Media
Link to article on Secure Parenting, April 2, 2015:
Link to Steven Kalas column about Secure Parenting, January 18, 2015:
Who We Are
We are a charitable 501(c)(3) non-profit operating in the state of Nevada, offering universal, preventative, community based, Parent Education 8-week courses to parents and toddlers (ages 20-40 months), where neither parent or toddler has a clinical diagnoses
Who This Is For
Any parent who has a toddler 20-40 months old that would like to change the dynamic, frequency and duration of "meltdowns", build connection and closeness to their child while allowing the child to explore and become his/her own person, and build a neurological foundation of safety in the toddlers.
How We Are Different
How are we different than other Parenting Education programs?
- We focus on the developmental period in the child's brain when it is most focused on individuation, emotional regulation and feelings of shame can emerge (age 20-40 months)
- We are based in attachment theory principles (Secure, Avoidant, Resistant, etc.)
- We focus on awareness for the parent and their contribution to the child's behavior
- We clarify for parents what is emotionally and developmentally appropriate for toddlers, so parents have reasonable expectations and accurate interpretations of the toddlers' behavior and underlying needs
- We offer specific linguistic tools to parents for more peaceful and mindful parenting
- We emphasize choice and respect for both parent and toddler
- We offer tools for the parents to self-soothe and mirror that to the child so the child's emotional regulation unfolds in a healthy way
- In each week of the course, approx. 25% of the time is devoted to hands-on practice of new principles with their toddlers
- Toddlers are cared for by caretakers (one caretaker per six toddlers) who embody and demonstrate principles of respect, kindness, and compassion
- We are collecting data so we can become an evidence based course and publish the data
- The course is based on science, in addition to theory, observation and experience.
- We are not therapists. We do not take clinically diagnosed children or parents. We are not trying to be all things to all people.
Our Co-facilitators
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Karen E. Purves, M.A., created the Secure Parenting nonprofit and workshop series after going back to school taking courses towards a Master's Degree in Positive Developmental Psychology. She is a Certified Parent Educator, currently commutes monthly to the Los Angeles area to participate in a Professional Study Group with Tina Bryson, PhD, co-author of the NY Times Best Sellers "The Whole-Brain Child" and "No Drama Discipline" and has taken courses through Portland State toward a certification in Interpersonal Neurobiology. She brings together an amalgam of theories and practices including Ginott, Gottman, Havighurst, Koren-Karie and more. |
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Laura Schmitt is the oldest of five children. She grew up near Buffalo, NY but has lived in several states and overseas, before moving to Nevada in 2007. After serving in Air Force, Laura pursued her academic goals earning an AS in organizational leadership and BS in Hotel and Restaurant Management. Before becoming a mom, to 2.5 year old Liam, Laura was the Executive Housekeeper at a hotel on the Las Vegas Strip. Laura and her husband David tried for many years before successfully conceiving Liam through fertility treatments. Laura is committed to mindful, responsive, and relationship based parenting where the parent-child connection is the focus. |
Research
After 18 months of hard work from a number of people, our manuscript and findings from our pilot study are COMPLETE! For a copy of the manuscript email Karen@secureparenting.org.
Speaking
Contact Karen at 702-724-4912 or karen@secureparenting.org about having us speak at your event.
Parent Consultation
Certified Parent Educator and creator of Secure Parenting Inc. 501(c)(3) Karen E. Purves, M.A., is available for phone, skype or in person consultations for your toddler concerns. You can explain your challenges and Karen can assess if she can help, and if so, offer options for moving forward, and/or provide you with other supportive resources. Feel free to reach out today. Help is just an email or phone call/text away at 702-724-4912 or Karen@secureparenting.org!
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