Effective Communications

Why have ground rules? Families ARE a type of group and can use ground rules too.

Gossip and research. Information on dating, growing up and “what I wish my parents had told me to look for in a mate”.

Discounting- the process of denying. Ridicule and sarcasm: how it hurts. How to stop discounting and move to empowerment. Using laughter, and Gallows smile.

All about feelings. How to nurture while you are leading a group.

Importance of negative feedback, structure activity, structure continuum exercise (for use with children, adolescents, teens or adults), how to lead suggestion circle.

Positive and negative communication. Appreciation. Children’s civil rights. 3 Balloon sheet: ways to give positive and negative communication

How to introduce something new. Creating a parenting contract (thumb sucking, cello practice contract), leader’s contract with a group, introducing something new.

Rules within the home, hitting, things to do instead of hitting.

Change Chain, 11 ways people ask to change, change assessment tool, Qualities of good closing activity.

​Networking, listening, business skills.

Creating curiosity, flexibility, willingness to experiment, parenting, what to do when someone is “stuck”.

​Dealing with destructive messages, characteristics of constructive criticism, kernel of truth.

​Leadership responsibilities, children’s groups, affirmations, affirmation activities

​Brain Stroming session tool, strength building exercise, 3 ways of hearing affirmations, adult information processing, and ending a group (closure activity).

​Does Language Really Matter? What should a leader do when the group is in a spirited conversation?

Helping children deal with big feelings and using permissions. Feelings Faces board and activity, Affirmations and Pink Permissions for caregivers with kids ages 3-6.

What is the difference between Time Out and Time In discipline? About discipline and teaching, reasons for misbehavior, keeping caregivers’ anger in check in times of stress and overview of how to implement Time-In.

Information, tools and resources about preventing Child abuse.

Ideas to be a better father and dad. Explaining the different “jobs of a father”, and different types of fathering (Admiral Dad, Nice Dad, Hardworking, Malboro Dad, Sad/Mad Dad etc) and “Father Faces Board” game.

Creating family rules and structure.

Stress management, words to help children with stress, response to stress grid, calming sequence steps, “the Juggler” stress exercise, reducing stress at home.

Six kinds of person-to-person messages, the concept of motivation, positive and negative messages in an organization. Creating positive culture.

Dependance, independence, interdependence in a group. How to minimize gossip.

Encouraging responsibility, chores, Household jobs participation chart, effective goal setting.