Bringing Up Great Kids. PARENTING PROGRAM Information for professionals.

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1 Bringing Up Great Kids PARENTING PROGRAM Information for professionals A reflective parenting program developed by the Australian Childhood Foundation.

2 What is the Bringing Up Great Kids Parenting Program? The Bringing Up Great Kids Program is a group parenting program developed by the Australian Childhood Foundation for a wide range of parents including those who might be considered vulnerable or at risk. The program has recently been developed into an easy to use facilitator s package and is now available for use by a range of professionals working with families and supporting parents. Where else do you get time to think about why you parent in the way you do? About the program The program uses mindful reflection to support parents to review and enhance their patterns of communication with their children; promote more respectful interactions; and, encourage the development of children s positive self-identity. It aims to identify and address the sources of unhelpful and hurtful attitudes held by parents. It also works to establish a new relationship context for children and their parents through facilitating opportunities for positive exchanges. Using the metaphor of Messages as the program platform, parents are encouraged to explore and reflect upon messages they received from their own experience of being parented. It connects them to the evolution of their own parenting style and resources them to examine the messages they pass onto their children through their behavior, interactions and emotional reactions. Parents learn about the brain development of their children and understand how to meet their children s growing needs. Through the program, they are supported to build attentive communication skills with children. Parents also reflect on and explore the meaning behind their children s behaviour and develop an awareness of the cues that trigger off in them unhelpful or ineffective responses. The program draws from child-centred and strengthsbased perspectives, neurobiological development, attachment theory and narrative approaches. The 12 hour program can be flexibly delivered as 6 x 2 hour, 4 x 3 hour, 3 x 4 hour or 2 x 6 hour sessions.

3 Aims of the program Parents will come to: learn more about the origins of their own parenting style and how it can be more effective; This course is unravelling me. I never imagined that this could happen. It s amazing so many things are changing with my kids. identify the important messages they want to convey to their children and how to achieve this; understand the messages that children communicate to their parents and how; discover how to overcome some of the obstacles that are getting in the way of being the kind of parent they would like to be; learn about the importance of building self esteem in children; discover ways for parents to take care of themselves and to find support when they need it; and, develop strategies to manage their parenting approach despite the mounting pressures on their time and role.

4 How effective is the program? Independent evaluation of the program conducted by Deakin University found that parents reported a significant reduction in parental stress, a decrease in family conflict, significant increase in parental confidence and very high levels of satisfaction with the program. The evaluation concluded that the program may be an effective intervention in building positive child-parent relationships, reducing parenting stress and minimising the possibility of harmful parental behaviour towards their children. What resources are available as part of the Bringing Up Great Kids Parenting Program? On an easy to use CDROM, you will have facilitator s manual session outlines interactive reflection activities participant sheets evaluation protocol There is no cost for this resource whilst stocks last. This program encouraged me to look within.

5 This week was the first time ever that my 2 boys went to sleep all night in their own beds. Instead of yelling and fighting I listened to them and then I reflected on what I needed to do... they now go to bed happy every night. I feel calmer, more confident, less self-critical. I feel more in control rather than like things are spiralling out of control. How can I obtain a copy of the Bringing Up Great Kids Parenting Program? Attend a training session about Bringing Up Great Kids Parenting Program. Visit for details of a session in your state. Order your copy online at Contact the Australian Childhood Foundation on Online support You can access ongoing online support in using the program via

6 About the initiative The Bringing Up Great Kids Parenting Program is a resource available as part of the Every Child Is Important Program developed by the Australian Childhood Foundation with the support of the Australian Government Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs. The Australian Childhood Foundation is a national children s charity and leading provider of therapeutic programs for children who have experienced abuse and trauma. It also provides parenting education and support activities and was awarded the National Child Protection Award in 2005 for its work in supporting parents. Australian Childhood Foundation PO BOX 525 Ringwood VIC 3134 Phone: (03) info@childhood.org.au