Pippa MyringCity of York Council will once again be providing free courses for parents and carers in the New Year. The programme, called Strengthening Families Strengthening Communities, offers help to parents and carers of children aged 5-13, helping them to build relationships with their children. The courses have been running for the past five years, with over 600 parents taking advantage of the courses, which are funded by the Department of Education.
Beginning after Christmas, which can often place a strain on family relationships, and coinciding with the time of year for New Year’s resolutions, the courses run for thirteen weeks. Parents and carers are provided with ideas for activities, relationship building techniques, and a forum for them to share ideas, experiences, and techniques with each other.
The courses are designed to enhance relationships between parents and their children by tackling a number of aspects within parent/child relationships. Anger management techniques are taught, thus tackling violence within homes and families. Solution building techniques are discussed, which encourage children and parents to work together. Parents and carers are also made aware of the types of pressures and stresses children face at this age, and in today’s society.
On a larger scale, parents and carers are encouraged to be more aware of how their own family backgrounds influence their behaviours and parenting, assisting them to learn the tools and awareness needed to develop healthy relationships and lifestyles within their own family. Furthermore, aspects of British culture and tradition are discussed, focusing on cultural values, traditions and celebrations.
The programme is specifically aimed at parents and carers of children aged 5-13 as this is a time when children begin to become curious, ask questions, and test boundaries. By developing parent’s and carer’s skills, and their knowledge of how their children develop during this time, this helps them to better understand their child’s behaviour. Parents are taught positive discipline methods, improving parent/child relationships, and encouraging a child’s self esteem, self discipline, and social capabilities.
Not only does the programme assist the development of relationships between parents and children, it also aims to improve relationships between individuals and their community. By improving relationships within families, this can positively influence children’s behaviours and has a knock on effect for the community as a whole. For example, healthy, positive relationships encourage and improve school attendance, reduce crime and violence amongst young people, and reduce drink and drug abuse, to name just a few issues such courses work towards tackling.
The programmes will take place at Hob Moor Children’s Centre from the 10th of January, and Oaken Grove Community Centre from the 9th of January, between 9.30am and 12.30pm (a meal is provided). Courses will also be held in New Earswick from March. No commitment to the full 13 weeks is necessary as parents can try the course for 2-3 weeks to begin with. Visit the website for more information: www.yor-ok.org.uk
