Deborah MacNamara, PhD is on Faculty at the Neufeld Institute, author of Rest, Play, Grow: Making Sense of Preschoolers (or anyone who acts like one), and operates a counselling practice supporting families. She is a dynamic teacher and experienced counsellor who makes developmental science come to life in the everyday context of home and classroom.

Deborah travels nationally and internationally, speaking on child and adolescent development issues, with past groups including the United Nations and the Dalai Lama Center for Peace and Education. With over 60 presentations a year to parents, educators, child care professionals, social workers, foster and adopt community, and health care professionals, Deborah shares her insight and passion for making sense of kids. Her articles also appear regularly in parenting magazines, websites, and newsletters across Canada and internationally including Australia’s “Nurture-Natural Parenting Magazine” where she is a regular contributor. She is also a regular guest on radio and television programs dealing with developmental issues. Deborah is a developmentalist at heart who is continually fascinated by the mysteries and beauty inherent in human maturation.

In this conversation Dr. Deborah MacNamara talks about:

– The inspiration behind her new children’s book The Sorry Plane
– What it really means when our kids say “I don’t care” and how to make sense of it.
– How to diffuse and take care of disagreements at school -between classmates and at home between siblings.
– How we as adults can nurture and unlock the caring instinct in the kids we raise and educate.
-Climate change and the youth who care about our planet.
– A sure and beautiful way to be with our kids that Deborah shares about personally and explains has the capacity to turn around the most difficult of situations with our kids.
– And more….

What Deborah MacNamara, Ph.D. share in this conversation is intuitive, practical, based on developmental science, heartfelt, and important. As Deborah says “Caring is our human superpower” and is responsible for human development, for social responsibility, and for humans coming together. Isn’t that what this planet and we all need?

Thanks for tuning in. May you benefit.

The post Dr. Deborah MacNamara on cultivating caring and empathy appeared first on Julie Cusmariu.

While I’m deeply immersed in all things related to the Neufeld attachment-based developmental approach having had the wonderful opportunity to welcome Dr. Gordon Neufeld( Neufeld Institute ) to my podcast, I’ve included a link to a 10 minute in-person conversation I had with Dr. Neufeld around the topic of PLAY.

Parents, educators, mentors, family members, friends. There is much to gain from the wisdom shared.

Play, playfulness, the expression of emotion through play, the nature of true play and more. All which serves the healthy development of our kids and our own adult emotional health and well-being.

May you gain further insight from these conversations and share in the comments what you most gained.

For the audio conversation I had with Dr. Neufeld on my live weekly podcast you can visit this link for the download and playback.

The post Gordon Neufeld, Ph.D, talks about the critical importance of play in the lives of children and adults too appeared first on Julie Cusmariu.

Dr. Gordon Neufeld helps us make sense of our kids, empower our parenting and re-connect us to our natural intuition as parents, educators, guides, mentors, and human beings responsible for the children we care for and love.

Enjoy this delightful, insightful and deeply impactful conversation.

In addition to the delightful and insightful podcast conversation I had with Dr. Gordon Neufeld you can watch the in- person conversation I had with him on the topic of play its importance, the nature of it and how it serves the healthy development of children.

The post Dr. Gordon Neufeld appeared first on Julie Cusmariu.

I had the opportunity to sit down with Dr. Gordon Neufeld, developmental psychologist and best-selling author of Hold on to your Kids: Why Parents Need to Matter More Than Peers (co-authored with Canadian Physician Gabor Maté) and founder of The Neufeld Institute. The topic was play, the nature of it, what true play is and how it serves the healthy development of children.

In Neufeld’s words “play is becoming endangered” and we must “protect it “and “preserve it”. In this clip you’ll hear how  children can find a place for their emotions through play.

I have gained so much from Dr. Neufeld’s teachings and insight. It has restored my confidence in my parenting and it has re-connected me to my own intuition. Essential ingredients in any healthy life.

To further our conversation, I will be welcoming Dr. Gordon Neufeld Wednesday March 14 at 11am PT/ 2pm ET on my live weekly podcast. Join us in the chat room with your questions and your comments. You will be better off as a parent, educator, mentor, guide and human being after hearing his wisdom.

The post Dr. Gordon Neufeld on why children need play appeared first on Julie Cusmariu.