Creative problem-solving, personality differences, working parents, telecommuting, health care, giftedness and bilingualism are among the topics for more 20 seminars being offered this semester by the MIT Family Resource Center.
Several new topics have been added this fall to reflect the variety of ways in which members of the MIT community are balancing work and family life.
Upcoming seminars, which will be held from noon-1:30pm are free of charge and open to thepublic. They include:
Stepparenting, Friday, Oct. 7, Rm 14N-405, led by Judy Osborne of Stepfamily Associates, Brookline.
Gay and Lesbian Parenting, Friday, Oct. 21, Rm 14E-304, led by Jenifer Firestone of Lesbian and Gay Family and Parenting Services, Boston, cosponsored by GABLES at MIT.
What Children Need from Their Working Parents, Friday, Nov. 4, Rm 14E-304, led by Sharon Gordetsky of Parents' and Children's Services, Boston.
Informed Health Care Decision-Making, Monday, Nov. 7, Rm 14W-111(Killian Hall), led by Arlene Lowney of the Hospice of Cambridge and Dawn Metcalf of the MIT Medical Department and cosponsored by the MIT Women's Forum.
Raising Bilingual Children, Thursday, Nov. 10, Rm E19-220, led by Professor Suzanne Flynn of the Foreign Languages and Literatures Section and the Department of Linguistics and Philosophy.
Home for the Holidays, Monday, Nov. 14, Rm 14N-405, led by Ruth Nemzoff of Lesley College, Cambridge.
Raising a Thinking Child, Friday, Nov. 18, Rm 10-105 (Bush Room), led by Myrna Shure of Hahnemann University, Philadelphia.
Sibling Rivalry, Thursday, Dec. 1, Rm E25-525, led by Rae Simpson of the MIT Family Resource Center.
Becoming an Advocate: Parenting Children with Special Needs, Friday, Dec. 2, Rm 14E-304, led by Pamela Varrin, a psychologist in private practice in Lexington.
Telecommuting, Friday, Dec. 9, Rm 11-206, led by Mary Ellen Bushnell, Susan Jones, and Gail Garfield Neuman of MIT Information Systems and cosponsored by MIT Information Systems.
An evening panel discussion, "What Parents Can Expect in High School," will be held Monday, Oct. 17, 7:30-9pm, in the Sala de Puerto Rico in the Student Center, moderated by Kathy Simons of the MIT Family Resource Center.
Two activities will be cosponsored by the MIT Wives Group: "Exploring Boston with Young Children" on Wednesday, Oct. 12, 3:30-4:45pm, in Room 400 of the Student Center, and "Parent/Toddler Play Session" on Thursday, Nov. 10, 10-11:30am, in Westgate Lounge.
In addition, several more intensive seminars, requiring a fee, have been organized in response to community interest. They include:
How Personality Differences Affect Parenting, Friday, Oct. 14, 9am-1pm, $75, led by Ellen Yenawine of Gardner Yenawine & Associates. An opportunity to take the Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) and explore ways in which personality characteristics influence one's parenting.
Raising Gifted Children, Thursdays, Oct. 20 through Nov. 3, noon-2pm, $35, led by Nina Greenwald of the University of Massachusetts, Boston. Strategies for critical thinking and creative problem-solving and ways to apply them to the special challenges of raising children with outstanding academic, leadership and artistic abilities.
The Fatherhood Course, Mondays, Oct. 17 through Nov. 4, 6-9pm, $100, led by Ronald F. Levant, co-author of Between Father and Child. Opportunities to discuss the challenges of today's fathering roles and to learn parenting skills.
Without Spanking or Spoiling, Tuesdays, Oct. 25 through Dec. 6, noon-1:30pm, $12.95 (for book purchase), led by Rae Simpson of the MIT Family Resource Center. Key ideas from current parenting educators about ways to support and set limits for children ages one to five.
The Family Resource Center also offers individual consultations, support groups and briefings on these and other topics such as finding and evaluating child care, schools, job flexibility, child development, separation and divorce, and multicultural parenting.
All programs require preregistration. For a complete listing of fall programs or to preregister, visit or call the MIT Family Resource Center, Rm4-144, x3-1592, e-mail
A version of this article appeared in the October 5, 1994 issue of MIT Tech Talk (Volume 39, Number 7).
