Work occupies a big part of our life, and research shows that work-related stress is one of the primary sources of negative emotions. Possible scenarios that may be a source of work-related stress include: conflicts with colleagues, frustration with supervisors and/or subordinates, and overwhelmingly long work hours. This one-hour seminar aims to help participants understand how different work-related situations can affect emotions and behaviours. It will then offer practical ways to manage emotions in a healthier manner.
In this seminar, we will share with you some “toxins” in communication, how they will undermine your relationship, as well as the corresponding antidotes. We will also introduce you to the two most basic units of communication – the speaker and the listener – explaining their roles in detail and revealing the main factors that form a healthy communication, and hence a robust relationship in the long term.
Teacher and parent relationships are among the most important for ensuring a child receives the support and care they require to thrive at school. These relationships can be, at times, difficult and stressful if communication breaks down or if both parties are not in agreement. Teachers have the responsibility of working, communicating and cooperating with a large variety of parents and parenting styles to see that students receive the type of support they need both at home and at school. In this workshop, teachers will learn about the many different parents, parenting styles, communication styles and ways to work with them, ensuring the best outcomes for students.
Classrooms are made up of children who come from a variety of backgrounds and a variety of home environments. Not all of these home environments are positive or supportive. In this workshop we look at the different kinds of difficult home lives children may experience, how this affects their learning and behavior, as well as how teachers can mitigate some of these issues through a positive classroom experience. A section on working with parents is also included.
Teaching literacy in classrooms that accommodate different learning needs is no simple task. However, adjusting a curriculum to play to the strengths of dyslexic students can have profound effects on learning outcomes and self-esteem. This workshop aims to equip teachers with a robust, contemporary definition of dyslexia and the implications of this definition. We will cover practical strategies for the classroom, the use of phonemic skills, syllabification, morphology, as well as important linguistic rules that should be taught.
The needs of students with learning disabilities often remain poorly understood despite the efforts of educators to provide more inclusive learning environments. Misconceptions surrounding the presentation and classification of symptoms can then become barriers to success for students and teachers alike. This workshop will arm teachers with a better understanding of a range of disorders and their symptoms commonly seen in students and shed light on the ways in which they impact student learning. Through exploring case studies and group discussions, teachers will reflect on the efficacy of the strategies they currently employ while also drawing on the wisdom of their colleagues to explore new classroom interventions for those students with special needs.
This workshop aims to inform preschool teachers and support staff who work with children aged 0-6 about the normal development of children’s speech, language and social skills. It also aims to better equip staff with the skills needed to identify children whose communication skills are not developing in the typical way and to feel more confident in discussing concerns with parents or referring to a Speech and Language Therapist.
Aggressive or disobedient behavior is always challenging for the teacher, child, classmates and parents. It is not an easy task to support and help a child who acts out while maintaining an optimal learning environment for the students. In this workshop, teachers will learn about defiance and some of the possible reasons for such behaviour as well as receive practical advice on how to handle angry and disobedient behavior.
Resilience is the ability to go through difficult or challenging situations and come out the other side still standing. It’s the ability to deal with day to day challenges without allowing those challenges to significantly affect our mental health or ability to cope. Talk of resilience in children has become a constant in schools, the news. and between parents. So how do parents help their children to build this incredibly important skill? This talk will cover what resilience is, why it’s important, and concrete ways that parents can help their children to grow their resilience.
Most of us strive to be good parents, yet we find ourselves confused and frustrated by the endless challenges of parenthood. Positive Parenting is a research backed approach to parenting that emphasizes the positive points of behaviour instead of the negative. This talk gives a comprehensive introduction to the principles of Positive Parenting with a focus on participation in the family, positive child development, and building resilience.
Research has demonstrated the numerous benefits of mindfulness, such as enhanced emotional regulation, improved sleep, stress reduction and an increase in overall happiness. Many schools have already incorporated mindfulness practices into their classroom routines. This talk aims to support families in establishing a mindfulness practice at home, both for the benefit of the parents themselves and their children.
In the age of social media and computers needed for school work, parents are questioning how much screen time is too much. This presentation, based entirely on the recommendations of various pediatric bodies as well as research based articles gives a look into what’s good, what’s bad and what do we not yet know about the effects of screens on our kids. While the amount of time is important, this presentation touches on the importance of considering content and type of media as well as the hours spent.
It is normal for children to be quiet in new situations or with people unfamiliar to them. However, shy or socially anxious children usually remain overly nervous, avoiding social situations that result in discomfort. We introduce a model to understand how anxiety develops and often becomes more severe. Most importantly, this model provides the basis for you to help your children develop more confidence socially and overcome their anxiety. We provide practical and useful advice on teaching your children the skills necessary to interact with others without becoming overly fearful.
Testing is a fixture of the education system, serving many useful purposes. Unfortunately for some students, the anxiety provoked by upcoming tests goes far beyond the normal jitters. This presentation will help parents understand what test anxiety is, how it develops, and how it affects students. Also included is a comprehensive list to help students to manage anxiety, including study tips, stress management, and wellness planning.
Hong Kong students face an incredible amount of academic pressure both in school from their teachers and peers, and at home from their families. Research by UNICEF Hong Kong reveals that 90% of students suffer from academic stress. Learn how it affects our children, the signs and symptoms of a child struggling with academic stress, and helpful strategies for managing and minimizing school-related stress. 30 min presentation.
When kids have upsetting emotions, how can parents deal with the expressions of negativity and limit the chance of impairing the parent-child relationship? In this presentation we will explore the parents’ role in the process of emotion recognition and management, and share effective ways to alleviate “big” feelings. Using theory and real-life examples, we will share how parents can better help manage children’s emotions.
This one hour presentation introduces different strategies to help older children and teenagers on their road to success both at school and at home. The strategies start with a practical approach, such as organisation and time management, then introduce both physical and psychological self-care. The presentation ends with an overview of the benefits of reframing, a growth mindset and mindfulness as well as self-compassion and acceptance.
A half-day interactive and fun workshop for high school students to help anticipate and plan for challenges that may come with the transition to University. Includes a focus on being safe and healthy through education on drugs, sex, and relationships, and provides opportunities to develop key skills such as problem solving, autonomy, decision making, informed choice and peer support.
Many adolescents in Hong Kong live with an incredible amount of academic and social pressure. It can lead to sadness, depression, or suicidal thoughts and actions in overwhelmed teens. It’s time we speak about the subject openly and honestly, and prepare teens with the knowledge to know what to do if they are feeling depressed — or if they are worried about a friend. This workshop aims to empower adolescents to recognize and respond to the signs and symptoms of depression and suicidal behavior. Teens will learn who to turn to, and that it’s better to lose a friendship than a friend. Includes problem solving, role playing and brainstorming activities.
