2006091328 | Powerful Parent Powerful Child Workshops | Powerful Parent Powerful Child Workshops

Powerful Parent Powerful Child for parents with children (ages birth-11 years):

During this developmental phase play is the language of children. During the training the parents will be trained in the language of their children by learning how to do special play time with their kids, therefore interacting with children in their language and in their world. All mentioned skills will be presented.

Equilibrate your mind about parenting and decrease your parental stress?
Have certainty about your vision for your family?
Have the means to help your family create a plan of action to achieve a life of abundance and gratitude?
Enhance communication and improve relationships?
Understand how children 'work'?
Have more parental control?
Encourage your children to have more self-control?
Facilitate independence, self-worth and empowerment in your children?
Spend special quality time with your children?
Be an empowered parent with a "manual" on parenting?
Teach your children emotional intelligence?

Powerful Parent Powerful Child is a dynamic way for parents to learn about the world and dynamics of their children and families. Every family has a perfect balance of equal support and challenge; pain and pleasure; positives and negatives. Parents learn how to understand their children and their family dynamics, how to teach their children life skills, take parental control and help children to take self- control and facilitate the growth of self-esteem and self-empowerment for both parent and child. Aspects of Demartini Method® is incorporated.

What is Special Play Time?

Special Play time refers to therapy taking place in the relationship between parent and child. In Filial Play Training, parents get trained to become the therapeutic agent in their child's life.
Instead of the psychologist working with the child, the psychologist works with the parent and the parent works with his/her own child. The parent has “Special Play Time Sessions” at home with their own child, using the skills learnt through attending the Filial Play Training training course.

During the parent-child “Special Play Time” taking place at home, the parent learns to better understand the child and the child gets the opportunity to work through a difficult situation.

How is it Helpful?

Special Play Time is a preventative method and promotes a special relationship between parent and child. It is also helpful with problems such as depression, behavioural problems, separation anxiety, sibling rivalry, eating disorders, speech problems (e.g. stuttering), children from divorce, social problems.

Special Play Time works best for children between the ages of 3 and 12 years.

Why Play?

Adults speak, children play. Play is the language of the child. The toys that children use are the words of the child and the way in which the child plays, is their language. When a parent understands the child's play, the parent understands the child. A parent becomes skilled through the training, to communicate with the child on the child's level and in the child's language. A child will play out their problems or feelings.

Why does it work?

In Special Play Time, the child gets the opportunity to play out their feelings and behaviour. For instance, when the child is angry with the doctor for hurting the child, the child can play out their feelings towards the doctor doll. Children are not allowed to hit the real doctor, but may hit the doctor doll in such a way that they get rid of the anger and helpless feelings experienced towards the doctor.
Through Special Play Time the child becomes empowered to solve their own problems. Parents guide the children to solve their own problems through Special Play Time by listening to what the child is saying through the play and by allowing the child to come to his/her own solution.
Parents do the Special Play Time under supervision and guidance of a psychologist. Parents do not have enough knowledge to do Filial Play Training on their own. The psychologist will help the parent to understand the child's play and to gain skills in order to help the child.

What are the Benefits of Special Play Time?

Parents have an existing relationship with their children and therefore do not have to first build a bond in order to do the Special Play time,
It saves you money as the Special Play Time takes place at home. What the parents learn from the training can be used for life.
Both parent and child will change. In traditional Play Therapy, the child changes, but the family circumstances stay the same.
Parents feel empowered. Children learn to understand their parents more and the relationship between parent and child improves. Parents feel less guilty, because you the parent take part and are central to the process.
The strengthened parent-child relationship strengthens the whole family.

How does the Process Work?

PARENT TRAINING

The training is both theoretical and practical. It is ideal when both parents receive the training, but in practice it is more often done by just the mother. The training is 2 days, once a week in a small group format. Doing the training in a group makes it cheaper and the interaction with other parents is supportive and enhancing. In addition, parents learn a lot from each other.
Parents conduct a ”Special Play Time” session with their child at home for 30 minutes, using the skills learnt in the training.

Special Play Time

SPECIAL TOYS

Parents receive a list of toys that need to be put together for use in the “Special Play Time” Sessions. These toys are only used for the Special Play Time . The toys are selected with a purpose and include toys for:

Aggression- release (dart gun)
Regression (baby bottle)
Family dynamics (family of dolls and a dolls house)
Fantasy play (medical set and baby doll)
Communication (telephone)
Escape (vehicles)
Role play (puppets)
Creativity (play doll, art material)

VENUE

The best place to have these special play sessions is in the house in a room that has the least distractions with enough space to play without breaking objects. Many parents choose the main bedroom as the best venue.

TIME

Special Play Time times are only 30 minutes long, preferably the same time every week, e.g. Wednesday at 17h00. The Special Play Time sessions can continue between parent and child until the child is 12.

The Following Skills are used in “Special Play Time” Sessions:

The child is in control. The child decides with what and how he/she wants to play. The parent is the follower and makes no decisions for the child. The child leads and the parent follows. The child can tell the parent what to do, for instance to be the robber and the child to be the policeman. The parent then plays the role as the child directs.
The parent strives to understand the child's feelings, behaviour and thoughts.
The parent communicates to the child that the parent cares, understands, hears and is there for the child. When the child hurts the doctor doll, the parent will say something like, “You are angry with that doctor”. The child hears “my parent understands how I feel, cares about my feelings and hears how I feel”.
The parent sets limits. During the special play session, the child has the freedom to do a lot within limits. Limits include the time limit (only 30 minutes) and not hurting the parent or breaking the toys. The parent only communicates the limit when the child breaks or intends to break the limit. Limit setting creates safety for both parent and child.

Do not use “Special Play Time” as a session to teach or preach to the child. The child must enjoy the sessions.
No interruptions are allowed. The parent is not allowed even to answer the telephone. The appointment is with your child.
The parent must be 100% involved and not allow their minds to wander. The child must experience the parent as unconditionally present in the special play session.

"I can certainly see a change in both my children and especially in myself. I am now enjoying my children more as they are definitely better behaved. I feel more in love with them. This course is the key to unlocking many riches such as wisdom and strength" Sue (Bryanston Pre-Primary School)

"Our family dynamics remarkably changed. My children open up more to me and I have learned to listen to my children." Madelein (Pretoria)

"It is a non-judgmental course and I am so much more in love with my children." Elaine

"Before Filial Play Training I often wondered whether it was the right decision to have children. Now I am totally in love with them." Tracy

"It is difficult to be a single parent, especially as a dad. I now have more respect for myself as well as for my children." Pieter (father of two toddler boys)

"After doing this course, you will look at your children, and see so much more than before. It is all about practical tools that unlocks endless potential." Danie

"The workshop was very informative, and empowering. It was definitely worth attending as it provided me with lots of knowledge and tools to assist not just my children but myself."

"A great amount of power! A great amount of confidence! A great amount of work! I look forward to it all!"

"This has opened other doors for me that I feel will not only empower me as a teacher but empower my learners."

"I am sure that you know the parable of the starfish, where the little girl was on the beach, throwing starfish back into the ocean, one at a time. When asked how she could make a difference, her reply was 'For that one it did!' You have counselled thousands of families in your 20-odd years of training, and I am sure that you have had varying degrees of success. In all my life experiences, academic, professional, business, social and personal, I have NEVER found tools as powerful as those that you taught us this weekend. For the first time in as long as I can remember, all went to sleep calmly, happily and as friends, and there was not a single tear shed during the mad panic to get ready and go to school this morning. We are privileged to be one of those starfish. 'We see that you KNOW children and families Ilze, and you must be very proud of yourself!' You are a genius, and for this we thank you." Chris

"I can certainly see a change in both my children and myself. I am now enjoying my children more as they are definitely more behaved. I feel more in love with them. The course is the key to unlocking many riches such as wisdom and strength."

"Our family dynamics remarkably changed. My children open up more to me and I have learned to listen more."

"I truly experienced that sacred place that you talked about and cannot even begin to thank you enough for giving me this key to unlock the world that is yet unknown to me, but so exciting that I just cannot wait...Both my boys fell asleep the instant I tucked them in, and I could just sense how happy they both were. It's sad to think of all the times that I acted out of ignorance and missed precious opportunities, but I take comfort in the fact that this is going to be a wonderful new learning experience for me and my precious children! Your skills, experience and passion shines through in what you do...may you be abundantly blessed in all your future endeavours."

"Thank you so much for doing all these workshops. You will not begin to know the value it has! I learned so much and applied it to my child. I am amazed at the result it has had. My child is 14 years old now and she is parent-informed and her peers are peer-informed...it has made a huge difference at every level of development. Sadly I must say that our teenagers are living in the same time where there is so much that can influence their lives to be extremely dysfunctional. Children with extreme potential going on a downward spiral. Thank you for making it your passion to teach parents these things. I advice every parent to please go to these course or get the books, it is worth every cent!" Verita