Course 1:

Connecting with kids

Want to be a Calm, Confident Parent?

Learn how to make life at home more fun and fulfilling.

This relaxed, in-depth workshop will teach you how to strengthen your relationship with your kids. You’ll learn new, more effective communication skills and understand what is happening with kids of all ages. Life at home will be richer, more relaxed, and more fun.

We’ll meet six times. At the end of the six weeks you’ll know how to:

  • Deal with upset kids and help everyone calm down.

  • Resolve conflicts more effectively.

  • Help kids see their strengths and help build their confidence.

  • Discipline without being permissive or aggressive.

  • Encourage kids to be responsible for their behaviour and see how it affects themselves and others.

  • Build up relationships in the family with trust, respect and love.

  • Learn practical skills to help children cope with negative feelings – anger, frustration, disappointment. Practice hearing and understanding children’s feelings while teaching appropriate behaviour - and managing your own. You’ll learn how to support children and stay on the same side.

  • Understand how the typical methods we use to get children to do what we want them to do feel to them and learn why they often backfire. Learn concrete ways to invite cooperation without losing your temper.

  • Why is it that punishment doesn’t work (for long)? How can we teach children to be responsible for their behaviour in a way that lasts? Experience some alternatives to punishment. Plus a step-by-step strategy that parents can use with their children to solve problems that come up again and again. It’s been used by international peace negotiators – it should work with your kids!

  • Explore how to help children become responsible, capable people. Specific skills that help us let go and help children become more self-reliant.

  • Some kinds of praise are actually harmful.  Instead, learn how to encourage kids and create a supportive home.  Practice ways to talk with your kids about what they have done that show them their strengths so they can build on them. 

  • ‘He’s the smart one!’ ‘She’s the sporty one’. Or worse, ‘he always ruins the fun’. How do children fall into roles? What happens to them when they do? How can we release them from these roles and become more complete, capable people?  Even ‘positive’ roles box you in. Learn how to change your attitude toward your children and see them for who they really are.