Parenting Connections
Virtual | Adult-Only
In these online sessions, parents can consult with child-development experts from Bank Street College of Education on the following topics:
Family Center
Family Foundations Groups
Child Play & Parenting Support
Family Foundations groups at the Bank Street Family Center allow parents of young children to connect with and learn from a community of child development experts and other parents. Learn more about our three groups below and which option may be the right fit for your family.
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My Grown-Up & Me
My Grown-Up & Me
In-Person | Adult and ChildIn the company of their peers and a parent or caregiver, children explore a variety of materials through play that engage their senses and ignite their curiosities. This developmentally inclusive group is facilitated by an early childhood educator and a social worker with extensive experience in infant-toddler development and family support.
Session Toddlers Group (12 months – 3 years) Babies Group (2 – 12 months) (Fall) October 4 – December 2, 2022 Tuesdays from 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM Tuesdays from 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM (Winter) January 3 – March 7, 2023 Tuesdays from 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM Tuesdays from 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM (Spring) March 28 – May 30, 2023 Tuesdays from 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM Tuesdays from 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM **All groups are limited to six families.
Families can register for one session at $900.
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My Parent & Me: Developmental Social Group
My Parent & Me: Developmental Social Group
In-Person | Adult and ChildThis group supports families of young children from infancy through age 5 receiving early intervention services either privately or through the Department of Health. In a safe and supportive space, parents connect with one another about their experiences parenting a child with unique developmental needs. Parents will access resources and tools to support their time at home with their child and learn strategies on how to advocate for their child within the various systems. There is also a separation element to this group—during this time, children engage in play-based experiences that support their social, emotional, and cognitive development while parents meet with each other and a social worker to voice their thoughts and feelings and share resources.
Session Day and Time (Fall) October 6 – December 8, 2022 Thursdays from 3:30 PM – 5:00 PM (Winter) January 5 – March 9, 2023 Thursdays from 3:30 PM – 5:00 PM (Spring) March 30 – June 1, 2023 Thursdays from 3:30 PM – 5:00 PM **All groups are limited to five families.
Families can register for one session at $900. If you are interested in applying for financial assistance, please email Jeannete Corey, Director of the Family Center, at jcorey@bankstreet.edu.
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Parenting Connections
- Behavior
- Sleep
- Potty training
- Creating routines and setting boundaries
- Sibling relationships
- Developmental milestones
- Developmental variations
- Self-care: then and now
- How to set up play experiences
- Expectations of play
- Extending play with household items
- Managing educational expectations
- Balancing family schedules
- Changes in behavior and regression
- Language to use with your children around the changing world
- Transitions (between activities, caregivers, and routines)
Session Day and Time (Session I) March 30 – April 27, 2023 Wednesdays from 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM (Session II) May 4 – June 1, 2023 Wednesdays from 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM **All groups are limited to five families.
Registration will become available in the coming months.
Groups in Action
In our groups, young children engage in hands-on, developmentally appropriate play in the company of trusted adults and other children.
Our hour-long commute by train from Brooklyn to the Upper West Side fell by the wayside as a hardship in comparison to how much we looked forward to our Friday playgroup. From all that I have learned thus far about classes offered throughout the city, in Manhattan and Brooklyn, nothing exists at the level of what is happening at Bank Street.
My daughter has Down Syndrome and was born with dislocated knees. Having this playgroup has been amazing for her! Watching her get excited when her teacher builds a block tower and then crawl quickly over to knock it down always warms up my heart! I am a single parent in my 20s. Having other parents to share stories and thoughts with has been extraordinary. We share everything in our parents’ group, and I am so glad I have access to these amazing families and professionals.