Group Therapy! Fix the Children

Fix the children -there is a small group of children each in attendance with one parent (per child). This group is for the children. However, all adults are required to participate also. This may seem strange to you. Read on.

What usually happens (in other groups) is that the parent will sit and observe proceedings. Occasionally offering some gems of knowledge to their child on how they can improve what they are doing. Herein lies the problem! How can the parent understand the challenges the child is experiencing if they have not attempted the activity themselves. Yet, they have plenty of advice on how their child can improve.

So in this Group everyone participates. Parents have been briefed before the first session that full participation is a requirement. This seems strange to them and on the first day they usually harbour hope that they will get to sit out the activities. No chance, not on my watch!

When I introduce an activity say for coordination, I will demonstrate it first to everybody. It looks easy to do. But if it is a coordinated movement you have not done before then it will take a little bit of practice to master it. Next I will encourage the children to have a go. This is where things get really interesting. The children are guaranteed to muck it up the first and even second time. But they are enjoying themselves and the room is filled with laughter. Children are open and will keep at it until they get the hang of the activity. In the background you will hear Mom/ Dad offering in their advice on how best to do the activity. (Remember that the parents have never done this activity before, yet are giving advice in the matter!)

So now it is time for the grown-ups to have a go. This is where it gets really interesting. They will make a few mistakes as well starting out. But the difference here is that they are not enjoying themselves. There is definitely no laughter in the room now. The children are showing Mom/ Dad how to do it right. And they are fully entitled to as they have some previous experience of the activity. The parents are feeling a bit self-conscious and probably a bit confused. The tables have now turned. Mom/ Dad have now realised that what looked easy from the outside requires a bit of practice and focus.

We were all children once. We faced similar challenges when we were young. Sometimes we need to be reminded what it was like then. This will allow us to emphathise with the children of today. Don't expect the young ones to do things you are not willing to do yourself. It is never too late to have a happy childhood.

Source: http://ezinearticles.com/6420806

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