Parenting Education Courses
Kids don’t come with instructions, but you can learn practical tips and gain inspiration to help you parent. Lifewise’s parenting courses are open to all parents and caregivers, wherever you are on the parenting journey.
We have programmes to help you at each step
Lifewise has parenting education courses that will give you tools to help at each stage of the journey. We also offer a Parenting Through Separation course to help your kids when you separate. Each course is conducted in a supportive, judgement-free environment.
Costs:
There is no charge for the Parenting Through Separation course.
For the other six-week courses, the cost for the materials is $85 per individual or $120 per couple.
There is a subsidy available for financial hardship if needed. Just let the Family Services team know.
“There’s power in humour, it helps people to open up. There’s ‘no blame, no shame’. We use videos, role play and get parents to have a laugh, which inspires confidence and teaches fun and effective parenting.
We offer online courses with Zoom
Running Zoom courses allows us to conduct them as normal, even if there is a change in Alert Levels. We’ve had great feedback from parents about our Zoom sessions. Lifewise will walk you through each step of the Zoom process and help you along the way. Please let us know if you’d like more information about how it works.
Here’s what you’ll need for Zoom sessions:
- A device
- A stable internet connection
- A private space free from interruption
- Be ready to join the Zoom course on time with the link we’ll send you
You can reach us on familyservices@lifewise.org.nz or by calling 09 818 6834 – choose option 3 for parenting courses.
Preschool Years Toolbox Parenting Course
Six Monday evenings
13 May to 24 June, 7pm to 9pm, New Lynn office
Topics:
- The Foundation of Love– Parent Vision, Building Connection, Love Languages.
- Parenting Styles– Sergeant Major, Jellyfish, Too Busy, the Parent Coach Style, Looking after Ourselves.
- Understanding Emotions– a Parent Coach Approach to Emotions, Ages & Stages.
- Understanding Behaviour– a Parent Coach Approach to Behaviour, Putting It into Action, and Getting All The Adults on Board.
- Understanding The World of the Preschooler– Common Challenges (picky eating, bedtimes, screen time, preschool drop-off/clinginess).
- Delaying Gratification– Technology, Putting It All Together, Your Dream for your Tamariki.
You can register here with our Parenting Education Booking Form.
Building Awesome Whānau (0-12) Toolbox Parenting Course
Six Friday morning sessions
17 May to 21 June, 9:30 am to 11:30 am, New Lynn office
Topics:
- Laying the foundations of aroha– Parent Vision; Soul Food (the Five Love Languages); Quality Time & Quantity Time; basic children’s needs; the importance of Attachment; the “Science of Love”.
- Parents are the roof: protecting our whanau– the mana of the parent; keeping our children safe; our default Parenting Styles; the Backbone Parent Coach; building rangatira; caring for ourselves too.
- The walls of the whare : boundaries and discipline– the real meaning of discipline; rules and boundaries; giving children choices; appropriate consequences; “good” discipline.
- Keep it sweet: atmosphere is everything– how to sweeten up the atmosphere; the value of children doing chores; the importance of play; the value of eating meals all together; building a museum of memories.
- Cool kōrero: communication– tone of voice is a big issue; Reflective Listening & how to practise it; getting kids talking; parenting tools and strategies; Whanau Hui (family meetings); giving our kids ‘bounce’.
- Outside the whare: living in the big wide world– school; the importance of enough sleep; learning starts at home; if your kids are in trouble; ANGER – our own and our children’s; our dreams for our children.
You can register here with our Parenting Education Booking Form.
Primary Years Toolbox Course (6-12)
Six Tuesday evenings
14 May to 18 June, 7pm to 9pm, New Lynn office.
Topics:
- The foundation of love – parent vision, building connection, love languages.
- Parenting styles – sergeant major, jellyfish, too busy, the parent coach Style, Looking after Ourselves.
- Atmosphere – play, personality types, ages & stages.
- Building resilience – reflective listening, problem-solving, handling anger.
- Loving discipline – boundaries and consequences.
- Delaying gratification – technology, putting it all together, your dream for your tamariki.
You can register here with our Parenting Education Booking Form.
Teenage Years (13+) Toolbox Parenting Course
Six Wednesday evenings
15 May to 19 June, 7pm to 9pm, New Lynn office.
Topics:
- Understanding love and connection
- Understanding yourself as a parent
- Understanding our teenagers
- Understanding the world they live in
- Understanding discipline and boundaries
- Understanding a culture of connection
You can register here with our Parenting Education Booking Form.
Parenting Through Separation – Northland Courses
Northland, Kerikeri – Via ZOOM 2×2 hour sessions
- Tuesday 23 April & Thursday 24 April – 7pm-9pm
- Tuesday 7 May & Thursday 9 May – 7pm-9pm
- Tuesday 21 May & Thursday 23 May – 7pm-9pm
- Tuesday 4 June & Thursday 6 June– 7pm-9pm
- Tuesday 18 June & Thursday 20 June– 7pm-9pm
Kerikeri Plunket – In person
- Saturday 27 April – 9.30am- 2.30pm
- Saturday 11 May – 9.30am- 2.30pm
- Saturday 25 May – 9.30am- 2.30pm
- Saturday 22 June – 9.30am- 2.30pm
Whangārei Man Alive – In Person
- Saturday 13 April – 10am- 2pm
- Saturday 27 April – 10am- 2pm
- Saturday 11 May – 10am- 2pm
- Saturday 25 May– 10am- 2pm
- Saturday 8 June – 10am- 2pm
- Saturday 22 June – 10am- 2pm
Parenting Through Separation
You can choose to do this parenting course in either one four-hour or two x two-hour sessions.
Separating from your partner or spouse is usually stressful, but you can minimise the effects of this for your children.
You can register with our Parenting Education Booking Form here.
We currently offer courses in Auckland and Northland. If we don’t offer courses in your region, check the Ministry of Justice website for a provider close to you.
Parenting Through Separation – Auckland Courses
West Auckland – Via ZOOM
- Thursday 9 May- 5pm – 9pm
- Thursday 23 May- 5pm – 9pm
- Thursday 6 June- 5pm – 9pm
- Thursday 20 June- 5pm – 9pm
West Auckland, New Lynn – In person
- Thursday 2 May – 5pm – 9pm
- Thursday 16 May- 5pm – 9pm
- Thursday 30 May – 5pm – 9pm
- Thursday 13 June- 5pm – 9pm
West Auckland – New Lynn Zoom
- Saturday 20 April – 10am- 2pm
- Saturday 4 May – 10am- 2pm
- Saturday 18 May– 10am- 2pm
- Saturday 1 June – 10am- 2pm
- Saturday 29 June – 10am- 2pm
East Auckland – Via ZOOM 1x4hour course
- Wednesday 17 – April- 12-4pm
- Friday 19 April- 9.30am – 1.30pm
- Wednesday 24 April – 12-4pm
- Friday 26 April- 9:30-1:30pm
- Wednesday 1 May- 12:00 – 4:00pm
- Friday 3 May- 9.30am – 1.30pm
- Wednesday 8 May- 12:00 – 4:00pm
- Friday 10 May- 9.30am – 1.30pm
- Wednesday 15 May- 12:00 – 4:00pm
- Friday 17 May- 9.30am – 1.30pm
- Wednesday 22 May- 1:00pm – 5:00pm
- Friday 24 May- 9.30am – 1.30pm
- Wednesday 29 May- 12:00 – 4:00pm
- Friday 31 May- 9.30am – 1.30pm
- Wednesday 5 June – 12:00 – 4:00pm
- Friday 7 June- 9.30am – 1.30pm
- Wednesday 12 June – 12:00 – 4:00pm
- Friday 14 June- 9.30am – 1.30pm
- Wednesday 19 June – 12:00 – 4:00pm
- Friday 21 June- 9.30am – 1.30pm
- Wednesday 26 June – 12:00 – 4:00pm
Auckland – Via ZOOM 2x2hour courses
- Monday 22 April & Tuesday 23 April- 7pm-9pm
- Monday 13 May & Tuesday 14 May – 7:00 – 9pm
- Monday 27 May & Tuesday 28 May- 7pm-9pm
- Monday 24 June & Tuesday 25 June- 7pm-9pm
East Auckland Willowbank – In person
- Saturday 6 April- 9.30am -1.30pm
- Saturday 18 May- 9.30am -1.30pm
- Saturday 22 June- 9.30am -1.30pm
West Auckland, New Lynn – In person
- Thursday 18 April – 5pm – 9pm
Central Auckland, Mount Eden Gordon House – In person
- Saturday 20 April – 9.30am – 1.30pm
- Saturday 27 April – 9.30am – 1.30pm
- Saturday 4 May – 9.30am – 1.30pm
- Saturday 11 May – 9.30am – 1.30pm
- Saturday 18 May– 9.30am – 1.30pm
- Saturday 25 May– 9.30am – 1.30pm
- Saturday 1 June – 9.30am – 1.30pm
- Saturday 8 June – 9.30am – 1.30pm
- Saturday 15 June – 9.30am – 1.30pm
- Saturday 22 June – 9.30am – 1.30pm
- Saturday 29 June – 9.30am – 1.30pm
South Auckland, Manukau – In person
- Tuesday 23 April – 5pm – 9pm
- Tuesday 30 April – 5pm – 9pm
- Wednesday 1 May- 5pm – 9pm
- Wednesday 8 May- 5pm – 9pm
- Wednesday 15 May- 5pm – 9pm
- Wednesday 22 May- 5pm – 9pm
- Wednesday 29 May- 5pm – 9pm
- Tuesday 4 June – 5pm – 9pm
- Wednesday 5 June – 5pm – 9pm
- Tuesday 11 June – 5pm – 9pm
- Wednesday 12 June – 5pm – 9pm
- Tuesday 18 June – 5pm – 9pm
- Wednesday 19 June – 5pm – 9pm
- Tuesday 25 June – 5pm – 9pm
- Wednesday 26 June – 5pm – 9pm
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