WHAT PARENTS SAY ABOUT "CONNECT WITH YOUR KIDS" Hi my name is Kirsty Hunt and I am a mother to Kelsey, age 8 and Megan who has just turned four years old. I like to beleive that I am a good mother and that I love and provide for my girls. But like every working mother I often question my abilities as a parent, am I doimg the right thing?. Do I really understand my children? Do I spend enough time with them? and so on and so on, the list is endless. I heard about the ten week "Connect With Your Kids" training course with Debra Brent and I thought this is perfect, let me take some time for myself and attend this course. Let me state that I have two normal healthy children. People often seem to question why I am attending this course, is there something wrong with my girls? No they are sometimes naughty, have mood swings, temper tantrums and at times think they are the boss. Debra's programme has opened my eyes and taught me so much over the past ten weeks. I have moved on from an insecure mother to a confident, content and happy mum. "Connect With Your Kids" teaches you to learn more about your child through play. You are taught how to have special play times with your children. It is amazing to see your relationship with your child change, develop and grow. When I first viewed Debras list of toys some of the toys worried me. I have never allowed my children to play with a foam sword or aggressive animals, we are all princesses after all. I guess I have always led the play with the toys that I felt they needed, I did not want to expose my little girls to the more aggressive toys. But I went out and bought dinosaurs, a toy gun and an FBI set etc etc. Well our first play session all my fears came true, my precious little girl pointed a toy gun at me, cut up the dinosaurs and shot the baddies, our session was filled with bang bangs and the growl of dinosaurs, although it did end with a dinosaur tea party. Over the weeks our play sessions changed from anger and frustration and we moved on to tea parties, we have hidden and saved animals from lions to ladybugs, we have made music together banging drums and ringing bells, built animals out of play dough, coloured in, had countless tea parties, healed and treated countless illnesses with our doctors sets, we have played dolls and together have shared so much fun. Through all these weeks we have learnt and grown to love and understand each other even more. Through play I have learnt to understand my daughter, what is more amazing is that she turned round to me the other day and said mummy I do not need anymore special play time sessions, but keep the toys and when I need special play time I will let you know. As young as Megan is she understands the power of these sessions and that she can have them when she needs them. I have just started the play sessions with my eldest daughter aged 8, the experience has been profound, the play is different the result the same, our relationship is growing. To every parent who questions their parenting skills take the time to learn about special play time, learn how to acknowledge your child's feelings and emotions. Learn how to focus on your relationship, how to respond to and understand your child better. How to love yourself first. How to give your child choices and how to set limits. Take time to attend this course, it has changed me as a person and it can change your parenting world too. Amy To give some background on my situation, I am a mum that works full time with a 4 year old who is at nursery school all day. So nothing out of the ordinary. Due to the fact that Jessica is at school all day I decided to look for something to do with her, which would just be special mummy and daughter time. So thanks to the help of my good friend Google I came accross Debra and the "Connect With Your Kids" course. Who would know that from a mere ten Saturday morningsmy relationship with my child could change so much. This course has taught me so much about the art of communication and more important , how to understand my daughter. I feel truly blessed that I have had this opportunity in my life. My husband and I both agreed that we did not want to bring up our daughter in an environment where she gets hidings and sent to her room when she misbehaves. We feel that just because that is what we know from the way we were brought up it is not the best way to handle our child. Debra was our savior! Learning how to communicate in a very simple language that your child understands has phenominal results. "Jessica i can see that you got a big fright" Oh my word, my child looked at me in amazement, my mum understands me.... The naughty step, hidings and threats are a thing of the past in our house. Giving a four year old a choice seems like something that would never work, and boy were we shocked. It simplifies her life and as we were taught she learns how to make a decision and what the concequence of the decision is. Not only do you learn more about your child, but what you learn about yourself is amazing!! I would and have recommended this course to everyone I know. Our once a week special play time is amazing, and has such a positive effect on Jessica. She gets half an hour to express herself and I get time to see what is going on in her life. We look forward to our special time together every week. And the best part is mum gets to rekindle her youth. Through this course i had the pleasure of meeting my fellow students who are phenominal people and a true inspiration. hearing people who start off as being complete strangers telling their stories helps you realise that you are not alone and that you are not a bad parent. All children challenge and have temper tantrums etc etc. A comfortable feeling to know that you are not alone. Watching the play sessions and seeing how all the children have progressed from the first session to the second recording is truly amazing. How can you disbelieve something that you see with your own eyes? This DOES work!!! We are all living proof. Thank you Debra for affording me the oppertunity to be part of one of your classes. I feel truly indebted to you for all you have taught me and thankful from the bottom of my heart for the harmony you have brought into my home. I had an amazing ten weeks!!! Thank you Home Page Play Therapy About Me Rates Photo Album Contact Me | 
