No Child’s Play: Understanding your children

Burrett will divide the parents into groups on the basis of specific problems they face, such as an emotional outburst group to address issues of a child with immense temper tantrums. Much like a butterfly, parents will be allowed to hover from one group to another, to grasp knowledge and tips on how to tackle different problems. Burrett chose to title this session “To See, To Know, To Connect” because “what I cannot see, I will never understand, and what I cannot understand, I will never be able to connect.”

“Through the workshop aimed at children aged 7 to 11, I will be addressing regular situations that parents get stuck in — how to handle a child who has emotional outbursts, who hates doing homework and can’t sleep alone in his/her own bed and how to set boundaries for children,” says 57-year-old Burrett, who is a certified integrative psychotherapist.

With technology ruling our lives, Burrett will also address key questions on why children in the age group of 7-11 get bored easily. “Parents ask me what needs to be done whenever their children tell them they are bored. The key issues this boredom brings to the fore is either the child is asking for more personal connection or has stopped looking inward. Television is an outward medium of expression. Once children start looking inward, they realise their passion. I will also suggest reading material and names of websites where parents can chat with psychologists and find solutions,” she says.

Burrett began her career as a social worker with an NGO, before moving to psychotherapy. She explains why she chose to focus on helping parents address issues related to parenting. “I believe in letting life unfold on its own. If you trust there is something larger guiding you, some doors open while some close; an organic process has led me to where I am. Children have an inherent need to be respected. Respect is another form of love. In my practice, I can only attend to one child in an hour. For those parents who cannot go to a therapist and afford long sessions, these workshops serve as a leveller and have a greater reach.”

The session will be held on November 19 at 10.30 am at The Mother’s International School in Delhi. To attend, SMS IEMCLASS <space&gt; PD <space> your name and email id, and send it to 56161