Summer might be for relaxing, but ELG staff have been busy! Here’s what ELG has been up to over the summer.
Music and the Mind: Music Therapy
Making music helps the body and mind work together, stimulates thinking and expressive skills, and enhances creativity. It also encourages socialization and builds self-esteem when the child hears what they can do. With that in mind, Benita Adolph, speech-language pathologist, joined a new music therapy group for orphans in Shanghai through Adoption Resources China. Babies and children are often taken to music groups by their parents to enhance their development. The new music group aims to provide the same opportunity for some of the orphans of Shanghai.
The program uses repetition of English nursery rhymes and songs, together with actions and percussion instruments to aid literacy, numeracy and fine-motor skills. The children have the opportunity to be hands-on with the instruments in a controlled environment.
Parents’ Workshop for Children with ASD in Shanghai Changning Special Education Guidance Center
Daisy Qin, speech-language pathologist, attended a local parents’ workshop for high-functioning children with ASD, organized by Shanghai Changning Special Education Guidance Center on June 23. The workshop was led by a special education professor from East China Normal University. At the workshop, Daisy joined in the discussion on how to communicate with children at home and how to improve behavioral issues based on the child’s interests.
Hong Kong Workshop on Decoding Autism
Chantal Chen, occupational therapist, took part in a workshop held by CREST HK back in June. Renowned occupational therapist, Kimberly Barthel, and Manoj Parthnapuram, speech-language pathologist and expert in early intervention and special education, ran workshops on how to decode autism, including how children with autism process sensations and how what they experience differs from neurotypical people. The talk focused on the emotional regulation difficulties children with autism usually experience and taught the audience how to become “behavior detectives” by learning how to recognize children’s behaviors and understand their needs, as well as how to connect and communicate with them.
Chantal found the workshop to be very informative and enlightening: “I love how Kimberly and Manoj presented on how to approach and manage the special needs of a traumatized child, and how we should think of these not as special needs but human needs
Chantal Chen, occupational therapist, took part in a workshop held by CREST HK back in June. Renowned occupational therapist, Kimberly Barthel, and Manoj Parthnapuram, speech-language pathologist and expert in early intervention and special education, ran workshops on how to decode autism, including how children with autism process sensations and how what they experience differs from neurotypical people. The talk focused on the emotional regulation difficulties children with autism usually experience and taught the audience how to become “behavior detectives” by learning how to recognize children’s behaviors and understand their needs, as well as how to connect and communicate with them.
Chantal found the workshop to be very informative and enlightening: “I love how Kimberly and Manoj presented on how to approach and manage the special needs of a traumatized child, and how we should think of these not as special needs but human needs.”
Lei Jin’s Professional Development and Growth
Mindful Parenting Workshop
Lei Jin, an ELG educational psychologist, attended a one-day workshop in Shanghai on the topic of Mindful Parenting. The workshop was led by Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn, Professor of Medicine Emeritus, creator of the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) Clinic and founding executive director of the Center for Mindfulness in Medicine, Health Care, and Society at the University of Massachusetts Medical School. In the workshop, Dr. Kabat-Zinn shared how to apply core mindfulness principles and practices from his bestselling book Mindful Parenting with parents of children of all ages. By encouraging moment-to-moment awareness and acceptance, this thoughtful and practical workshop not only helped parents reflect on parenting practices, but also inspired educators and psychologists to look for new ways to support families in need.
Certified Positive Discipline Parent Educator Training
Lei received online teaching parenting facilitator training called Positive Discipline in July to become a Certified Positive Discipline Parent Educator. The program, developed by Dr. Jane Nelsen, aims to teach important social and life skills in an encouraging way to children and adults, including parents, teachers, childcare providers, youth workers, and others. This training helped Lei reconsider ways to “get into a child’s world,” to understand how children think, feel, and act in response to the discipline methods used with them. In addition, it improved her skills as a parent educator.
Autism Certificate from The International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES)
This on-going training has been helping Lei explore strategies to enhance the social, behavioral, communication, and academic skills of children with autism. It has been helping her strengthen her professional skills, especially in her work with families, fellow educators, and professionals in special needs. The training allows her to stay connected with and deepen her understanding of the autism community, as well as demonstrate her commitment to ELG parents and the wider community.
More Trainings, Seminars, and Workshops!
- Several specialists joined the Nuanxing/ASD-Family Offline Roadshow this summer. Siyang Sun, speech-language pathologist, presented to parents in Wenzhou and Changchun. Sarah Bilodeau, dramatherapist, shared her knowledge in Suzhou. And occupational therapist Chantal Chen spoke in Tianjin and Guanzhou.
- Speech-language pathologist Siyang Sun presented a 3-day Montessori training at an academy in Qingdao.
- Occupational therapist Chantal Chen delivered a seminar on August 25 to parents about how to develop attachment with their children.
- Counselor and registered child and family therapist Lucia Hu is facilitating Love & Logic sessions this semester at an international school in Shanghai, helping parents to use empathy to manage conflict with their children.
- Regina Nicolas Schaufelberger, physical therapist and sensory integration specialist, delivered a teacher training on the “Sensory Child” in Songjiang district, Shanghai, on September 4.
- On September 14, psychologist Davy Guo delivered a session on basic counseling skills at the ELG and Lifeline Shanghai talk, “Building Listeners & Leaders with Lifeline Shanghai.” His short training was followed by an informative session by Lifeline about their services, R U OK? campaign, and student art competition. Visit their website for more information.
- Director of services, Fiona (Yapp) Douglas was invited to present on “Child Protection: Working With Families to Keep Children Safe at Home” at the Shanghai International Forum for Children on September 15. The forum is held every two years, providing a platform of communication and exchange, where all the research findings relating to children’s development are shared and discussed. This year’s theme was Children’s Welfare and Family Development.
- Lucia Hu, Jennifer Justice and Fiona (Yapp) Douglas delivered a training for the US Consulate on providing phone-based support on Tuesday, September 19.
