Programs for Parents

Denise is an experienced facilitator with certification in a variety of parenting programs. Working with parents is, perhaps, what she likes to do best!

She believes that every parent and caregiver has inherent skills and abilities and wants the very best for the children in their care. Parent programs can help enhance their relationship with their child and provide a safe, supportive environment with other parents to problem solve strategies to deal with troublesome behaviour. Other parents can provide friendship, support and encouragement, reminding parents that they are not alone.

In all of the programs, fun, hand-on activities reinforce the learning components. Parent programs may cover the following topics:

Relationship building skills: Descriptive praise, play, talking and listening skills, one-on-one time, unconditional love and acceptance, giving positive attention and empathy are all ways of developing good relationships with children, and with each other.

Social skills:  Learning how to get along with others is an important life skill. Children can be taught to make and keep friends and these same skills can foster sibling and family harmony. Regulating emotions and managing tantrums are self-regulatory skills that are necessary for social competence.

Resilience: Supporting children’s mental health is an everyday aspect of health care; just as we support healthy bodies by ensuring children eat well, exercise and get enough sleep, we can learn skills to help children build trust and attachment, enhance self-esteem, express emotions and develop relationships with others.

Safety and health:  Children need to be safe from danger and have plenty to keep them busy and involved. Healthy eating, dealing with fussy eaters, exercise, family meals, safety and internet safety are all possible discussion topics.

Helping children learn:  Parents are their child’s first and most important teacher. All parents can do meaningful activities with their child that will help them be school ready, and foster a life-long love of learning. Children need to understand boundaries through clear limit setting and establishing clear routines.

Teaching independence:  Understanding child development and allowing freedom as children mature, teaching problem solving skills and confidence building are all important markers of independence.

Ways to manage misbehaviour:  All of the programs focus on methods of positive discipline; staying firm, being consistent with clear ground rules, using logical and natural consequences, distraction and planned ignoring when appropriate, quiet time, time out and learning from mistakes.

Parent skills:  It is important that parents have strategies to stay calm, and to parent as a team. Taking personal time out, maintaining good adult relationships, using support networks, managing family arguments and dealing with stress are all essential skills for parents – and ones best taught to children through modeling.

Parents who seek out parent programs understand that every parent has difficulties at times, and make the effort to seek help and guidance to do the best for their child. The skills and insights they gain on a parenting program last them for years and enable them to have a much calmer happier home.