This document summarizes a parent workshop held on October 7, 2014 at PS-12. The workshop covered spheres of control that parents and children have over various topics like food, curfew and academics. It included role playing family scenarios to practice communication skills like active listening and clarifying. Parents then discussed which topics they felt were in their own or their children's control to reflect on setting appropriate boundaries. The goal was to help parents have productive discussions with their children.

1. PS-12 Parent Workshop:
Tuesday, October 7, 2014

2. Welcome and Introductions
• ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
● Ce Unite (Grades 3-4)
● Eugene Comer (Preschool-Grade 2)
● MIDDLE SCHOOL
● Marc St. Laurent (Surnames P-Z)
● Diana van der Merwe (Surnames A-H)
● Charlotte Bliss (Surnames I-O)
● HIGH SCHOOL
● Steve Ayling (Grades 9-10)
● Crystal Cappuccio (Grades 9-10)
● David Birchenall (Grades 11-12)
● Curt Nichols (Grades 11-12)
● Janelle Grier (Grades 11-12)
● Doug McQueen (Grades 11-12)
● PSYCHOLOGIST
● Jennifer Burlew

3. Brief Announcements
Career Week: January 12-16 (Volunteer Speakers)
Internship Week: June 8-12 (Sites for internship)

4. Topics for today’s workshop
 Spheres of control
 Communicating with your children
 Active listening skills
 Practice family scenarios
 Discussion/debrief

5. Personal/Social/Emotional Counseling
Spheres of Control

6. Spheres of Control...
• Food choices
• Bedtime
• Curfew
• Friends
• Girlfriends/ Boyfriends
• Allowance
• Course Choices
• College Choices
• Screen Time
• Partying
• Weekend schedule
• Tutors
• Clothing
• Extra-Curriculars

7. Reflecting on Your Spheres of Control

8. Role Play

9. What did you observe?

10. Effective Communication
1. Seek to understand then to be understood.
2. Undivided attention. Full body listening, eye contact
3. Be nonjudgmental
4. Use Silence. In built reflection time
5. Clarify – repeat back (or in the case of parents to
discuss it between themselves first) / Paraphrase

11. Role Play Take Two

12. What did you observe?

13. Your Turn!
• Food choices
• Bedtime
• Curfew
• Friends
• Girlfriends/ Boyfriends
• Allowance
• Course Choices / Academics
• College Choices
• Screen Time
• Parties
• Weekend schedule
• Tutors
• Clothing
• Extra-Curriculars
• Wants/Needs

14. Debrief

15. Recommended
Reading