Bonnie Harris Connective Parenting : Talks

"I first heard Bonnie speak at the Born to Learn Conference in Saint Louis. She did a fantastic job on the stage in front of 1500 people. I so wanted to share her with colleagues back home in England that I asked her to come and be the keynote speaker at the Parents as First Teachers National Network Day. In front of both audiences Bonnie demonstrated the skill of being able to connect with people and get her message across. She is a great person and a great presenter."
—director, Parents as First Teacher, England

"Bonnie is so dynamic and entertaining to listen to - I really can't get enough. You painted a picture with your examples and explain your principles very well.

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For Event Planners: Talks, Workshops & Keynotes

Bonnie is available for talks and keynote addresses at your organization or conference.

Bonnie's talks are interactive with her audience and filled with humor.

Some of her popular topics are:

When Your Kids Push Your Buttons

We all know what it's like. With that certain look, that defiant act, your child pushes your buttons and you react in a way that you later regret. This talk will help you discover why certain behaviors drive you crazy, how to change your perspective to see what really pushes your buttons and learn what your child is trying to teach you. When you defuse that parenting "road rage" you will become the parent you want to be and give your children the help they may really be asking for.

Getting to the Core of It:
Transforming Your Gut Reactions

Parents tend to waffle between leniency and strictness depending on mood, stress level or time of day. We doubt our parenting choices and worry about inconsistency. What's missing is a basic philosophy of parenting that can provide any parent with a steady resource from which to draw-new perceptions of children that allow parents to switch from head-strong to heart-felt parenting. This talk will present some of the Core Principles that can turn daily parenting battles into minor skirmishes and power struggles into problem-solving opportunities. The Core Principles address what motivates children's behavior and reevaluates expectations to set children up for success instead of failure.

Time Out for "Time Out":
An Alternative Approach to Discipline

First designed for pediatricians to help them help the parents who come to them with discipline issues, this talk is meant to convince its audience against the use of punishment. It challenges the common parenting myths we have believed for generations that drive our culture's discipline methods. It addresses the parent's responsibility for their part in a power struggle when their buttons get pushed and how their perceptions can set their children up for discipline problems. An understanding of behavior, its definition and meaning to a parent, clarifies why punishment has the opposite effect to what is intended. It looks at what all punishment, including time out, teaches a child and what to do instead to develop accountability for behavior and future responsibility.

The No-Blame Solution:
Parenting Outside the Box

With blame comes defensive behavior. Without blame comes opportunity-for natural consequences, growth of a conscience, reparation and solution. Blaming children the age-old way only presents obstacles to effective learning. Find out how sibling fights and other problem behavior can be transformed when blame is removed from the equation. Become a coach rather than a referee and learn how to facilitate your children taking responsibility for themselves through solution-focused parenting.

Sowing the Seeds of Non-Violence:
Parenting for a New Age

The reward and punishment system is inefficient and ineffective. It establishes a dictate of external control that manipulates a child's behavior with fear, inhibits learning, and defeats the internal development of a sense of right and wrong. In fact, punishment, intending to teach a child "proper" behavior, only provokes anger, defiance and rebellion. Non-violence begins at home. When children are respected as equal human beings they treat others that way too. Punishment is easy; fostering responsible behavior is not. This talk will outline the truth about the effects of punishment and what you can do differently.

Getting to the Root of It:
Your Child's Behavior is Trying to Tell You Something

Behavior is like a barometer letting us know how our children are doing. If they are behaving appropriately, that is an indicator that they are fine. If their behavior is inappropriate, that is our cue that they are hurting inside. Traditional methods of stopping inappropriate behavior only add insult to injury. This talk will give you a new perspective so you can see your children's behavior through a new lens, learn to interpret their behavior, and understand its roots. You will then be able to respond to behavior in ways that will cure the problem rather than use the band aid approach. It's the roots that need tending, not the shoots that need pulling.

"Why won't you ever listen?"
Bridging the Gap to 'Parent-Deaf' Children

Learn what your child is actually hearing on the other side of the widening gap between the two of you when you least intend for him to get the message you never meant. Questions feel like set-ups, constructive criticism is heard as an attack, and our attempts to help often send messages of incompetence. Understand why children become "parent-deaf" and learn the most powerful communication skill a parent can use to understand, validate and connect with your child to heal family dynamics and teach your children skills they will use in all their relationships.

Other topics on request.

Click here if you would like Bonnie to speak at your event.

Email Bonnie with questions or comments at bh@bonnieharris.com.