Welcome address
Opening Remarks 

9:45 -11:00am

  "Balancing Love and Anger: a Parental Dilemma" by Dr. Onita Nakra

• What triggers anger in a parent and resentment in a child?

• What triggers off the hidden feelings of frustration that often rise to the surface even in the most loving of parents? 

• How can a parent express anger without hitting and exploding? Who should make up – the parent or the child?

• Based on the work of Nancy Samalin, this talk examines patterns of communication between parents and children.

Parents will look at their own parenting styles – are they brickwall, jellyfish or backbone parents?
Question/Answer

Coffee Break   - Networking

"Raising Encouraged Children: How to Apply Democratic Parenting Principles" by Dr. Saliha Afridi

• How can you use foundational parenting skills to increase your confidence as a parent and develop positive relations with your children?

• What are the social purposes behind all behavior and misbehavior?

• When children misbehave, which goal are they seeking to fulfill, i.e. power, revenge, attention seeking, or assumed inadequacy?

• Can you identify, understand, and manage the mistaken goals of your child's misbehavior?

• There will be discussion about basic parenting skills such as disciplining children through natural and logical consequences; nurturing children using encouragement vs. praise; and understanding how and why to have family meetings.

Question/Answer

 Lunch - Networking

"How to Get Kids to Think About Tomorrow" by Rebecca Grappo

• How can parents help children and adolescents to think about the future in a positive way? Time seems unlimited and the future lies over the horizon. But parents know how quickly time flies, and that every day is important in order to be prepared for tomorrow's challenges and opportunities.

• What is behind drive, motivation, and the lack of motivation?

• How can children and teens manage stress?

• How can children and teens balance motivation with the excessive stress that some experience?

Question/Answer

Dr. Onita Nakra, educational psychologist
Dr. Salida Afridi, clinical psychologist
Rebecca Grappo, M.Ed., international educational consultant
Dr. Kennon Ryder, Marriage and Family Therapist, Professor, Michigan State University, Dubai

Audience will be encouraged to join in a panel discussion about themes that were presented throughout the day.