Raising Good Kids Without Hitting www.stophitting.com

Download the brochure: Adobe Acrobat or Microsoft Word

WORKSHOP IDEA FOR SPANKOUT DAY USA APRIL 30TH

SpankOut Day USA April 30th provides an opportunity to bring attention to the need to end corporal punishment of children and to teach effective, non-violent discipline. EPOCH-USA sponsors this observance. It is also observed internationally as "No hitting day" or "No Smacking Day." EPOCH USA provides ideas for participation in SpankOut Day on its website www.stophitting.org. The following is a workshop that can be used on SpankOut Day or throughout the year.

Workshop: ARE YOUR KIDS DRIVING YOU CRAZY?

GOALS:

1. Participants will increase their understanding of developmental expectations for children’s behavior.
2. Participants will learn new strategies for guiding behavior at different ages and stages of development.
Participants will learn about the effects of corporal punishment and will be encouraged to use non-violent alternatives.

MATERIALS NEEDED:

1. "They’re Driving Me Crazy" brochures developed by Dr. Michele Knox. They are available at no cost from the Center for Effective Discipline in Adobe Acrobat Reader and Microsoft Word formats.
2. Workshop flyers available from the Center for Effective Discipline.

WORKSHOP TIPS:

1. Decide on an audience. Studies indicate the following populations would benefit most from knowledge about effects of corporal punishment and alternatives: teen or young parents, grandparents raising children, parents with only a high school education, adult men, mothers raising children alone, and those who were abused as children.
2. Choose the presenter: It might be a parent educator, social worker, church leader, mental health professional or experienced parent.
3. Send workshop flyers to a wide audience four to six weeks before the scheduled date.
4. Encourage attendance by providing childcare and snacks and/or refreshments. Raffles or drawings with small prizes are usually enjoyed by participants.
5. Send media releases out one to two weeks before the event.

1. INTRODUCTION
   1. Speaker introduction:
      Introduce the scope of workshop which will include dealing with defiance, developmental expectations for different ages and alternatives.
   2. Speaker
      1. tells a story of his/her personal interest in discipline such as memories of being disciplined as a child
      2. relays a news story about discipline
      3. tells of experiences/learning about discipline of his/her own children.
   3. Speaker asks each participant to write down his/her biggest problem with discipline on a 3 x 5 inch card provided. This is for the "Problem-Solving Clinic" at the end of the presentation.
2. DEFIANT BEHAVIOR -- AGES, STAGES AND ALTERNATIVES
   1. Toddlers: example -- touching electrical outlets or stoves
      1. Developmental expectations
      2. Major disciplinary efforts
      3. Alternatives
   2. Preschoolers: example -- won’t go to bed
      1. Developmental expectations
      2. Major disciplinary efforts
      3. Alternatives
   3. School-Age Children: example -- refusing to do homework
      1. Developmental expectations
      2. Major disciplinary efforts
      3. Alternatives
   4. Teens: example -- breaking curfew
      1. Developmental expectations
      2. Major disciplinary efforts
      3. Alternatives
3. CORPORAL PUNISHMENT
   1. Research on use
   2. Progress in ending use of corporal punishment -- schools, day care, foster care, homes
4. PROBLEM-SOLVING CLINIC
   1. Read problems submitted at the beginning of the workshop on cards.
   2. Discuss with audience non-violent alternatives to problems submitted.
5. EVALUATION AND CONCLUSION

Contact info@stophitting.org for complete workshop.