Children’s fair helps parents become better moms and dads

Organizers of Saturday’s 40 th Annual Children’s Fair said being a parent is a challenge and they need all the help they can get.

Ivette Garcia, Imperial County Child Abuse Prevention Council, said, “We do want parents to know that they are not alone. Our motto is, it’s not easy being a parent but you’re not alone.”

Thousands of local families came together at El Centro’s Bucklin Park to have fun and learn about parenting.

“We have all of these hundreds of resources that can really help you as a parent. It’s a difficult time to raise children,” Garcia said.

Nearly 80 vendors were spread all over the park ready to give information and share the fun.

“All the community to come down and have a family fun-filled day in the park and learn about valuable resources to help strengthen their families,” Garcia said.

They said kids will be kids, and parents are a work in progress.

“It is normal for kids to act up in public. And how we as parents respond will make the difference if that behavior continues or how soon we’re able to stop that behavior from happening,” Garcia said.

Michael Castillo, with I.C. Office of Education, said, “Child abuse is a serious issue here in Imperial County. Parents are obviously under a lot of stress, economics, social and work. How they respond within their family, within their children is crucial.”

For more information on parenting, people can contact the local Child Abuse Prevention Council or the Office of Education.

“If those parents have those tools and techniques, they can know how to deal with that,” Garcia said.

Please watch our newscast for more information.