Workshops:
These topics have been very well received.
Parent educators desiring help with outlines and resources, please contact me.
My main goal is to help parents understand the importance of their role!
I will be happy to discuss being a speaker for conferences - call 310 325-4118.
"Happy, Healthy Families Don't Just Happen"*
In today's world TIME is the most precious commodity of every family. Wise use of TIME and the setting of priorities for its use help build strong foundations for a rewarding and happy family life. The task is not impossible, but it does take work. Harmony does not just happen. This presentation explores some cornerstones for harmonious family living, such as the establishment of TRUST, recognition of each person's INDIVIDUALITY, the importance of making time for MEALS together (and not in front of the television!), and developing an ENTHUSIASM for parenting (finding the joys). The weaving of God's love into all facets of family life is an essential aspect of this presentation when done for religious groups.
THIS WORKSHOP IS THE BASIS OF -
"Building A Family: A Handbook for Parenting with God"!
"Keeping Romance Alive After Children Arrive" *
Yes, there is romance after you become a family. It just takes planning. Making time for each other, for the nurturing of the marriage relationship, should be a top priority for every couple. This is especially true when you become parents. The greatest gift a mother and father can give their child is the loving, stable relationship they have with one another. Children need to learn from healthy role models how people interact and work together. RELIGIOUS faith brings an essential aspect to a marriage, as do; keeping an OPEN MIND, being willing to communicate; setting priorities for MONEY MANAGEMENT; expressions of physical AFFECTION; letting your child-within out to play occasionally by engaging in NONSENSE; developing COMPANIONSHIP; and being able to EXCUSE each other's faults teaches God's forgiveness.
"Building Faith Foundations :The Early Years"
Foundational religious attitudes must be established before a child reaches six years of age. Just as the majority of a child's psychological make-up is set by age six, so with openness to the spiritual. Taking into account the developmental readiness of young children, raising their awareness of God's love for them, their own innate goodness, and the beauty of God's creation is essential. Working together in home and classroom settings weaves bonds of wonder and awe that hold a child firm in God's love as they venture into the world. Since preschool children's mental capabilities are slowly developing, gearing religious experiences to their developmental levels are intrinsic. God gifted young children with the ability to live only in the present. They do not worry about the past or the future. They are not burdened with abstract thinking yet, nor do they have a historical perspective. All these God-given attributes call us to move slowly and carefully with preschoolers.
"Parent as Sexuality Educator - Who? ME?"
No two words strike terror in a parent's heart like - SEX EDUCATION! What parents fail to realize is that they have been providing "sexuality education" for their child since before the child was born. Sexuality education is far more comprehensive and essential than a five minute talk about "the birds and the bees." When children grow up comfortable about who they are as male or female, when their questions are answered promptly and honestly, when communication is open and encouraged, fear of "the BIG talk" diminishes. One "big talk" become unnecessary because explanations at age-appropriate levels have been provided throughout the child's development. Changes during puberty do not come as a shock, children have been prepared ahead of time. Explanations of where babies come from, how they are conceived and born have been handled honestly and simply as age dictates. Respect for life has been nurtured by respectful discussions of the differences between males and females. Correct terminology has been used as children have grown in mind and body. Knowing that who we are and how we grow is part of God's plan for us gives parents confidence to tackle this issue.
"Disciplining with Love" *
Parenting presents innumerable challenges for which most adults are unprepared. Babies do not come with a "How-To" manual. The desire for a loving, peaceful home sometimes gets lost in the reality of daily living. Survival often becomes the primary objective. Discipline calls us to "lead" children by loving teaching, not ruling with an iron fist. Building caring relationships brings a more peaceful home life, better behaved, responsible children, and deeper enjoyment of the role of parent. The two main goals of parenting should be to make your child LOVABLE and CAPABLE. They become lovable when they are respected, listened to, appreciated, and taught good manners. Becoming capable come from being given choices and learning to live with the consequences of those choices, being taught living skills by having household duties, and living with appropriate expectations. Sometimes new techniques make all the difference!
"TV=Teaching Values"*
Parents today cannot exert as strong an influence on their children's value formation as parents were able to before the advent of television. While television can open windows on the world and enhance learning, the ever increasing bank of scientific evidence indicates several areas for alarm. Often called "the electronic family member," television shows us how we should live, what we should eat, what we should wear, how we should look, what we should drive. Every aspect of daily life is influenced by mass media. How can parents gain control? This presentation draws on information compiled by the American Academy of Pediatrics. Analysis of hazards, exploration of benefits, and the planning of strategies for families to use in developing a balanced approach to television viewing are the objectives. Bringing talk of how God wants us to live when watching a show together makes television a learning experience.
"Including God in Children's Literature"
Reading to young children benefits child and parent in many ways; the physical closeness, the taking time out from busy schedules, the sharing ideas and laughter, and the essential learning of language. Simple stories with big pictures and a few words are favorites. Everyday situations to which children can relate are most meaningful. As you are reading and asking questions about the story, do you ever think to include God? Inserting a statement thanking God for something in the story, or asking about God's creation of plants, animals, etc., lets children know that God is an active part of your life. Speaking about God to children may start out difficult, but with practice it becomes easy and natural. Give it a try!
"Children Under Stress"*
In times of extreme stress, children are often pushed into the background of family life. Death, divorce, and separation are the most stressful situations children must deal with, and often at ages when their resources are scarce. Being aware of how these stressful situations affect children at various ages enables caring adults to step in and help out when they see children in need of help. Parents are often too deeply involved in a situation to realize what is happening to the children. Acting out behaviors, regression, sleep disorders are natural occurrences for children under stress. They are not "being naughty."
"God Made Us A Family: Now What?"
In the rush of daily living, it is important that we sometimes pause and examine what God is asking of us as parents. When we feel overwhelmed at the magnitude of our responsibility, it is time to turn it over to God and rely of the help we are promised. During this presentation we will look at what it means to be a family, how we can become all God calls us to be, and, most important, HAVE FUN DOING IT!!!!
* - Can be formulated God-Centered or Secular
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© 2001 Marilyn S. Krock |