(Hong Kong, 17 December 2010) Organized by the Hong Kong Child Intelligence Development Association (HKCIDA), the inaugural ChildMind Conference & Showcase 2010 (“ChildMind Conference”) opens today at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. The two-day Conference features 20 reputable overseas and local professionals to deliver a comprehensive and educational program, offering parents, teachers and early childhood education practitioners practical information on child’s early development.

As the first event of its kind in Hong Kong that focuses on child’s intellectual development, Childmind Conference has been well received by parents and professionals in the education industry. According to the Organizer, over 2,000 pre-registrations were received before the event. It is expected that some sessions will attract a full house of attendance.

Dr. Walsh pointed out that each family will encounter difficulties. However, resilient families will raise resilient children. They will be able to rebound and grow stronger despite adversity. She highlights 9 key family processes that enable families to overcome stressful life challenges and thrive. Her collaborative resilience-building approach facilitates parents to understand their roles and tighten the connection of family members to face all kinds of difficulties and challenges.

Positive thinking has not been a focus in education, and so it is common for people to be stuck in a negative mindset. Most parents will accuse themselves of the imperfection of their child, while only a few of them will appreciate of what is happening in their life. Under such impact, many children are facing pressure with some of them even denying their self-esteem. Media veteran Blanche Tang shares a different viewpoint in her session “How about Extraordinary Kids?”, offering a new direction to parents for their selection.

Ms. Tang suggested six hints to nurture extraordinary kids: no resistance, no guilt, no quarrel, no anger, having a normal daily life and be strong. When parents understand life is full of joys and happiness, their child will also be educated to respect lives, and to accept and appreciate all kinds of people. Such positive thought not only re-builds child’s confidence, but also facilitate social harmony.

In responding to insufficient information on special education needs, the Conference specially designs several sessions for this aspect. Among them is “The Role Government Plays in Supporting Families with Special Needs Children,” which is addressed by Leung Siu Tong, President of Hong Kong Aided Primary School Heads Association. Other topics include intellectual assessment, nurturing for gifted children, mental health care for children with Dyslexia and behavior management for children with Autism.

Culsin Li, Deputy Secretary General of HKCIDA, said, “Parents and teachers are facing difficulty and pressure in dealing with special education needs because the information available is fragmented. With these sessions, we hope they can gain more understandings and apply appropriate parenting techniques in order to prepare for their child as contributors in the future.”

The Conference also features a number of showcases to offer sponsors/exhibitors and the participating parents and caregivers interactions and discussion opportunities for specialized products/services, training courses and consultancy services. Meanwhile, each attendee receives a free copy of parenting booklet with the latest information on various aspects of childhood growth and development.

ChildMind Conference & Showcase 2010 is under the umbrella of the ChildMind Project launched by HKCIDA. For more information, please visit www.childmind.com.hk.

HKCIDA is supported by various organizations and individuals, including parents, teachers, trainers, and other key personnel in childhood education.  HKCIDA is committed to teaching children how to make positive contributions to society, and be future leaders in the community.