8 weeks - 8 modules
1 Age Appropriate Expectations
- The different approaches to child-rearing
- The parts of the brain involved in social and emotional competence
- What behaviors it’s reasonable to expect at ages:
- 2 years
- 3 to 4 years
- 4 to 5 years
- 6 to 8 years
- Strategies for strengthening neural pathways in your children’s brain
2 Schedules and Routines
- Why routines are so important for kids
- Why routines are so important for parents
- How to set up routines that really work
- How to handle the hardest parts of the day
3 Dealing with Feelings
- Common adult responses to children’s feelings and why they’re ineffective
- The importance of recognizing your own feelings
- Strategies for acknowledging kids’ feelings
4 Eliciting Cooperation
- Why the traditional ways of eliciting cooperation are ineffective
- Effective strategies for getting kids to do what we need them to do
- How to handle clean-up time – a common source of irritation
5 Alternatives to Punishment
- Why adults punish children
- What children actually learn from punishment
- Why time-outs are ineffective
- Effective and productive alternatives to punishment
6 Resolving Conflict
- Why it’s so hard to resolve conflict when people are upset
- How to resolve conflict between kids (including siblings) and teach them to resolve their own conflicts
- How to resolve conflict between you and your kid(s)
7 Praise and Encouragement
- The difference between praise and encouragement
- Effective praise vs. empty praise
8 Developing Autonomy
- The importance of developing independence
- How to use encouragement so that kids develop autonomy
A typical class...
Class starts by checking in with everyone. We talk about last week’s session and ask if anyone has tried any of the strategies discussed in the previous week. This is a time to share successes as well as problems that occurred. A strategy is only as successful as its execution, and thus we need to troubleshoot hiccups in our execution together as a group. Sharing successes is equally helpful, as we are interested in the details of how the strategy was used successfully.
Next we (the facilitators) introduce the new topic for the current week. With every module there is an “At A Glance” handout that recaps the main ideas of the lesson. Some modules include a Powerpoint. It is important to note that this course is NOT A LECTURE format. We do not save questions for the end. As the new topic is introduced, the group has an ongoing discussion. Questions, comments and ideas are shared throughout.
Each session closes with action items. Members are given the “At A Glance” handout to continue reviewing or post around the house for quick reminders of the week’s strategies. Members are also given a Reflection Journal Handout to help guide thinking about the upcoming topic. Completing the Reflection Journals is not required; however, it is strongly recommended as it helps enrich the depth of conversation during the next session.
Cost - $300
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How many people are in a cohort?
A: A minimum of 5 and a maximum of 8 students per cohort. Small groups are critical in order to have time to be very specific in problem – solving challenges and discussing successes in detail.
Q: Can dads take the course?
A: Yes, all parents are welcome to join the course.
Q: Can I transfer my current registration to a future session?
A: Please contact us directly so we can assess availability for upcoming sessions.