movember launches the world’s first parenting course designed for dads
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anyone who has witnessed their toddler have a full-blown meltdown in the supermarket, suffered the crocodile tears before bedtime or fought a daily tug of war over the ipad, knows that parenting isn’t easy.
kids don’t come with a manual and although being a dad is one of the most rewarding experiences out there, nothing prepares you for how tough it can be.
fathers under pressure
previous research by movember has shown that over half (53 per cent) of dads believe men are under more pressure nowadays to be good parent, and 42 per cent say they feel anxious about being a ‘good father’.
yet, despite a wide body of research showing that parenting programmes are most effective when both parents are involved, only a fifth (20 per cent) of those who have taken a parenting course are men.
research indicates that financial costs, work commitments, lack of time, as well as a reluctance to seek help may be possible barriers for many dads.
designed for dads
that’s why movember has launched the world’s first online parenting program designed with dads in mind.
movember’s family man is a free, online course designed to equip parents of children, aged between two and eight, with the practical skills to manage challenging child behaviour and increase their parenting confidence.
the program is comprised of three short, animated episodes which dads, moms (or any caregiver) can complete at their own pace.
we know that all parents are pressed for time, so we’ve kept the advice clear and to the point – it takes less than an hour to complete the whole program.
results in two weeks
and improvements in behaviour can be seen within as little as two weeks.
each episode features a father who is faced with a challenging situation such as a battle over the dinner table or a tantrum in public.
users are given a number of possible ways to respond to the situation, the pros and cons and likely outcomes of each option are carefully explained, using clear and direct instructions.
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it was adapted from a successful parenting program called parentworks which was developed by professor mark dadds (yes, that’s his real name) at the university of sydney.
a study of the program published in the journal of child psychiatry & human development showed it led to significant decreases in child emotional and behavioural problems and parental mental health problems.
five tips for managing family conflict.
divide up the house
if you can, define clear zones in your home for noisy activities and quiet places, to limit the chaos. put a map of this on the fridge for everyone to see.
plan rewards
work out what behaviours you want to see more of and reward positive behaviour with specific praise and one-on-one time.
clear consequences
fighting, aggression and refusing to follow instructions should be met with calm, clear consequences. this could include losing a privilege or having a time out.
hold family meetings
involve the entire household, listen to your children’s opinions and keep it fun. the more kids feel as though they’re part of the process, the better.
don’t be the referee
trying to find out who started it, and who did what to whom can actually reinforce bickering. refuse to take sides.
to find out more about family man, visit familyman.movember.com.
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