This research was aimed at the development, implementation and evaluation of an empowerment programme for parents with children in their middle childhood, focused on temperament analysis. The motivation for this study stemmed from the absence of relevant programmes in the field of social work concerning different temperaments and needs of children that parents does not understand or meet. Intervention research was applied. A two-phase research approach was undertaken. In phase 1, a qualitative research was used to do a need assessment. The need assessment was done by means of two focus group discussions with ten parents in each group. The following research question was formulated for this phase: What is the needs of parents related to a programme that focus on temperament analysis for children in there middle childhood. This data complemented the literature study which was undertaken and provided information that established the contents of the empowerment programme. The research question could therefore be answered. The qualitative approach was used in phase 2 as the single-system design. The following research hypothesis was formulated for this phase: If an empowerment programme that includes a temperament analysis is attempted with parents, a significant change in their knowledge in handling and understanding of their children should realise. The empowerment programme for parents with children in their middle childhood consisted of six sessions and was implemented over a period of two weeks. Four parents and one single parent undertook the empowerment programme. A group assessment was undertaken with the five children of the parents who attended the empowerment programme. The focus of the group assessment was to determine a tendency to respond. The self-designed questionnaire was completed prior to the empowerment programme and thereafter. This instrument of measurement confirmed the hypothesis. Conclusions and recommendations for the utilization of the programme in future research were formulated as a result of the research study. / Thesis (PhD (Human Movement Science))--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Social Work and Criminology / unrestricted

Summaries in English and Afrikaans / Any loss in an adolescent's life may lead to shattered dreams. Therapists, who work with adolescents who have experienced a loss must support and guide them to develop an awareness of their needs, impulses and dreams. Therapists must furthermore be aware of the factors that contributed to a turning point for the adolescents who managed to recreate their dreams. Adolescents' dreams are influenced by the current circumstances in South Africa, as well as their parents' perceptions and parenting styles. The loss of what could have been, after a loss, must also be addressed. The gestalt therapist establishes the process of awareness in the here-and-now. Furthermore, the adolescent must be guided to accept responsibility for his own choices and to purposeful create a new life dream. / Enige verlies in adolessente se lewens kan lei tot verbrokkelde lewensdrome. Terapeute wat werk met adolessente wat 'n verlies ervaar het, moet hul ondersteun en begelei sodat hulle bewustheid kan ontwikkel van hul behoeftes, drange en drome. Terapeute moet verder bewus wees van die faktore wat 'n keerpunt meegebring het by die adolessente wat wei hul drome kon herskep. Adolessente se lewensdrome word beinvloed deur die huidige omstandighede in Suid-Afrika, sowel as deur hul ouers se persepsies en ouerskapstyl. Die verlies aan dit wat kon wees, na afloop van 'n verlies moet dus ook aangespreek word. Die gestaltterapeut bewerkstellig die bewusmakingsproses in die hier-en-nou. Verder moet die adolessent gelei word om verantwoordelikheid te neem vir sy eie keuses en om doelbewus 'n nuwe lewensdroom te skep. / Social Work / M. Diac. (Play Therapy)

Summaries in English and Afrikaans / Any loss in an adolescent's life may lead to shattered dreams. Therapists, who work with adolescents who have experienced a loss must support and guide them to develop an awareness of their needs, impulses and dreams. Therapists must furthermore be aware of the factors that contributed to a turning point for the adolescents who managed to recreate their dreams. Adolescents' dreams are influenced by the current circumstances in South Africa, as well as their parents' perceptions and parenting styles. The loss of what could have been, after a loss, must also be addressed. The gestalt therapist establishes the process of awareness in the here-and-now. Furthermore, the adolescent must be guided to accept responsibility for his own choices and to purposeful create a new life dream. / Enige verlies in adolessente se lewens kan lei tot verbrokkelde lewensdrome. Terapeute wat werk met adolessente wat 'n verlies ervaar het, moet hul ondersteun en begelei sodat hulle bewustheid kan ontwikkel van hul behoeftes, drange en drome. Terapeute moet verder bewus wees van die faktore wat 'n keerpunt meegebring het by die adolessente wat wei hul drome kon herskep. Adolessente se lewensdrome word beinvloed deur die huidige omstandighede in Suid-Afrika, sowel as deur hul ouers se persepsies en ouerskapstyl. Die verlies aan dit wat kon wees, na afloop van 'n verlies moet dus ook aangespreek word. Die gestaltterapeut bewerkstellig die bewusmakingsproses in die hier-en-nou. Verder moet die adolessent gelei word om verantwoordelikheid te neem vir sy eie keuses en om doelbewus 'n nuwe lewensdroom te skep. / Social Work / M. Diac. (Play Therapy)