Marbles Kids Museum & WakeMed Children’s Present Playful Parenting Seminar Series

RALEIGH, N.C. (February 6, 2020) – Marbles Kids Museum and WakeMed Children’s have come together to create a community speaker series that centers around a playful parenting approach to childhood challenges and everyday moments that matter. The Playful Parenting Speaker Series aims to infuse new energy into parenting conversations and strengthen local families with help from national and local experts and resources.

“As part of our commitment to introduce fresh new ideas and resources for local families, Marbles is excited to partner with WakeMed Children’s to provide parents playful and approachable strategies to assist in today’s “growing-up” process,” said Sally Edwards, CEO of Marbles Kids Museum & IMAX Theatre.

Each Playful Parenting Speaker Series event will feature a keynote speaker who will offer approachable strategies relevant to growing up today, along with a panel of experts from Marbles, WakeMed and the community to lead an audience Q&A and raise awareness of resources for parents and families.

The series kick-off is Thursday, February 20, at Marbles Kids Museum, featuring a conversation with Dana Winters, an expert in early childhood development from the Fred Rogers Center for Early Learning & Children’s Media.

The series is for parents with children ranging in age from newborns to middle schoolers. Together, Marbles and WakeMed Children’s will address hot topics – from body image to tech balance to coping with stress – and help break down the barriers between parents and children through positive interactions. The goal is to spark the imagination of caregivers as they face everyday challenges of parenting and childhood.

“Parents are an essential part of their child’s care at WakeMed, and the Playful Parenting series is an extension of our commitment to parent education, positive parenting practices and community collaboration to help ensure the safety and well-being of local children and families,” adds Bill Lagarde, MD, executive medical director of WakeMed Children’s services.

Through the Playful Parenting Speaker Series, Marbles and WakeMed Children’s will provide real resources for parents to better support our growing community’s children and families.

Join us throughout 2020 for these upcoming seminars:

Thursday, February 20

Playful Parenting & Making the Most of Challenges

Featuring Dana Winters, PhD, from the Fred Rogers Center for Early Learning & Children’s Media

Dana Winters, an expert in early childhood development, will lead two special sessions that will help inspire a playful approach to childhood challenges.

Saturday, May 9

Inside Out Strong: Mother/Daughter Workshop


Led by Sarah Schall, local health coach & creator of Inside Out Strong


A health workshop for mothers and their daughters (age 10+) to connect in heart, mind, body and health. Featuring inspiring “work-in” sessions and “work-out” sessions featuring Zumba, yoga, interval training & identity, mindset and body image.

September 2020 (Date TBD)

Back to School Event: Growth Mindset & Grit


Featuring Alissa Marquess, Author of Bounceback Parenting: A Field Guide for Creating Connection, Not Perfection


Join us for a casual chat and gain insight on why growth mindset is just as important for grown-ups as it is for kids. Ask questions and connect with other parents over coffee and conversation.

November 2020 (Date TBD)

Tech Today – Screen-time Savvy


Create tech balance for your family. Set appropriate limits, equip kids to be safe online, and prioritize face-to-face family engagement and fun.

For more information, visit wakemed.org/playfulparenting.

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About Marbles Kids Museum


Marbles Kids Museum opened its doors in 2007 with a mission to spark imagination, discovery and learning through play. Play contributes to intellectual growth, social and emotional well-being and physical development. We believe strongly in our responsibility to make our unique museum experience available and accessible to ALL children.

About WakeMed Health & Hospitals

Serving the community since 1961, WakeMed is a nationally recognized, private, not-for-profit health system founded and based in Raleigh, N.C. The largest health system in Wake County, WakeMed exists to improve the health and well-being of our community by providing outstanding, compassionate, patient- and family-centered care to all.

The 941-bed system comprises a network of facilities throughout the Triangle area, including three full-service hospitals, all delivering health and wellness care and innovative services that bring added value to the communities we serve. WakeMed is a leader in heart and vascular care, women’s and children’s services, emergency medicine and trauma care, physical rehabilitation, orthopaedics and neurosciences.

Specialty facilities include the WakeMed Heart Center, a dedicated Children’s Hospital and Children’s Emergency Department, Women’s Pavilion and Birthplace, Women’s Hospital at WakeMed North, WakeMed Rehabilitation Hospital and Wake County’s only Level I Trauma Center. WakeMed’s team of more than 9,700 employees, 1,500 volunteers, 1,300 affiliated physicians and 525 employed physicians and providers represent the best minds and the biggest hearts to ensure the finest quality in health care and community health.

For more information, visit www.wakemed.org or follow WakeMed on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.