Tips for Parenting Facilitators

• A friendly, welcoming face to greet them

• Good, clear directions (22 New Street, Townham Village – behind the Co-op, red door, go up to 2nd floor, door labelled ‘community training’)
• Welcome to SFSC sign
• Be in the room and on the lookout for your parents
• Is the room suitable, will 12 people fit in? Is the room hot or cold? Does the room have fresh air? Will the tables move? etc.
• Set up the room
• Do your preparation
• Organise your handouts
• Think about how to use the space
• Don’t turn your back on the learners
• Refreshments ready? Obvious where to get them? ‘Please Help Yourself’ either verbally or a notice.

Decide with the co-facilitator how long you are going to give latecomers and then get going. When people come make sure they know it’s not too much of a problem and maybe let then know what you’ve started on (REMEMBER reward people for being on time – stickers!).

Deal with people who are behaving badly. If parents are referred or feel that by being here someone has suggested that there must be a deficit in their parenting it is worth taking them aside for a 1:1. Turn it around! Three hours to talk about yourself and your kids and to offer your experience about what’s worked and hasn’t in your family and hear the same from other parents is a PRIVILEGE not a CHORE.

Assess learning styles.

Adapt – if your group is mostly parents of teenagers you may not need to read through every child development stage. Don’t miss chunks out but go quickly through the less necessary areas so that you can concentrate on debate/exercises re the more appropriate sections for your group.

Don’t be judgemental – parents are going to tell you things that are different or opposite to your values/beliefs, so…

Don’t pull faces – even a raised eyebrow can show that you are shocked or disapproving. Parents who clock this may not come back next week.

Evaluate – check on learning, quick quiz, review, most important points covered, ‘what does it really mean?

Think about how the last session went when you do your prep with your co-facilitator.

Watch your learner’s reactions – look at their body language. How can you tell if they are enjoying the session?

Include everyone - encourage the quiet ones without embarrassing them, quieten the louder ones without them feeling offended.

Always aim to improve your teaching practice, review constantly, get more training, study group dynamics and think about how adults learn.

Believe in yourself - you have been well trained, it is a brilliant Parent Education Programme and it changes peoples lives.

Good Luck!