Staying calm and curious

A fully-subscribed Anglicare parenting course in Burnie later this month will offer honest and practical tips to guide parents in supporting their children through trying times.

Anglicare’s free Bringing up great kids course explodes the myth that there is such a thing as perfect parenting, says Anglicare practitioner Kirby Holland. Kirby (pictured below) draws on her own parenting experiences and her background in early child development to guide caregivers of children aged 0-12 along a positive pathway.

“Parenting is one of the hardest jobs in the world,” Kirby says. “Staying calm is the most important thing you can do when there’s a conflict with your child. Young children have huge emotions that they are not sure what to do with, and their reasoning skills haven’t kicked in yet. My top tip is to take very deep, slow breaths and encourage your child to do the same. Breathing together keeps your connection going in a positive way, and it has real physiological benefits.

I also encourage parents to stay curious, and to encourage that quality in their child as well. Ask your child to describe what they are feeling and why they think they are feeling that way. This helps them feel heard and understood.

Kirby suggests that having a comforting soft toy on hand and a warm and quiet space in the home can also help.

“We all have different learning styles, and our course caters for that,” she said. “We don’t use role plays. We want everyone to feel safe and comfortable just to be themselves. We would also love to see grandparents come along for a refresher!

It’s really exciting to see parents finish the course with the confidence to try new approaches. The skills they take away with them can have far-reaching benefits – right through to the next generation.

Bub and Me Nurture Circle

Anglicare’s North West team also offers a free, six-week course designed for first-time parents of babies. Bub and Me Nurture Circle explores your baby’s brain development during the first 1,000 days of life, highlights the importance of building a secure attachment, and provides guidance on caring for yourself along the way.

Guest speakers include a health nurse and baby massage therapist. The course is held on Wednesdays at the East Devonport Child and Family Learning Centre between 10am – 12 noon. The course is free, and it includes morning tea. The next course starts on 5 November. To register, please contact the East Devonport Child and Family Learning Centre on (03) 6478 4337.

Other opportunities

Anglicare also has several parenting courses running in the South (there are none running at present in the North.) Check this webpage to find one that suits your circumstances.

We run a variety of longer term, free programs for children, young people and their families. Click on the statewide services map on this webpage to find out more.

Children’s Week

Children’s Week will be celebrated from 18 – 26 October, with the theme ‘Everyone should know about children’s rights’. Keep an eye on the Playgroup Tasmania website and Facebook page for a list of activities to be held in your area.