Cardiff Parenting Services

What is Mellow Dads-to-be?
• Becoming a parent can make you feel so many things! Mellow dads-to-be is a seven week group for dads-to-be, to support you in this new step.
• Mellow dads-to-be is a group just for dads, to help you get ready to meet your baby (we offer one just for expectant mums too!)
• There will be time to think and talk about how you feel about becoming a dad.
• Small changes can make a big difference and if you are happier and taken care of, your baby will feel it too!
• Did you know that babies are born ready to interact? In the supportive group, you will think about you and your baby – focusing on what your baby can already do and what they can learn from you.
• Cardiff Parenting will support you to find your own solutions and meet other new dads along the way.

 Over the 7 weeks you will look at topics including:
• Common worries and stresses of becoming a parent.
• Ways to help relaxation and stress reduction – and why that is important for you, your partner and your baby!
• How babies communicate and let you know how they are feeling.
• Your important part in developing your baby’s brain by playing and talking with them.
• Your role in building strong foundations for your baby’s future.
• It will be a safe space for yourself and other dads-to-be to share your journey and experiences.

Practical information:
• There are separate Mellow Bumps groups and Dads-to-be groups giving a safe space to talk with others who will be sharing some of the same feelings.
• We can work with you in an online group.
• You will be given a booklet and other materials to help support your learning over the 7 weeks.
• Before the group begins there are 3 sessions with you and the facilitator so you can discuss what the group will be like and what you can expect from it – we want you to feel ready to join the group.
• There are 7 sessions, each lasting around 90 minutes.
• The programme is best suited to expectant parents from 20+ weeks of the pregnancy.
• Groups for expectant fathers will be run by at least one male practitioner.
• Mellow Bumps and Mellow dads-to-be are delivered by Cardiff Parenting Services, for families living in Cardiff.

All Children have the right to grow up to be healthy – Article 6, UNCRC

What is GroBrain?
• GroBrain is a group for expectant parents or parents with an infant up to 12 months.
• GroBrain explores bonding, emotions experienced by parents and baby, and brain development.

Why is parenting so important in the early years?
• Vital foundations for lifelong health and wellbeing are being laid in your baby’s brain from conception to the age of 2.
• Experiences and relationships during these first 1001 critical days of life interact with our genes and affect the way the brain develops (Gerhardt 2015; Schore 2003).

Over the 5 weeks you will look at topics including:
• How the brain is ‘wired up’ by early experiences and relationships.
• The impact of stress on a baby’s brain.
• How to ‘tune in’ to your baby’s cues and signals, and practice ways to soothe a baby.
• How to manage your baby’s emotions.
• How to bond with your baby.
• Baby massage.
• Looking at how diet and lifestyle choices during pregnancy connect with baby’s brain development.

The best interests of the child must be a top priority – Article 3, UNCRC

Practical Information
• We can work with you in a group or individually either online or face-to-face.
• There are 5 x 2 hour sessions with a break for refreshments in each session
• We recommend that you attend all five sessions to get the most of the programme.
• You are welcome to come to sessions on your own or with a partner or another relative that supports you in your care and the care of your child.
• The programme is delivered in an informal style with a group of approximately 10 parents.
• Face to face groups provide a crèche run by qualified staff, or you are welcome to attend with your baby. You are welcome to feed your baby during the sessions.
• You will be given a booklet and other materials to support your learning during the five weeks.
• GroBrain is delivered by fully trained practitioners from Cardiff Parenting Services who see you as the expert on your own child and these sessions are intended to be interactive.

“This course gave me a sense of security and I learned a lot of interesting tactics, and realised how important stress management is.”

What is GroBrain Toddler?
• GroBrain Toddler is a course for Mums, Dads, Partners and Carers of infants aged 1-3 years.
• Being a parent of a toddler can be a tricky time, as our little ones become more independent. The course is designed to help parents and carers to understand your toddler and learn why it’s so hard being a toddler!
• GroBrain Toddler explores attachment, brain development and a focus on the vital role parents and carers play in ‘wiring up’ your toddlers’ brain. It also explorers the importance of laying the strong foundations for emotional wellbeing that will support the toddler later on in life.
• There are five sessions, each session is delivered using activities, discussions, quizzes and time to chat to other parents and carers. The course looks at how you can answer your toddler’s three big questions: Am I lovable? Is anyone there for me when I need them? Is anyone interested in what I have to say?

All Children have the right to life and to grow up to be healthy – Article 6, UNCRC

Over the five weeks, you will learn about:
• Toddler brain development – understanding more about what is happening in your toddler’s brain. How can you ‘wire up’ your toddler’s brain, helping them to feel lovable.
• Attachment and emotional development – understanding how to respond to your toddler, thinking about attachment and emotions, helping your toddler to learn about feelings and creating strong wiring for future
handling of emotions.
• Helping your toddlers manage their behaviour – exploring the link between emotions and behaviour, and helping toddlers to manage their emotions in a healthy way. Also exploring how being curious can help you to understand why your toddler is behaving in a particular way.
• Understanding more about toddler behaviour – learning to manage BIG emotions from your toddler, learning strategies that are good for long-term emotional health, looking at what is normal behaviour and exploring your toddler’s temperament.
• Communication, play and school readiness – looking at five areas of development, focusing on talking and readiness to play with other toddlers.

 Practical Information
• We can work with you in a group or individually either online or face-to-face.
• There are 5 x 2 hour sessions with a break for refreshments in each session.
• We recommend that you attend all five sessions to get the most of the programme.
• You are welcome to come to sessions on your own or with a partner or another relative that supports you in your care and the care of your child
• You will be given a booklet and other materials to support your learning during the five weeks.
• If attending a face-to-face group, we provide a crèche run by qualified staff.
• GroBrain Toddler is delivered by fully trained practitioners from Cardiff Parenting Services who see you as the expert on your own child and these sessions are intended to be interactive.

“The course taught me how no child is naughty, and the understanding of how their brain works, and why they act how they do… It’s very educational and useful.”

What is Circle of Security?
Circle of security is a relationship-based programme for parents of babies and younger children to enhance the bond and sense of security for both parents and your children. The sessions give you space to think and make sense of your child’s needs and behaviours and think about how you can support your child when they are younger, to help them throughout their life.

By growing an understanding of your own and your child’s needs, you can build on your relationship with your child, creating lasting security.

Over the 8 weeks you will look at topics including:
• How your child learns to be connected or attached to you.
• How you can understand your child’s needs and behaviour so that you can enjoy a stronger relationship with them, where you both feel happier.
• Making sense of what your child is asking from you – understanding children, their behaviour and and emotional development.
• Understanding parenting influences.
• Helping children to feel safe in their world.
• Identifying and enhancing parenting strengths

Practical information:
• We can work with you in a group or individually either online or face-to-face.
• Face to face groups provide a crèche run by qualified staff.
• You will be given a booklet and any materials you need to help support your learning.
• Each weekly session is about 90 minutes, with a break.
• There will be 8 weekly sessions, and we recommend you attend all sessions to get the most from the programme.
• You are welcome to come to sessions on your own or with a partner or another relative that supports you in your care and the care of your child.
• The programme is best suited for parents with a child aged from 4 months up to around age 8 years.
• Circle of Security is delivered by fully trained practitioners from Cardiff Parenting Services who see you as the expert on your own child and these sessions are intended to be interactive.

What is Mini Talkers, Mini Explorers?
6 weeks of fun packed sessions for parents/carers with toddlers up to the age of four. The programme is designed to give you top tips to support your child’s development through hands-on, fun, sensory activities that you share together. Over the 6 weeks, you and your child will discover:
• Different types of play that involve the 5 senses
• The importance of songs and rhymes
• The importance of books and stories.
• Routines can be fun
• Physical Play
• Importance of talking to your child

“The course helped me understand the importance of play and why children need these type of activities. I made some great friends and I cannot wait to do other courses with Flying Start. They are so helpful”.

Every child has the right to learn and develop their personality, talents and abilities to the full – Article 29, UNCRC

Practical information:
• This group is face-to-face in groups in community venues (during COVID restrictions this is by invite only).
• For parents/carer and child to attend together.
• There are 6 x 1 hour sessions and parents are invited to join all six sessions with their child.
• You are welcome to bring another parent or carer with you.
• Parents/carers participating in this group can complete an AGORED accreditation at Level one and Entry Level 3.

What is Stay & Play?
Stay & Play sessions are a chance for parents/carers get together and spend time playing with your children. It can be wonderful playing together in your own home, and Stay & Play can add to that by offering you a place to come together where you don’t have to worry about tidying up afterwards. Parents can enjoy playing too!

Play allows children to use their creativity while developing their imagination and supports all areas of development; it is how children at a very early age make sense of the world around them.

Share your little ones experiences by enjoying quality activities with them that encourage exploration through the senses.

Stay & Play happens in local community venues, where our team will set up exciting play opportunities for you to explore together with your child. It can give you a chance to meet our team, keep you up to date with important community messages and support you to access other family services.

“I really regret not attending Stay and Play sooner. My confidence (in being a parent) has grown and I look forward to the group, it keeps me going through the week”.

Every child has the right to meet with other children. – Article 15, UNCRC

Practical information:
• This group is face-to-face in groups in community venues (during COVID restrictions this is by invite only).
• For parents/carer and child to attend together.
• Stay & Play is for children under 4 although we understand that it can be daunting to bring a little baby along when there are toddlers and children exploring so we also offer Baby Stay and Play for pre-walkers and Story & Rhyme Times.
• Stay & Play runs for 2 hours and you are welcome to come along at any time, although we would recommend coming for as much as you can to get the most from the session!

What is It’s Child’s Play?
An 8-week course for parents/carers of children between 18 months and 4 years of age full of hands on fun experiences to develop an understanding of how a child learns and develops through play.

Every child has the right to learn and develop their personality, talents and abilities to the full – Article 29, UNCRC

Over the 8 weeks you will:
• Understand how play supports physical development.
• Understand how play supports emotional Well Being through books, stories and rhymes.
• Understand how play helps a child to develop their thinking skills.
• Understand how play helps a child to develop language.
• Understand how play supports speech and language development.
• Understand how playing with a child can help build relationships; show care and affection; and be fun for parents too.

Practical Information:
• This group is face-to-face in groups in community venues (during COVID restrictions this is by invite only).
• There are 8 x 2 hour sessions with a break for refreshments in each session.
• Flying Start provide a crèche run by qualified staff.
• Parents/carers participating in this group can complete an AGORED.

“So thankful for the support on play ideas and fun this group has given us. We have seen the power of creative and sensory play coming to life. The creche has been excellent it allowed me the time to relax and learn”

What is E-PAtS?
Early Positive Approaches to Support is an 8-week programme for families raising a young child (five years and under) where developmental delay and or learning disability has been suggested or confirmed. Children with learning and/or developmental disabilities have a range of needs and everyday living challenges and most families require some support to fully understand their children’s needs. In addition, family carers report that raising a child with a learning and/or developmental disability can affect their own wellbeing.

E-PAtS has been developed by family carers working alongside professionals (co-produced). Sessions are run by 2 facilitators (one family carer and one professional) who both have experience of working with, or parenting, children with a learning and/or developmental disability.

Participants have described improved wellbeing as a result of attending E-PAtS sessions. It encouraged people to take time for themselves and recognise their own needs.

“It made me think about taking time for myself. I haven’t been out on my motorbike in years and I just took myself out on my motorbike for a while.”

“I was suffering from depression but now I’ve been able to stop taking my medication.”

As well as helping participants feel not so alone, they were able to take home strategies for assisting with living skills. They reported increased confidence in understanding and dealing with their child’s behaviours as well as advocating for their child to medical professionals.

Over the 8 weeks, we will look at topics including;
• Support for sleep.
• Supporting communication (noticing the nonverbal ways children communicate).
• Supporting skill development.
• Positive approaches to behaviours that challenge.
• Accessing services and supports and emotional wellbeing and resilience for caregivers.

Every child with a disability should enjoy the best possible life in society – Article 23, UNCRC

Practical Information
• E-PAtS is offered by our Partners in the Early Years’ Experience team, based at St David’s Children’s Centre. It’s for anyone living in Cardiff.
• The service can be accessed by contacting Cardiff Family Gateway: 03000 133 133
• The sessions last between 2 and 2.5 hours and are run weekly for 8 weeks (with breaks over school holidays).

What is Playful Parenting?
Play is children’s work – it is how they explore and make sense of the world around them, it is how they express feelings, take risks, experiment and try out different ways of interacting with their environment and the people in their lives. Playful Parenting is a 2 week workshop for you, as parents, to understand the importance of play for your child; how playing supports your child’s physical, brain and emotional development and creates a secure attachment between you and your child. The workshops aim to give you the understanding and the ideas to make everyday life more playful for you and your child. It is best suited for parents of children aged 12 months to 4 years old.

Every child has the right to play – Article 31, UNCRC

Over the 2 workshops you will look at topics including:
• Child development, the brain, attachment and how play supports learning and healthy development.
• The role of the adult in play.
• Using cheap/free resources to create quality play opportunities, making everyday life more playful.
• Promoting positive approaches to discipline and boundary setting.

Practical Information
• Playful Parenting is delivered in 2 x 2-hour workshops with a break in each session for refreshments.
• Fun activities and discussions support you to understand the importance of play.
• You are welcome to come to the sessions on your own or with a partner or another relative that supports you in your care and the care of your child.
• If attending a face-to-face group, we provide a crèche run by qualified staff.
• You will be given the materials needed to support your learning during the two weeks.
• Playful Parenting is delivered by fully trained practitioners from Cardiff Parenting Services who see you as the expert on your own child and these sessions are intended to be interactive.

What is the Parent Nurturing programme?
Parent Nurturing Programme from Family Links believes that children are rewarding, stimulating and fun although looking after them can be stressful and challenging. The Parent Nurturing Programme helps deal with these challenges so that you can have a calmer, happier family life. The Parent Nurturing Programme aims to help adults understand and manage feelings and behaviour and become more positive and nurturing in their relationships with children and each other. It encourages an approach to relationships that gives children and adults an emotionally healthy start for their lives, which contributes to learning.

All Children have the right to life and to grow up to be healthy – Article, 6 UNCRC

Over the 10 week course you will look at topics including:
• Understanding why children behave the way they do.
• Recognising the feelings behind behaviours (ours and theirs).
• Exploring different approaches to discipline.
• Finding ways to develop co-operation and self-discipline in children.
• The importance of looking after and nurturing ourselves.

What is Parent Nurturing (PNP Additional Needs)?
The Parent Nurture Programme (PNP Additional Needs) is tailored for parents of children who have disabilities or additional needs, aged 3 to 11 years. Parents of children with additional needs may spend significantly more time caring for their children, so an important part of the programme is exploring ways and encouraging you to nurture yourself. The programme gives ideas and strategies that you can use to help support your child when they are overwhelmed by their emotions, provides insight into why children behave the way they do and looks at verbal and non-verbal communication.

Parents whose children have additional needs can often face many additional challenges in their parenting journey so you may choose to attend a group with parents who have similar experiences or our other groups, but the choice is yours! You may wish to work individually with a practitioner.

The group delivery offers great peer support as there is a greater emphasis on giving you the opportunity to share your knowledge, experience and ideas with one another.

Over the 11 weeks you will look at topics including:
• Understanding why children behave the way they do.
• Recognising the feelings behind behaviours (ours and theirs).
• Exploring different approaches to discipline.
• Connecting and Communicating with our children.
• Finding ways to develop cooperation and self-discipline in children.
• The importance of looking after and nurturing ourselves.

Practical Information
• We can work with you in a group or individually either online or face-to-face.
• Parent Nurturing (PNP Additional Needs) is delivered over 11 weeks in 2 hourly sessions with a break for refreshments.
• We recommend that you come to all eleven sessions as the programme fits together like a puzzle It is best suited for parents of children aged 3 to 11 years.
• You are welcome to come to sessions on your own or with a partner or another relative that supports you in your care and the care of your child.
• We recommend that you come to all eleven sessions as the programme fits together like a puzzle.
• You will be given a Parenting Puzzle book and other materials to support your learning over the eleven weeks.
• If attending a face-to-face group, we provide a crèche run by qualified staff.
• Parent Nurturing (PNP Additional Needs) is delivered by fully trained practitioners from Cardiff Parenting Services who see you as the expert on your own child and these sessions are intended to be interactive.

What is Cygnet?
Cygnet is a 7-week programme for parents and carers of children and young people aged 5-18 years with a diagnosed autistic spectrum condition.

After a diagnosis, you might have a lot of questions about autism and may want to seek more information in supporting your child’s needs. Children’s needs also change over time and information and advice received when a child is younger may need to be updated to be relevant for the child/young person today. Cygnet provides you with an opportunity to increase your confidence, knowledge and understanding practical solutions. If you join a group, it also gives you the chance to meet other parents and carers in a similar position.

I found the programme brilliant. I feel more regulated. I didn’t want it to end!

The best interest of the child must be a top priority – Article 3, UNCRC

Over the 7 weeks, you will look at topics including:
• Introductory session – a chance to meet the other group members and go through the aims and content of the programme, looking at what we already know about ASCs.
• Autism and diagnosis – a chance to discuss the variety of strengths and challenges faced by children with ASCs and to consider your own journeys as parents.
• Sensory Processing – an in-depth look at the senses and sensory issues that can be faced by children with ASCs, with ideas of strategies and resources to support this.
• Communication – a session on how communication can differ for children with ASCs and possible strategies and resources to support children with different levels of verbal communication.
• Understanding behaviour in children with ASCs – looking into possible functions of behaviour for children with ASCs and introducing a behavioural framework that can be used to understand your child’s behaviour.
• Supporting behaviour – continuing to look into behaviour with another framework and suggestions of other ways to access support.
• Parents/carers’ choice – An opportunity for parents to discuss topics of their choice.

Practical information:
• There are seven sessions, each lasting 2-3 hours. We are able to deliver face to-face in your community or online, and will adjust the time of the session according to the content.
• We recommend that you join in all 7 sessions. You will gain a lot more from committing to all the sessions whether it is the group or the online programme. This is because each session builds on the one before. We can work with you individually for the first session if you would find this helpful before joining a group.
• If you are not able to attend a group, we can offer Cygnet individually, where we send you information each week and arrange a weekly call to work through this together before moving on to the next session.
• You are welcome to attend on your own or with someone else who has a caring role for your child. Carers can be anybody with direct involvement with your child e.g. Grandparents, uncles, aunts, shared carers or support workers from school.
• Cygnet is delivered in a welcoming and informal style.
• We are able to work with you in the daytime or evening.
• We provide paper copies and/or electronic copies of each session for you to keep, make notes and refer back to. We will also give you other resources you might need.
• Our Cygnet facilitators see you as the expert on your own child so these sessions are intended to be interactive. Cygnet is delivered by fully trained practitioners from Cardiff Parenting Services for families living in Cardiff.

I feel I now have a range of extra ideas and techniques to use to meet my child’s needs.

Cygnet has allowed me to have a greater understanding of autism and allowed me to gain skills and knowledge that have had a positive experience me, my child and everyone I have come into contact with.

What is the Strengthening Families Programme?
Family life can, at times be challenging for children, young people and parents alike. The Strengthening Families Programme is proven to support parents, children & young people to strengthen family bonds and support children and young people as they transition into responsible teens and adults. The Strengthening Families Programme is an 11-week course for any family living in Cardiff with young people aged between 7-17 years of age.

“I’ve learnt how to stay calm and know what to do when I feel stressed.”

Parents/Carers will:
• Discuss what young people this age are like.
• Plan how to solve problems with young people.
• Think about ways to show love and support.
• Meet other parents/carers with young people aged between 7-17 years of age.
• Sessions use DVDs which portray different family situations.
• You will do activities that will help you in your relationship with your child

Young people will:
• Learn how to handle stress.
• Plan ways to resist peer pressure.
• Learn how to appreciate parents/caregivers.
• Meet other young people your age.
• Play games, take part in activities, learn new skills, and have fun!

“Spending time with my parents made us closer and we had lots of fun together.”

“I am much more confident and able to cope now.”

“I now know how to handle peer pressure.”

All children have the right to meet with friends and join groups and clubs – Article 15, UNCRC

Strengthening Families is designed to:
• Help parents build on their strengths in showing love and setting limits.
• Help young people develop skills in handling peer pressure and building a positive future.
• Support personal and social development in preparation for teen years.
• Increase parents’ confidence in setting boundaries.
• Build confidence in young people.
• Help young people set goals for their future and support goal achievement.
• Help young people build skills to avoid problems with drugs and alcohol.
• Aid transition into secondary school.
• Develop empathy in young people.
• Help young people and parents identify each other’s positive qualities and strengths.
• Support parents in helping their young person have a good experience of their teenage years.
• Strengthen family communication.

Children have the right to give their opinions freely on issues that affect them. Adults should listen and take children seriously – Article 12, UNCRC

Practical information
• Strengthening Families is delivered face to face in a group with other families or individually to your family in your family home, over 11x 2.5 hourly sessions
• Parents/Step-parents/Carers are all invited to attend all 11 sessions with their young person.
• The 2.5 hour long sessions, when attended as a group in community venues, include a light family meal/refreshment break and are normally held in the evening.
• Each session is divided into 2 parts; in the first part parents/carers have discussion time while their young person engages in activities with others. The second part of the session everyone comes together for family
time where the activities are designed to strengthen family bonds and encourage communication.
• There is a crèche, run by qualified staff, for younger children.
• Strengthening Families is delivered by fully trained practitioners from Cardiff Parenting Services who see you as the expert on your own child and these sessions are intended to be interactive.

“Strengthening Families was a fantastic course, experience, life lesson and solution to our significant problems. All the team were absolutely incredible in the group and our family situation has turned around as a result.”

What is Talking Teens?
Talking Teens from Family Links acknowledges that the teenage years can be challenging both for parents and teenagers themselves. Talking Teens encourages an approach to relationships that supports young people
to develop good emotional and mental health as they move towards adulthood and provide the basis for a calmer, happier family life. Talking Teens builds on the Parent Nurturing Programme.

Talking Teens introduces a weekly theme, including some background and theory, provides opportunity to parents to discuss and share experiences linked to the themes, and brings in some practical strategies to use at home.

Children have the right to give their opinions freely on issues that affect them. Adults should listen and take children seriously – Article 12, UNCRC

“I found this course very interesting…I learned many things, it has helped me with my communication and my child’s behaviour. I feel safe with my facilitator, she gives me the possibility to express myself and make sure my feelings about all my problems. I been given a lot of tips and ideas for changing the relationship between my son and me….. I really recommend this course to other parents”

Over the 4 week course you will look at topics including:
• What teenagers need from parents & what parents need from teenagers.
• Recognising the feelings behind behaviours (ours and theirs).
• Understanding the teenage brain.
• Talking about difficult issues such as: drugs & alcohol, social media, sex.
• Finding ways to develop co-operation.
• The importance of communication.

Practical Information
• We can work with you in a group or individually either online or face-to-face.
• Talking Teens is delivered over 4 x 2 hour sessions with each session having a refreshment break.
• You are welcome to come to sessions on your own or with a partner or another relative that supports you in your care and the care of your child.
• We recommend that you come to all four sessions as the programme fits together like a puzzle.
• The programme is best suited to parents with pre-teens and teenage children.
• You will be given a booklet and other materials to support your learning over the four weeks.
• Groups provide a crèche run by qualified staff, please let us know if you require a space.
• Talking Teens is delivered by fully trained practitioners from Cardiff Parenting Services who see you as the expert on your own child and these sessions are intended to be interactive.

What is Teen Triple P?
Teen Triple P is for parents of teenagers who have concerns about their behaviour or who want to stop problems from developing. It seeks to help parents understand why your teenager behaves the way they do. It provides is a great chance to meet other parents in similar situations with similar concerns, while learning a variety of parenting skills.

Over the 8 weeks you will look at topics including:
• what influences a teen’s behaviour.
• how to promote a teenager’s skills development.
• manage inappropriate behaviour.
• teaching emotional self-regulation.
• Planning for risk-taking behaviour and risky situations.
• Planning for your teen’s increasing independence.

The Every Parent’s Guide to Teenagers DVD will show you how the strategies work in real life and your workbook will give you the tools you need to start positive parenting right away.

Your teenager can join in a session if they wish. Children have the right to give their opinions freely on issues that affect them. Adults should listen and take children seriously – Article 12, UNCRC

Practical Information
• We can work with you in a group or individually either online or face-to-face.
• Group Teen Triple P is delivered over 8 weeks, with 5x 2hour group sessions and 3 home practice sessions.
• For home practice sessions you will receive a call each week to help support you in the problem solving while you are trying out the skills at home.
• You will be given a booklet and other materials to support your learning over the eight weeks.
• If attending a face-to-face group a crèche is provided for younger children run by qualified staff.
• Triple P is delivered by fully trained practitioners from Cardiff Parenting Services who see you as the expert in your own child and these sessions are intended to be interactive.

“I enjoy the sessions as I know that everyone is in the same situation as me and no one judges.”

What is Enhanced Triple P?
You will usually have already completed Teen Triple P before doing Enhanced Triple P.

Enhanced Triple P is individually delivered for parents experiencing stresses which are making being a parent more difficult. Options include managing stress, coping with emotions and/or communicating better with
your partner.

You and Cardiff Parenting 0-18 choose from three optional mini-courses, selecting ones that are right for you. You can do one, two or all three of these mini-courses. It’s all about your own personal needs.

Courses:

1. Practice Sessions will help you work on any specific Triple P strategies from Teen Triple P that you’ve been having trouble with. You’ll get extra attention and support to help you feel more confident as a parent.

2. Coping Skills helps parents build skills to cope with the everyday stresses that can make parenting difficult. You’ll learn how emotions work, plan how to calm your moods, prepare for stressful situations and even how to relax. This will include relaxation techniques, how to monitor thoughts and challenge unhelpful or irrational thoughts, and develop coping plans.

3. Partner Support will encourage you and your partner to work better as a team. It will help you improve communication, resolve conflict, support each other and tackle problems together.

Practical information
• We can work with you in a group or individually either online or face-to-face.
• You will usually have already completed Teen Triple P before doing Enhanced Triple P.
• Each mini-course is no more than three sessions. Each session takes 60- 90 minutes and is usually delivered individually with you in your home or local community setting.
• You need to be able to commit to 3 to 8 sessions depending on what you and Cardiff Parenting 0-18 agree would most benefit you.

Who are Parents Plus?
We are a team made up of Psychologists and Parenting Practitioners. A Specialised Psychologist leads the team. We deliver personalised parenting interventions, within the home or community venue. We have a wealth of training and experience in working with parents/carers, and babies, infants and young children.

How does Parents Plus Work with Families?
We work with parents or carers with babies and young children. There are many different reasons why we might become involved with you as a family.
You might want to work with us on developing your relationship with your child, on understanding and responding to your child’s behaviour, to explore how your child is developing and/or to focus on routines within the home (sleeping, feeding, etc.).

“Every time after we speak I look at him a little bit differently as I’ve learned something new about him. There’s another little thing to fall in love with”

“We’re connecting, having fun together and our bond is stronger than ever. I’m calmer and have more patience, and she’s having less tantrums.”

Parents are the main people responsible for bringing up a child – Article 18, UNCRC

Practical information:
We will start by visiting, or arranging to speak with you, to get to know more about you and your family. Every family is unique, so this is a chance for us to get to know you and for you to find out more about us. If you
wish to work with us, you can tell us about any changes you would like to make, and we can decide together on what the focus of our work will be. We may also wish to talk with your child’s preschool/school, or other
people working with you and your family.

We will then visit you regularly, for about an hour, over an agreed period of time. The parenting practitioners in the team will carry out these weekly visits with you. The psychologists in the team will help to plan and
oversee the work. We will ask you to complete a short questionnaire before and after our work together. You will also receive a written record of the work we complete with you. You are able to share this information with whoever you wish to share it with.

If you have an older child, we have another team called Parents First who can work with you.

Who are Parents First?
We are a team made up of Psychologists and Parenting Practitioners. Specialised Psychologists lead the team. We deliver personalised parenting interventions, within the home or community venue and or virtually (by telephone or video call). We have a wealth of experience in working with parents/carers, children and young people and we undertake regular training to help us in our work.

We really value the views of you and your child and this helps us to deliver a personalised service tailored to the needs of your family.

How do Parents First Work with Families?
We work with parents or carers with children and young people up to 18.
There are many different reasons why we might become involved with you as a family. You might want to work with us on understanding and responding to your child’s behaviour, developing your relationship with your child, or understanding your child’s development. We can work with you to help you make changes on a range of issues that might impact on family life using our knowledge and understanding of psychology.

“We have a much greater understanding of our child’s specific needs, feelings and realise that adjustments have to be made in regards to this.”

We will invite your child or teenager to be part of our work together. Children have the right to share freely with others what they learn, think and feel, by talking, drawing, writing or in any other way unless it harms other people – Article 13, UNCRC

“My husband and I have better communication and understanding of each other. This is a huge benefit to everyone in the family.”

“I feel I am more in control and confident as a parent.”

Practical information:
We will start by visiting, or arranging to speak with you, to get to know more about you and your family. Every family is unique, so this is a chance for us to get to know you and for you to find out more about us. If you wish to work with us, you can tell us about any changes you would like to make, and we can decide together on what the focus of our work will be. We are voluntary service and it is important to us that you feel working with us would be helpful for you. We may also wish to talk with your child’s school, or other people working with you to help us understand your family.

We will then visit you, or arrange to speak to you regularly, for about an hour, over an agreed period of time. The parenting practitioners in the team will carry out these weekly visits with you. The psychologists in the team will help to plan and oversee the work.

We will ask you to complete a short questionnaire before and after our work together. You will also receive a written record of the work we complete with you. You are able to share this information with anyone who you think might find it helpful.

If you have a younger child, we have another team called Parents Plus who can work with you.

Parents First are not qualified to offer medical advice and we are not a mental health service. There are other professionals better placed to meet these needs with you and your family. Please talk to your GP about your own or your child’s physical or mental health needs.

Getting it Right for Children is an online course for separating parents to minimise the impact of separation on children. When parents are separating or separated, it’s easy for children to get caught in the middle of
disagreements. Getting it Right for Children is an online course to complete in your own time, designed to help you parent cooperatively. It helps parents to develop positive communication skills, so that you can parent co-operatively and work out solutions together.

You will learn about:
• How to stay calm and listen as well as talk.
• Why it’s helpful to see things from a different point of view.
• What to do to stop a discussion from turning into an argument.
• Skills for finding solutions and making compromises

I would hope we will now support our son to have a relationship with each of us regardless of our own feelings.

I’ve learned better strategies and ways to address conversations which are difficult.

The best interest of the child must be a top priority – Article 3, UNCRC

Arguing Better is an online course to help parents manage conflict constructively and reduce the impact it has on children. Knowing how to argue or communicate in a constructive way can make all the difference to your family relationships. Managing your conflict with your partner will help you both and your child. Arguing Better, an online course, gives you the skills to cope with stress together.

You will learn about:
• Where stress comes from and how it can affect you.
• The impact of stress on your family and relationship.
• How to support each other during stressful times.
• The best way to talk about problems so that you can find solutions together.

I’ve learned to stay calm, we think about the language that we use, we are de-escalating arguments and work better together. How to calmly approach conversations and compromise with the fellow parent so the children aren’t in the middle of stress they shouldn’t have to deal with.