Triple P

Dates for the next series of free group sessions and seminars of an internationally acclaimed positive parenting programme for families throughout Glasgow have been set for the New Year.

The Triple P Positive Parenting Programme is being offered by both NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and Glasgow City Council to families with children aged between birth and 16 years, and venues have been booked throughout the city.

And the latest Tip newspaper is being distributed to all Glasgow school kids over the next week in a mass school bag drop.

So far 5345 parents have signed up for the scheme since it was launched eight months ago, and thousands more have visited the Triple Stay Positive website to find out more about the  five steps that are key to creating a happier home, happier children and happier parents.

So far more than 500 practitioners, including NHS and council staff, have been trained to deliver the programme and more training is in the pipeline.

The latest 90-minute seminars kicked off this month and continue until March.  Each seminar helps parents understand why children behave the way they do and how to bring out the best in kids. They also include simple suggestions for managing problem behaviours and avoiding the traps that can encourage misbehaviour.

This programme of local seminars will tell parents what hundreds throughout the city already know, that Triple P can help with the big and small problems that are part of family life.

Dennistoun mum Dee Prashantham’s second child almost made his Triple P debut when Dee’s contractions started during the last hour of the final session she attended!

She said:  “I decided to enrol because Aditya was on the way and I already had our daughter Diya.

“We were doing brilliantly and I had no problems.  But I knew the new baby would have an impact on our whole family, and I would be able to spend less time with each of the children individually.

“I wanted to know how better to spend my reduced time with them.”

When she told family and friends of her decision, “they thought it (Triple P) was just for people having trouble,” explained Dee, “that had not occurred to me.  I had just been attracted by the idea of being able to stay positive for both of my children.”

She added:  “I’m glad I did it because there is now a structure to my parenting.”

Dr Linda de Caestecker, Glasgow’s Director of Public Health, believes Triple P is an investment in the city’s future:

“Over time we hope to see that by reducing the prevalence of behavioural problems in children that they’ll do better at school, and improve their attainment and employability, leading making them to become well-functioning adults in the future.”

Parents can sign up for any of the free Power of Positive Parenting seminars by contacting 0800 027 7264 and details of dates and locations and further information about the programme can be found at www.triplep-staypositive.net.

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and Glasgow City Council are working together to offer local families the world-acclaimed positive parenting programme known as Triple P.

Throughout 2010 Triple P will be available free for all Glasgow parents, who should find something to suit their needs within Triple P’s selection of courses, seminars, group sessions and handy website tips – whether they have major problems at home or no significant issues at all.

“We want to give parents a choice as to how they use Triple P and that’s the beauty of the programme,” says the city’s Director of Public Health Linda de Caestecker.

“We’re offering parents as much or as little help as they need and we’re providing that help in a wide range of venues and locations around the city. We’re trying to making it as easy as possible for parents to get Triple P because this is for all parents.”

Seminars launched
Already, parents are signing up for Group Triple P sessions which are being held in libraries, community centres and nurseries.

The Seminar Series has also been launched. To start the rollout, the first seminar in the series, the 90 minute “Power of Positive Parenting” is being offered in every primary school in the city to parents of children entering primary one.

There’ll be more public Triple P seminars throughout the late summer and autumn and one-to-one support will also be available.

An investment
Hundreds of practitioners – including health visitors, social workers and nurses – have already been trained to deliver Triple P to parents and more will be accredited as the programme is rolled out.

“We know that parenting is crucial to how a child develops and can have an impact that extends far beyond the family home,” added Linda.
“Good parenting sets children up for life and helps prevent problems that can affect everyone in the community, so we see Triple P as an investment in our children’s – and our city’s - future.”