GROW Parenting Conference

GROW: Cultivating Families that Flourish

GROW is a two-day conference that seeks to equip the church to grow in their understanding, compassion, and skills for relating with children, while also inviting participants to reflect on their own relational history and how they were shaped by their earliest caregivers.

Dates:

- Friday, 2/27, 6PM-9pm

   Optional dinner provided 5-5:45pm.

- Saturday, 2/28, 8:30am-4:30pm

   Lunch will be provided.

Cost: $50/family

Register 

Conference & Speaker Information

Description

Throughout creation, we see that God designs things to grow, develop, and change over time. A frog begins life as a tadpole, a butterfly as a caterpillar, and a tree as an acorn. The same is true for us as humans: we begin in the womb and grow through many stages of development across our lives.

GROW is a conference that equips caregivers to deepen their understanding of childhood, child development, and the science of relationships. Participants will gain practical tools to foster strong relationships with children and to care well for them amid big emotions, confusing or difficult behaviors, and developing brains.

Attendees will be guided through a series of discussions that build a shared understanding of child development and the vital role parents and caregivers play in the flourishing of their families—as well as the role families play in the flourishing of God’s kingdom in our communities.

This conference is open to our whole church—parents, caregivers, grandparents, teachers, mentors, and children and youth volunteers. As a church family, we want to grow in our understanding of how God designed us as humans, how children grow, and how we can faithfully care for the children in our midst.

Conference Topics

- The Science of Relationships
- Foundations of Development
- Making Sense of Behavior
- Temperament
- Kids From Hard Places
- Engaging Children (and Their Emotions)
- Putting It All Together (and the Role of Discipline)

Conference Speakers

Co-founders Rachel Hodges and Jill Oberle started working together as team members within a local church’s counseling ministry. As they spent time helping parents make sense of their children’s behavior through the framework of relational attachment, Rachel and Jill were regularly told, “I wish I would have known this years ago.”

To proactively equip parents and caregivers—prior to when critical intervention might be needed—GROW started in 2017 as a weekend-long conference focused on the science of relationships, the foundation of development, and practical tools for engaging children and their emotions. 

For more information, visit their website: growcultivatingfamilies.com.

FAQ

Is there child care provided?

Unfortunately, there is no child care provided. We encourage you to invite a relative to stay with your children, swap with a friend, or share a sitter with another attendee. Don't let this prohibit your attendance; please reach out to kim@centralpres.com with your individual needs or specific situation.

Can I sign up for just one parent if my spouse and I are not able to both attend? Can my spouse and I split the days?

While we understand the challenge of arranging child care for the duration of the conference, we encourage both parents from any one household to attend together. We hope for this to be a time where you can take a step back as a couple, connect with one another, reflect on your family and emerge with a unified approach for engaging your family. Some options to consider for child care are: inviting a relative to come stay for the weekend to care for your children or swapping weekends with a friend for your children to say with them, watching their children another weekend. 

Should I come if I don't have children at home?

YES! This conference is open to our whole church. We as a community want to grow in our understanding of how God designed us as children, how children grow and how we can be a part of caring for the children in our midst. Biological Parents, Adoptive and Foster Parents, Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles, Teachers, Mentors, Ministry Volunteers...everyone is invited to join us!