Parenting Courses
    

Introduction

In summer 2001, Rochford Community Church was invited by the St.A.R. Partnership to send people for training as Parenting Trainers to meet a growing need for parenting skills within the community. This training was provided by the Essex Parenting Partnership and is supported by Education, Social Services and Health Authorities.

Delivery of the Course is now under the auspices of Rochford Community Projects (see separate page)

The parenting course in question is the S.T.E.P. Programme from the United States.
  

The S.T.E.P. Programme

S.T.E.P. stands for Systematic Training for Effective Parenting. It is an Adlerian based parent training programme and includes a Leader's Resource Guide and Parent's Handbook. It is designed to be taught in six or seven weekly two hour sessions.

The rationale for the course is that parents seldom receive formal training in parenting skills so, in STEP, they come together in a group, study relevant child-training information, encourage each other and practice skills in the group and between sessions. The group itself thus serves as a source of support and exchange of information.

Session topics include:

• Understanding yourself and your child
  

• Understanding beliefs and feelings
  

• Encourage your child and yourself
  

• Listening and talking to your child
  

• Helping children co-operate
  

• Discipline that makes sense
  

   

These topics are designed for different age groups: 2 to 6, 6 to 12 and over 12's.

Responses to the Course

Courses have been run in the community in 2001 and 2002.

A few of the quotes from those who have taken part so far:

"I learned how to listen more to my children and to take time in resolving a 'problem '."

"I learned how to turn negative behaviour into positive. I learned to listen better to what my child says. An excellent course. I'd love to come again."

"I learned to remain calm and not disregard how my child is feeling. I would recommend this course to all parents, even couples who are thinking of becoming parents."

"I have learned that I don't have to be angry and dominate but instead can give choices and help my children be responsible. I wish I had known about this years ago."

"Very enjoyable, very relaxed, very educational, very helpful."

The Present & Future

The purpose of the Course is to provide help for ALL parents, not just those with difficulties, and recruiting for courses has, thus far, mainly been done through local primary schools and through local Health Visitors.

We recently ran a Parenting Support Group which was a more informal group to discuss parenting needs and support.

Finance and Organisation of a Course

In order to run a formal Course we need between 6 and 10 people who are willing to commit themselves to two hours a week for seven weeks, for which we may charge. However we also do informal 'Parent Support' groups as well that are free.

We will provide the Course facilitators and all handout materials. 

We prefer to respond to requests for Courses rather than market them ourselves.  We are willing to provide them in the day or in the evenings, to suit the needs of the Course participants.

For further information about setting up a Course,

please contact

                Tony Thomas:    tony.thomas@rochfordcc.co.uk