Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) has launched another new project. While IMM offers equal opportunities in education to disadvantaged children with Yuvamız Istanbul Children's Activity Centers, it also organizes trainings for the parents of children receiving services there. IMM Social Services Department Child Services Branch Directorate opened a 'Parent School' on January 25. Aiming to support the healthy development processes of children and increase families' knowledge and awareness of their children's interests and needs, the 'Parent School' enables families to establish healthy communication with their children, cope with problematic behaviors and become aware of children's rights. The Parent School takes place every Saturday between 10:00-12:00.
Providing information about the Parent School, IMM Social Services Department Head Enif Yavuz Dipşar said;
“As the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality, we have implemented the ‘parent school’ program to support the healthy development of children and to help parents establish more conscious, safe and healthy communication with their children. With the contributions of our children’s rights and psychological counseling unit experts, we offer parents six weeks of comprehensive training on critical issues such as setting healthy boundaries with children, dealing with problematic behaviors, emotional regulation, technology use and the effects of abuse. We are implementing this pilot program, which started on January 25, in Esenler Namık Kemal, Beylikdüzü Yakuplu, Pendik Çamlık, Ataşehir Kayışdağı, Ümraniye Madenler, Bahçelievler Zafer Yuvamız Istanbul Children’s Activity Centers. Designed by taking into consideration the educational needs of disadvantaged families, this program aims to increase parents’ awareness of their children’s interests and needs and to ensure that they are aware of children’s rights.”
CONTENTS OF TRAININGS
The program will last 6 weeks and experts from the Psychological Counseling Unit and Children's Rights Unit will provide training to the parents of Yuvamız Istanbul Children's Activity Center on the following topics:
Week 1 – Communicating with Children and Setting Healthy Boundaries
Week 2 – Emotional Awareness, Regulating Games and Anger Management in Children
Week 3 – Methods of Dealing with Problematic Behaviors in Children
Week 4 – Children's Rights and Technology Use in Children
Week 5 – Effects of Abuse on Children
Week 6 – Psychological Resilience
