Being a parent is one of the most rewarding and challenging roles that anyone will ever have. But learning how to be a better parent is a life-long process.We’re usually self-taught, learning along the way, by reading as much as we can, listening to advice from parents, family members, and peers, and simply by trial and error.
This is where the Parenting Academy would like to come in. Brought to you by the MLAC Institute for Psychological Services, Inc., the Parenting Academy is a whole day of learning workshops, revolving around the main theme “Parenting to Build Family Resilience”.
Dr. Honey Carandang, who has been a clinical psychologist for 40 years, heads the MLAC Institute. The first run of the Parenting Academy was a wonderful success, and this time around, Dr. Carandang hopes to reach out to more parents, caregivers, educators, and the curious public to help “promote proper and successful parenting” through the academy.
The whole day of workshops will be filled with talks from parents and psychologists, combining science and research with life experiences and testimonials. The workshops will have Dr. Carandang as its opening salvo, with her talk about how resilience is key to mindful parenting, and how to further encourage parents to apply this to not only their daily lives, but also to how they interact with their children as well.
See the workshop descriptions on the next page!
The “Non-traditional Families” and “Solo Parenting” workshops will tackle families with adoptive and single parents, families with LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender) parents, and families with OFW (Overseas Foreign Worker) spouses. The speakers are mostly psychologists who will present their years of research on how to deal with the parenting challenges that these particular families face.
Read: OFW tips for long-distance bonding with your kids!
The “Fatherhood” workshop meanwhile will feature three fathers of different generations who will talk about what it’s been like to raise their children through their various ages and stages, plus how to keep evolving one's parenting styles and skills, all the way to discussing the differences between being a father and a grandfather.
The “It’s OK to not be OK: Tuning in to our children” is about learning how to connect with our children and help them through their tough times and work out their feelings. The speakers, two psychologists and a psychotherapist, will talk about how to mindfully listen to our children in order to help them cope with everyday challenges, and to help parents deal with their own feelings as well.
The “Emotional Resilience” workshops will be a mix of stories and talks from experts on how being authentic and mindful will make parents and children cope better, and will also present solutions on how to teach our kids to bounce back stronger and healthier.
The Parenting Academy will be held on February 27, 2016, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the Henry Sy Auditorium at the St. Luke’s Medical Center, Global City.
Ticket prices are P2,000 for members of the Psychological Association of the Philippines (PAP), P2,500 for non-PAP members, and P1,000 for students.
For questions and further information, visit mlacinstitute.com, or text 0916-6821437, or email [email protected]
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