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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.

Parents Playing With Their Child

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.

A child using an Apple laptop
Three little girls sitting together on a grassy bank.

Building Awesome Whānau (0-12) Toolbox Parenting Course

Six Friday morning sessions

21 February to 28 March, 9:30am to 11:30am, 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.

A mother and child hugging outdoors

Parenting Through Separation – Northland Courses

Northland – Via ZOOM 2×2 hour sessions

  • Tuesday 1 April & Thursday 3 April                7pm to 9pm
  • Tuesday 6 May & Thursday 8 May                7pm to 9pm
  • Wednesday 14 May                                        5pm to 9pm
  • Tuesday 3 June & Thursday 5 May               7pm to 9pm

Kerikeri Plunket – In person

  • Saturday 5 April               9.30am to 2pm
  • Saturday 24 May             9.30am to 2pm
  • Saturday 14 June            9.30am to 2pm

Whangārei Man Alive – In Person

  • Wednesday 16 April              6pm to 10pm
  • Saturday 3 May                    10am to 2pm
  • Wednesday 14 May              6pm to 10pm
  • Saturday 31 May                  10am to 2pm
  • Wednesday 11 June              10am to 2pm
  • Saturday 28 June                6pm to 10pm

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 17 April             5pm to 9pm
  • Thursday 1 May               5pm to 9pm
  • Thursday 15 May             5pm to 9pm
  • Thursday 29 May             5pm to 9pm
  • Thursday 12 June            5pm to 9pm
  • Thursday 26 June            5pm to 9pm

West Auckland, New Lynn, Lifewise – In person

  • Thursday 24 April            1pm to 5pm
  • Thursday 8 May               1pm to 5pm
  • Thursday 22 May             1pm to 5pm
  • Thursday 5 June              1pm to 5pm
  • Thursday 19 June            1pm to 5pm

East Auckland, Howick – Via ZOOM

  • Friday 11 April                   9.30am to 1.30pm
  • Friday 2 May                     9.30am to 1.30pm
  • Friday 16 May                   9.30am to 1.30pm
  • Friday 30 May                  9.30am to 1.30pm
  • Friday 6 June                    9.30am to 1.30pm
  • Friday 13 June                  9.30am to 1.30pm

2x2hour courses via ZOOM Mondays & Tuesdays

  • Monday 14 April & Tuesday 15 April             7pm to 9pm
  • Tuesday 5 May & Wednesday 6 May           7pm to 9pm
  • Monday 9 June & Tuesday 10 June             7pm to 9pm

East Auckland, Willowbank – In person

  • Saturday 12 April             9.30am to 1:30pm
  • Saturday 10 May             9.30am to 1:30pm
  • Saturday 14 June            9.30am to 1:30pm

Central Auckland, Mount Eden Gordon House – In person

  • Saturday 12 April            9.30am to 1.30pm
  • Saturday 3 May              9.30am to 1.30pm
  • Saturday 17 May             9.30am to 1.30pm
  • Saturday 7 June              9.30am to 1.30pm
  • Saturday 14 June            9.30am to 1.30pm
  • Saturday 28 June            9.30am to 1.30pm

South Auckland, Manukau – In-person

  • Wednesday 16 April          5pm to 9pm
  • Wednesday 23 April          5pm to 9pm

South Auckland – Via ZOOM

  • Wednesday 9 April           5pm to 9pm
  • Wednesday 30 April         5pm to 9pm
  • Wednesday 21 May          5pm to 9pm
  • Wednesday 28 May          5pm to 9pm
  • Wednesday 18 June         5pm to 9pm

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