First, thoughts on the venue.  In a bit of bad planning, they set the conference for the Thanksgiving Weekend here in Canada, so the sparse attendance I would say could largely be accounted for on that basis.  Only 150 or so showed up, and even that may have been an overestimation.  Still, if he was disappointed, Dr. Townsend didn’t show it.  He was a gentleman and a good teacher.

I was particularly impressed with how he showed his support for enterprises like World Vision.  For once, the promotional video wasn’t full of emaciated infants, trying to guilt you into giving them money, but it was moving considering his suggestion that you not only support them, but in so doing teach your children to think of others and how they can help.  His recommendation was to have each of your children support their own child and write to them.

Now onto the contents of the seminar.  The material covered paralleled his two books, “Raising Great Kids” and “Boundaries with Kids”.  The first half focused on what we as parents need to keep in mind in terms of what we need to communicate to our children.  This was followed by the larger picture of the six things that children need to learn.  The second half took one of these, the concept of boundaries, and dealt with it in depth as it seems by his experience, to be the area where most families have difficulties.

It was entertaining listening to him comment on the politically correct environment we are in.   His position on raising a child appear to be well rooted in Scripture – he used it appropriately all day.  Occasionally he would suggest consequences like missing dessert at a mealtime, or in the case of a child who throws food, taking away the food for a few minutes at a time until the child understands that they will not get to throw the food if they want to eat.  He felt he had to clarify that he was not advocating starving children.

Along the same lines, he dealt head-on with the concept of physical discipline.  He suggested it did not have a place after children reach a certain age where they become nonresponsive to it – usally 5 or 6 years old.  Before that, it should always be considered a last resort, which is sound advice.

He also dealt directly with what has become the common approach to parents who have no time to give to their children – bribing them into behaving, which amounts to rewarding bad behaviour.  He also tackled the educational cultural icon of “self-esteem” saying that this philosophy in the school systems has led to children failing at things but “feeling good about it”.  He stated clearly this is not a learning environment and is creating children who grow up to be failed adults.

All in all, I was impressed, and it gave me much food for thought.  I got a little sleepy in the early going, but made it through.  It was very nice actually, just having a day with my wife.  We got to go out for lunch together and that was just lovely.  Hopefully we get a few more opportunities like this.