Children Matter

Course for Professionals

Working with Children and Young People

Brenda Meldrum, Director of Playing Matters, trained in psychology at LSE, State Registered Arts Therapist, Trainer, Play Therapist, and Dramatherapist, is offering post-graduate level training for people who wish to learn the skills, gain theoretical knowledge and be competent in working with children and young people.

The course is taught over three weekends in London: 12/13 September, 3/4 October and 7/8 November 2009.

Who is the course for?

This course is for those whose training as professionals did not sufficiently cover children's emotional and behavioural difficulties and counsellors or therapists focused on working with adults and who now want to work with children and young people.

This 6-day course, taught over 3 weekends, covers these common core skills and knowledge requirements at a post-graduate level and is geared towards training Counsellors and Therapists, Play Therapists and Arts Therapists, Social Workers, Teachers and qualified school staff

Aim of the Course

To give participants a thorough grounding in child development and attachment theory and provide them with the skills and competencies to work safely with children and young people, to make appropriate relationships with them and to enter their worlds.

By the end of the course, participants will have developed strategies to support client's with emotional needs in order to assist their social and emotional development.

Course Modules

The course comprises three modules:

• Child Development and the Development of play.
• Attachment Theory of John Bowlby, including the concepts of attachment, separation and loss and the insights from neurophysiological research.
• Effective Communication with Children & Young People through verbal and non-verbal means, using play and creativity.

The course will be assessed and accreditation will be sought through the Open College Network London Region and the BACP. The course is taught over three weekends.

Weekend 1: Child Development & the Development of relationships and play.

In this module we shall be linking the process of 'normal' physical, emotional, social and cognitive development with a developmental model of play within the processes of the attachment relationship. The key point is that normal development can only occur within a relationship where there is a recognition of the importance of building a safe and compassionate place for the child's personality to develop. We also examine systemic models of development in order to take a holistic approach.

The model stresses the fact that play is the way that children communicate within the attachment relationship.

The learning outcomes are that participants will:

• Understand different models of child development.
• Understand how Attachment Theory relates to systemic theories of child development.
• Understand the parameters of 'normal' emotional, social and behavioural development of children and young people.
• Understand how the child develops communication skills within the early relationships in the family.
• Understand the development of play as communication within the attachment relationship.
• Understand that the self and a person's identity are formed through the early relationship.

Weekend 2: Attachment Theory and working with children and young people: linking theory with practice.

In this module we shall be looking at the theoretical position of John Bowlby and Mary Ainsworth and Mary Main. We shall consult the research into the different attachment categories which have been identified and also how the theory applies to different cultures.

We shall also refer to the neurophysiological evidence which supports the theory of attachment and the implication for practice. We shall examine the research on the effects of insecure attachments on the behaviour of children, young people and adults and how these cross-generational effects can be addressed in our practice.

The learning outcomes of this module are that participants will:.

• Understand the implications of the theory of attachment and loss for people working in the children's workforce.
• Understand the significance of own emotional literacy and self- reflection on working with children.
• Understand applications of the core processes of Bowlby's theory of attachment and loss.
• Understand the value of subsequent developments of Bowlby's theory.
• Understand the process of development of secure and insecure attachments and describe the consequences for a person's social, emotional and behavioural development.

Weekend 3: Effective Communication with Children, young people: knowledge, skills and strategies.

This module encompasses the skills and knowledge DfES suggests are necessary for effective communication and engagement with children and young people; verbal and non-verbal communication of thoughts and ideas and feelings through play are intrinsic to this module. We shall examine narrative theory and solution-focused approach with insights from our training in emotional literacy and intelligence and we shall be exploring the ways of working with children and young people, both one-to-one through small world and sand tray work and in small groups. We shall work on making endings.

After completing this module, participants will

• Have an understanding of narrative approaches to working with children and young people.
• Understand the tenets of solution-focused brief work with children and young people.
• Know the therapeutic power of sand tray/small world play work.
• Understand the importance of making a grounded ending with children and young people.
• Know the importance of developing counseling skills when working with children and young people.

Teaching and Learning Methods:

The teaching and learning methods are a mixture of short lectures, experiential work, exercises on strategies, small and large group discussion and feedback. There are reading and class presentation assignments and which help the learner integrate knowledge with practice.

Assessment

1. Course File
2. Personal Journal
3. ESSAY linking theory with practice Maximum 3,000 words
   How do we link theories of child development with the practical work of supporting children and young people?
4. Self-Assessment

Accreditation

The course is accredited with the Open College Network London Region. BACP accreditation is being sought.

Brenda Meldrum
Director
Playing Matters

Download registration form (Word document, 49KB)

For information and enquiries, please contact Brenda Meldrum, Director, Playing Matters, 59 Defoe House, Barbican, London EC2Y 8DN / 0207 628 1763

www.playingmatters.co.uk / Brenda.Meldrum@btinternet.com
Playing Matters is an OCN London Region Training Provider