ALFRED ADLER:

• Alfred Adler was born in Vienna in 1870 and died in 1937
• He was a middle child of seven children, and it was in this family setting that he formulated some of his basic theories to articulate his views on equality, social interest and significance of birth order
• He was part of a working group with Freud for 8 years
• He was the founder of individual psychology
• He developed a set of child guidance practices based on principles of respect and dignity
• He was fixated with the idea of human cooperation and democratic living
• He was one of the first practitioners to provide family and group counseling and use public education as a way to address community health
• A Psychiatrist called Rudolf Dreikurs crafted Adler’s work into what is currently known as the Adlerian System. He died in 1975, his most well know book is “Children: The Challenge”

ADLERIAN PRINCIPLES:

• Social interest – the ability to care for the cares of others
• Belonging (or connection) – a primal need of every individual is to succeed or to belong
• Life-Style – a term coined by Adler to describe a kind of blue print for living that each person develops
• Family Constellation – a factor of life-style referring to the child’s perception of his or her position in the family based on birth order and its impact.
• Equality and Mutual Respect – a concept emphasizing the uniqueness of each individual. According to Adler, equality does not mean sameness. Equality means that each individual is deserving of dignity and respect.
• Encouragement – a skill focusing on strengths, effort and improvement in order to build self-confidence and self-esteem.

“Children need encouragement like a plant needs water,” Rudolph Dreikurs.

ADLERIAN PARENTING GOALS:

CONNECTION:

• To guide and help you transform your parenting style into a more democratic one where your child will be treated with respect and equality. With strong connections and attachments to you and the rest of the family, your child will feel a sense of ‘belonging’ within the family unit

CAPABLE AND COUNTED:

• To teach your child to solve problems and encourage them to think for themselves. By contributing to family decisions, scheduling and activities, your child will feel capable and valued within the family
• To learn to recognize the impact of their behavior and emotions on themselves and others in the family in order to act in an appropriate, positive and effective way

COURAGE:

• To help your child develop courage in the face of imperfection and be to handle all that comes their way. This will help to build a sense of self-esteem and self-confidence that will guide them through their journey into adulthood