Transformative Parenting is excited to announce the next date of our popular newest offering, the "Proactive Parenting Workshop: Essential Principles of Effective, Non-Harmful Discipline".

The Proactive Parenting Workshop is an expansion of the ideas of the "Discipline that Doesn't Divide" class we have taught in the past as part of the Power to Parent Course and as a stand alone 2-hour talk. In this format, however, we will be able to go much more in-depth. Dozens of specific ideas, examples, and stories will help parents to better understand the principles of discipline that work but does not cause harm to their relationship with their children.

We call this the Proactive Parenting Workshop to highlight the difference between our approach and the common parenting techniques and books, which tend to focus on reacting to problems they are having with their children.  Parenting is not meant to be reactive. Parents are meant to take the lead with their children, to be proactive, and deal with most potential problems before they happen.

In this one-day workshop we will talk about what to do in difficult situations, but we will also spend a lot of time talking about how to avoid these situations in the first place. It is a proactive, holistic approach that also happens to be backed up by decades of developmental science (including some of the most exciting recent developments). Participants of our past courses have told us countless times how these principles not only do take care of problematic behaviors in their kids, but that parenting in this way just feels better to them.

Based in large part on the work of internationally recognized developmental psychologist and author Dr. Gordon Neufeld, this workshop will be led by Todd Sarner. Todd is the Director of Transformative Parenting in Mill Valley and has worked with Dr. Neufeld for over 6 years, becoming one of his most trusted students. Dr. Neufeld's book, "Hold On to Your Kids" has been praised by parents, teachers, and psychologists worldwide for it's unique insights.

Here are some of the subjects we will be looking at in depth: 

• How to do the majority of your parenting work in the context of connection

• How to impose order primarily through structure and ritual and why bossing your child around doesn't work

• Creating daily rituals for problematic times (morning, after-school, bedtime, etc)

• Helping your child hold on through separation (school, daycare, etc)

• How to lessen aggressive behavior (and help your child grow up) by using firm but loving boundaries

•  The critical importance of helping your child have their tears

• Making sure children (and their parents!) have time to rest

• How to enhance the child's feelings of attachment

• Reducing coercion to help the resistant child get unstuck

• Providing a sense of choice and making room for a child's initiative and involvement.

• How to draw out mixed feelings (instead of insisting on self-control)

• And much, much more...

 This workshop is only scheduled to happen once in Marin in the Fall and seating is limited. Enroll now to save your seat!

While the principles addressed in this workshop are relevant to all ages, the examples and ideas given may feel most appropriate for younger children (pre-adolescent). If you have a preschooler, you may prefer the "Making Sense of Preschoolers" workshop.

Please contact us if you have any questions. Limited financial assistance is also available upon need. 

info@transformativeparenting.com