The Moose Jaw Early Years Family Resource Centre (FRC) offers free programs for parents and caregivers with children aged 0 to 5 years old, including drop-in play, a music and movement program, reading programs, and now the 'Nobody's Perfect Parenting' course.
"We took specific training through the Saskatchewan Prevention Institute to receive a certificate to facilitate this Nobody's Perfect Parenting program," explained Wanda Peakman, co-ordinator at the FRC.
"It's for families with children zero to five, and it's mean to build on what parents already know and do for themselves and their children. Parents share their own experiences and interests, and we all learn and grow together."
Peakman said the program is an active learning opportunity that is also useful for social connections. One of the program's outcomes should be that participants end up with a support network of other parents and caregivers, encouraging them to seek each other out and stay in touch after the program is over.
The program offers knowledge facilitation and resources, but does not follow a strict curriculum or timeline. Participants are able to choose what they learn about and where the group's focus is concentrated. The program is supported by the Public Health Agency of Canada.
Nobody's Perfect Parenting sessions help to:
- Promote positive parenting
- Increase parents’ understanding of children’s health, safety and behaviour
- Help parents build on the skills they have and learn new ones
- Improve parents’ self esteem and coping skills
- Increase self-help and mutual support
- Bring them in contact with community services and resources
- Help prevent family violence
"The big objectives are promoting positive parenting and helping parents increase their understanding of their children's health, safety, and behaviour," Peakman noted. "We also have access to five books that we can use as a resource, but the main thing is helping them how they want to be helped and building on the skills that they already have and that they bring to the program.
"For example, if there's lots of questions on behaviour, we'll spend more time with that particular book and do some activities to start the conversation. Then, as a group, we'll do some problem-solving and some sharing. And it's really done in a fun way."
Peakman said what she would most like to see is participants connecting with one another, realizing they aren't alone and that, while parenting may be really hard, there are community supports to rely on and places to ask for help.
"The questions I hear most frequently are that parents are curious about their child's development. A common question is about speech development. But, you know, during COVID, that was very isolating, so families are still in a place where they just want to connect. They want their children to be able to get out and connect and play and engage with others and with the community."
The course will be held at the FRC at 1250 11th Ave. NW every Thursday from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. for six weeks, starting October 19. Only six spots are available.
Registration is by emailing [email protected]. Learn more about the program at https://nobodysperfect.ca; moosejawfrc.ca; and at skprevention.ca.
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