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Media Release 10th November 2010 Extreme Parenting: from ‘helicopter parents’ to ‘free range kids’. Have we lost the common-sense middle ground? Dr Rosina McAlpine, an internationally recognised, award-winning researcher, educator and mother talks about challenges of modern day parenting.  Conflicting parenting advice Most parents accept that parenting is hard and that they need help. However, parenting advice is very confusing. Some experts advocate staying close to your children while others recommend giving them space. Over the years numerous conflicting approaches to parenting have come and gone and it’s no different today. So how are parents supposed to know what’s best? “The current trends on parenting are situated at the extremes. Helicopter parents are criticised for ‘hovering’ over their children and being over protective. At the other end of the extreme are the advocates for raising independent ‘free-range kids’. It seems we’ve lost the common-sense approach to parenting and we need to ask ourselves what is parenting really about?, go back to basics and find the middle ground.” Dr Rosina Inspired by her own experience of motherhood and concerned with the current trends in parenting, Dr Rosina developed the Win Win Parenting Program which empowers parents to help their children develop key life skills. It’s based on a common-sense approach to parenting with a focus on preparing children for life.  As a working mother, Dr Rosina has first-hand personal experience about how busy today’s parents are, so the program develops life skills using activities that take only 15 minutes at a time. The program is emailed directly to parents providing weekly parenting advice and easy to follow life skills activities. Parenting - no training or qualifications needed? Most people accept that the majority of roles we play in society require qualifications and training. Accountants, doctors, pastry chefs and baristas are but a few examples. In particular, if you want to work with children whether at a day care centre, pre-school or school you need background checks and years of training. Parenting on the other hand is quite different. It involves taking care of children over many years with no background check and no need to learn anything about it. “When I first became a parent I realised that I didn’t have all the knowledge I needed to help my child become a confident and well rounded person. As a researcher I put my skills to good use and interviewed experts and summarised the latest research on child development. Armed with this information I’ve become a more confident mother and have developed the Win Win Parenting Program to empower other parents and children.” Dr Rosina  Some people might say that you learn to parent from your experience of being parented and that may be true, but what if it wasn’t a wonderful experience? What then? Parents can unintentionally get it very wrong Most parents would agree that raising a child is one of life's hardest and most rewarding challenges. So it isn’t surprising parents can unintentionally get it very wrong resulting in depressed, obese, unhappy and psychologically unsound children.  “Even though parents know deep down that supporting a child’s physical, emotional, psychological and intellectual development is very complex, many parents don’t seem to actively learn about the important task of raising another human being until things go wrong and they need professional help for their child”. Dr Rosina 7 key areas for life skill and attribute development: back-to-basics parenting Children require love and guidance to help them develop skills and the personal qualities which will provide them with a strong foundation for life success. Parents need practical advice to help them be active and supportive parents. Dr Rosina McAlpine, founder of the Win Win Parenting Program has identified the 7 key areas for life skill and attribute development.  The aim is to help parents get ‘back-to-basics’ in relation to parenting and empower their children with life skills. In just one year, the Win Win Parenting Program provides children with over 100 skills and personal qualities including: • good self-esteem and resilience                 • a love for learning and exploring career paths • how to budget and manage money           • social and environmental awareness • nurturing personal and professional relationships         • maintaining health through nutrition and exercise • effective communication skills                                    • creativity and imagination • identifying and achieving goals                                   • relaxation and play for work/life balance. Most importantly the program helps children be inspired to lead a happy, productive and meaningful life.

Parenting expert Dr Rosina for the Wellbeing Magazine How confident do you feel as a parent? Whether you’re a new parent working out how to care for your tiny baby, taming your boisterous toddler or being baffled by your teenager’s erratic mood swings, every stage of parenting can be challenging. Read the full article here

Parenting expert Dr Rosina writes for the Wellbeing Magazine Communication is an important part of life. It helps people learn, share thoughts and feelings, connect with each other, and build relationships. However, communicating isn’t a straightforward process, as you’ve no doubt experienced. Too often, miscommunications and misunderstandings occur because the message received wasn’t the message intended. So it’s important to be mindful as your interactions with others have the power to nurture or harm relationships. Read the Full article here

Parenting expert Dr Rosina writes for the Wellbeing Magazine. If you have children, you know their emotional highs and lows are just a normal part of life. However, whether you have a toddler rolling around on the floor throwing a tantrum or an angry teenager screaming “I hate you!”, helping your children learn to manage their emotional outbursts is challenging. Read the full article here.

In this new podcast series,  Parenting Sessions , parenting expert Dr Rosina McAlpine is interviewed about the latest parenting issues. Win Win Parenting supports parents to successfully navigate the ups and downs of family life. Dr Rosina believes managing home life more confidently leads to less stress and better outcomes for children and a more harmonious family life.  Parents learn practical strategies to manage day-to-day parenting challenges such as struggles with technology, emotional outbursts and keeping calm even in the most volatile situations.

By parenting expert Dr Rosina McAlpine Article published in Woman’s Day Magazine, 31 January 2011. Child development expert Dr Rosina McAlpine shows how to boost your child’s confidence and beat the back-to-school stress. STEP 1: Use Actions Not Words How often have you said, “Not now, I’m on the phone” or “I’m too busy”? “Most parents are very busy, which adds to the stress of dealing with children,” Dr Rosina McAlpine says. “But how would you feel if someone talked to you that way? It’s important to let your kids know you value their opinions as much as anyone else’s” Instead of hurting your child’s feelings, try these solutions: On the phone Ask the person to hold, then say to your child “I’m very interested in what you have to say but I can’t talk now. I’ll be off the phone in ten minutes and we’ll talk then.” When busy “Sorry darling I’m busy doing something for work. Let’s talk about it at dinner.” When cooking “I can’t talk now because it’s dangerous with a hot stove and I don’t want you to get hurt.” STEP 2: Focus on the Behaviour Not the Child Biting. Hitting. Nose picking. Ignoring requests. Children do so many things adults find unacceptable and often our automatic reaction is to say “You’re so naughty” or “You’re so cheeky/rude/bad”. “Try focussing on their behaviour rather than them” Says Dr McAlpine. “For example say ‘biting hurts. It is not OK to bite/speak in that tone/be rude’. Children who feel good about themselves are more likely to try new things and are less likely to be defensive or insecure. Regularly telling a child they’re naughty might mean they believe it for life.” Child development expert Dr Rosina McAlpine shows how to boost your child’s confidence and beat the back-to-school stress. STEP 3: Teach your child Gratitude A grateful attitude can reduce depression and make children aware of what is important to their true happiness, research shows. Teach your child to be grateful by: Keeping a journal Ask them to record the things they love about their life. They can use words, pictures, stickers - whatever they like. Bedtime thank-you “Invite your child to share who and what they are grateful for. It’s a lovely way to go to sleep” says Dr McAlpine.

Most parents can’t seem to agree on the right age to let their children walk to school alone and struggle with the balance between giving children the opportunity to be independent by letting them walk to school and the anxiety they feel by doing so. To read the Full Article please go to http://peninsulakids.com.au/walk-to-school-safely-day/

Have you ever wondered how the leading minds of today raise their children. Parenting expert Dr Rosina shares the latest research in child development and parenting from her book -  Inspired Children: how the leading minds of today raise their kids  in an interview with Themis Thomas. Learn how you can give your baby the best genetic start in life, how stress in pregnancy can affect a child right up into adolescence, the latest findings on supporting baby health and development, how to help your child develop key life skills like emotional intelligence and good self esteem and much more.

Young people's behaviours are often shaped by adults and carers around them. By stopping disrespectful behaviour and education through positive role modelling, we can put an end to the cycle of violence. How often have we heard phrases such as “boys will be boys” or “it’s OK, he just did it because he likes you”, about disrespectful or aggressive behaviour towards girls or women? Although these sayings may seem harmless on the surface, they are unknowingly normalising aggression as something that is inherent in boys or something that is provoked by girls, experts say. Not all forms of disrespect lead to violence, but we know that violence starts with disrespect. We can put an end to this cycle by stopping it at the start. Read Full Article

Do your toddlers, young children or teens have trouble managing their emotions? Do your children fight with their siblings and engage in sibling rivalry? If you answered yes to any of those questions then please join me, Dr Rosina McAlpine and my dear friend Dr Robyn Mills as we explore the many practical tools you can use to turn tantrums and fights into a learning opportunity to teach your children many life skills like:  emotional intelligence: understanding and managing their emotions  social responsibility: being caring and sharing people Interview can be heard  here OK, we all know that siblings fight and we all know that children can have difficulty managing their big emotions like anger, jealousy and fear, SO, let’s not see this as a negative thing BUT see it in a positive light. You might be sceptical right? Stay with me - how about we reframe these difficult times as opportunities we can use to teach our children how to get on in life, whether they are toddlers or teenagers. The more you children learn about life safely and lovingly in your home with you – the less you have to worry about your children when they are out in the world and don’t have you there to help them and to keep them safe. If you can help your children learn to get on with their siblings – you are helping them get on with teachers, friends and other relatives. If you can help them manage their emotions at home – you can feel confident they will be able to manage them in situations they find themselves in and you are not around! As always it is a fun show with loads of heart-warming stories and positive parenting advice, resources, tools and tips you can use in your home with your family and share with your friends.

Young people's behaviours are often shaped by adults and carers around them. By stopping disrespectful behaviour and education through positive role modelling, we can put an end to the cycle of violence. HIGHLIGHTS “Stop it at the Start” campaign aims to break the cycle of violence by encouraging adults to have positive influences in young people We must stop excuses and educate children about respectful behaviour Resources are available to help you engage in conversation READ FULL ARTICLE

How to help your children develop emotional intelligence Join parenting expert Dr Rosina as she interviews Keyuri Joshi on how to help your children develop emotional intelligence - a key skill for life success. Keyuri believes that toddlers are mini versions of teens and that if parents want the teenage years to be easier, they need to start early to identify and implement a parenting style that is not just loving, but effective.  Keyuri works with parents of children aged birth to 10 as a “personal trainer” for their private and parenting goals. Of vital importance to Keyuri is to teach parents how to build emotional intelligence skills in their children.  Research proves that kids who are raised by emotion coaching parents are on a completely different trajectory than those children of other parents. Teachers help kids to pass tests at school and parents are in a prime position to help their kids pass the tests of life. Keyuri Joshi “retired” from nursing to be a stay at home mom. As her only child grew more independent, she turned her passion of supporting others into her profession.  She is certified by the ICF (International Coach Federation) as a Life and Parenting Coach, and an Emotional Intelligence Coach. For more about Keyuri see her website  www.ontheballparent.com