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Parenting Programs

parenting programs

Term 4 programs are now open.

 

The Northern Centre offers a range of parenting groups to provide parents and carers with effective activities, information and coaching to assist them to build positive parenting skills.

Our groups are usually held during school terms and are listed below. Our Targeted Early Intervention (TEI) program funding allows us to deliver many of our programs at no cost. We also offer childcare for the duration of some programs. Please notify us at the time of booking program if you need this service.

 

Term 3 parenting programs are coming soon.

Register below your interest to attend Circle of Security (Mandarin) during the winter school holidays.

Please join our The Northern Centre Facebook page and/or ‘subscribe’ on our website to be notified when the next Parenting Program Calendar is available.

Interested in joining a parenting program in Term 4? Check out what is on offer on Resourcing Parents. “There is a Parenting Program to navigate the way ahead through smooth seas or choppy waters”.

The Northern Centre will be running parenting programs again in Term 1, 2023. To ensure you don’t miss out, please Subscribe to our newsletter and you will receive the Parenting Program Calendar in January 2023.

The Northern Centre offers a range of parenting groups to provide parents and carers with effective activities, information and coaching to assist them to build positive parenting skills.

Our groups are usually held during school terms and are listed below. Our Targeted Early Intervention (TEI) program funding allows us to deliver many of our programs at no cost. We can also offer childcare for the duration of most programs. Please notify us at the time of booking if you need this service. Bookings are essential.

Bringing Up Great Kids (Mandarin)

Are you a parent with a child under 12 years old?

Bringing Up Great Kids (BUGK) is a reflective, mindful, respectful program that provides parents with an opportunity to reflect on their parenting journey, in a safe and respectful environment.

The program provides a wide range of activities and tools that are unique. The program offers parents and carers a fresh way to understand their role and enact relationships with their children in a reflective way.

When:  Mondays: 24 July to 21 August 2023

Time:  10:00am to 12.00pm

Where:  The Northern Centre, Level 3, 3-5 Anthony Road, West Ryde

Childcare available

The Northern Centre

Circle of Security

Circle of Security is a highly successful 8 week evidenced based program for parents of 0-5 year olds that focusses on how you can strengthen your relationship with your child through understanding and responding to their needs and behaviours.

Circle of Security is a relationship based, early intervention program designed to enhance attachment security between parents and children. Decades of university-based research have confirmed that secure children exhibit increased empathy, greater self-esteem, better relationships with parents and peers, enhanced school readiness, and an increased capacity to handle emotions more effectively when compared with children who are not secure. For further information, see www.circleofsecurity.net.

When:  Wednesdays: 8 May to 26 June

Time:  6:45pm to 8:45pm

Where: Via Zoom (link will be provided prior to sessions)

The Northern Centre

Circle of Security – Mandarin

This program supports parents to be good enough caregivers, both physically and emotionally. Find out how your relationship with your child can help them to become happier and more confident.

This Circle of Security Parenting Group will be delivered over 5 consecutive days in July with a follow up call by the facilitator. Resources and handouts are in Mandarin and provide examples of parent experiences that everyone can relate to. For further information, see www.circleofsecurity.net.

家長會:

更體會子女的需要    

通過適當的溝通改善兒童的行為                              

給父母在教育子女上增加選擇     

與子女建立及加強良好關係  

使孩子在愛中成長

When:  15 to 19 July 2024

Time:  10:00am to 12:00pm

Where: The Northern Centre – Level 3, 3-5 Anthony Road, West Ryde

Registrations are essential. Book here.

The Northern Centre

Engaging Adolescents

Over 3 sessions, parents/carers will be provided with practical tips to prepare for tough conversations with young people. It teaches strategies to maintain open communication, build a relationship with your teenager and foster safe independence. Parents/carers will learn to better understand adolescents and appreciate what are reasonable expectations to hold. The program works towards giving parents/ carers a renewed sense of confidence about the role they can play in their teenagers’ lives, without conversations morphing into arguments.

Dates:  Tuesdays: 13, 20 and 27 August

Time:  10:00am to 12:00pm

Where:  Level 3, 3-5 Anthony Road, West Ryde

Tuning in to Kids (Korean)

Focuses on the emotional connection between parents and their 4 – 10 year old child. Aims to teach parents emotion coaching skills, to help their child understand and manage their emotions, as well as improving communication and parent-child relationship. Help develop your child’s social skills and manage frustrations and conflict, thus increasing positive behaviours.

Teach your child to understand and regulate their emotions.

  • Teach your child the skills of ‘emotional intelligence’ – the ability to understand and control emotions.
  • Help your child communicate how they’re feeling and to then move to problem solving.
  • Explore family parenting styles and how emotions, including conflict, are handled within the family.
  • Learn new ways to handle emotions including those of their children, which leads to improved family relationships.

When:  Thursdays: 23 May to 27 June

Time:  10:00am to 12:00pm  (limited childcare available upon request)

Where: Level 3, 3-5 Anthony Road, West Ryde

123 Magic and Emotion Coaching (English)

Developed by Dr. Thomas Phelan, a registered clinical psychologist and internationally renowned expert of child discipline and Attention Deficit Disorder, this program aims to teach parents with children 2-12 years how to deal with their child’s difficult behaviour by using an easy to learn and easy to use signalling system for managing difficult behaviour. This program runs over 3 weekly sessions of 2 hours.

When:  Tuesdays: 5 to 19 November

Time:  10:00am to 12:00pm  (limited childcare available upon request)

Where: Level 3, 3-5 Anthony Road, West Ryde

Bringing Baby Home

Bringing Baby Home is for expectant couples and new parents. This free two-day program aims to help you prepare for a life with your baby. Discover how to be the best parenting team possible. We will focus on constructively helping couples and new parents to cope, strengthen relationships, increase intimacy and regulate conflict.

When:  Saturdays: 13 and 20 April

Time:  9:30am to 4:30pm

Where:  The Northern Centre, Level 3, 3-5 Anthony Road, West Ryde

parenting groups for parents with children aged 0-10 years

Parents Wellbeing Group

(8 week program for parents of 0 – 18 year olds)

Would you like to feel more calm, connected and compassionate with your child, and within yourself?

  • Develop skills to better deal with daily stresses and build resilience
  • Learn techniques to cultivate mindfulness for more self-awareness and less reactivity
  • Discover health benefits and simple daily practices

When:  Mondays from 10 February to 30 March 2020

Time:  10:00am to 1:00pm

Where:  The Northern Centre, Level 3, 3-5 Anthony Road, West Ryde

Book via Register Your Interest button above.

For more information on MBSR click here, or to watch an ABC Catalyst program on MBSR here.

Transitioning to School Morning Tea Sessions (Mandarin)

Is your child off to school in the Ryde, Hunters Hill or Ku-ring-gai local government area?

Would you like to know how you could help your child be successful and ready for Kindy? How can you help your child and your family settle into Kindy?

Want to understand your child’s development as they start their education journey?

Please join us for 2 morning tea sessions where these questions plus more will be discussed and answered!

When:  Tuesday 14 January and 21 January 2020

Time:  10:00am to 12:00pm

Where:  The Northern Centre, Level 3, 3-5 Anthony Road, West Ryde

Facilitator:  Mabel Chow

Limited childcare available.

Light refreshments will be provided.

Book via Register Your Interest button above.

Parents Morning Teas

Are you a parent /carer of a child attending child care?

These sessions will cover:

  • how to help your child and your family settle into child care
  • how to help your child to develop their full potential and be ready for school
  • understanding your child’s development as they start their education journey.

Light refreshments will be provided.

When:  Fridays, 12 & 19 February 2021

Time:  10:00am to 11:30am

Where:  The Northern Centre, Level 3, 3-5 Anthony Road, West Ryde

Parents Afternoon Tea

Are you a Chinese parent with a child under 5 years old?

Join our experienced family worker to learn how to understand more about your child’s development and how that may be influencing their behaviour. Plus hear some insightful tips and tricks.

Light refreshments will be provided.  Limited childcare available.

When:  Thursday, 31 October 2019

Time:  1:00pm to 2.30pm

Where:  The Northern Centre, Level 3, 3-5 Anthony Road, West Ryde

Facilitation:  Delivered in Mandarin by Mabel Chow

Bookings: 9334 0111 or events@thenortherncentre.org.au

Sensory Play Parties

If you have a child under 5 years old, we welcome you to enjoy a sensory journey with your child through art and craft, movement, music and eating fun.

Please refer to our Supported Playgroups page for further information and registration of interest.

123 Magic and Emotion Coaching

(for parents of 3 – 8 year olds)

Developed by Dr. Thomas Phelan, a registered clinical psychologist and internationally renowned expert of child discipline and Attention Deficit Disorder, this program aims to teach parents with children 3-8 years how to deal with their child’s difficult behaviour by using an easy to learn and easy to use signalling system for managing difficult behaviour.

This program runs over 3 weekly sessions of 2 hours.

The Northern Centre

Triple P

(for parents of 3 – 10 year olds)

This Positive Parenting Program is one of the most effective evidence-based parenting programs, backed up by more than 35 years of ongoing research. Triple P gives parents simple and practical strategies to help them build strong, healthy relationships, confidently manage their children’s behaviour and prevent problems developing. Triple P is currently used in more than 25 countries and has been shown to work across cultures, socio-economic groups and in many different kinds of family structures.

This program runs over 5 weekly sessions of 2 hours, plus a phone call.

Tuning in to Kids Together

(for parents of 4 – 10 year olds)

Positive parenting program providing the following benefits for you and your family:

  • Learn about children’s brain development and emotions
  • Gain skills to assist your child manage difficult feelings
  • Learn to help your child prevent / reduce challenging behaviours
  • Develop strategies to stay calm when responding to emotions and challenging behaviour

Parents are invited to participate in this parenting program research, which is being run as part of a PhD project.

This new program is for parents and runs over 8 weekly sessions of 2 hours.

parenting groups for parents with children aged 11-18 years

The Northern Centre

Tuning in to Teens

(for parents of 11 – 18 year olds)

Tuning in to Teens is an effective emotional coaching program developed by the University of Melbourne that teaches parents how to help their child develop emotional intelligence. The program helps teens learn to understand and regulate their emotions.

It teaches parents:

  • awareness and regulation of their own emotions
  • awareness of their children’s emotions
  • to use children’s emotional experiences as an opportunity for closeness and teaching
  • skills in assisting teens to verbalise and manage their emotions, including difficult emotions
  • skills in problem solving
  • improve communication and reduce conflict

The research evaluation of this emotional coaching program found that when parents learned these parenting skills, there were improvements in teen’s emotional competence, social skills, and behaviour. Teens with higher emotional intelligence have fewer mental health concerns, stronger peer relationships and greater career success.

This program will be delivered in partnership with the DAYSS Team @ Catholic Care.
Risk taking behaviour can be common in adolescents, with potential varying pressures of substances use from alcohol to vaping and harder substances. This group will deliver the evidence-based Tuning into Teens parenting group based on emotion coaching, with additional information and support around risk taking behaviours.

Program runs over 5 weekly sessions of 2 hours.