Take Charge! For Parents

Take Charge! for Parents is a workshop offered for those who parent, teach, counsel, pastor, and interact with children and adolescents. This workshop focuses on the elements nearly everyone agrees are important for healthy children and adolescents: namely, responsibility, independence and self-discipline. How can we best instill these attributes in our children and adolescents?

The objectives for Take Charge! for Parents workshop are:

To gain a basic understanding of Perceptual Control Theory
To learn the difference between Perceptual Control Theory and stimulus-response psychology
To learn how Perceptual Control Theory helps you to be the parent you want to be
To learn how to resolve conflicts by "going up a level"
To learn and practice ways to build stronger relationships with your children including manners, common courtesies, statements to say, questions to ask, community service projects to do together.

What is Take Charge! for Parents workshop?

Take Charge! for Parents workshop is designed for those who assist families. For over 20 years, we have assisted agencies and professionals to successfully utilize Applied Control Theory to teach others self-control, initiate restorative practices when mistakes are made, and to be effective communicators. The key is PCT, a shift of understanding.

Perceptual Control Theory* (PCT) is the theoretical underpinning of Take Charge! for Parents workshop, in which families and those who work with them learn how to develop discipline within. A teacher and parent said:

"Perceptual Control Theory is the glue that holds together many strategies that I have used for a long time but did not understand how or why they worked. Now I do!" -Cedar Falls, IA

What are the goals of Take Charge! for Parents workshop?

To improve relationships among family members by using effective, non-coercive communication.
To increase accountability by helping family members achieve their individual and collective goals.
To decrease intimidation and incentives as the basis for interactions by fostering discipline within every family member.
To rejuvenate the value of participating in community service.

How will Take Charge! for Parents workshop help me?

Increase effectiveness in my job based upon internal motivation instead of extrinsic measures.
Manage myself when in conflict with other colleagues.
Ask questions to lead others to self-evaluate their behaviors.
Become more accepting, less critical of self and others.

Quotes from Take Charge! for Parents workshops:

"Discipline within means the courage to look within yourself."

"Four sentences to learn. Each sentence is one to four words respectively. Please. Thank you. I love you. How can I help?"

"Our children will not always remember what we teach them, but they will never forget how we treat them."

"There is a hidden side of punishment with positive reinforcement."

"Discipline begins with parents' behaviors toward each other whether married or not."

"Step-parents need to give without regard to what they get back; and remember, you get back what you give out."

*Control Theory (also Perceptual Control Theory) is a theory of human motivation and behavior. It provides a scientific explanation of internal motivation. It helps us understand how we act continuously and purposefully at many levels to achieve our goals and to satisfy our needs in an ever-changing world. For more informaiton: www.iaact.com.