Your child’s temperament has a profound impact on his or her development. It also influences your child’s perceptions and interpersonal relationships, which is where you come in. As a parent, your responses to your child’s temperament are likely to have an impact on his or her behavior and self-esteem.
INSIGHTS will help you:
- Identify your child’s unique temperament;
- Create parenting strategies that nurture your child’s unique temperament appropriately;
- React optimally to your child’s behaviors because you recognize both the strengths and challenges that come along with their unique temperament;
- Cultivate a trusting and warm relationship with your child; and
- Build strategies to discipline your unique child effectively.
INSIGHTS for Parents has 6 one-hour asynchronized lessons (view them when convenient) and 7 synchronized one-hour sessions that assists parents in recognizing their children’s temperaments/personalities and then how to use strategies that reduce children’s behavior problems and enhance their social skills.
The lessons and sessions are built on Nearpod an award-winning engagement platform that is accessible on any remote device. The lessons include videos, interactive activities, and downloadable handouts that can be used again and again. The sessions are conducted by an experienced INSIGHTS facilitator who will coach the educators in applying the content to their students. See below for an outline of the program and the cost of the program is explained here.
Program content
Each one-hour session will be conducted online.
- Recognizing your child’s temperament
- Optimizing parental responses
- Gaining compliance with a Cooperation Contract
- Developing a discipline plan
The group facilitated workshops are held online. Contact us to discuss bringing the workshop to your community.
There are 3 ways to enroll in INSIGHTS for Parents:
- Group Parenting Workshops
- Individual Self-Paced Lessons
- Private Sessions with Dr. McClowry
Group Parenting Workshops
The best way to participate in INSIGHTS for Parents is with a group of 8 parents. Our 6-week group parenting workshop includes 6 remote self-paced lessons (view them when it’s convenient) that you can access on almost any internet-connected device. In addition, we will mail you a packet of 50 handouts that provide even more information forms to use, again and again, with your children.
The six self-paced lessons are fun and include videos and interactive activities with opportunities to comment in writing or by adding a short audio response.
In between each lesson is a weekly one-hour ZOOM session that is conducted by a certified INSIGHTS facilitator who will help you apply the content to your own children. An outline of the workshop and its cost of the program is explained here.
Individual Self-Paced Lessons
INSIGHTS for Parents also offers the option of viewing the 6 self-paced lessons individually and have one private session with a certified INSIGHTS facilitator. The self-paced lessons are accessible on any remote device. Here’s how to register.
Schedule for Group Parenting Workshops
| Week | Lesson | Facilitator Session |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lesson #1 Recognizing Child Temperament The major concepts of children’s temperament are presented: its biological basis, resistance to modification, manifestations in situations involving stress and change, and how an environment can be supportive of a child’s particular temperament. Parents are taught how to recognize the temperaments of their children. Common temperament profiles are presente as examples: Coretta the Cautious is shy, Gregory the Grumpy whose temperament is high maintenance, Fredrico the Friendly is very social and eager to try, and Hilary the Hard Worker is industrious. | Facilitated Session #1 The facilitator welcomes the parents and asks the parents to describe the temperament of their child(ren). Parents also discuss what they enjoy about their child and what they find challenging. |
| 2 | Lesson #2 Reframing Children’s Temperaments and Responding to Them In this lesson, parents engage in activities intended to reframe their perceptions of their child with an appreciation that every temperament has strengths and challenges. They also learn that although temperament is not amenable to change, parental responses can be modified. Videos demonstrate parenting responses that are optimal, adequate, and counterproductive. | Facilitated Session #2 The parents report on the optimal, adequate, and counterproductive responses they used during the week and how their children reacted. |
| 3 | Lesson #3 Gaining Control Recognition and acceptance of a child’s temperament, however, does not imply permissiveness. Parents are guided in developing contracts when children exhibit repetitive or annoying behaviors. The contract is designed so that the child can be successful. Consequently, an annoying behavior is reduced and the relationship between the child and parent is enhanced. | Facilitated Session #3 The facilitator leads the parents in critiquing the various goals and other contract components they plan to use. |
| 4 | Lesson #4 Disciplining School-Age Children Principles underlying responsive discipline are presented. Discipline is symbolic and is not punishment. Videos show common behavior problems that some children exhibit. The parents develop a 3-step plan for dealing with child behavior problems. | Facilitated Session #4 The parents report on their children’s contracts and discuss whether amendments are needed. They also demonstrate the various signals they implemented with their children. Then the facilitator leads the parents in discussing effective responses when a child is uncooperative. |
| 5 | Lesson #5 Appreciating Our Individual Differences This lesson discusses the importance of appreciating individual differences among members of the community. Racial/ethnic differences are celebrated. Strategies for enhancing the behavior of children related to various temperaments are explained. | Facilitated Session #5 The parents continue reviewing the status of their children’s contracts and consider whether amendments are needed. In addition, they discuss how they have implemented other strategies they have learned. |
| 6 | Lesson #6 Everyone Needs Social and Emotional Skills Social competencies for adults, as well as for children, are the focus of this lesson: listening, relaying empathy, assertiveness skills, collaboration, problem-solving, and conflict resolution. Strategies for attending to one’s own personal needs while juggling multiple roles are also discussed. Parents are encouraged to develop a contract with themselves to enhance their own social competencies. | Facilitated Session #6 The parents update the status of their children’s contracts and discuss whether further amendments are needed. The facilitator asks each of the parents what SEL contract they have made with themselves and who will hold them accountable. |
The INSIGHTS for Parents program is held online. Contact us to discuss bringing the workshop to your community.
Private Sessions
Private sessions for children and their parents are conducted with Dr. McClowry. Each session is $150. Call (203) 546-7276 or email sandee.mcclowry@nyu.edu to schedule an appointment or if you have questions.
“I’ve changed my thinking and am now a calmer and more in-control parent.”
Joan, Parent
“Little by little, I am getting along better with my son. We still have a lot of work to do with each other. The good part is that I know I’m headed in the right direction.”
David, Parent
“I’ve changed my thinking and am now a calmer and more in-control parent.”