The conference theme originates from a strong sense that action is needed in regards to improving the current conditions of childhood.

Director of the Kempler Institute, Susanne Broeng motivates the theme:

Children, youth and families are today met with an approach focusing forever on performing: Good marks, good behaviour, and preferably a course where children and young people get through their childhood and youth as quickly as possible to proceed with education and to pursue a career. This development, I feel, calls for action …

The relationship focus is essential
The performance approach is a problem because it gives low priority to the fact that children need time to play to develop into healthy human beings. The approach also shifts important focus away from the healthiest and most significant competences to acquire: Integrity, self-esteem, the ability to relate to others in an appreciative manner – being able to embrace the world, and to identify competences in others – factors which help to build and strengthen the individual.
We need to shift our focus from performance to relation.

As professionals we need to act
There is a strong need that we – as professionals witnessing the current conditions of childhood – dare to speak up and hold on to promoting significant principles such as equal interaction, closeness to others and room to develop a healthy sense of integrity.
The Anniversary Conference addresses ”the Courage to Act Theme” by inviting 6 keynote speakers, who in each their field have chosen to put words to different challenges of childhood combined with a range of exciting workshops.

Talking is acting
The aim of the conference is to pinpoint the courage of professionals to continuously focus on the most important perspective in the child-youth-adult contact: The ability to talk to the everyone involved - the parents, the children, the young people – and also among ourselves as colleagues.

We need to focus on the importance of relations in the development of healthy human beings – on contact, equality, authenticity and love – both within and among families and in relation to the many other adults who get to know the child and his/her family from childhood, through youth and adolescence.

Hope to see you in September
Best regards
Susanne Broeng