BEVERLY HILLS—The Beverly Hills Public Library and L.A. Parent Magazine will begin a new speaker series program titled, Connections: Conversations with Parenting Experts, on Wednesday, August 31. The event will be held in the Library Auditorium from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Canyon News received a press release via email from Dana Beesen that noted the program is free to attend, and will provide a conversation and learning tools with three panel experts. Those panel experts include Dr. Pat Levitt, Ph.D., author Roma Khetarpal and Dr. Dawn A. Kurtz, Ph.D. The speakers will focus on children’s earliest social and emotional connections by discussing current research into the development of a child during their first five years.

Parents will get the opportunity to discover how early interactions with their child sets the foundation for the kid’s ability to develop future learning, and their relationships with others and the world around them.

Roma Khetarpal is the author of the award-winning book “The Perfect Parent.” She is a parent coach and speaker on the topic of “mindful parenting.” She will discuss the importance of parents acting as an anchor of safety and comfort for their children, and give insight on how to provide a secure base for exploration that gives children the ability to take the lead in learning.

Dr. Pat Levitt, Ph.D., is Simms/Mann Chair in Developmental Neurogenetics at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles and the University of Southern California. Levitt’s research focuses on brain development and social-emotional behavior, and the importance of early parent-child communication such as reading, singing and playing.

Dr. Dawn A. Kurtz, Ph.D., has worked in the child development and early childhood education fields for over 15 years. As Chief Program Officer for Los Angeles Universal Preschool (LAUP), she will discuss ways to locate the best preschool for children and questions that parents should ask in the process.

Admission to the event is free, but participants are asked to register at www.laparent.com/speaker-series. For more information on all events at the Beverly Hills Public Library, go to www.beverlyhills.org/bhpl or call (310) 288-2211.