On October 10, Moscow's VDNH invites residents to participate in themed events dedicated to World Mental Health Day, as reported on the official website of the Mayor of Moscow.
On October 13 at 15:00, a lecture titled "Parental Attitudes: How They Hinder Children's Success" will be held at Pavilion 74. The lecture will be presented by child psychologist and art therapist Irina Aksenova, along with child psychologist and emotional imagery therapist, Nadezhda Lokteva. Attendees will learn how children absorb attitudes through words, gestures, and actions, and how to replace existing negative beliefs with supportive ones. This event is aimed at parents with children under 10 years old, as well as expecting parents. Children aged five to ten are welcome, and there will be diagnostic activities through drawing tests and discussions. Parents will receive guidance on parenting and childhood crises.
Another lecture, "Children and Gadgets: What to Do When Your Child is Unmotivated and Stuck on Their Phone," is scheduled for October 22 at 11:00. This session will be beneficial for parents of children aged two to 16. Irina Aksenova and Nadezhda Lokteva will discuss the impact of gadgets on child development, how to set reasonable boundaries for their use, and ways to engage children with the real world. Again, children aged five to ten can attend, with diagnostic activities and interactive exercises planned for them.
On November 10 at 15:00, parents of children aged three to 15 are invited to a lecture on "Sexual Education: How and When to Talk to Children About Important Topics." Child psychologists Irina Aksenova and Natalia Pilnikova will address the developmental aspects of sexual education that should be considered from an early age, as well as how to teach children a healthy perception of themselves and others. Children aged five to ten can also attend, with diagnostic activities and interactive exercises for them.
Additionally, on November 24 at 15:00, a lecture titled "How to Raise a Confident Child: Secrets of Successful Parenting" will be presented by Natalia Pilnikova and Elena Kuznetsova, a family psychologist and director of the Sargi Institute of Psychology. They will explain the foundations of confidence, how it is formed, and how to strengthen a child's self-esteem without overpraising them. A sand therapy session for children aged five to ten will also be held.
Parents with children aged two to twelve are invited to a lecture on "The Benefits of Fairy Tales for Parents: How to Use Stories to Address Behavioral Issues and Create Personal Therapeutic Tales for Your Child" on December 10 at 11:00. Attendees will discover how fairy tales can aid in child-rearing, including how they can help alleviate tantrums, anxiety, and disobedience. They will also learn which stories are not recommended for reading. Children aged five to ten will participate in an art therapy session led by psychologists Nadezhda Lokteva and Irina Aksenova.
All events are free, but seating is limited, and prior registration is required. On November 24 at 14:00, a lecture titled "The Brain and the Perception of Beauty" will take place at the "Worker and Kolkhoz Woman" pavilion. Guests will learn how the brain reacts to beauty and whether it can be considered objective. Olga Svarnik, a candidate of psychological sciences and leading researcher at the Shvyrkov Psychophysiology Laboratory of the Russian Academy of Sciences, will discuss this topic.
It is also noted that on December 7 at 14:00, a discussion titled "The Psychology of Color and Other Aspects of Art Therapy: Does It Work?" will occur at the same venue. Olga Svarnik and Tatiana Popova, an associate professor at the Department of Psychotherapy and Psychological Counseling at the Moscow Psychoanalysis Institute, will explore how different types of psychotherapy and art therapy function, and whether colors can truly affect individuals.
Registration for all VDNH lecture events will open one week before each event. These events are conducted in support of the national project "Education."