Parent SeminarsI offer seminars for parents and caregivers to give them the knowledge and confidence to successfully guide their children's body, sexuality and gender education, from birth through to adolescence. It is ideal to pair these with an in-school student programme. Programmes can be organisation through an organisation (school, playcentre, ECE...), or privately. |
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Of Storks and Cabbage Patches: Pre-school Sexuality Education
We are all sexual beings from the moment we are conceived and just as your preschooler is growing taller and discovering language, they are also developing sexually. Sexuality is a topic many parents prefer to avoid, but a child’s sexuality education begins with their curiosity about his or her body – and this starts well before they utter their first word. Children are constantly figuring out how the world works - this includes what their body parts are for, what they feel like and what they are called. Sexuality education is a part of a continuum; it starts at birth and it continues through life. Parents should not be worried about how and when they are going to have the big talk. Instead they should think of it as an ongoing conversation, and it is never too early to start this conversation.
The Birds and The Bees Made Easy: Primary School Sexuality Education
Do you cringe with fear when you think of ‘The Big Talk’? Are you nervous about explaining puberty? Are you wondering how much information is “too much”? Are you anxious about whether you even know ‘enough’ yourself to teach your children?
Using humour and real-life examples, this workshop addresses the things parents need to know about their child’s development and provides tools for creating and maintaining an open and honest communication with children about sexuality. Talking openly with children sends a strong positive message their bodies are incredible and that we should always respect them. Communicating effectively with your child about sexuality issues paves the way for open communication as they get older.
Girl World
From a young age girls are bombarded with images and messages about who they should be and how they should act. Compounding this situation are technological developments that are changing the social fabric of our communities, and nowhere more so than in the adolescent world. These factors have a huge effect on how young people view themselves and the world around them. It is crucial that in order to best support our young people we understand their world and the challenges they are facing.
What does it mean to be a girl in the 21st century? How does the language we use impact upon girls’ experience of their world? How do our own assumptions of gender create and shape behaviour and expectations of our girls? How can we mediate the impact that the mass media has on defining our girls’ sense of self? How can we support our girls in learning to cherish their body and their individuality? Do we need to clarify the ‘girls can do anything’ message? What more can we do to ensure our girls become confident, happy women who make a difference in the world?
Tech Reality Check
Sexting, tech bullying, dating apps, pornography and social media. Young people need knowledge and skills to help them navigate their tech-saturated world safely. This workshop gives parents the knowledge and confidence to help safely guide their child through their virtual world.
We are all sexual beings from the moment we are conceived and just as your preschooler is growing taller and discovering language, they are also developing sexually. Sexuality is a topic many parents prefer to avoid, but a child’s sexuality education begins with their curiosity about his or her body – and this starts well before they utter their first word. Children are constantly figuring out how the world works - this includes what their body parts are for, what they feel like and what they are called. Sexuality education is a part of a continuum; it starts at birth and it continues through life. Parents should not be worried about how and when they are going to have the big talk. Instead they should think of it as an ongoing conversation, and it is never too early to start this conversation.
The Birds and The Bees Made Easy: Primary School Sexuality Education
Do you cringe with fear when you think of ‘The Big Talk’? Are you nervous about explaining puberty? Are you wondering how much information is “too much”? Are you anxious about whether you even know ‘enough’ yourself to teach your children?
Using humour and real-life examples, this workshop addresses the things parents need to know about their child’s development and provides tools for creating and maintaining an open and honest communication with children about sexuality. Talking openly with children sends a strong positive message their bodies are incredible and that we should always respect them. Communicating effectively with your child about sexuality issues paves the way for open communication as they get older.
Girl World
From a young age girls are bombarded with images and messages about who they should be and how they should act. Compounding this situation are technological developments that are changing the social fabric of our communities, and nowhere more so than in the adolescent world. These factors have a huge effect on how young people view themselves and the world around them. It is crucial that in order to best support our young people we understand their world and the challenges they are facing.
What does it mean to be a girl in the 21st century? How does the language we use impact upon girls’ experience of their world? How do our own assumptions of gender create and shape behaviour and expectations of our girls? How can we mediate the impact that the mass media has on defining our girls’ sense of self? How can we support our girls in learning to cherish their body and their individuality? Do we need to clarify the ‘girls can do anything’ message? What more can we do to ensure our girls become confident, happy women who make a difference in the world?
Tech Reality Check
Sexting, tech bullying, dating apps, pornography and social media. Young people need knowledge and skills to help them navigate their tech-saturated world safely. This workshop gives parents the knowledge and confidence to help safely guide their child through their virtual world.
I can tailor a seminar to your group's needs. Please contact me for more information.
Feedback about my parent seminars
A great evening all round! Thank you for a vibrant, though-provoking but also amusing presentation. It was very well received by parents." - Carol Craymer, Principal, Queen Margaret College, Wellington
"Extremely relevant seminar. Essential for all parents who want to do their best in developing confident children with positive sexuality identity. My husband (& Dad of two daughters) commented that he now sees and understands the importance and naming the 'private parts' by the correct term, without feeling embarrassed or awkward. Fantastic literature also shared for assisting learning about our body from child to adult and the changes that occur in a positive, real manner. Thank you Rachel for an informative, straight to the point seminar". - Charlotte, mother of two preschoolers.
"I came away from this seminar feeling I was armed with a whole lot more information on how to speak to our kids about all the more "tricky" topics, namely where did I come from, how did I get in Mum's tummy and kids general curiosity about their bodies, without feeling so embarrassed or
awkward. But what I found even more empowering was all the discussion on letting our "kids be kids" and not making them grow up to fast, the powers of advertising etc. Rachel was a fantastic speaker and really made you think about how important it is to keep open communication with
your kids now, so it's no big deal for them to come and ask you questions in the future." - Kathryn, Parent's Centre Seminar attendee:
"I attended your talk last night and just wanted to again say how much I enjoyed it. When I was thinking about attending I did think to myself that perhaps I shouldn't bother as my girls are only 7 and 2, and that I would surely have years to prepare before I needed to deal with any of those 'difficult' questions, but after last night I wish that I could have listened to your advice a couple of years earlier so I could have answered the ' how does the baby come out' question that my 5 year old asked when my latest was born, instead of trying to brush it off. When I was growing up, we never had 'the talk' it was always avoided so my information came from friends and media (of which most was wrong). I so wish that my Mum had had enough confidence to talk to me about it, it may have saved me from making a lot of the wrong choices which lead to a lot of heartache. It's so important that our girls grow up with self respect and love for themselves, so they make the right choices rather than being pushed into things that they are not emotionally ready for. It's very unusual for me to feel the need to post a comment or feedback but I was so inspired by your talk, I think you are doing some fabulous work and I hope my girls will have the pleasure of meeting you in the future!" Mother of two girls.
"Thank you so much for sharing your presentation at the parent evening tonight. We love the way you discuss 'delicate' topics in such an open, fun and honest way. I know the kids will thoroughly enjoy their sessions next term too!" - Di Simpson, Halcombe School Year 7 & 8 teacher
