Coming of Age Workshop
Description
Have you struggled with the thought of how to talk to your child about the changes they will experience as they go through puberty? Don’t know where to start when it comes to explaining sexual drive and sexuality? Are you looking for tips and talking points that come from an Islamic perspective and are also relevant and applicable? Is your child older or entering high school? What will your child experience and be exposed to now that they are in high school? Are you prepared to address issues that they run into or answer questions that they may have?
This is not your average power-point presentation! This interactive workshop is jam-packed with exciting ways to interact with the information – such as live polling, infographics, videos, and most importantly, time with an expert in the field of youth development.
Why The FYI
The FYI is a national research and education institute focusing on Muslim mental health and family wellness. Our mission is to strengthen and empower individuals, families, and communities through mental health research and education. The Family and Youth Institute has also designed a vibrant and meaningful range of workshops, lectures, and presentations on topics within our four focus areas related to youth, marriage, parenting, and mental health!
Overview/ Outline
Day 1 – Parent Session
(3 hr)
We will work with participants in a “Parents Only” class. Here we will go through the youth curriculum which includes:
- Physical Changes
- Personal Hygiene (Tahara included)
- Building Positive Body Image
- Dress Codes
- Healthy Relationships and Spirituality
- Sexuality
- Gender Relations
- Harassment
Parents will role-play anticipated questions/conversations with their children and have time to ask questions of the instructors. They will leave empowered with rite-of-passage activities and ready to continue the conversations with their children. Parents will go home with ideas on how to expand the conversation at home with their children and will be given valuable resources for further understanding.
Day 2 – Youth Breakout Sessions (4 hr)
Middle School Breakout Session (2 hr)
The sessions are split by gender and held at the same time, led by the same-gendered facilitator. Students will participate in an open and interactive discussion that will include:
- Understanding and recognizing the physical and emotional changes that come with puberty
- Anatomy and function of the reproductive system
- Personal Hygiene (Tahara included)
- Positive Body Image
- Dress Code
- Healthy Relationships
- Spirituality
References to the Seerah and Islamic fiqh/understanding are intertwined in each category. During the workshop, participants will engage in hands-on activities to help them more effectively communicate their developmental changes with their parents.
High School Breakout Session
(2 hr)
These sessions will be held separately at the same time, split by gender, and led by the same-gendered facilitator. Students will participate in an interactive discussion that will include:
- Gender Identity and Expression
- Sexual and relational attraction
- Healthy body image and self-esteem
- Healthy relationships and relational fulfillment
- Sexuality from a spiritual lens
- Sexual assault
- Red-flag issues
- Harassment, among other topics as well.
The participants will be able to engage in open discussion and a judgment-free environment to address concerns and alleviate worries.
Target Audience
This workshop is curated for parents of middle school aged and high school aged children. It is also made for the children themselves.
Cost
(plus) Travel and accommodations
Testimonials
“The Coming of Age workshop is an excellent initiative that is needed badly in our community. I found the workshop very detailed, methodological and tastefully done. We need to have these important, yet sensitive conversations with our youth with the spiritual context and it was done very well by The Family and Youth Institute. JazakulLah Khair.”
“My daughter attended FYI’s middle school workshop at the Muslim Community Association, Santa Clara, CA earlier this month and I could not be more pleased. Our family tries to embrace values which include living a God conscious life, developing a strong Islamic identity, nurturing a close and easy relationship between parents and children, and providing similar opportunities to boys and girls…”
“The Coming of Age workshop embraced all these values and more. In the past my daughter and I attended Stanford University’s Heart-to-Heart seminar where we learned about girls’ puberty and sexuality. As Muslims, however, we wanted more, and FYI’s Coming of Age program filled the holes that remained with us after Heart-to- Heart.”
