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Tried and tested with hundreds of families, in a variety of contexts and
often with those facing life’s most difficult circumstances... At a time when many parents have lost a sense of confidence under pressures coming from politicians, schools, media... and often find themselves estranged from the support of their extended family, trusted friends and neighbours...
This course’s easy-to-follow sessions let facilitators take parents - of
children of any age - carers, grandparents, fosters carers and parents-to-be - through a variety of exercises to:
develop strategies, effective communication and confidence that will help them to raise responsible and respectful childrendiscuss mutual concerns, befriend others who are in a similar situation, and explore together how to utilise ’positive parenting’ methods, and share tips about what workshelp them understand various influences on behaviourrecognise that every child and parent is unique, but that the overall principles of positive discipline which are at the heart of this course - work because they are based upon respect, cooperation and consistency.The course emphasises not only a nurturing relationship between parent and child, but also a respectful relationship between facilitator and parent, and between parents themselves.
In common with other
successful parenting programmes, this course: has been developed through regular monitoring, evaluations, and review, with quality ensured through training and supervision; uses evidence-based content for the sessions with a comprehensive manual of guidance; has been effective with parents from many different backgrounds and has sustained their attendance for at least 8-10 sessions.
In addition, unlike many other courses and manuals, this course:
is easy to follow for both parents and facilitatorseliminates the need for expensive trainingmay be adapted to suit specific needs of trainers and parent groups, and in response to parents’ own ideas and evaluationsis accessible for use by smaller voluntary agencies, with restricted time and budgets, as easily as by larger organisationsprovides user friendly handouts for parentscan be used entirely on its own; or be linked to other training delivered by the author and her colleagues. Search on Wendy Goddard at www.russellhouse.co.uk for updates about further manuals.encourages further learning about the underpinning ideas of Individual Psychology; Cognitive Behaviour Therapy; Emotional Intelligence; a Person-Centred Approach.Supporting Positive Parenting offers
guidance and materials that enable practitioners (counsellors, nurses, teachers, youth workers, social workers, family and children’s centre staff) to offer a complete course of 6-10 sessions, including 12-20 hours contact time with parents, in groups of up to 15, or individuals. The session plans, facilitator’s notes, photocopiable handouts and extension exercises can be adapted to suit needs. No audio-visual or IT equipment is necessary. The course’s
manageable length and bite-sized chunks reduce drop-out rates and tempt parents on to further learning. Purchasers of the manual can subsequently obtain - free from the publisher - the course’s
photocopiable material in
electronic format, together with a follow-up email service from the author.
A4 wirobound 160 pages ISBN: 9781905541294 Published November 2008 £44.95
READERSHIP: Practitioners working with parents, carers, grandparents, foster carers and parents-to-be. Such practitioners include counsellors, nurses, teachers, youth workers, social workers, family and childrens centre staff and indeed parents themselves who have appropriate confidence and skills to work with other parents, learning and sharing what is in these manuals.
CONTENTS:
About this manual
Who is this manual for?
Who has produced this manual?
About the author
Other training developed by the author
Acknowledgements
Photocopying permission for use of the handouts
Electronic supply of the handouts
Dear Facilitator... a quick note on using this manual
How the manual is organised
Timing and timetable
Group Members’ Needs
Organising the course
The first session of a course
The closing session of a course
The other sessions
Preparation
Getting started
Using the materials
Closing a session
Evaluating
A brief guide to the principles underlying this work with parents
Approaching this course on Supporting Positive Parenting
Further reading
Good luck!
Part One: Guidelines for FacilitatorsFacilitating groups
Stages of group development
The Facilitator
Some useful interventions
Coping with individual behaviour
’C’ groups
Giving effective feedback
Guidelines for sculpturing
Guidelines for role-play
Guidelines for Relaxation
Supervision for reflective practice
Confidentiality
Evaluation
Part Two: The SessionsScheme of work
Standards for work with parents
Session 1:
Becoming a responsible parentSession plan. Facilitator’s notes. Handouts for parents.
Session 2:
Stages of development and parenting stylesSession plan. Facilitator’s notes. Handouts for parents.
Session 3:
Goals of behaviourSession plan. Facilitator’s notes. Handouts for parents.
Session 4:
Discipline v punishmentSession plan. Facilitator’s notes. Handouts for parents.
Session 5:
Healthy communicationsSession plan. Facilitator’s notes. Handouts for parents
Session 6:
Taking care of ’you’Session plan. Facilitator’s notes. Handouts for parents.
References
Licence for using the electronically-supplied handouts
ABOUT THE AUTHORWendy Goddard was a secondary school teacher for 20 years and retired as a Deputy Head. Before that she was a psychiatric nurse. On retirement 15 years ago, she founded a small local charity, The Listening Ear, that provides counselling and training to young people and their families. Until recently she ran the project but was very grateful when the team of counsellors, who in effect ’are’ the charity, took over this role themselves. She has remained very involved, developing materials for their training, supervising the counsellors, and providing training for parents and professionals working with young people.