MELLOW PARENTING

WHAT IS MELLOW PARENTNG?

Mellow Parenting is a programme designed to support families with relationship problems with their child .The child must be under the age of 5 years old. It combines personal support for the parents with video and direct work with parents on their parenting problems. It has proved effective in recruiting and engaging parents who have severe problems. The problems often stretch back to their own childhood and their experience of being parented.

WHO WOULD BENEFIT FROM MELLOW PARENTING?

Mellow parenting is particularly aimed at parents who:

• have a least one child under five
• experience difficulties parenting their child/children
• have a poor parent/child relationship
• have a child on the child protection register
• have mental health problems
• experience child behavioural problems
• parents who have difficulties with current family relationships or with the family of origin

WHERE ARE THE GROUPS RUN?

Groups are normally run in the Early Years Centre’s by professional staff who are trained in Mellow Parenting. The group care is organised and run by professional nursery officers and creche workers.

WHAT FORMAT DOES THE PROGRAMME TAKE?

Prior to the group starting individual sessions will take place within the family home. This will include a clinical interview and video taping of the parent and child interactions (the tape will be used within the group).

The programme runs for 16 weeks, one day a week. Transport and lunch will be provided.

The course involves:

• intensive group work sessions for the parent, looking at their own personal issues, this will also include how they were parented as a child.
• stimulating group sessions for the children in a structured Family Centre environment.
• activity sessions for the parent and child together. This is where the parents can try out their new parenting skills with support from professional staff.
• lunch, parents and children eat together, again there is support from professional staff to help parents with any behavioural issues.
• course sessions for parents focusing on parenting issues ( the video tapes will be used during this session).
• Homework!!! Tasks to try out at home.

HOW CAN I ACCESS MELLOW PARENTING?

Contact Sure Start - 01506 775836 or surestart@westlothian.gov.uk