Posted on: Friday, October 15, 2004

Workshops on 'baby bonding' set on Big Island

Advertiser Staff

HILO, Hawai'i — Young parents, caregivers, early childhood providers and professionals are invited to attend one of a series of Big Island "Baby Bonding" workshops.

The workshops are based on research that shows children who strongly bond with parents and caregivers are happier, healthier children and adults; are less at risk for substance abuse and child abuse; and are better able to rebound from life's troubles.

The workshops are sponsored by the Big Island Good Beginnings Alliance Community Council and the North Hawaii Drug-Free Coalition, and will feature nationally recognized "baby bonding" researcher and author Alice Sterling Honig.

Honig is professor emerita of child development at Syracuse University and a licensed New York state psychologist. She has published hundreds of journal articles and book chapters as well as taught courses on childcare, parenting, prosocial and moral development, and cross-cultural child rearing.

Most of the presentation expenses are being underwritten by the North Hawai'i Drug-Free Coalition, but there is a $12 registration fee to cover light refreshments and workshop materials.

Presentations will be in Waimea from 9 a.m. to noon tomorrow at the Waimea School cafeteria and 4 to 6:30 p.m. Monday at Kuhio Hale in the Hawaiian Homes Hall; in Hilo, 9 a.m. to noon Monday at the Hawai'i Naniloa Resort's Kilohana Room; and in Kona, 9 a.m. to noon Tuesday at Ohana Keauhou Beach Hotel.

Advance registration is required. For information and to register, call (808) 887-1228.