Perspective（34） "Considering Problem Resolutions Together Through
Group Consultations"| Other than the child’s solo attendance, we have a parent-child attendance
day and guardian support such as providing individual consultations, group
consultations, and study sessions for child-raising, in addition to supporting
parents and their children to build a relationship of understanding. We’ll
talk about Group Consultation this time. Every guardian has various difficulties and problems in everyday child-raising, despite their wish for their child’s growth. They have many things to worry about with their child, such as tantrums, strong obsessions, hyperactivity, or not listening. If you try to deal with everything by yourself, it will become a vicious cycle; You repeatedly tell your child to do something. → If it doesn’t go well, your tone of voice get stronger. → You end up scolding or hitting your child. If a guardian senses such difficulty, it also means their child also finds difficulty in expressing their feelings or thoughts. Therefore, how we can adjust the gap in communication between a guardian and their child, and provide support, becomes an important issue. Group consultations are a place where guardians (mostly mothers) who are in a similar situation get together (around 10 people) and listen to each other’s difficulties, problems, responses, and think of ways to resolve them. Participants freely raise current concerns and issues that they want help thinking about. For example, “I’m concerned because my child tends to touch our important things. How about your child?” Then, a person with a similar experience can say, “I understand!” sympathetically. Then, the conversation starts to unravel. Someone comments, “I hide it before my child finds it, because he doesn’t stop even though I’ve scolded him many times.” → “But he somehow finds it by opening drawers and looking for it everywhere.” → “We tape things shut so that they can’t be opened.” → “My child would remove the tape if I did that.” … “My child doesn’t believe me when I say, “There’s none left.”, so I gave up hiding things.” → “Why do they desperately try to touch our important things?” → “They have probably become interested in what their mother is doing.” → “That might be so.” → “Oh yes, my child comes closer when I’m on the phone or in the kitchen.” → I’m happy when my child becomes interested in or mimics me, but I can’t finish my tasks if I keep playing with her.” → “Somehow I feel my child gets in my way.” → “Yes, me too!” → “But, your child isn’t trying to make their mother upset, are they?” → “Yeah…!?” → “It took a lot of trouble at the beginning, but my child stopped handling things roughly when I taught him how to use it. He gradually started to understand the situation and was able to control himself.” The mother who initially expressed her concerns felt refreshed and commented, “It was good to be listened to by others.” An advantage of group consultations is that each person brings their experiences and everyone can think about the problem together. When people discuss the difficulties and potential improvements of daily life, they can empathize and be reassured that they are not the only one, in contrast to being distressed alone. And it is good practice to think about various ways to solve a problem, “What would I do if I were you?”, when you hear other people’s problems or difficulties. If a mother can get a hint from the consultation and try something new at home, it will double the meaning of participation. Then if she can see the positive change in her child, the experience will surely give her strength and confidence. A place where people can put their heads together will be welcomed by children too! |
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Social Welfare Corporation SUISEN FUKUSHIKAI
| Himejima Kodomoen | 6-3-33 Himejima, Nishiyodogawa-ku, Osaka 555-0033 TEL：06-6472-6001 
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