MY FACILITATION STYLE
I was watching a television show recently in which a professor was asked what she was currently teaching, and she replied honestly,
“I don’t really teach...
I like to talk about things I care about
to people who are ready.”
Like this character, my approach does not center exclusively on the dissemination of knowledge (despite my passion for the Educaring approach and all subjects related to child development). I recognize that parents today have access to more information and advice about parenting and child development than at any other point in human history. Unfortunately this easy access does not come without its challenges: from sorting through the sheer volume of information to determining whether the source is trustworthy (while adding into the mix our own triggers, childhood experiences and attachment history)… no wonder parents are confused, frustrated and overwhelmed!
My approach to facilitation is one of acceptance, support and empowerment. My goal is to serve as a patient, open and compassionate guide who can listen wholeheartedly, respond with a sense of gentle curiosity and provide resources and feedback as parents desire.
I come to my classes with the unwavering belief that parents are the experts on their children and bring a wealth of creative ideas for problem solving. While I have a great deal of experience working with young children and their families, I recognize that it’s not my role to decide what’s right for any individual family. It is, however, my role to provide and maintain a welcoming environment where parents can feel safe sharing the joys and challenges associated with being a parent. My role is to facilitate respectful conversations between parents interested in exploring the nuances inherent in respectful childcare.
I also bring my knowledge of and experience with mindfulness (specifically Vipassana meditation), self-compassion and self care practices to my role as a facilitator. These practices, along with independent and guided self-reflection, deeply inform my approach and I believe them to be integral to intentional, respectful caregiving.