Passionate Parenting

Passionate Parenting has held a variety of different seminars for expat parents on subjects regarding diet, emotional wellbeing, and language development of their children.

Expat Kids & Life Stories - June 8

Our global nomad lifestyle means we have scattered friends and family and compromised social support. We start off alienated and lonely, and work on getting a grip on what we left behind and starting a new chapter in our life story.   “Not only is his content innovative and transformative, but Doug's ability to deliver his message clearly and with power through story, group participation, art, and spoken word, puts him in a class by himself. You won't be disappointed!” Ruth van Reken Co-Author of Third Culture Kid: Growing Up Among Worlds. Delivered by Doug Ota

June 20 - Is there SEX after Kids?

One of the greatest gifts we can give to our kids, is a strong co-parent relationship. Ironically, one of the greatest challenges to that relationship is the product of it: CHILDREN!! Passion Coach, Anitha Schrijver, will discuss the importance of intimacy, why we don’t have (more) sex, men & women’s perceptions, sexual myths, what does s/he want, how to bring out the babe in you (after you’ve had your babes), in an honest and amusing once-off seminar. Expect some very exciting homework. This seminar is (unfortunately) for women only.

Strategies for Gifted Children

How does one identify a gifted child? How should we nurture them? How do we get the teachers and schools involved? What about emotional and social issues? How could this "gift" affect the family. An enriched yet balanced life can be achieved, learn how with Renata Hamsikova, specialised coach and trainer of gifted children.

Increasing Cooperation and Compliance

How to Talk: A great and amusing seminar on why nagging, threatening and lecturing probably aren't getting you very far with your children. Learn about the kinds of instructions, explanations and consequences that work best.

Teaching Patience and Perseverance

Self-discipline is an excellent predictor of a child's success later in life. Since it takes years of practice, the sooner parents teach children to avoid immediate gratification in exchange for something superior, the better. It will change your child's life.

Money Matters for Mother$

For obvious reasons, many women depend on their co-parent for financial support while we mums raise the kids (and possibly work part or full-time). But too many women leave the admin, insurance / retirement decisions, budgeting and planning in his hands. Do you know what you spend a month? If you suddelnly became single, could you cope? Learn more about financial planning with Jose de Boer, mother of three.

“Discipline and Defiance: Dealing with Disobedience”

We have set limits with love. We would hope our kids are independent and strong-willed but when this spills into defiance and disobedience we may ask ourselves: “What's gone wrong? What can we do?” Our expet psychologist will talk about achieving co-operation, teaching respect, and parenting with authority, with tips for settling disputes and setting appropriate consequences. This talk will be valuable for parents of toddlers through to teens.

"Top Ten Tips for Turning Round Your Child’s Diet”

How many times have you raised your hands in despair over an untouched dinner or a rejected lunch, courtesy of your toddler/child? How many times have you vowed to change your child’s diet for the better, only to find yourself dishing out once again the frozen pizza and plain pasta? And how many times have you tried to keep your child away from sweets and treats, in vain? If you’re stuck in a toddler/child diet rut, or if you’re doing well and want to know more, here’s your chance to find out the truth about your child’s food. Natural Nutritionist, Vardit Kohn, will take you through the Top Ten Points to focus on, will sort out the wheat from the chaff, will answer your questions, alleviate your anxieties and leave you with practical steps to implement the next day. The Nutritionist is at your service.  www.forgoodness-sake.com

“Raising a Confident Child”

Self-efficacy – the quality of believing in one's own abilities - is a trait shared by confident children (and adults).  It is the development of competence and autonomy, and not just a constant stream of praise, that leads to confidence.  This talk by an Educational Psychologist will focus on the life-skills that children need to face challenges with confidence and how we, as parents, can help them learn these.  It will be a practical guide for parents wanting to know more about this desirable quality.

“Dialogic Reading to Preschoolers”

Preschoolers have a lot to say!  You can help them explore vocabulary, language and new ideas when reading to them.
Reading opens up the world to your child and can serve as a lifelong source of pleasure.  Even with so many demands on your time, Dialogic Reading, a very powerful language facilitation method for children, encourages intimate involvement as you share books with your pre-schooler.  Dialogic Reading offers tremendous benefits to the child:  Research shows that using Dialogic Reading accelerates vocabulary development and encourages children to use longer phrases.  Toddlers who have engaged in Dialogic Reading are less likely to have difficulty learning to read in school.  This practical yet inspirational presentation will give you loads of ideas and confidence to involve your child (0-5 years) more deeply in the experience of sharing books and ideas, helping them on the way to a lifelong love of reading.

How to Talk so your Kids will Listen & Listen so your Kids will Talk

by Heleen de Hertog: How2Talk2Kids

Based on the world famous book by Faber & Mazlish, a 2 hour starter workshop based on the premise: A child who feels right, behaves right. We will learn how to help (ourselves and therefore) our children, deal with their feelings and emotions. A brilliant subject.

Social & Emotional Intelligence

by Katherine Fortier, Child / Educational Psychologist

Is your child confident & independent? Is he / she out-going, sociable and friendly? Does your child display empathy towards others and play well in a group? Can they express their emotions? Can they control their own behaviour? These important social and emotional skills count as much or more than IQ and academic achievement towards experiencing success and happiness in life. Emotional Intelligence is the gift of being ‘people smart’.

Nutrition & Diet Essentials for kids by Christina Jesselsen: Dietician

The Psychology of Eating: Shona Lowes by Clinical (Family) Psychologist

A double workshop: Food is the fuel that powers our children, makes them grow strong and healthy. It is also a weapon to drive parents crazy. As parents, we have complete control over their available diet, as we buy the food!
Christina Jesselsen will talk about: Healthy eating , food groups for a nutritionally adequate diet, organic foods, commercially available baby / toddler foods, foods to avoid, vitamin / mineral supplementation
Shona Lowes will talk about: Behaviour at mealtimes or refusal to eat particular foods. She will offer problem-solving strategies to feed without fights!

Speech & Language Development: Cath Black :  Speech & Language Therapist

A double workshop: The ability to use language (to talk) is of major importance in a child’s development as it plays a major role in communication and subsequent intellectual growth. There is a strong relationship between language and learning, language and thought.  The lecture will give a brief overview of how speech evolves, from baby, to toddler & teen and how children are able to understand words before they can talk. She will show parents how they can encourage their children the right way. 
Fiona Curtis, also a S&L therapist, will give a 10 minute talk on the merits and delights of teaching your young child “baby sign language”. She will discuss HOW and WHY to teach them more than their own signs and gestures (eg Up & bye-bye). Being able to communicate, even non-verbally, often reduces tantrums and frustrations for everyone. You will leave this workshop having learned a few new “baby signs”.

Discipline: Setting Limits with Love

by Katherine Fortier Child / Educational Psychlogist

Successful discipline will only result when there is a strong framework of love, respect, self-worth, effective communication and consistency.  It is neither uncompromisingly rigid nor overly permissive. We want to encourage the development of self-control and self-discipline in our children and it starts at home: setting limits with love.

The amazing role of MUSIC in the development of your child : Katje Slotte

From birth, children love music and react to it instinctively. Playful musical interaction between parent and child promotes a sense of wellbeing, nurtures self-esteem, and increases the bonding process. Research also shows that music supports baby’s brain development. Nursery rhymes, songs, musical games, dance and movement are brilliant neurological exercises that introduce children to speech patterns, sensory motor skills, and vital movement strategies. Here one can look, listen and learn as you partake in musical activities with your little ones.