More Interactive Parenting Workshops

Begin with a discussion by parents over dinner about stress and how they handle it. Parents think of a scenario about discipline and write how they would currently react. Parents share their ideas if they wish to do so.

Give out the "Ages and Stages Approach" information and ask the parents to write a new approach or refine their approach using this information. Parents share if they wish to do so.

End the workshop with guided meditation for parents.

(If this is a family event, children could go to a separate area and have read to them the book "Hands Are Not For Hitting" by Martine Agassi PH.D. and Marieka Heinlen with a discussion following. Their workshop ending could be guided relaxation)

"Discipline that Works: The Ages and Stages Approach" can be found at: http://www.umext.maine.edu/onlinepubs/htmpubs/4140.htm.

Mental Health Association of Licking County

Goal: To teach parents and children anger management techniques to help them de-escalate when they are angry and to reduce the use of physical punishment.

Parents and children watch and discuss a skit performed by teen volunteers from the PAVE program (Prevent Assault and Violence in Education) about a family that dealt with anger in unhealthy ways.

Children aged 5-14 pair up and are coached by teen volunteers in presenting short skits about using "I" messages to express anger in a healthy way. Children perform the skit for parents.

The parent workshop explores ways to de-escalate themselves as well as their children, the danger of striking out in anger, alternatives to physical discipline, and community resources for people who want to improve parenting skills.

Parents and children together identify strategies that help them de-escalate when angry.

Battered Women's Shelter of Summit and Medina Counties

Goal: To teach parents and children effects of physical punishment and alternatives.

Children's component: Children discuss how it feels to be hit, why we shouldn't hit and what to do instead. Children create puppets and perform a puppet show for adults.

Adult component: A didactic presentation on effects of physical punishment and alternatives using materials from www.stophitting.org parent training resources is presented. A discussion follows and a puppet show by the children.

Highland County Children Services

Goal: To teach parents and caretakers of children effects of physical punishment and alternatives.

The facilitator leads a discussion on participants' memories of punishment in childhood and how they perceived it. The video "Discipline without Shaking, Hitting or Spanking" (Family Development Resources) is shown and discussed.

"Home Behavior Problems of Children" from the www.stophitting.org parent training materials is used to help parents identify specific discipline problems and how to reduce them.

Parents are asked to sign positive discipline pledges.

Crittenton Family Services

Goal: To teach parents alternatives to physical punishment.

A "Family Fun Night" is held with an informal dinner for families.
A guest speaker talks about her own experiences as a parent and why non-violent ways of raising children work best.
Following the speaker, parents and children create drawings and paintings on positive discipline to be displayed at the agency.

Family Service Assoc of Wyoming Valley Wilkes-Barre, PA. In cooperation with Luzerne County Head Start

Head Start teachers were given modules developed by our staff to review information about corporal punishment and how it affects children. We provided them with alternative ways of discipline. We asked the teachers to sit down with their classes and discuss “What are hands use for-what do you do with your hands? And tell me what are some good things hands are used for…”

The children, ages 3-4, made drawings of their hands and discussed fun things were that you could do with these hands…like building sand castles at the beach, eating pizza, etc.

While the children were making their art pieces, the parents were invited to attend a 30 minute presentation supported by materials we downloaded from www.stophitting.org on alternative/positive methods of discipline. Following the presentation, the parents came over to the children’s classrooms to view their art projects and before they left, the children presented their parents with a carnation and greens with a card attached that said…”You Are Special to Me.”

Help Me Grow Program of Harrison County OH

We held the event at the playground of a low-income housing facility. Children entered a coloring contest where everyone was a winner!

We had two booths that alternated learning sessions. The first booth focused on why not to spank. Parents played a game of “Spank or No Spank”, a version of “Deal or No Deal” in which every suitcase chose has a money amount and a message about the negative aspects of spanking. The winner of each game received a prize, and then the parents wrote two reasons not to spank on a paper teardrop and cut them out.

The second booth involved a “Jeopardy” game on positive discipline techniques. We discussed how children can “push your buttons” and what parents can do. Parents then wrote some ideas they would like to try at home on starburst tablets and attached magnets to post these ideas on their refrigerators at home.

Meanwhile, children enjoyed free play under supervision of the staff and made art projects to give to their parents. Lunch and snacks were provided. A representative of the Ohio State Extension Office supplied snacks, gave parents cookbooks, and discussed child nutrition. WOUB, a PBS station, sent a spokesperson to distribute picture books and talk about discipline. After completing the evaluation, parents received a story book concerning discipline and children received a gift. Stress balls were given as door prizes.

Jefferson Youth Foundation, Marrero, LA

A staff training entitled, “10 Alternatives to Spanking” was presented to Jefferson Youth Foundation, Inc. staff who provide direct services to children in the after-school program. The training was designed to promote effective, non-violent disciplinary practices. Participants learned about the effects of corporal punishment and were encouraged to implement non-violent alternatives. Each staff person received handouts and was challenged to implement a classroom group activity that incorporates positive alternatives to physical punishment (games, discussions, etc.).