From the Heart of Childhood

Lesson 1

Mastery of Learning  

In this first lesson we look at the 4 Stages of Learning that we all must go through as human beings. When we understand what happens in each stage clearly, why it is essential for effective learning, we can see how to best support our child through their education journey. We use two helpful examples to illustrate: learning a language and a detailed look at the stages of play and how this links to all meaningful learning. We begin to see what is happening for our own child as we look with new eyes.

This lesson helps us make a beginning in the course by receiving new skills on how to observe our own children objectively, (or our students if a teacher) as a key to bringing the best support.  What should we be providing in the environment and what role do we play as the adult? We discover the tools to support each stage fully, working within our own families, homes, or classrooms so that children can reach ‘mastery’ over their learning, grow to achieve their potential, and discover a purpose in their adult lives. This is about unblocking and empowering children for inspired, motivated learning throughout their education.

Lesson 3: 

Aura of Dread 

A deep dive for uncovering unconscious and unhelpful ways of being. Here we look at the source of the challenges we face in our parenting and daily lives. Where hidden fears and beliefs govern our relationships, parenting problems, enjoyment of life and quality of home life, we have an opportunity to uncover the mystery of what lies behind the repeated patterns that block our way. This lesson offers opportunities to begin to make real changes that will transform your parenting for good and allow you to renew and refresh your wishes for all the family. You can bring your unique challenges and start to practice introducing small changes for a big impact. 

Lesson 4:

Loving Light and the Gap 

This lesson looks at the link between attachment theory, empathy building, and face to face learning.  We look at how to recreate a sense of trust and safety in the home and classroom. Amongst other important studies, we look at the Core Strengths of the Neurosequential Model of positive development to heal trauma, intergenerational trauma and the gap that is caused when relationships break down. This lesson is also helpful when looking at sibling rivalry as well as sense of overwhelm in the parent.  

Lesson 5:

Three Stages of Learning 

Here we look at the “Three ages of childhood “and how ways of learning change with age. This is a unique aspect of the course as we learn what is happening during each stage for the child, and what needs to happen for their growth and well-being. We learn how to respond to children in each stage. This helps enormously in managing challenging behaviour and we discover what works the best according to where the children are in one of the three stages.  This is very different from the common approaches to parenting that usually focus on an overall general stage of childhood. We begin to understand and learn how to move and grow along with our children. We also learn how to heal what has not been met in previous stages and even to see and heal our own childhood longings and missed needs at various key moments in our childhood. This is a transformative point in our parenting journey. 

Lesson 6:

Everything you do Matters 

Everything we do builds a foundation for our child. Following on from the three ages of childhood we look at each stage more closely and understand further to see what we do that either hinders or supports. Here we have the opportunity to make a big impact on our child’s future, becoming the parent/teacher who responds appropriately from early and mid-childhood, all the way through to adolescence, this lesson covers how the things we do, the ways we speak about and interact with others,  and how we take an interest in the world and new ideas will shape and form our child in three very important aspects. In this lesson there is the opportunity to discover positive ways to make changes that have lifelong benefits for everyone. Here we can bring questions and examples from our unique family situations, looking at scenarios and learn to apply this knowledge in practical ways. 

Lesson 7:

Speaking and Listening 

This is a powerful lesson on how we use language and listening with our children and how our use of language needs to change through the three stages of childhood. When we learn about the power of our speaking and listening, how it directly impacts brain development, approaches to discipline, to rewards and punishment, to sibling rivalry and managing difficult emotions, we can be empowered as parents or teachers to feel more in control of our children’s ability to relate to others, to naturally role model authentic relationships, and strengthen our own well-being. The higher senses of Speech and Hearing are developed throughout childhood by the way that children experience adults using them in daily interactions. The refinement of these senses is essential for every human being to be able to connect with, empathize, be inspired and ultimately inspire others.   By becoming more aware and attuned in our speaking and listening we are gifting our children for the future.   

Lesson 8: 

Crossing the Gap  

Here we look at the work of Gordon Neufeld to bring our focus more closely into repairing connections, closing up the “gap” that is created when attachment is lost, when attachment becomes insecure or inauthentic. This is especially for the parent who has lost authentic connection with their children because of their own childhood experiences. It can be that as parents we do not initially notice that our connection with our child has become one based around fear or mistrust, especially if we do not see what a particular behaviour the child is displaying is communicating.  We study connection exercises looking at the significance of creating a “circle of care,” in the family and the power of the “wait, watch wonder” program for reestablishing and creating new deeper connections with our children.   

 

Lesson 9:  

Healing Fear and Aggression 

Lesson 9, as well as Lesson 10 are a deeper dive into bringing together the knowledge that we have acquired so far in the course into meaningful, practical and doable ways, that are specific to our own challenging situations and can be integrated into everyday family life. We continue with our study of Dr Gordon Neufeld’s work. We discuss together in the group looking at either our own challenges or case studies to deepen our understanding and begin to make the healing aspects part of who we are for our children and ourselves. We look at differences in boys and girls and the latest scientific knowledge. This involves understanding the possibilities we have, and the opportunities that are there to create healing in our homes and classrooms (lesson 10). We see how to support ourselves as our children grow and change. What is real self-care? And how do we reconnect to ourselves so we can be fully there for our children?   

Lesson 10:

Love of the Home/Care of the Self

We look at recharging our nervous system, reconnecting to our senses and making home a safe refuge where we can bring our true selves. To replenish your energy for home life, creating a warm and accepting space and to take care of yourself is to recharge your child’s wellbeing and enable new learning to continue for everyone.

Lesson 11:
 

In Body, Heart and Mind  

Lesson 11 brings a holistic approach to our ways of being. We look at how life trauma shows up in all aspects of who we are, in body, heart and mind, and who our children are becoming. There are ways, for example, to see how trauma and stress become health issues in the body (skin diseases, digestive problems, headaches; depression, hate in the heart (feelings); and lies, prejudice and bias in the mind. We look at scientifically proven solutions and the work of Dr Allen Schore to support through each difficulty, identifying it in ourselves and in our children and discover much hope by implementing, practicing and building upon the things we have learnt in the course.   

Lesson 12:
 

Joy Filled Living 

 An overview of all our work so far, we see how can we continue to integrate and identify the most important aspects we have taken from the course. What is joy filled living? “The little drop of light that can change the day.” (Dr Tessabella Lovemore) We have provided the ways to heal, what are we doing now is looking forward to prepare our children for the future. The future will be how the children live through the present time with us and what we have equipped them with to take into the world.  

We look at how our responses to our children’s wishes and hopes can create joyful energy for moving forwards. Very often we miss our children’s cues because we have our own fixed hopes and dreams for them and will direct them accordingly. How does this rob our families of joy filled living? Our goal is to enable our children to go further and higher in the future, using their unique capacities to give back to the world (Mastery of Learning) . We have such potential as parents to accompany them on this path by bringing a sense of joy, belonging, gratitude, and awe that makes all of us well.