Curriculum

Week 1
The Name Game
In this group we will introduce ourselves and begin the process of building an environment of positive support. Children will learn each others names, establish rapport, and encourage positive feelings towards themselves and others.

Week 2
Here and Now Wheel Game
In this activity children will begin to access the variety of feelings they may be experiencing at any given moment. It will help broaden the perception of those feelings they may experience as well as teach empathy of others feelings. The more children are able to identify and express their feelings the more empowered they will feel.

Week 3
Class Applause
This group focuses on a positive learning environment. Children will learn to give and receive positive support from one another. The message children will receive is that one does not always have to “earn” support, but rather they deserve it for simply being.

Week 4
Treasure from the Past Sharing
In this group children can become more intimate and connected as they share important things from their past. This group builds trust and rapport between everyone in the classroom. This group also provides an experience in self-disclosure in a safe and supportive environment.

Week 5
The Magic Box
This is a surprise group that will increase the self-esteem of every child as they learn that they are special and unique with their own gifts and talents to contribute. Every child has strengths and when we focus on these they increase.

Week 6
Who’s In the Bag?
This is a fun group that gives children a chance to get to know each other and express their personal characteristics through sharing items from home. It creates a positive atmosphere for self-disclosure and promotes cooperation.

Week 7
Warm Fuzzies
You may remember the story of “Warm Fuzzies” from your younger days. Warm Fuzzies is another name for positive statements and events that help us to feel good about ourselves. This group encourages children to interact in a positive manner, encourages them to share openly in class settings, and creates an awareness of how the things students say affects others.

Week 8
I’m Enough Milling/I Want You to Like Me Just the Way I Am
These two exercises although fun and short are very powerful self-esteem builders. The exercises give children the opportunity to affirm themselves and each other in a fun and safe environment.

Week 9
“I CAN” CARD
The title says it all! In this group children learn this simple and powerful statement that holds the possibility of achieving any desired goal. The “I CAN” card itself is an affirmation of this basic ability that if one thinks one can then he/she is probably right!

Week 10
Trust Walk
This group encourages trust, safety, and rapport between students. It heightens tactile and body awareness and is a lot of fun for the children to become more aware of their surroundings through hearing, touch, smell, and taste.

What is Empowerment for Kids?

I have developed a ten week program which empowers children to realize their own personal power. It allows children to discover their own unique gifts and talents and to feel good about themselves. Most adults must wait thirty or forty years to come to these insights, yet these children will learn the power that is theirs when they learn to accept responsibility for their own actions and begin to understand that they are the captain of their ship.

They get to be the hero of their own story that they create! They will gain a sense of esteem from learning that they are unique, lovable, and capable. Through the various exercises they will come to know how what they think is related to how they feel and ultimately how they act in the world. They will learn social skills that will allow them to accept their own wonderfulness while acknowledging others as well. They will learn that we are all different and unique yet share a common bond of humanity.

The more research we do, we are coming to find out that the truly successful adults are those with emotional intelligence. Children that are self-aware of their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors will be better equipped to handle the changing world we live in today. Children that can communicate effectively and empathize with others will have a huge advantage in solving world problems.

"The problems that exist in the world today cannot be solved by the level of thinking that created them."

-Albert Einstein

About Me

My name is George Castro and I am a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Life Coach, and Parent Coach. I have worked in the non-profit sector for close to twenty years and have worked extensively with children and adolescents. I have created school based therapy programs for elementary, middle, and high schools. I have directed pre-school day treatment for children with social, emotional, and behavioral challenges. I co-founded and was President and CEO of a company that provided parenting classes to Santa Ana Unified in conjunction with WestEd. More recently, I have just completed my book "The Re-Parenting Revolution" which is based on the premise that all children have gifts, talents, and skills that they are developing. It is our job as parents to empower, support, and inspire these strengths in our children through conscious parenting.