Workshops

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Registration for in-person workshops is required. Click here to register.

Registration for online workshops is appreciated, but not required. Click here to register.

Please be punctual as we will be splitting into breakout rooms at the start.

If you don't find a workshop time that works, or you want to do something sooner or shorter, bookable online times are also being offered. Click here to learn more.

All Teddy Bear Talk Support activities can be attended free of charge.

Workshop description

With Teddy Bear Talk Support, "teddy bears" are primarily engaged in actively listening to a talker, but talkers may also ask teddy bears to provide other kinds of fodder for what the talker is saying. In this workshop, we'll be exploring the limited things that teddy bears might be asked to do, and we'll be offering ample opportunities to experience both the talker and teddy bear roles during our activities. As teddy bears, we'll be learning how to support the talker without bringing in our own agendas.  How do we keep it about them and not us (and what we might do or what we might be interested in)?

Examples of some different things that teddy bears might be asked to do:

  • do some paraphrasing of parts of what the talker said
  • offer some open, honest questions (and perhaps offer the questions in writing)
  • make guesses at what's at the bottom of what the talker is talking about
  • serve as a scribe by writing down the parts of what the talker is saying that they ask you to
  • make guesses at what feelings and needs are underlying what the talker is saying

Examples of some things that a talker might talk through with their teddy bear:

  • Whatever thoughts come to mind as they try to wade in when they're not sure where to start
  • Prioritizing their day
  • Making their intentions clearer with an email they just finished drafting out
  • Reflecting on a parenting decision or a conversation they need to have
  • Thinking through purchasing something
  • Imagining how to navigate choppy waters with co-workers or family members
  • Dealing with a small task that has been a thorn in their side
  • Handling a major life issue

For parents

Since we are whole people and not just parents, it's possible that just the idea of easily accessible opportunities to talk to adult humans (whether it be about parenting or about ideas outside of parenting) might be what is most attractive about Teddy Bear Talk Support.

But, besides using Teddy Bear Talk Support with adults, you can also serve as a teddy bear for your child or have them serve as a teddy bear for you. Imagine the possibilities this offers for transforming how you engage with your child. What can happen when you ask your child to serve as a teddy bear for you? Perhaps it can give them opportunities to be helpful to you. Perhaps having your child role play someone else can help with giving them different perspectives.

Listening is a powerful gift we can offer each other. How can experimenting with Teddy Bear Talk Support make it so listening works its magic for you more often?

In-person workshops for everyone in Ann Arbor, MI

  • Time: 6:45 – 7:45 pm Eastern
  • Date: Monday, February 12, 2024
  • Location: Muskrat room in the Pittsfield branch of the Ann Arbor District Library
    • 2359 Oak Valley Dr, Ann Arbor, MI 48103
  • Registration REQUIRED: Click here to register.


  • Time: 10:15 - 11:15 am Eastern
  • Date: Saturday, March 2, 2024
  • Location: Muskrat room in the Pittsfield branch of the Ann Arbor District Library
    • 2359 Oak Valley Dr, Ann Arbor, MI 48103
  • Registration REQUIRED: Click here to register.


  • Time: 4:15 - 5:15 pm Eastern
  • Date: Sunday, April 7, 2024
  • Location: Muskrat room in the Pittsfield branch of the Ann Arbor District Library
    • 2359 Oak Valley Dr, Ann Arbor, MI 48103
  • Registration REQUIRED: Click here to register.

In-person workshops for parents in Ann Arbor, MI

  • Time: 4:15 - 5:15 pm Eastern
  • Date: Sunday, March 10, 2024
  • Location: Muskrat room in the Pittsfield branch of the Ann Arbor District Library
    • 2359 Oak Valley Dr, Ann Arbor, MI 48103
  • Registration REQUIRED: Click here to register.


  • Time: 1:30 - 2:30 pm Eastern
  • Date: Saturday, April 27, 2024
  • Location: Muskrat room in the Pittsfield branch of the Ann Arbor District Library
    • 2359 Oak Valley Dr, Ann Arbor, MI 48103
  • Registration REQUIRED: Click here to register.


  • Time: 6:45 – 7:45 pm Eastern
  • Date: Monday, April 29, 2024
  • Location: Muskrat room in the Pittsfield branch of the Ann Arbor District Library
    • 2359 Oak Valley Dr, Ann Arbor, MI 48103
  • Registration REQUIRED: Click here to register.

Online workshops

Saturday, February 24th one hour online workshop for parents

Meeting ID: 840 3308 0146
Passcode: 123123

Tuesday, March 12th one hour online workshop for parents

Meeting ID: 840 3308 0146
Passcode: 123123

Sunday, May 12th one hour online workshop for everyone

Meeting ID: 840 3308 0146
Passcode: 123123

Sunday, April 15th one hour online workshop for everyone

Meeting ID: 840 3308 0146
Passcode: 123123

3-week online workshop for parents that meets for one hour each week for 3 weeks

  • Click here to see the meeting time in your time zone for 2/26 and 3/4.
  • Click here to see the meeting time in your time zone for 3/11. (In Michigan, we spring forward by an hour for Daylight Savings Time on 3/10.)
  • Time: 8 - 9 pm Eastern
  • Dates: Monday, 2/26/24, 3/4/24, 3/11/24
  • Zoom link: https://meaningfulaction.org/tb
Meeting ID: 840 3308 0146
Passcode: 123123

In-person CO-WORKING sessions in Ann Arbor, MI

Click here to learn more about Teddy Bear Talk Support co-working sessions.

There is no signup for the co-working sessions. There is no problem if we run out of room in Meeting Room B because there are many tables in the main library room that we can also use.

NOTE: If you saw more times listed for co-working sessions than there are listed below in the Crazy Wisdom Journal's calendar listings, that was because of an error. Those other times are times for in-person workshops for everyone that were mistakenly listed as times for co-working sessions.

  • CANCELED The first co-working session has been canceled due to a scheduling conflict that came up.
  • Thursday February 29, 2024 12:00 pm - 1:45 pm
  • Meeting Room B at the Westgate branch of the Ann Arbor District Library
  • Saturday April 13, 2024 10:15 am - 12:00 pm
  • Meeting Room B at the Westgate branch of the Ann Arbor District Library
  • Tuesday April 23, 2024 10:15 am - 12:00 pm
  • Meeting Room B at the Westgate branch of the Ann Arbor District Library

Along for the Ride Groups inspired by the moai groups in Okinawa

Along for the Ride Groups is a new project (that includes Teddy Bear Talk Support as a suggested activity) that is just beginning to be developed.  These groups are inspired by the moai groups in Okinawa, Japan-- groups of about 5 - 7 people that meet regularly over the long term, some since childhood, some for over 90 years. 

  • Click here to express interest in joining an Along for the Ride group.
  • Click here to express interest in collaborating on developing visions and plans for how Along for the Ride Groups could come to be.

Interested in future offerings?

Questions?

If you have questions, contact Leeann Fu by phone at (734) 237-7676 or by email at teddybear@umich.edu

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