 I Can Do It Programme Delivers
By Rachel Breckon
Karen Hollander got more than just a parenting aid when she signed her family up to be "guinea pigs" in a new positive parenting system - it has become a career path for the rural mother and her husband Steve.
The "ICan Do It" family planner, designed by their friend, Pat Baker, requires all members of the family to set weekely tasks, and then work together to achive them.
Karen, from Dairy Flat, north of Auckland, said that it got her 10 year old twin boys on to the indoor and outdoor jobs required to run a 16ha farm (40-acres) and household. It worked so well they decided to get involved.
Karen is an area manager and Steve is a regoinal sales manager. "We love it," karen said. The wall planner dislays a selection of cards in chronological order, as tasks are completed the cards are moved along to the completed task card pocket. A weeks points are tallied and become awards.
rewards are not monetary but about achieving quality family time, such as games like spot light in the dark, things that build relationships and create memories.
It was about figuring out what motivated each participant, Karen said, and rewards could also range from cellphone credit to time on the internet to choosing a DVD or having a friend to play with.
"It really helps to cut down nagging," Karen, who volunteers at the local primary school, said.
The Hollanders have a lifestyle farm where they run sheep, lamb and breed horses. Karen also holds a training license for standard breed race horses and is an amateur harness racing driver too.
She said that there were days when she needed a really good planner, with the farm, races, kids and school. "I Can Do It" was a flexible, age appropriate, system. It could be used for everything from doing homework, to teaching social skills, life-skills and manners.
It was also good for rural people as being a consultant for the "I Can Do It" programme could double as a part time job, which you could do from home, Karen said. For people living in remote areas all they needed was computer and a phone, she said.
System developer Pat said that she had encountered rural mums, who home schooled, who found the system really effective. "One rural woman, a former teacher, now home schooling, loved the whole concept," she said.
"I Can Do It" is currently used by around 500 families and was about to go into some Dairy Flat schools, some Kindercare daycare centres, and Pat gives seminars at Parents Inc.
It was endorsed by Autism New Zealand and aslo New Zealand Down Syndrome Association, Pat said.
At a trade fair, Pat was approached by a member of the Brain Injury Association of New Zealand, querying the use of the "I Can Do It" for people suffering from short term memory loss. In a twist of fate, Pat, ended up the first person to use the "I Can Do It" as a memory loss tool. She said that her medication after a recent hysterectomy has caused her to suffer short term memory loss. She uses her cards to remind her to take medication, eat,book doctor's appointments and prompt her to do other necessary tasks to take care of her 4 children.
As a memory application it is amazing, it is flexible enough to meet any needs," Pat said.
For more information on "I Can do It" phone (09) 426-1056 or go to www.ICanDoItLifeSkills.com
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