Father’s Day is just around the corner, and Sunday is the perfect opportunity to celebrate the dads in our lives. If you’re a father yourself, Father’s Day is a great chance to spend some quality time with your family and reflect on all of the joys that fatherhood can bring.
But being a father isn’t always easy, and there are unique challenges that come along with raising a child that many are unprepared for. Here at Carya, we strive to establish the foundation for strong families, and fathers are an important part of that dynamic. We offer a number of programs that help Calgary dads establish stronger bonds with their children and deal with the day-to-day highs and lows that come with parenthood. Here are just a few!
Prime Time helps expectant parents and families with children under two years of age. Through in-home coaching and skills building, fathers and mothers develop the skills they need to meet their child’s needs from birth, through infancy and beyond.
Using the power of play, our In Sync program strengthens relationships between parents and their newborn-to-six-year-old children. We give families the tools they need to reduce stress at home and empower fathers and mothers to make their little ones feel safe, loved, and protected.
Ready 4 Learning provides opportunities for parents of young children to build community, strengthen social networks, and support early childhood development. As part of this diverse program, Dads from Bowness, Montgomery, and Greenwood Village can drop in with their little ones for some fun and interactive play. The next Drop-In Play for Dads is on June 20th!
Navigating early childhood is a challenge, but support during those tricky teen and tween years is just as important. That’s why we offer Parenting the Nurturing Way, a program that helps parents in inner city communities and their 7-13 year-old kids handle feelings, effectively communicate their needs, and take charge of their behaviour. The program also teaches effective discipline techniques and problem solving skills that help foster positive family dynamics.
Fathers looking to create a closer connection with their teens and tweens should check out Carya’s Connect Parenting Group. Parents discover alternatives in responding to challenging behaviours, and leave the program with a better understanding of both their child and themselves. Most importantly, fathers and mothers see a positive change in their relationship with their child after applying what they learned in the program.
Nobody is born fully equipped to deal with all that fatherhood entails. On Father’s Day and beyond, let’s celebrate the dads in our life and make sure they have the resources they need to succeed. The knowledge, confidence and community support gained through the programs we offer at Carya can go a long way towards making fatherhood the wonderful experience it should be.
Many of Carya’s programs are provided free of charge or on a sliding fee scale. Our goal is to provide access to service for anyone who needs it, and with your support we will be able to continue helping Calgarians in need.