Most people like to start the new year with resolutions to do better, but we ask, why wait? Why not aim to end the year on a high by strengthening family ties in order to start the new year on the right foot? To help you on the path to being the parent you truly want to be, and to fortify that healthy bond with your kids, we showcase two upcoming parenting workshops, which are based (at least in part) on the Positive Discipline book series by Dr. Jane Nelson.
Rebecca Archer is a certified Positive Discipline educator who is offering her last two Positive Parenting workshops for the year, and possibly longer as she embarks on further studies in 2022. Her in-person workshop in Sanlitun is meant for parents of children aged 0-6 and her online workshop targets parents of kids from 5-12.
We asked for a glimpse into what her workshops entail, and she happily shared a few tidbits. For instance, one positive parenting tool we can employ is regular family meetings, which Archer herself fits into her family calendar on a weekly basis and her three kids take turns to lead. Another positive parenting method is asking “curiosity questions,” as well as the power of using “and” statements to validate emotions while maintaining discipline. If these have already struck a chord with you, you can only imagine the wealth of parenting tools just waiting to be discovered through Archer’s workshop.
Archer recently concluded another parenting workshop at an international kindergarten, which was attended by no less than five parenting couples. One attendee, Conor Zorn, father to a 3-year-old girl, highly recommended the course, saying, “From the very first session, I was able to learn and discover new techniques to better engage with my young daughter on her level. Learning the theme of the course ‘kind but firm,’ gave me the courage and resolve to know when to hold the line but deliver the message in an empathetic manner. Rebecca explained how to identify the messages hidden underneath our children’s and therefore be able to better diagnose the real issues at hand. In her weekly summation, since taking the course, our relationship with our daughter has only strengthened and I believe she feels more comfortable expressing herself to us with honesty and trust. You will find quickly you are not alone in your struggles and make some new friends in the process.”
Parents of older kids between 10-18 can also rest assured that there’s something for them. Miki Cutuli, an Italian/Spanish Life Coach and another certified Positive Discipline educator, is conducting an online workshop built around “positive psychology, the Montessori method, positive discipline, coaching, emotional intelligence and growth mindset, which all together make her background”, to build the bond between parents and their offspring. Cutuli also has another workshop, “Emotions for Busy Parents,” geared towards parents of kids aged 0-12.
One of Cutuli’s previous clients shared her feedback with us, “Our morning / evening routines were downright awful for months. I was at my wit’s end. After the first session, I reflected on how I was contributing to the stress, adjusted, and now routines are amazing. I enjoy them again! Which I can’t remember the last time I felt that way. I also really like that the strategies aren’t frilly or require me to do a song / dance in order for him to cooperate.”
Cutuli welcomes parents who “are looking for the way to finally find their family balance, bond with their kids on a deeper level because parenting is overall about perception” to join her courses.
Here’s a little prize for our jingkids readers today – take 10 percent off the price of both Archer’s and Cutuli’s workshops when you mention jingkids upon signing up.
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Images: Courtesy of Rebecca Archer, Miki Cutuli
