More Research

·        Another great news item is the master degree thesis proving the value of CMC programme for preschoolers (for more details go to http://childconnection.org.nz/research/ )

Whats new with CMC in Warsaw

·        25^th October – a meeting in Poland with teachers from  kindergartens using regularly  CMC . We weren’t sure how many people would attend and anticipated about twenty. We were delighted when 56 teachers turned up!  All were very interested in the course and we received very uplifting and constructive feedback. Because of a shortage of time I was only able to visit a few kindergartens practicing CMC (for an update see our website – Users)

CMC in Pakuranga Health Camp

·        24 September - we introduced Children Massaging Children massage at a school programme at the Pakuranga Health Camp. Participating teachers and Social workers enjoyed our presentation. We donated a large package of Tui Massage Waxes donated by our generous sponsor Tui Balms of Wainui Bay, Takaka, New Zealand (www.tuibalms.co.nz)

SSPA Conference

·        20^th September - participation in the SSPA Conference in Wellington, New Zealand. Eva’s presentation “Attachment skills for ELC and Parents” attracted full and interested attendance by the conference participants. You can find the full programme at http://sspa.org.nz/images/stories/sspa2012.pdf
Glimpses from the lecture soon in our You-tube channel .

AGM, De Paul House, Anti Violence

Well,  it's been a long time since we have been blogging.

Not that nothing has been happening, in fact quite the opposite.

A.G.M.

Firstly, we would like to share a glimpse of our A.G.M.

The 12th. Child Connection A.G.M. was held in the same place as the last two, namely the Copthorne Hotel on the Auckland City waterfront.

This time we enjoyed as a special guests, Jill Morgan and Gina Howell .    Jill, a researcher, has continued her study on Children Massaging Children - massage in schools programme.

A.G.M. Copthorne Hotel

De Paul House presentation.

De Paul House offers support to solo mothers with children who have gone through difficulties in life.  Eva presented a session to show mothers the importance of bonding through secure attachment, and followed up with a practical demonstration to show how  touch by using  massage is a way of achieving this.   For some of the mothers and children, it was a new experience, and will require them to practice in order to benefit from these new skills.

De Paul House. Eva demonstrating

Family Violence Prevention, North Shore

Child Connection Trust has been involved with the  Family Violence Prevention North Shore  project for  a number of years.

Eva gave the Group background and details of the programmes delivered by the Child Connection Trust.   Child Connection promotes touch and sensory stimulation systems into education settings. They have developed age-specific programmes for early childhood, primary and college settings

The group then had an in-depth discussion about the role schools are having to increasingly play in fostering students emotional and social well-being; how the community sector could play a supportive role, and current concerns for schools around professional boundaries.

 

Farewell to Fenja

We are very sorry to see Fenja  come to the end of her stay in New Zealand, and for us, the loss of beautiful person who has given so richly to Child Connection Trust.   It was Fenja who developed our Social Media presence on the Web, and gave us a blueprint for our PR work.   So farewell for now Fenja and enjoy your well deserved holiday.   We are waiting to hear how you are getting on, and reading your correspondence on  your work with children in Chile and Germany.

Intergenerational Forum Part II

Wow, are we excited here at Child Connection Trust!

You may remember my post a few weeks ago (Intergenerational Forum) when I mentioned attending the inaugural meeting of the Intergenerational Forum. As a result of that meeting, we now have our first project.

Before I go into the details of this new project, a bit of background. 

As I am sure you are aware, the Child Connection Trust is fundamentally concerned with the vital need for early childhood bonding - the attachment a child develops with its nearest caregiver(s). In the modern scientific world we live in, this essential need was first put forward by John Bowlby, a British psychoanalyst in the 1950s. His message was very simple: Human contact ranks alongside food and water as a physiologic need for children.

Since that time there have been many scientific studies that have backed up his claims. The obvious people at the forefront of  bonding is perceived to be Mother and Child. But father, siblings, grandparents and anyone who loves a baby and can spend time with it can create bonding.

Physical touch, breast feeding, bathing baby - there are so many ways that the bonding process can develop between them. But grandparents of all cultures form a special group of people adding a unique experience to the many strands that make up the total that is child bonding. One of these is the simple act of "just playing" with the child.

But in the modern world there can be problems. Young parents are more likely to live far away from grandparents. Secondly, and more insidious, is the emergence of the "digital world". It is just so easy to plonk the child in front of the TV or the computer. 

We feel that the art of "playing" with children is in danger of becoming lost, and as time goes on young parents will be at loss to know the many ways of playing.

So, to get back to the story, we are currently developing a new intergenerational programme called "Love Heritage". This programme is prepared for families in particular to recall, acknowledge and record games that our grandparents used to play with their children, and maybe, still play with their grandchildren.

We are now contacting different ethnic groups and asking them if they are interested in participating in this worthwhile project. It would be great if you, or someone you know, would be happy to demonstrate games that you play with your children.

If you feel you can help in any way, large or small, please let us know and we will contact you with more details.

Just leave a comment below or use the contact form on our Website.   
We are looking forward to hearing from YOU!