Parenting Courses

Parents and the home environment they create are the single most important factor in shaping their children's well-being. To support parents in this role the Council regularly facilitates parenting education courses; the Triple P Positive Parenting Programme helps parents to have a positive approach when dealing with children and young people.

All the courses have a similar format, in that the group meets for 2 hours a week for 4 weeks, followed by 2 weeks of individual support (telephone or one to one) and then a final group session.

Courses run during the day, in the evening and on Saturday afternoon, dependent on availability of venues and facilitators.

Where possible we would encourage both parents to attend.

For daytime/weekend primary age courses we try to offer a free creche where we can.

To register for a place please call 01628 685615 or 01628 685632. A confirmation letter will be sent with details on the course dates and venue. Following this one of the facilitators of the course will contact you to make an appointment to visit you at home, introduce themselves and familiarise you with the content and answer any questions.

The courses are open to mums, dads or key carers of 3-16 year-olds living in the Royal Borough. Parents must be willing to commit to all sessions and have identified at least one aspect of their child's behaviour (or of their own parenting) that they would like to change or improve upon.

Places are limited and will be allocated after a home visit has taken place.

Courses

Triple P for parents with children age 0-12 (Primary) and 12-17 years (Teen)

Triple P can show you ways to strengthen the relationship between you and your child or teenager. It also offers support and ideas on how to encourage good behaviour and handle misbehaviour from your children and teenagers. Issues may include behaviours such as infants' sleep patterns, toddler tantrums, trouble with aggression, homework, teasing, a teenager's defiance or signs of depression, drinking or substance misuse. There may be no problem at all, you might be thinking about how best to support your child as they start school, encourage healthy eating or set a bedtime routine.

Whatever the parenting need, however simple or complex, Triple P has a course to help. Triple P aims to make parenting easier by focusing on five key principles:

• Ensuring a safe, interesting environment
• Creating a positive learning environment
• Using assertive discipline
• Having realistic expectations
• Taking care of yourself as a parent
  

Triple P Family Transitions

The Triple Family Transitions group is designed to help parents who are having difficulties making the transition through divorce or separation because of conflict with their co-parent, difficulties with anxiety, stress or depression or experiencing behavioural or emotional problems in their child.

Divorce is a significant life stressor for parents, children and families.

The stress associated with a relationship breakdown can have a significant impact on the well-being of parents with feelings of anxiety, depression, irritability and anger being common. Parents often experience a sense of loneliness through both the loss of their partner and also reduced social support.

Parents who do not have primary custody of their child may feel devastated by the loss of involvement in their child's life.

Parents who are going through separation and divorce are also at greater risk of health problems and accidents as a result of increased stress.

Triple P recognises that all families are different and have different strengths and needs during separation and divorce.

Family Transitions addresses the risk factors and promotes protective factors for families going through separation and divorce. It promotes family processes that contribute to children's well-being during a time of transition in family structure.

Lifestyle Triple P

Lifestyle Triple P is a Positive Parenting Programme for parents who want to help their children (age 5-10 years) achieve a healthy weight. It is based on the award-winning Positive Parenting Programme (Triple P) that promotes good communication and strong relationships between parents and children. Lifestyle Triple P has an additional focus on promoting children's physical health.

Lifestyle Triple P is a 14-week programme delivered to small groups of parents. It consists of 11 weekly group sessions plus 3 individual telephone sessions.

Children will be measured at the beginning and the end of the programme.

The group will be friendly and you'll be encouraged to join in as much or as little as you want. It may feel a bit awkward at first but you will start to feel more comfortable as you get to know people.

You won't be judged or told what to do. You'll have the chance to choose ideas which suit your family then try them out at home.

Often parents who go to groups develop friendships and continue to meet to support each other after the group is finished.

What does Lifestyle Triple P offer?

Lifestyle Triple P aims to improve children's nutritional intake and levels of physical activity.

The programme will increase parents' skills and confidence in managing children's weight related behaviour.

Parents can help children learn about healthy food choices and enjoyable physical activities.

Other support sessions for parents

The parenting team are able to meet parents on a one to one basis at our offices in Maidenhead for immediate support and advice. These sessions have to be pre-booked through the Family Information Service on 01628 685632 or the Healthy Minds Parent Support Line on 01628 685633. Sessions are available on Mondays from 3 pm to 5 pm or Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday from 3.30 pm to 5 pm.

For people looking to get back to work

Grow Our Own have workshops and courses on topics such as IT for Job Hunters, Personal Development and Career Tasters for picking up new skills. For more details call 01628 685623.

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