Developed by CCE Jefferson Executive Director, Amanda Root, in 2009, and updated in 2018, the purpose of the Magic Years (birth through four), Middle Years (ages five through ten), and Tween & Teen Years (ages eleven through eighteen) is to provide CCE parent educators with tools and resources to explain best practices in child development and parenting to caregivers. The original series of six workshops is organized around topics to include parenting styles, child development, routines, parental responsibility, discipline, and stress.
Decades of research have shown that children are influenced by their parents' characteristics, knowledge, beliefs, values, expectations, and actions (Partnership for America's Economic Success, 2009). These classes assist participants, who are experts on their own families, in developing a deeper understanding of how their personal and parenting knowledge and behavior affect their children.
In these changing times, the ecology of parenting has evolved significantly, shaped by digital technology, post-pandemic mental health and social-emotional challenges, and shifting family dynamics. Parent workshops require innovative approaches, translating the abundance of new research on child development, neuroscience, trauma-informed care, social media, and digital well-being into practical tools and strategies that caregivers can apply in their daily lives.
The outcome of this internship will be the enhancement and revision of the existing Magic, Middle, and Teen Years programs, resulting in an updated and expanded curriculum that reflects current family needs and best practices. Once completed, the reimagined lessons will be made available across Extension as a valuable resource to strengthen programming and support caregivers.
