Parenting

Parenting programs at the JCC are designed to support families from preparing for their first child to parenting young adults and everything in between.

Throughout the year, we offer a multitude of support groups, workshops, and speakers to support all phases of childrearing in the ever-changing landscape of raising and supporting children. We view our programs as a space on the Upper West Side where parents can come together to form connections and community while being nurtured by expert facilitators.

We understand the challenges and joys of raising a family, and our mission is to bolster parents’ confidence and resilience. We hope our programs serve as your village, where you can find solidarity, reliable information, and encouragement. Whether you’re considering starting a family or are already immersed in the beautiful chaos of parenthood, the JCC is here to be your steadfast partner.

Past programs include book talks about a few books we recommend to add to your parenting reading list: Good Inside: A Guide to Becoming the Parent You Want to Be by Dr. Becky Kennedy, The Emotional Lives of Teenagers by Lisa Damour, Ph.D., This Is So Awkward by Cara Natterson, MD and Vanessa Kroll Bennett, and The Unexpected by Emily Oster and Nathan Fox, MD.

In addition to our special seminars and events, we regularly host sessions of the following programs:

Preparing to Parent: Led by our partners at Cooper Parenting, this class is designed to equip you with the essential tools and knowledge for the exciting journey ahead. Intended for expectant parents, typically in their second or third trimester, this program welcomes partner attendance as well.

New Moms Support Group: Led by a child development expert from Cooper Parenting, this group offers practical tips on navigating the early months of parenthood, answering questions, and providing guidance on many topics while providing a community atmosphere for new moms and babies to connect, bond, and build new friendships. Sessions are filled with strategies, solutions, and answers to your most important questions about newborn parenting.

What I Wish I Knew: In this parenting series, we discuss what we wish we had known before the earliest stages of parenthood. Each event offers a specific topic of interest, with expert guest speakers sharing knowledge and facilitating discussions.

For more information about our Parenting Programs, which serve families from the prenatal stage to school age, contact Yael Kahn Pinto, Director of The Bert and Sandra Wasserman Center for Family Life.

For more information about Parenting Programs geared toward parents of tweens, teens, and young adults, contact Naomi Skop Richter, Senior Director of the Teen + Young Adult Mental Health Initiative.

For Parents of children 0-10 years, please email Yael Kahn Pinto at ykahnpinto@mmjccm.org.

For parents of tweens, teens and young adults, please email Naomi Skop Richter at nskoprichter@mmjccm.org.

Help us continue to ensure accessible programming for everyone. Please support Children + Family programming at the Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan.