updates on feeding, where baby sleeps, immunizations, and more.   Click on the title above to register for the newsletters.

Parenting the Second and Third Years

Being a parent gets more exciting as your toddler learns to talk, play with you and others, and make decisions.  Your toddler’s curiosity will delight you, as well as frustrate and tire you.  In this set of 12 newsletters, find out from child development experts how your toddler changes during each two months of the second and third years.  Guiding and caring for your child these next two years will take a lot of your attention, encouragement, patience, humor – and a sense of wonder.  Get the latest information on child development, child guidance, language development, children and television, nutrition, health, safety, child care, taking care of yourself, and much more.  These newsletters were revised in 2006, with articles from creating fun play and learning activities to preventing poisoning from lead paint around your home and yard.  Click on the title above to register for the newsletters.