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
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.
Building Awesome Whānau (0-12) Toolbox Parenting Course
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)
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.
Teenage Years (13+) Toolbox Parenting Course
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
Parenting Through Separation – Northland Courses
Northland, Kerikeri – Via ZOOM 2×2 hour sessions
- Tuesday 15 October & 17 October Thursday – 7pm-9pm
- Tuesday 4 November & 6 November Thursday – 7pm-9pm
- Tuesday 3 December & 5 December Thursday – 7pm-9pm
Kerikeri Plunket – In person
- Saturday 19 October – 9.30am- 2pm
- Saturday 30 November – 9.30am- 2pm
- Saturday 14 December – 9.30am- 2pm
Whangārei Man Alive – In Person
- Saturday 5 October – 10am- 2pm
- Saturday 12 October – 10am- 2pm
- Saturday 26 October – 10am- 2pm
- Saturday 2 November – 10am- 2pm
- Saturday 16 November – 10am- 2pm
- Saturday 30 November – 10am- 2pm
- Saturday 14 December – 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 3 October – 5pm-9pm
- Thursday 17 October – 5pm-9pm
- Thursday 31 October – 5pm – 9pm
- Thursday 14 November – 5pm – 9pm
- Thursday 28 November – 5pm – 9pm
- Thursday 12 December – 5pm – 9pm
West Auckland, New Lynn, Lifewise – In person
- Thursday 10 October – 1pm – 5pm
- Thursday 24 October – 1pm – 5pm
- Thursday 7 November – 1pm – 5pm
- Thursday 21 November – 1pm – 5pm
- Thursday 5 December – 1pm – 5pm
- Thursday 19 December- 1pm – 5pm
East Auckland – Via ZOOM
- Friday 11 October – 9:30am – 1:30pm
- Friday 18 October – 9.30am – 1.30pm
- Friday 8 November – 9.30am – 1.30pm
- Friday 15 November – 9.30am – 1.30pm
- Friday 6 December – 9.30am – 1.30pm
- Friday 13 December – 9.30am – 1.30pm
- Friday 20 December – 9.30am – 1.30pm
2x2hour courses via ZOOM Mondays & Tuesdays
- Monday 21 October & Tuesday 22 October – 7pm – 9pm
- Monday 18 November & Tuesday 19 November – 7pm – 9pm
- Monday 16 December & Tuesday 17 December – 7pm – 9pm
East Auckland, Willowbank – In person
- Saturday 12 October – 9.30am – 1.30pm
- Saturday 23 November – 9.30am – 1.30pm
- Saturday 14 December – 9.30am – 1.30pm
Central Auckland, Mount Eden Gordon House – In person
- Saturday 5 October – 9.30am – 1.30pm
- Saturday 19 October – 9.30am – 1.30pm
- Saturday 2 November – 9.30am – 1.30pm
- Saturday 16 November – 9.30am – 1.30pm
- Saturday 30 November – 9.30am – 1.30pm
- Saturday 14 December – 9.30am – 1.30pm
South Auckland, Manukau, Te Whare Ruruhau O Meri – In person
- Wednesday 9 October – 5pm – 9pm
- Saturday 12 October – 9.30am – 1.30pm
- Wednesday 23 October – 5pm – 9pm
- Saturday 26 October – 9:30am – 1:30pm
- Wednesday 30 October – 5pm – 9pm
- Wednesday 6 November – 5pm – 9pm
- Saturday 9 November – 9.30am – 1.30pm
- Wednesday 13 November – 5pm – 9pm
- Wednesday 20 November – 5pm – 9pm
- Saturday 23 November – 9:30am – 1:30pm
- Wednesday 4 December – 5pm – 9pm
- Saturday 7 December – 9:30am – 1:30pm
- Wednesday 11 December – 5pm – 9pm
- Wednesday 18 December – 5pm – 9pm
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