Childline Gibraltar is launching its first course on Positive Parenting starting on Wednesday 10^th April at the John Mackintosh Hall.

The course aims to encourage better behaviour through techniques that work well with every child, regardless of their age, temperament, background, culture or tradition. These techniques build on your child’s wish to please you, guaranteeing a better-behaved, happy child and less-stressed parents.

They work by allowing you to:

• Create a good relationship with your child by showing love and affection
• Emphasise all the things that please you about your child
• Be a good example – your children will take their lead from what you do
• Praise the behaviour you want to see in your children
• Listen to your child’s views and negotiate solutions to problems together
• Avoid harsh punishments like smacking or shouting excessively
• Have clear limits that are fair and age appropriate, expressing your wishes in a way that shows you mean what you say.

We all know that raising children is a physical and emotional rollercoaster and it seems that parents today are under more pressure than ever before. Childline Gibraltar is committed to supporting mums and dads and one of the ways we do this is through our Positive Parenting courses. Practical, preventative, relationship-based, friendly and accessible, we have been told that parents find them literally life-changing.

Childline Gibraltar would like to thank The Bonita Trust for funding this project as part of our ongoing Schools Educational Programme.

Each course has limited places which must be reserved in advance. If you would like to register please contact [email protected] or call 54028331.

Don’t expect to be a perfect parent – just do your best!

• Children want 5 minutes, not £5. Love is spelt t-i-m-e. There are no substitutes – and children know it.
• Don’t postpone having fun. Make time to play a game together or have a chat.
• Giving children time improves their behavior. Sometimes they ‘act up’ simply to get our attention.
• Notice and praise good behaviour, including behaviour that is better than before.
• Criticising, threatening and shouting at children amounts to ‘verbal smacking’ and damages their self-esteem.
• Be as consistent as you can.
• Say ‘No’ and mean it! Don’t be afraid to be firm with them.
• Say sorry if you have acted unfairly. Children learn from example.