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Strengths-based parenting workshop series 2016

In a first for Brighton Grammar, we are hosting a series of workshops on strengths-based parenting exclusively for BGS parents of boys in Year 5 to 8.

This is a unique opportunity to learn and apply the latest evidence based strategies from positive psychology and neuro-science for yourself, your children and your individual family circumstances, in a context that closely reflects the BGS Wellbeing curriculum.

What is strength based parenting

Strengths Based Parenting focuses on identifying and understanding what your children are naturally good at and where they thrive — not on their weaknesses.

What you will learn

This series will introduce parents to the strengths-based parenting framework developed by Professor Lea Waters. It will focus on how parents can immediately begin to identify and cultivate positive qualities, positive states and positive processes in their children.

Booklets capturing the science, and ideas for getting start with strengths-based parenting will be provided at each workshop, along with a list of further resources for reading, listening and viewing.

Who can attend?

The strengths-based parenting workshop series is only for BGS parents with a son currently in Year 5 to 8. The workshop series will be capped at 60 parents.

BGS will share your cost

Normally this workshop series would cost $295 per person. However, in a demonstration of our deep commitment to the value of this course and our desire to encourage parents to get involved in our wellbeing education, the School will subsidise each registration by 50%.

The course fee includes all instructional materials and refreshments.

As we expect this course to fill quickly early booking is encouraged. (Strictly limited to 60 participants only)

Book now

Date and Time

Date	Time	Topics
Wed 5 Oct	7 – 9pm	Cultivating Positive Qualities
Wed 19 Oct	7 – 9pm	Cultivating Positive States
Wed 26 Oct	7 – 9pm	Cultivating Positive Processes
Wed 2 Nov	7 – 9pm	Cultivating Positive Relationships

Venue

All the workshops will be held in the new BGS Wellbeing Centre, located on the corner of New and Allee Streets, Brighton (see google map)

The 4 Workshops

The 4 Workshops

Workshop 1 - Cultivating Positive Qualities
Discover how to bring out the best in yourself and your children by making the awareness and development of strengths a natural part of your family
- Using the VIA Survey, you’ll identify your own strengths and find ways to develop these to more consistently to be the parent you hope to be
- You’ll be shown how to spot strengths in your family and how you can build upon these to create the family experiences you most value
- You’ll be given the language to talk with your son/s about where their strengths might be underplayed or overplayed and how they can get them “just right”
- You’ll gain practical tips to develop your family’s strengths each day
Workshop 2 - Cultivating Positive States
Discover why heartfelt positivity enables our brains to see more possibilities, bounce back from setbacks, better connect with others, and make it more likely that we will reach our potential.
- You’ll learn to gauge how much positivity and negativity your family’s been experiencing, and how to build on what happens on the best days and how to manage the challenging days.
- You’ll see how you can turn your biggest parenting challenges into ‘teachable moments’ based on the latest brain science
- You’ll be given a practical toolkit for creating more positivity in your family
Workshop 3 - Cultivating Positive Processes
- Discover how to challenge mindsets that hold us back and how to ignite hope and confidence in everyday parenting moments
- Learn how the beliefs you hold about your own abilities influence your children’s stories about what’s possible for them
- Learn how to cultivate the mindsets that help children embrace new challenges, listen to feedback, not fear failure and put their best effort into every activity so they can achieve the goals that matter to them.
- You’ll see how the way we praise children improves their resilience and outcomes.
- You’ll be given practical tools to help cultivate a growth mindset in your son to improve performance and wellbeing
Workshop 4 - Cultivating Positive Relationships
Discover why relationships matter than more than anything else you’ll do each day.
- You’ll learn how to model and create micro moments of connection and see how levels of warmth and trust increase in your family.
- Learn to fully pay attention to those you love so they feel understood, validated and cared for.
- Learn about the power of hope and its positive impact on health, happiness, academic and athletic achievement.

Who are the presenters?

Michelle McQuaid

Michelle McQuaid is a best-selling author, wellbeing teacher and playful change activator. She has helped schools around Australia translate cutting-edge research from positive psychology and neuroscience, into practical strategies for health, happiness, and success for students, teachers and parents.

An Honorary Senior Fellow in the Melbourne Graduate School Education, she regularly writes for Psychology Today, Huffington Post and Live Happy and her work has been featured in Forbes, The Age, Wellbeing magazine and more. She holds a Masters in Applied Positive Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania and is currently completing her Ph.D. in Appreciative Inquiry.

Michelle lives to help people of all ages discover their strengths, move beyond their fears, and learn what it takes to flourish with confidence.

Marie McLeod

Marie McLeod is a highly experienced and sought after consultant and public speaker and founder of PoPsy. http://www.popsy.com.au/

Marie holds a Bachelor of Social Work, and is a graduate of the University of Melbourne’s Masters of Applied Positive Psychology Degree.

Marie loves to transform and lives to affect positive change. She loves to bring together the best research from the fields of positive psychology and neuroscience, fused with her own experiences and translate them into practical tools we can all use to create more flourishing in our lives.

Marie has three children, twins aged 11 and a son aged 9. Marie jokes that she is currently completing a Masters.

Headmaster Ross Featherston in Newly renovated Leading Boys middle school, Brighton Grammar

As parents, we can have a positive impact.

“As a parent of four, I know that parenting is one of the most rewarding yet challenging jobs any of us will ever have.

The time from Year 5 to Year 8 can be particularly demanding and stressful – both for boys and parents – as your son transitions from boyhood into adolescence and explores the need for greater autonomy and independence.

Fortunately, as parents, we can have a positive impact on our children’s stress levels and play an important role in helping to cultivate wellbeing.

As you know, at BGS we are committed to building a culture of wellbeing. To strengthen and compliment what the boys are learning in their Wellbeing/PROSPER classes, we are excited to offer a new strengths-based parenting workshop series for parents of BGS boys in Years 5 to 8.

Strengths-based parenting is a style of parenting based on Positive Psychology and neuroscience that seeks to identify and cultivate positive qualities, positive states, and positive processes in your child.

To further demonstrate our commitment to wellbeing, and to building strong relationships with parents, BGS will subsidise 50% of the workshop series fee.

The strengths-based parenting workshop series caters for up to 60 parents. I would encourage you to enrol early to avoid missing out on this crucial opportunity to support your son on his wellbeing journey.”

Ross Featherston,
BGS Headmaster

Don’t miss your chance to make a difference. Book now