Some Features of “The WonderWise Parent” website
Dr. Charles A. Smith of Kansas State University created the website WonderWise Parent to help multiple stakeholders in child rearing and parenting. The information provided in the website is free, but it is a well-planned parenting resource that is simple to follow, inspiring, amusing and fulfilling. One of the most interesting and appealing content of this site is the resources organized by Professor Smith, known as “Programs: Resources for community”. There are about ten branded programs related to family and child rearing presented in the web page of the programs. Out of the programs listed, the Ring of Valor appealed me, as it is very intuitive and instantly inspiring with its animal metaphors.
The animal metaphors are used to reinforce the principles of courage among the children and the parents. One notable contribution is, while providing the overview of the concepts Dr. Smith provides vignettes and provokes thinking about what he means by Heroic behavior and then provides a profound definition of it. He admits that there is no proper definition for hero, but he shows ingenuous skill in giving a key character to the heroic act that would distinguish it from other acts. For evaluating our acts during adverse situations, Dr. Smith included a template that has three levels of confessions.
Another valuable material in this site is the web courses which are well structured but provided free of cost. One such course is the “Fire Works”, an anger management course which focuses on anger in a context of parent – child relationship. This is a structured course that demands understanding, awareness and practice. It has two components principles and skills; principles deal with theory behind the expression of anger and the skills part provide a framework for practicing anger management. The progress of the course is very simple, logical and presented in a manageable units. The course taker can move forward in a comfortable pace.
Among the serious matters presented, Dr. Smith has not forgotten to include a collection of humor related to children and parenting. The value of humor is recognized here and the professor has taken pains to gather anecdotes and tales associated to children’s world. Humor page has two classifications, Snippets and Themes. The themes have various content related to family matters as far as the imagination can reach. Having lighter side to the serious matters of parenting is good page to visit every now and then. The website is highly valuable universally, and we must appreciate the generosity of Dr. Smith for creating this wonderful repository.
Reference
Smith, Charles A. (2011). The WonderWise Parent, Kansas State University, Retrieved on June 2014. http://www.k-state.edu/wwparent/wondhome.htm
