Pilot parenting programme begins in Bray

A PILOT programme aimed at improving the health and well-being of families is beginning today in SPECS Bray.

The eight-week Healthy Families course for parents has been developed by Parents Plus, in consultation with national organisations such as SafeFood, Healthy Ireland, The Irish Heart Foundation and HSE Health Promotion and is funded by The Department of Children and Youth Affairs.

Over 250 parents participated in development workshops in the last year and their feedback has been invaluable in shaping the programme.

Professor John Sharry of Parents Plus said that bringing up children these days is very challenging.

‘Parents often receive the lion’s share of the blame for the changed lifestyles of their children, whether this is a child’s weight issues, excessive use of screens, poor sleeping or fussy eating. This is unfair and does not take into account the challenging environments we are now all living in,’ said Prof Sharry.

The Healthy Families Programme has been developed in response to these issues and the fact that parents are stressed and seeking advice from professionals on how to navigate these difficulties in their lives. The programme is focused on tapping into parents core wish to bring their children up as healthy and happy. Parents attending the pilot course in Bray will participate in eight core sessions which will help them to deal with a wide variety of issues, such as screen time use, healthy eating, mental health, sleep routines and physical activity. Each session also consists of healthy habits, dealing with challenges, establishing routines and promoting mindfulness.

Programme co-developer Dr Adele Keating from Our Lady’s Hospital for Sick Children said that participants will learn new skills to take on the challenges in bringing up healthy and happy children.

‘ The feedback from parents to date has been excellent. We look forward to supporting more parents to have healthy and happy families, something that every family deserves,’ said Dr Keating.

Further pilots of the course are due to take place in the coming month, one in Dublin city centre on October 16 and another in Dun Laoghaire.

The Dun Laoghaire pilot will begin on Friday, November 8, from 9.30 a.m. to noon and again run for eight weeks.

Anyone who would like to book a free place on this course can email niamh@parentsplus. ie or call (01) 854 5185

The programme will be formally evaluated using a randomised control trial study design. This research will be conducted by Fionna McDarby, trainee Clinical Psychologist, UCD, under the supervision of Dr Kathy Looney, UCD.