“The Wonder Years: Celebrating the Mishegas of the Preschool Years” will take place from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 17, at the Saul Mirowitz Jewish Community School, 348 S. Mason Road. 

Formerly known as the JCC Toddler Conference, this workshop will provide parents of preschool-age children with answers to some of their most frequent questions and solutions to common parenting challenges. 

Internationally-syndicated columnist and educator Sharon Duke Estroff will speak on “The Big Picture of Jewish Parenting,” how to align the qualities and achievements you hope to see in your child down the road with daily parenting practices. Estroff is a parenting and education writer for numerous national publications including Scholastic Parent and Child Magazine, Woman’s Day, Good Housekeeping, Parents Magazine and The Huffington Post. She also wrote the book “Can I Have a Cell Phone for Hanukkah?”

Also scheduled to speak are:

• Jewish Educator Cyndee Levy on “How to Raise Children with an Attitude of Gratitude”

• Psychotherapist Shellie Fidell, MSW, LCSW on “Navigating Supermom Syndrome” 

• Renee Wasserman, PT, MPH on “Sleep 101: Setting the Foundation for Healthy Sleep”

• Jewish Educator Shayna Warner on “Infusing Jewish Moments into our Lives”

• Mirowitz Kindergarten teacher Val Toskin on “10 Things You Should Know Before Your Child Enters Kindergarten”

• Debbie Granick on “Taming the Toddler Tantrum” – Concrete Strategies for a Lower Stress Home”

• Rabbi Andrea Goldstein on “Introduction to Mindful Parenting”

• Rabbi Amy Feder on “Making Mini-Mensches”

• Parenting Coach Mary Jo Corcoran on “Permission to be a Parent: The Importance of Boundaries”

Estroff will give a keynote address on “Raising Digital Mensches” – a breakout session geared towards parents of elementary and middle school aged children.

In addition, an information fair will feature local infant and toddler-related businesses, organizations and preschools. Participants will receive a gift bag with healthy snacks from Bistro Kids, information from each speaker and more.  Parents are also encouraged to bring any new or gently used infant/toddler clothes or gear to donate to Helping Hand-Me-Downs, an organization serving families in need.

The Wonder Years is organized by the Jewish Community Center’s  Helene Mirowitz Family Center, J-PAT (Jewish Parents As Teachers), PJ Library, Mirowitz, the Concierge for Families of Young Children, Chabad of Chesterfield and a community lay leaders; it is funded, in part, by the Staenberg Family Foundation and the J Associates.

The cost to attend is $12 in advance and $18 at the door.  Free babysitting will be provided. To register, visit JewishinStLouis.org/WonderYears.  For more information, contact Marianne Chervitz at 314-442-3454 or [email protected].