Ms Jones says, 'We take a maximum of 12 parents on each programme. We have had some courses where 11 parents have completed the programme and others where only five have completed. This term we are running our eleventh and twelfth programmes.
'The programme is a collaborative one. The two leaders do not set themselves up as experts but work together with the parents to draw out information and experience which will help other parents. Each session covers a specific topic and we build up on the previous week's session.
'The first three weeks concentrate on play, the following three on praise and rewards. Short video clips are shown of parents interacting with their children, demonstrating some of the 'parenting tools' discussed during the session. We then move on to setting limits and giving instructions, and finally in the last three weeks to deal with unwanted behaviour and how to problem solve with children.
'Usually by the end of the first six weeks parents report that their children are exhibiting more wanted behaviour.'
Ms Jones says that an important part of the programme is the home activities, where parents practise what has been discussed in the sessions.
'The following week we start the session by discussing the parents' experiences at home, in terms of what was positive and what difficulties they had. We often brainstorm problems together and this helps parents to try out new approaches subsequently.'
She adds, 'Less than 10 per cent of the parents attending are fathers, but those who have attended have enjoyed the sessions. I would love to see more fathers attending and it's great when parents attend a group together, as the children then receive consistent parenting. But because many parents are bringing up children by themselves, this is not always possible.'
