Group Offers Parents Tips and Support

When Judy Kessler was growing up, neighbors knew each other and playing with other kids on the block was on the usual afternoon agenda. But in the decades that followed, those scenes disappeared in many areas.

A San Fernando Valley parents’ group has brought back that feeling of belonging, giving parents a forum to discuss problems and meet their peers.

“It really helps to establish a sense of community, and that’s important,” said Kessler, president of Creative Parenthood.

Started in 1971, the nonprofit group organizes group events like Halloween parties and camping trips. The group brings in speakers on issues ranging from how to pick a preschool to potty training and discipline.

Creative Parenthood also organizes play groups that meet once a week, rotating from house to house. The now-grown members of one play group started in 1971 still meet once a year to keep in touch, Kessler said.

In addition to providing children with playmates, the 120-family organization gives parents an outlet for advice and support.

“It’s nice to talk to another mom and have her say, ‘You know, my kid does that too,’ ” Kessler said. “If your kid is having a temper tantrum in the middle of Ralphs, you feel all alone. But when somebody says to you, ‘Oh, mine was in Vons when she did that, it helps to put a sense of perspective on what you’re going through.”

Lori Jacobs agrees. “From 21-year-olds raising their second child, to 40-year-olds leaving careers to carry their first, mothers often need to hear from others who are going through parallel experiences, just to make sure what they’re feeling isn’t odd,” said the 32-year-old mother of four.

Jacobs of Woodland Hills joined Creative Parenthood eight years ago, partly for that support, mainly for the baby-sitting cooperative.

“I’ve been so spoiled. I could never go back to using a teen-ager,” said Jacobs, whose children are 11, 10, 3, and 3 months.

Joining the parenting group costs $36 per family and the baby-sitting cooperative costs an additional $10, or “about two hours of baby-sitting if you’re paying someone,” Jacobs said.

Members must complete a cardiopulmonary resuscitation course and have their home checked to ensure it is “toddler-proof.” The cooperative, now numbering about 30 families, meets every six weeks.

The cooperative works on a coupon system. When a family first joins, it gets coupons for 20 hours of sitting. The more coupons earned by watching someone else’s children, the more hours a family can use for their children. Each coupon is worth 15 minutes of baby-sitting for one child.

“I’ve been known to drop my kids off at the co-op and take a nap,” said Kessler, who’s been in the baby-sitting group with her two children for six years. “This way my kids don’t feel like they’re being dumped. It’s not, ‘Somebody’s coming over to watch me.’ It’s, ‘I get to go to so-and-so’s house to play.’ . . . It assures us always of a safe place and a baby-sitter.”

For more information about Creative Parenthood, call (818) 887-6675.

Other volunteer opportunities are:

Community Hospice Care in Sherman Oaks needs volunteers to work with terminally ill patients and their families, providing companionship and respite care. Training classes begin in January and are on-going. About 30 hours of training is required. For more information, call Jean Gaines, director of volunteers, at (818) 760-2273.

North Hollywood-based Activities for Retarded Children needs volunteers to make occasional repairs on their two houses, to read to children, to help with painting and other tasks. For more information, call Dixie or Mary at (818) 762-4365.

Catholic Big Brothers is seeking men throughout Los Angeles County to become role models to children ages 7 to 14. The organization also needs Big Brothers for hearing-impaired children ages 6 to 18. Call (213) 251-9800.

Getting Involved is a weekly listing of volunteering opportunities.