[Held on Saturday, July 11] Parenting with Confidence Series Lecture 〜 Problem Behavior or an Important Sign? Let’s Understand What Children Are Trying to Tell Us

Raising children brings all kinds of worries.

A child’s behavior is one of them, but is it really a “problem”?
A workshop to help turn such parenting anxieties into reassurance will be held on Saturday, July 11, 2026.

Here we introduce “Parenting with Confidence Series Workshop: Problem Behavior? Or an Important Sign? What Is Your Child Trying to Tell You?,” hosted by Kurashiki City Comprehensive Developmental Support and Consultation Center “Yumeparu.”

What is the “Parenting with Confidence Series Workshop”?

The “Parenting with Confidence Series Workshop” is a series hosted by Kurashiki City Comprehensive Developmental Support and Consultation Center “Yumeparu.” It began in fiscal 2023, and this year (2026) marks its fourth year.

Participation is free. Starting this year, childcare is also available for up to the first five applicants.

Another distinctive feature is that the Parent Support Step, which has long supported parents of children with disabilities in Kurashiki City, helps run the workshops.

Each workshop has a theme. The following sessions are scheduled for fiscal 2026.

1. [Concluded] Saturday, June 13, 2026
   Learn what matters at each stage of life: Is my child, whose development concerns me, going to be okay in the future?
2. Saturday, July 11, 2026
   Problem Behavior? Or an Important Sign? What Is Your Child Trying to Tell You?
3. Saturday, September 12, 2026
   (Tentative title) How to build relationships with schools and preschools
4. Saturday, December 5, 2026
   (Tentative title) How to navigate social media and games
5. Saturday, January 9, 2027
   (Tentative title) How to deal with frustration (anger management)

See the image below for details.

You can attend only the sessions that interest you.

Kurashiki City Comprehensive Developmental Support and Consultation Center “Yumeparu” — A public institution supporting parents raising children with disabilities or developmental concerns

“My child might be a little different from their friends.” “I don’t know where to turn for advice about the particular challenges of raising a child with a disability.” Supporting parents raising children with developmental concerns or disabilities…

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Interview with Ms. Akagi of Yumeparu

We spoke with Kikuko Akagi, Director of Yumeparu, about the “Parenting with Confidence Series Workshop.”

Could you tell us how the workshop came about and what its purpose is?

Akagi (honorific omitted)

We usually provide consultations for families of children with disabilities. But through our day-to-day consultations, we often felt that disability is not the only cause of difficulties in raising children.

Whether or not a child has a disability, parenting involves similar challenges and stumbling blocks. So we planned a workshop focused not specifically on children with disabilities, but on “parenting”—something common to all children.

Our aim is to properly acknowledge children and maintain good parent-child relationships before problems or secondary disabilities arise. We started with the perspective of “preventive parenting support”—creating opportunities to think about parenting before a serious issue occurs—and this year (2026) marks the fourth year.

What makes the workshop distinctive?

Akagi

A major feature of the workshop is the support and coordination provided by Parent Support Step.

They help draw out key points from the instructors’ talks and facilitate group work and sharing sessions among participants.

Each session emphasizes important parenting principles, such as “don’t hurt children; acknowledge them” and “it’s important to wait.” Whether you attend the whole series or just one session, you’re sure to gain valuable insights at every workshop. That’s the series’ greatest strength.

Certified NPO Parent Support Step — We are here to share the experiences of parents of children with disabilities. An organization made up of parents of children and adults with disabilities

Is extensive support only for children with disabilities—in other words, only for those directly affected? No, parents raising children with disabilities need it too. People who shared this view…

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Who would you like to see take part?

Akagi

We welcome everyone raising children—not only those raising a child with a disability, but also those who don’t feel they have any particular problems and those who have a “slight sense that something is off.”

Parenting is challenging no matter what a child is like, so we’re working with the Kurashiki City Children and Family Center to make the workshop accessible to a wide range of people.

Finally, what message would you like to share with anyone unsure about attending?

Akagi

Some sessions include group work, but if you’re not comfortable speaking, it’s absolutely fine to “just listen.”

You don’t have to speak if you don’t want to, so I hope you’ll come with no pressure at all. You’re sure to hear helpful advice about parenting that you won’t find elsewhere.

We’ve also added a limited number of childcare places this time. If you’ve had to give up attending because you couldn’t find anyone to look after your child, please feel free to join us.

From the Writer

As children grow, the kinds of concerns parents have change.
But worries about a child’s growth and development are also something that can stay with us throughout.

Whether you’re feeling anxious now or simply want to learn more, why not consider taking part?

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