PARENTING CLASSES

[hifi]

hypothetically if there was somewhere local where you could attend classes on successful parenting do you think there would be much interest? it would focus on the 2 to 8 age group.

The headteacher tried to run some of these at a school I worked at. Hardly anyone came - I think people saw it as an insult!

Sure Start children's centres run these kind of groups which seem to be very successful

perhaps if it was called something else.

To call them parenting classes implies that people need teaching and are doing it wrong. However, if you could come up with a name that made it sound fun and the fact that they may learn something was kind of by the bye, then more people would attend imo

HiFi we went on one through the playgroup DS1 attended it was called Parenting with Pleasure

PARENTING with PLEASURE
From Pram to Primary School
Practical Skills Course following a programme published by the Family Caring Trust - every parent can
benefit.
Learn about and discuss different strategies over a cup of coffee.
Topics covered include:
Encouraging Your Child
Listening Means Paying Attention
Talking With Your Child
Consequences
Quality Time
Behaviour You Don?t Like
It is a 6 week course which will begin on a Monday evening starting at 7.30pm.
Each session will last approximately 2 hrs. Venue : The Ark
Parenting skills facilitator Susan Baker
Proposed date to be arranged (possibly end of September beginning of October
For further information or to enrol contact Sarah on 01954 200054

It was brilliant there were 7 adults on the course mixture of mums and dads very open and honest about our feelings on parenting.

i would, actually, if it was teaching me something I didn't know. I'd like some sort of class on the whole talking so kids will listen thingy.

BUT BUT BUT

only if there was somewhere for the kids to stay in the same room. Not everyone has easy access to babysitters, or even dp's, in the evening (I can never do evening stuff becuase of the frequency with which dp has to commute down to London).

So what I'd need is for it to be during the day, with say a playgroup type situation set up in the corner (and dedicated childcare workers).

OTOH I'd pay extra for this.

thanks, i supposed its how its pitched. we are attending a course, its very useful, already seen a change in dd from sat. we are just focusing on how they play at the moment, very interesting.

sorry copy pasted from an advert for the next course they are going to run in our area.

they happen locally at our school. very popular (though usually IMO with very good parents on them!)

oh and personally I don't mind too much being told I am doing it all wrong, though generally I find I can get this for free by going on the local bus between 8-10 in the morning

Only parents who didn't care, wouldn't want to go.

One of the things we learned filly was as a result of a video they showed of an office situation with the boss talking to the other workers in the office the way most people speak to children, with the situation changed it was really clear why children ignore us!

Thus, it is the ones who don't want to go, who really need to go - see flooosy's comment about good parents.

Am reading a book which makes just that point, Jen

The thing for me though is that I do know the theory. But I forget it. I actually have crib sheets stuck up around my house...

Oh, yes I would i think. Although I'd be very nervous going into the first class to see what sort of a parenting mix i ended up with. And like F&Z, I'd want 'how to talk' type help. I can understand F&Zs desire to have the kids there (& would agree that ideally I'd want to go WITH dh) - but otoh, I'd feel like my every interaction with the dcs was up for scrutiny

I suspect you'd have to be really careful how you advertise it - to capitalise on the House of Tiny tearaways type feel rather than having it feel too much like a place where you'd be lectured...

Sorry, Fillyjonk not F&Z

interesting, this one is called "the incredible years", it american,its had huge amount of studys on it. usually used with sn but can be adapted to other groups.
lots of our friends are really impressed with the amount of parenting support we have had thru the adoption of dd and lots wish they could have access to the same.
i have a background in training and its something im thinking of pursuing and wondered if there would be enough people interested.

I think most of the people in our group signed up as it was called parenting with pleasure.. we were in the midst of the terrible 2's at the time the poster went up so seemed almost like a joke to start with IYKWIM.

It was more a way of facilitating discussion amongst parents.. We don't have problems with sleep but some did, we had problems with DS1 being very violent towards me - other people didn't, tips from other parents were as useful as the tips from the course.

totally agree with the ones who need it wont want to go, that wouldnt be the ones i would be aiming at. just from one session i have had to totally re think how im reacting with dd, i thaught i was doing the best i could, its actually too much. lots of mums i know are exactly like me and would be shocked to know they may be stiffling their los.

I did loads with parentline plus It was great as there was a free creche and everybody on the course was there for the same reason so just hearing other people had the same troubles made you feel normal. They were all free as well.

Incredible years has a good reputataion. Our surestart offer that one sometimes, other times they run a "growing together" group. I did the "heres lookimg at you baby" course when boy was tiny, V interesting.