MANNHEIM, Germany - From calming shrieking cries, teaching children the rules of the potty, and learning how to deal with deployments, the New Parent Support Program assists mothers and fathers in sleeping like babies themselves after long days of tending to their little ones.
Even more soothing is the fact that Mannheim NPSP Home Visitor Andrea Manus created a Facebook page called "Mannheim Military Moms," which is an online community that publicizes classes and playgroups for parents with newborns and toddlers up to age 3, as well as offering a place for discussion.
Thanks to the group, finding out about events to formulate a healthy child has become much simpler than deciphering baby food labels for the first time.
"With a large community of people, it's important to have a place where parents can frequently access information.It makes sense to go where parents already are," Manus said. "It's great, the moms are so technologically-savvy."
As a result of the online page, parents within the Mannheim community can find out about the variety of classes and programs available to them, including a pregnancy support group and infant massage classes.
Other events include field-trips within 30 miles of the Mannheim installations, as well as the upcoming Combat Stress for Spouses class, which the NPSP created for families of redeploying service members with children up to age 3.
"New Parent Support has been invaluable to me after I had both of my children," Laura Brown said. "Andrea has provided me with the latest research and updates that have happened since I had my first child. It has also been wonderful to get more information about what the community has to offer my 2 A,A1/2 year old."
Recently, Manus added another feature to the group: "Momslist," a blog-type page where mothers can advertise child-related items for sale or for donation.
"I get e-mails from moms on a weekly basis that typically begin with, 'Do you know anyone who has "fill in the blank" and doesn't need it anymore'' or 'My child no longer uses "fill in the blank," and I'd like to pass it on,'" Manus said. "While many of our moms utilize the thrift store, a good number of others don't, and the items they get rid of can be seen curbside on 'large item pickup day.'"
However, an increasingly popular event announced on the page seems to be the bimonthly playgroup. The largest get-together consisted of 154 attendants and offered children toys and entertaining games.
"It's a great way for kids to socialize with other children, and it decreases isolation by allowing moms to meet one another while their children are playing," Manus said.
More than 100 parents and their children met in Bldg. 725 behind the Mannheim Bowling Center to participate in the latest playgroup June 30.
In addition, parents took advantage of language, social, hearing, cognitive and self-help screenings offered by Educational and Developmental Intervention Services at no cost.
"We're here to help parents through education and support," Manus said, "and that support may look different to each of the families with whom I work. While our overall goal is to reduce the incidents of abuse and neglect, a goal of mine in Mannheim has been to create a wealth of opportunities for families to connect and engage with one another."
Parents can visit the "Mannheim Military Moms" page on Facebook and join the other 160-plus community members who already "like" the page.
Social Sharing