Basic Parenting Program Guide for Leaders
Table of Contents
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 2
INTRODUCTION TO THE BASIC PARENTING FOUNDATIONS PROGRAM 7
OVERVIEW 7
AUDIENCE 9
The Primary Target Group 9
Additional Appropriate Audiences 11
GOALS 11
Mindful Parenting 12
Decision Making 12
Six Topics: The National Extension Parent Education Model (NEPEM) 13
RESOURCES 14
Insights (Blue folders) 14
The Card Deck (Lavender folder) 15
The Guide for Program Leaders 15
Foundation Workshops Resources (Yellow folder) 15
LEADER PREPARATION 15
Leader Qualifications 16
Assumptions and Program Philosophy 16
1. Participants love their children. 16
2. Participants are smart. 16
3. Participants have the right to have their feelings. 16
Teacher and Learner 17
Process vs. Content 17
Art and Science of Parenting 17
Authenticity 18
WORKSHOP STRATEGY 18
INSIGHTS STRATEGY 20
INSIGHTS AS THE CORE 20
USING THE INSIGHTS 20
ASSEMBLING INSIGHTS: AN EXERSIZE 21
CARD DECK STRATEGY 22
SOLITAIRE CARD ACTIVITIES 22
1. What I Do Well 22
2. A State of Mind 23
3. Prioritizing 23
4. Daily Topic 23
5. Go together 24
6. Time Line 24
7. Fortune Cookies 24
8. Baby Steps 24
9. Age Clustering 25
10. Making a Map 25
11. Making a Match 25
12. Problem Matching 26
13. Opposites 26
PARTNER CARD ACTIVITIES 26
1. Value Comparison 26
2. Trade or Keep 27
3. Auction 27
THE WORKSHOP SERIES 28
PROGRAM PROMOTION 28
SCREENING 28
PREREGISTRATION AND PREASSESSMENT 28
THE GROUP EXPERIENCE 29
Space 29
Sequence 30
Tempo 30
Flow 30
PREPARATION 31
PROGRAM PROMOTION 32
Sample Letters 32
Media Releases 32
Poster/Clip Art 32
Mini-promotion 32
SAMPLE LETTER TO A JUDGE 34
SAMPLE LETTER TO A MINISTER 35
SAMPLE LETTER TO A SOCIAL SERVICE ADMINISTRATOR 36
SAMPLE LETTER TO A CIVIC CLUB LEADER 37
WORKSHOP EVALUATION 38
DIRECT EVIDENCE 39
Before the Workshop/After the Workshop 39
Session Checks 39
My Experience Reports 39
Final Evaluation 39
Follow-up Evaluation 40
INDIRECT 40
Session Log 40
Testimonial Requests 40
Letters/Photos 41
Media Reports 41
PUTTING IT TOGETHER 41
PILOT TEST DATA 41
FREQUENTLY ANSWERED QUESTIONS (FAQ) 45
GENERAL ISSUES 45
Q. Why is the reading level at grade five to six? I have parents who read at less than that level. 45
Q. What kind of leader training is necessary? 45
Q. I am not a parent myself. Can I serve as a leader in this program? 45
Q. What is the different between parent training and parent education? 45
Q. There sure is a lot to copy to hand out. That's a lot of work. 46
Q. Is this material copyrighted? 46
Q. How can I get parents to participate in the workshop series? 46
Q. Is this program useful to parents of infants? 46
DURING THE MEETING 47
Q. Does each session have to be two hours? 47
Q. Can I change the order of workshops? 47
Q. Can the sessions be offered as solo workshops? 47
Q. Is it important to stick to a schedule in the workshop? 47
Q. What should I do if parents show up late or attend irregularly? 47
Q. What do I do if questions and comments take more time than planned? 48
Q. What do I do if someone dominates the discussion? 48
Q. What do I do if no one seems to want to talk? 48
Q. I am afraid of introducing anything controversial. I don't want to upset anyone. 48
Q. What do I do if I am not comfortable with some of the activities? 48
Q. How do I respond if two people disagree? 48
Q. What should I do if I make a mistake? 49
Q. More specifically, what do I do when no one responds to a question I ask? 49
Q. What do I do if someone in the group is uncooperative, possibly hostile? 49
AFTER THE MEETING 49
Q. Does evaluation have to involve so much paperwork? 49
Q. Should I conduct an evaluation even if no one expects me to? 49
REFERENCES 50
THE FOUNDATION WORKSHOPS 51
SESSION ONE: CARE FOR SELF 52
PREPARATION 52
TRANSITION 53
WARM UP (ONE): CHIPS OF LIFE 54
WARM UP (TWO): UNTYING THE KNOT 55
STEP 1: CASE STUDY: THE PRESSURE COOKER 56
STEP 2: CHOOSING A PRINCIPLE-CREATE A BUMPER STICKER 56
STEP 3: DEFUSING 57
TRANSITION 57
FOLLOW-UP 58
SESSION TWO: UNDERSTAND 59
PREPARATION 59
TRANSITION 60
WARM UP: SNAPSHOTS 60
STEP 1: CASE STUDY-THE DISAPPOINTMENT 61
STEP 2: CHOOSING A PRINCIPLE 61
STEP 3: KNOWING AND NOTICING-MY POTATO, YOUR POTATO 62
STEP 3: COMING TO TERMS WITH OUR CHILDREN 63
TRANSITION 64
FOLLOW-UP 64
SESSION THREE: GUIDE 65
PREPARATION 65
TRANSITION 66
WARM UP (PART ONE): THE PUZZLE 66
WARM UP (PART TWO): CREATE A SHAKE 67
STEP 1: TO "GUIDE" MEANS TO "TEACH" 67
STEP 2: MY GIFT 68
STEP 3: AUTHORITY AND AUTONOMY 68
STEP 4: SETTING LIMITS 70
STEP 4: THE COURAGE TO CHANGE WHAT WE CAN 70
TRANSITION 70
FOLLOW-UP 71
SESSION FOUR: NURTURE 72
PREPARATION 72
TRANSITION 72
WARM UP (PART ONE): SILLY POEMS 73
WARM UP (PART TWO): EMOTION CHARADES 74
STEP 1: TEACHING TO NURTURE 74
STEP 2: UNCONDITIONAL LOVE 75
STEP 3: ALL EMOTIONS ARE IMPORTANT 75
STEP 4: EMPATHY 76
STEP 5: A PARENT'S VOW 76
TRANSITION 76
FOLLOW-UP 77
SESSION FIVE: MOTIVATE 78
PREPARATION 78
TRANSITION 78
WARM UP (PART ONE): FLOWING 79
WARM UP (PART TWO): MIRRORS 79
STEP 1: BRAIN DEVELOPMENT 80
STEP 2: SENSORY EXPERIENCE 80
STEP 3: HOW TO PLAY WITH CHILDREN 81
STEP 4: LEARNING THROUGH STORIES 81
TRANSITION 82
FOLLOW-UP 82
SESSION SIX: ADVOCATE 83
PREPARATION 83
TRANSITION 84
WARM UP: GROUP MACHINES 84
STEP 1: IMAGE OF THE ADVOCATE 85
STEP 2: ASSERTIVE VS. AGGRESSIVE 85
STEP 3: COOPERATION VS. CONFRONTATION 85
STEP 4: OWNING FEELINGS 86
STEP 5: PUTTING IT TOGETHER 86
TRANSITION 87
The Parenting Card 87
Postcards to the Next Group 87
Coming Full Circle 87
Final Evaluations 88
FOLLOW-UP 88