JEDDAH, 25 January 2008 — Parents often complain about their children’s bad behavior instead of searching for and nurturing the youngsters’ talents, say psychologists.

Hence to develop better children, a new workshop in Jeddah has been formed, dedicated to children between the ages of 6 and 12. The workshop will last for six weeks starting Feb. 17 under the banner “Let Us Change”.

The course aims at building a new generation with brighter minds, according to Dr. Mohammed Al-Sulaiman, the director of the workshop and motivational consultant with a focus on sports psychology.

Al-Sulaiman said the workshop would focus specifically on 20 boys and 20 girls two days a week for two hours each day. The program involves five focuses:

• Promoting self-esteem in the child;

• Teaching the child proper eating habits;

• Encouraging a relationship between the child and God;

• Teaching the child not to judge others; and

• Showing parents how to follow through with further guidance.

“Children are our future and thus we have to take good care of them,” said Sulaiman, adding that more workshops would be planned in the future.

The workshop was organized, he said, after heavy demands from parents whose children participated in similar three-hour workshops last year.

Sulaiman said that psychologists in Saudi Arabia face difficulties trying to pass on what they have learned to others and help them. People are still afraid of opening up to strangers and the prevailing opinion is that psychologists are only there to treat lunatics.

“But we cannot give up. It is our job to take it as a challenge and try to help them and be creative in it. We are only asking them to just give us a chance because ... they are not going to lose anything. Instead they are going to change for the better,” Sulaiman said.

“It is never too late no matter how old you are,” he added. “You could always become better through focusing on your heart, body and mind — all three together with a balance.”

Children are hard to deal with, said Sulaiman. “Yet it is more enjoyable because they are willing to learn impatiently and they do learn even faster as soon as you know how to let them love you.”

Regardless of what parents experience from their teenage children, “we must not blame them because not all of them had the option of following the right role model.”

“Once they open up, these teenagers too can become impressing, and very useful to their group and society as a whole,” Sulaiman said.

Being specialized in sports psychology and a former footballer, Sulaiman said he had to take the risk of being unwelcome and tried to help the sportsmen of his country.

The difference was seen for the first time with Al-Wehda football team of Makkah that for the first time managed to reach the semifinals at the Saudi Premier League in 2007 after more than 10 years of lower rankings.

“In the beginning it was a bit hard, but I understood that because I’d been in their place. Eventually it turned out that they were full of emotions and skills and just wanted someone who would listen and guide them. What they got from administrators and coaches was great, but each thing needs its specialist and I was glad to do this as a challenge,” he said.

The successful plan was placed again with the Saudi national water polo team during the 11th Pan Arab Games in Egypt. Sulaiman said most of the players did not really know what they wanted, most of them just wanted to beat a certain team. After sitting with him each alone, “they started figuring out the victory they want to achieve, not to mention what they want to achieve after that and where they want to be after 15 years from now,” he said. To their surprise, the team placed second and won silver medals.

People interested are advised to register in advance may call Sulaiman at 0505358027 or e-mail him at [email protected].