events
Coffee, Community, & Conversation
Saturday, March 8
9:30-10:30 am
Tusk & Cup
142 Old Ridgefield Road, Wilton
Join members of the community for Coffee, Community and Conversation to build community through connection!
These informal monthly gatherings offer community members a chance to discuss what's on their mind and build relationships with other Wilton residents.
Shoulder Check: Making Kindness a Contact Sport
Wednesday, March 12
7 - 8 pm
Little Theater, Wilton High School
Presenter: Rob Thorsen, Founder of #HT40 Foundation
Open to all adults
Wilton Youth Council is excited to partner with Wilton Public Schools to bring Rob Thorsen, Founder of the #HT40 Foundation, to visit Wilton High School on March 12th. Rob will talk about his initiative Shoulder Check which is dedicated to bringing kids together through kindness and compassion and to inspire a culture of support through small actions that have a big impact. He will be introducing the concept of Should Check, which encourages young people to be there for their peers through action-oriented initiatives that foster social connectedness. Learn how to help foster a culture of caring in youth at this presentation!
Rob will speak to Wilton High School students on March 12th. That same evening parents are invited to The Little Theater to listen to Rob speak and share what he presented to our kids.
These presentations are made possible by a grant provided by The County Assemblies.
REGISTER HERE
The College Process: Supporting Your Teen
& Finding the Right Fit
Thursday, March 20
6:30-8 pm
Wilton Library Association
Presenters:
Susan Bauerfeld, PhD
Deena Maerowitz, JD, MSW
The college process can feel like a frenzy, but there are ways to manage it that foster resilience and relationships rather than discord and despair.
Join us to learn tips, strategies and suggestions for reducing stress, staying connected to your child and managing the process with greater ease and comfort. You will feel better and your teen will thank you.
This program is brought to you Wilton Youth Council in partnership with the Wilton Library and Wilton High School PTSA.
REGISTER HERE
Raising a Well-Adjusted, Confident and Self-Reliant Adult in this Crazy Mixed-up World
Tuesday, March 25
6:30-8:30 pm
Wilton Library Association
Presenter:
Alicia Farrell, PhD
This talk offers practical, immediately actionable tools and insights to help you regain control, strengthen your relationship with your kids, and guide them with confidence. Learn how to build trust, foster open communication, and instill resilience in your children.
Gain a deeper understanding of brain development, create a family philosophy to navigate modern challenges like technology, and leave empowered to raise well-rounded, motivated young people.
Whether you’re a parent, educator, or community leader, this talk will give you the strategies to make a lasting, positive impact on the next generation.
This program is brought to you by Wilton Youth Council in partnership with the Wilton Library, Wilton High School PTSA and Middlebrook PTA.
The Power of Validation: Arming Your Kids Against Bullying, Peer Pressure, Addiction & More.
Friday, March 28
10:30 am -12:30 pm
New Canaan Library
Terry D'Elisa, PsyD, ABPP, NCSP
In their book The Power of Validation: Arming your Child Against Bullying, Peer Pressure, Addiction, Self-Harm & Out-Of-Control Behavior, Karyn D. Hall and Melissa H. Cook explain that validation means recognizing and accepting your child’s thoughts and feelings, even if you don’t think they should be experiencing them.
Children who are validated feel reassured that they’ll be accepted and loved regardless of their feelings; children who are not validated are more vulnerable to peer pressure, bullying, and emotional and behavioral problems. Understanding how to validate your children’s thoughts and feelings without condoning their inappropriate behaviors will lay the groundwork for a healthier parent-child relationship, reduce conflict, and equip your child with the courage to resist peer pressure and retain healthy self-esteem, through adolescence and adulthood.
Terry D’Elisa, PsyD, ABPP, NCSP, will discuss what validation is (and what it is not), provide helpful ways to respond to strong emotions, and help you teach your children how to cope better and self-regulate when confronted with day-to-day challenges. Her discussion will be based on The Power of Validation by Hall and Cook, as well as on The Book You Wish Your Parents Had Read (and Your Children Will be Glad That You Did) by Philippa Perry.
This program is presented by SPED*NET in partnership with New Canaan Library, Wilton Public Schools, Wilton Youth Council and Newtown Sped PTA.