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Curriculum
- 15 Sections
- 161 Lessons
- Lifetime
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- Welcome!3
- Module 1: The Secret World of Your Child’s MindExplore key developmental stages and the neuroscience of play to trade parenting frustration for fascination.12
- 2.1Welcome to Module 1: The Secret World of Your Child’s Mind
- 2.2Module 1 Worksheet 1: What Kind of Adult Am I Growing Into – As a Parent?
- 2.3Developmental Mismatches: When Parents Expect Too Much—Or Too Little
- 2.4Video: Why Age Matters?
- 2.5The Power of “Why”: Why 6-Year-Olds Ask So Many Questions (And Why That’s a Good Thing)
- 2.6Module 1 – Worksheet 2: What Triggers Me – And What’s Underneath It?
- 2.7Decoding the Eye-Roll: Turning Conflict into Connection with Your Growing Child
- 2.8Module 1 – Worksheet 4: Voices I Inherited – and What I Want to Keep
- 2.9Video: Parenting Traps
- 2.10Module 1 – Worksheet 3: Where Is My Bandwidth Today?
- 2.11The Inner World of Play: How Your Child Builds a Self and a Brain
- 2.12Conclusions: From Understanding to Connection: Your Journey Begins
- Module 2: Building Bridges, Not Walls: Effective CommunicationMaster the tools of active listening and non-violent communication to transform family conflict into deep connection.14
- 3.1Welcome to Module 2: Let’s Build Some Bridges!
- 3.2Video: Playground Surpises
- 3.3The Three Pillars of a Strong Connection
- 3.4Video: Gardener or Carpenter
- 3.5The Art of Truly Hearing Your Child: An Introduction to Active Listening
- 3.6Module 2- Worksheet 1: The Active Listening Toolkit (Gordon’s Method)
- 3.7Video: Why we clash?
- 3.8Module 2- Worksheet 2: The Iceberg Detective (Position vs. Interest)
- 3.9Opening Windows to Connection: An Introduction to Non-Violent Communication
- 3.10Module 2 – Worksheet 3 – From Jackal to Giraffe (Rosenberg’s NVC Method)
- 3.11Video: Fences, not Walls
- 3.12Module 2- Worksheet 4: : Building a Loving Fence (Practicing Boundaries)
- 3.13Your Oxygen Mask First: How “I-Messages” Protect You and Your Family
- 3.14Conclusion: Bringing It All Home
- Module 3: Positive DisciplineShift from traditional punishment to a connection-based approach that uses boundaries as a gift for growth.13
- 4.1Module 3 – Welcome to Connecting instead of Correcting
- 4.2Video: Before the Rules: Who Am I When I Discipline?
- 4.3Module 3 – Worksheet 1: What Discipline Meant for Me – And What I Want to Change
- 4.4“Am I Regulating… or Controlling?”
- 4.5Module 3 – Worksheet 2: What Happens Inside Me When Rules Are Broken?
- 4.6Video: Calm Is a Skill: Not a Personality Trait
- 4.7Why Traditional Discipline Often Backfires – and What to Do Instead
- 4.8Module 3 Worksheet 3: What Do I Really Believe About Discipline?
- 4.9Video: Discipline is Connection – Not Control
- 4.10Boundaries Are a Gift – For You and Your Child
- 4.11The Reset Button – A Playful Tool for Any Age, Any Stage
- 4.12Module 3 Worksheet 4: Repairing After Reacting – BuildingTrust Again
- 4.13Conclusion: From Power Struggles to Playful Partnership
- Module 4: Navigating the Digital World with Our Children!Find a healthy, happy balance with technology by becoming your child's trusted guide in the digital playground.13
- 5.1Welcome to Module 4: Navigating the Digital World with Our Children!
- 5.2Disconnected? The Hidden Costs of Play Deprivation in a Digital Age
- 5.3Video: The Mirror in Your Hand
- 5.4Module 4 Worksheet 1: Our Digital Habits: A Look in the Mirror
- 5.5More than Just a Game – Finding the Balance with Screens – interview with Wendy Russel play expert
- 5.6Module 4 Worksheet 2: The Playful Tech Balance Beam
- 5.7Play in the Internet Age: Finding a Healthy, Happy Balance
- 5.8Video – My Side of the Screen
- 5.9Online Safety for Parents: Protecting Children in the Digital Age
- 5.10Video: Raising a Good Digital Citizen
- 5.11The Family Tech Pact: A Step-by-Step Guide to Creating Your Media Plan
- 5.12Module 4 – Worksheet 3: Our Family Tech Pact
- 5.13Conclusion: Beyond Parental Control: Building a Digital Bridge of Cooperation
- Module 5: The Resilient Parent: How Your Regulation Builds Your Kids’ ResilienceLearn how to be the calm anchor in your child's storm by prioritizing your own emotional self-regulation first.11
- 6.1Welcome to Module 5: The Resilient Parent: How Your Regulation Builds Your Kids’ Resilience
- 6.2Video – Before I Can Help My Child, I Have to Breathe First
- 6.3You Can’t Pour From an Empty Cup: Why Parental Regulation Comes First
- 6.4Module 5 – Worksheet 1: My Emotional Thermometer – Recognizingand Naming Your Own Feelings
- 6.5Video – Name It To Tame It
- 6.6Module 5 – Worksheet 2: Emotional Reset – Finding Your Center Again
- 6.7Emotions Aren’t the Enemy: What Happens When We Suppress Instead of Express
- 6.8Module 5 – Worksheet 3:Naming Emotions – Building Your Inner Vocabulary
- 6.9Video: Create Your Calm – Before You Teach It
- 6.10Module 5 – Worksheet 4: Coping Toolbox – Finding What Actually Helps You
- 6.11Conclusion – It’s Okay to Fall Apart Sometimes: Rethinking Strength as a Parent
- Module 6: The Spark Within: Nurturing Your Child’s Inner Drive to LearnRediscover the joy of discovery and become your child's learning ally by honoring their unique intelligence through play.13
- 7.1Welcome to Module 6: The Spark Within: Nurturing Your Child’s Inner Drive to Learn
- 7.2Video – The Magic of “As If”: Play as a Safe Place to Learn
- 7.3The Invisible Impact: How a Lack of Play Harms Our Children
- 7.4Video – Finding Their “Ikigai”: A Child’s Path to Purpose
- 7.5Module 6 Worksheet 1: My Child’s Ikigai: A Parent’s Observation Journal
- 7.6Video – Are They Book Smart or People Smart?
- 7.7From Chores to Cheers: Turning Everyday Tasks into Play
- 7.8Beyond Homework Battles: How to Nurture Your Child’s Inner Drive to Learn
- 7.9Module 6 – Worksheet 2: Decoding Our Homework Trap: A Pattern-Spotting Guide
- 7.10Video: The Secret Power of Once Upon a Time
- 7.11More Than Make-Believe: How Play Creates a “Third World” for Learning
- 7.12Module 6 – Worksheet 3: Gamify Our Day: A Playful Problem-Solving Planner
- 7.13Conclusion: Tying It All Together
- Module 7: More Than Words: Modeling Friendship, Boundaries & ConnectionUnderstand how your own social connections and self-respect serve as the living blueprint for your child's future relationships.14
- 8.1Welcome to Module 7: More Than Words: Modeling Friendship, Boundaries & Connection
- 8.2Do You Still Know How to Make a Friend?
- 8.3Lonely Parent, Lonely Child: How Social Isolation Echoes Across Generations
- 8.4Module 7 – Worksheet 1: Your Social Circle – A Map of Connection
- 8.5Video – Friendship is a Verb – Show, Don’t Just Tell
- 8.6Module 7 – Worksheet 2: My Circle of Connection – Who’s In,Who’s Draining, Who’s Missing?
- 8.7Friendship is a Practice: Small Habits that Model Connection
- 8.8Video – Helping Kids Navigate Peer Pressure – Without Fear
- 8.9Module 7 – Worksheet 3: Boundaries That Breathe – Rethinking Closeness and Space
- 8.10Circles, Not Walls: Teaching Boundaries Through How We Live
- 8.11Module 7 – Worksheet 4: Saying “No” with Kindness – Practicing Healthy Boundaries
- 8.12Video – Play’s Social Mirror – Are You Watching Closely?
- 8.13Video – The Joy of Stuff: Sensory and “Loose Parts” Play – Interview with Wendy Russel play expert
- 8.14Conclusion: The Social Blueprint You Build Every Day
- Module 8: The Embodied Path to Self-WorthDiscover how self-initiated, embodied play builds the foundational "I can!" feeling that fosters lifelong self-worth.13
- 9.1Welcome to Module 8: The Embodied Path to Self-Worth
- 9.2Video – The Embodied Roots of Agency
- 9.3Module 8 – Worksheet 1:The “I Did It!” Journal (Agency Spotting)
- 9.4The Body in the Brain: Understanding Body Schema and Body Image
- 9.5Video – The Parent’s Role: Creating the Space for Play
- 9.6Feeling Good Inside and Out: Nurturing Self-Esteem and Agency
- 9.7Module 8 – Worksheet 2: The Gardener’s Reflection (My Authentic Voice)
- 9.8Video – The “Superhero” and the “Special Effect”
- 9.9Module 8 – Worksheet 3: Our Superhero Toolkit (A Playful Plan)
- 9.10Body Image & Self-Esteem: Talking Through Playful Metaphors
- 9.11When Body Image or Body Schema Becomes a Problem
- 9.12Module 8 – Worksheet 4: The Language Swap (From Form to Function)
- 9.13Conclusion: The Heartbeat of Self-Worth
- Module 9: From Stressed to Playful: Finding Your Calm in ParenthoodRelease the pressure of parental burnout by using "playful pauses" to reset your nervous system and reclaim joy.13
- 10.1Welcome to Module 9: From Stressed to Playful: Finding Your Calm in Parenthood
- 10.2Your Oxygen Mask First – The Power of Playful Recharge
- 10.3Oxygen Mask First: Why Parental Stress Matters More Than You Think
- 10.4Video – Not Just Tired: Recognizing Burnout
- 10.5Module 9 – Worksheet 1: Checking the Dashboard – Recognizing Your Early Warning Signs
- 10.6Burnout Begins in the Body: What Every Parent Needs to Know
- 10.7Module 9 – Worksheet 2:The Stress Inventory – What’s Draining Me (and What’s Not Mine to Carry)
- 10.8Video – Stress is Contagious, So is Calm
- 10.9Module 9 – Worksheet 3: Joy Audit – Rediscovering What Makes You Feel Alive
- 10.10Your Nervous System Is Listening: How Play Regulates Stress at Its Source
- 10.11Video – Small Joys, Big Impact, Daily Micro-Moments of Play
- 10.12Module 9 – Worksheet 4: The Playful Pause – Micro-Moments to Recharge
- 10.13Conclusion: The Parent Reset: Your Calm is Your Gift
- Module 10: The Heartbeat of Your Family: Values, Traditions & ConnectionIdentify your family's core values and create simple, playful traditions that strengthen your unique sense of belonging.13
- 11.1Welcome to Module 10: The Heartbeat of Your Family: Values, Traditions & Connection
- 11.2Video: The Value Stock Exchange
- 11.3A Snapshot of Family Values Across Europe
- 11.4Module 10 – Worksheet 1: Our Family Constellation
- 11.5Are We a ‘Postmodern Family’? Understanding How Families Are Changing
- 11.6Module 10 – Worksheet 2: What’s Our Family’s Flavor?
- 11.7Video – Family Traditions
- 11.8The Golden Threads: Weaving Your Family’s Story with Traditions
- 11.9Module 10 – Worksheet 3: Our Family Traditions Map
- 11.10Video – Playing in Nature
- 11.11Becoming a “Green Family”: Rooted in the Past, Growing a Better Future
- 11.12Module 10 – Worksheet 4: Becoming a “Green Family”
- 11.13Conclusion: The Legacy of Your Family Heartbeat
- Module 11: When the Map Changes: Building Resilience in Times of Family CrisisLearn how to use play as a language for co-regulation and healing during divorce, loss, or the blending of families.12
- 12.1Welcome to Module 11: When the Map Changes: Building Resilience in Times of Family Crisis
- 12.2Video: Crisis and Resilience
- 12.3Module 11 – Worksheet 1: The Crisis Reset Button
- 12.4Anchor in the Storm: How to Co-Regulate Through Separation
- 12.5Module 11 – Worksheet 2: The Anchor’s Inner Story
- 12.6Video: Our New Family Map
- 12.7The Unspoken Words: Play as a Child’s Expression of Loss
- 12.8Module 11 – Worksheet 3: The Story Card Method: Reflecting on Change
- 12.9The Blend Zone: From “Us vs. Them” to Shared Identity
- 12.10Video: The Family Huddle
- 12.11Module 11 – Worksheet 4: Our Family Team Playbook
- 12.12Conclusion: Your Resilient, Playful Family
- Module 12: The Postmodern Family: Love, Identity, and ConnectionCelebrate the diverse reality of modern families while supporting your child's authentic identity and dismantling rigid stereotypes.15
- 13.1Welcome to Module 12 – and to the Postmodern Family!
- 13.2Beyond the Fairytale: Embracing the Postmodern Family
- 13.3Module 12 – Worksheet 2: Our Playful Language Plan
- 13.4Our Family Speaks in Many Tongues: The Joys and Journey of Bilingual Parenting
- 13.5Video – Our Family Story
- 13.6Module 12 – Worksheet 1: Our Family’s Unique Strengths
- 13.7Video: Bilinguialism and Identity Abroad
- 13.8A Garden of Identities: Nurturing Your Child’s Authentic Self
- 13.9Video: The Coming Out Conversation
- 13.10We’re All in This Together: Eliminating Gender Roles at Home
- 13.11Module 12 – Worksheet 3: The Gardener & Carpenter Audit
- 13.12Video: Multilingualism and Multiculturalism
- 13.13The Echoes of the Past: Dispelling the Myth of the “Good Old Days”
- 13.14Module 12 – Worksheet 4: Conscious Family Traditions
- 13.15Conclusions: Build Your Own Fairytale!
- Course Conclusion1
- Bonus Material1
Module 11 – Worksheet 3: The Story Card Method: Reflecting on Change
Crisis Focus: Grief & Loss (Connected to Article 4: The Unspoken Words)
This exercise, inspired by narrative play therapy, uses storytelling to create a safe distance for a child to process their feelings of loss and change.
Instructions: Find a deck of simple, evocative picture cards, or use any deck of cards (even playing cards). Have your child randomly select a card. This card represents a character, a challenge, or a symbol related to the loss/change.
| The Playful Conversation | Your Script/Child’s Response |
| Step 1: Introducing the Card (The Character) Ask your child to name the character/object on the card and give it a feeling. | Parent asks: “Tell me about this picture. Who is this character? What is the biggest feeling they have right now?” |
| Step 2: The Character’s Challenge (The Loss) Ask the character what major change has happened in their life that made them feel that way. | Parent asks: “What has your character lost recently, or what new change are they facing?” (Listen for themes: sadness, isolation, anger, missing someone.) |
| Step 3: The Character’s Memory Box (The Honoring) The character needs help remembering the good times. | Parent asks: “What is the one most precious memory your character puts in their special memory box about the person/pet they miss?” |
| Step 4: The Character’s New Map (The Agency) The character needs to know they can move forward. | Parent asks: “What is the first small, safe thing your character will do tomorrow to move forward on their new map?” |