Understanding Children Better and Exploring New Paths Together
New research findings emphasize the fundamental importance of attachment and relationship quality for the mental and physical health of children.
The attachment and relationship-oriented pedagogy developed by the German graduate pedagogue Katia Saalfrank serves as the guideline for my course 'Understanding Children Better - The Schoolchild'. In this course, you will learn to understand your child better and adopt a new perspective on the relationship level. This is not a new method of education but rather an awareness that every behavior has meaning and provides important clues about the mental and emotional processes happening inside the child. I consider your child's developmental stage, the context in which the behavior occurs, and the connection to you as a parent. Your child's behavior is always the end of a chain of reactions and is therefore only the 'tip of the iceberg.' I want to explore with you what lies beneath the surface and how you can find solutions together with your child.
This is what you will learn in my course...
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In the course 'Understanding Children Better - The Schoolchild,' I want to support you in finding your own path and adopting a new attitude towards your child. Attachment and relationship-oriented pedagogy does not mean that children grow up without boundaries. On the contrary, parents take on a clear leadership role and bear responsibility for the relationship with their child. The difference from conventional parenting methods lies in HOW this leadership is exercised and how parents set their boundaries and make their feelings and needs visible.
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The core element of the course is the so-called iceberg model, which I would like to briefly introduce to you here.
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The Tip of the Iceberg - Visible Behavior: Many parents are familiar with aggressive behaviors or tantrums that seem to arise out of nowhere. Your child screams, hits, slams doors, etc.
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The Emotion Behind It: Under the surface lies the emotion that leads to this behavior. In the case of a tantrum or aggressive behavior, the reason for the behavior might be strong feelings such as anger, pain, sadness, or fear.
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The Base - Basic Needs: Beneath the emotions are the needs for security, recognition, and belonging. Visible behavior is usually a strategy to fulfill these basic needs.
In the course, we will delve deeply into this model, examine children's behavior, and you will find responses to your child's behavior in the spirit of attachment and relationship-oriented pedagogy.
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What may sound complicated and lengthy at this point can be applied in practice within minutes. You will know that every behavior has a meaning and will have a strategy in mind to look for an individual solution together with your child. You can thus address your child directly and effectively. This doesn't require many words, just the right ones.
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Research has shown that parenting, which relies on punishments and threats during conflicts, is harmful to children's development in the long term. However, children are never against us adults. When they opt out of cooperation, their current developmental stage doesn't allow them to choose an alternative action. Your child is a born team worker and wants to collaborate with you. Let's explore together what lies behind your child's behavior!