Parenting Fresh Little Minds Let’s Grow Together Programme Outline

Parents and guardians are guided through the AMBER Approach and learn how to have a mini–AMBER GROW experience at home.

INTERMEDIATE PROGRAMME

• 6 x 1-hour online sessions or
• 6 x 2-hour face to face sessions

NOTE – the number of sessions and duration can be modified to meet the needs of the group.

This programme helps parents:

• Understand the AMBER approach in detail.
• Experience the GROW programme.
• Learn about the emotions lurking behind difficult behaviour.
• Master emotional regulation tools and techniques.
• Increase confidence and skills to talk about feelings and emotions.
• Understand the need for me time and time with other people.
• Make incremental changes at home through implementing weekly strategies taught during the programme.
• Reflect with other parents – feel heard and supported.
• Benefit from self-care and regular relaxation.
• Transform family life.

Session 1 THE AMBER APPROACH & ANCHORING

Curriculum Aim:

Parents/Guardians will be introduced to the Amber Approach.

Parents/Guardians will leave ready to explore the meaning of the ‘A’ of AMBER with their child.

Parents/Guardians will leave with:

• An understanding of how ANCHOR helps at home.
• Tips, tools and techniques to help boost healthy relationships within the family.
• Understanding the role of the ANCHOR person/people.
• An understanding of the value of play.
• Connection with other parents/guardians.
• Having had the experience of a guided sensory relaxation.
• Two related challenges:

1) Complete the child’s passport.

2) 10-minute ANCHOR challenge at home.

Session 2 MOVE, BRAIN, BODY & BEHAVIOUR

Curriculum Aim:

Parents/Guardians benefit from sharing and learning from one another’s experience.

Parents/Guardians will leave ready to explore the meaning of the ‘M’ of AMBER with their child.

Parents/Guardians will leave with:

• An understanding of how MOVE helps at home.
• Knowledge about neuroscience, psychology and biology lurking behind those tricky behaviours.
• New knowledge of the links between the brain, body and moods.
• Learning about “Flip your Lid” and “Brain Hugs”.
• An understanding of big and small energy.
• Learn how to move out excess energy and shift stuck energy.
• Tips, tools and techniques to release build up energy and emotion at home.
• Having had the experience of a guided sensory relaxation.
• Two relate challenges:

1) Complete the child’s passport.

2) 10-minute MOVE challenge at home.

Session 3 APPRECIATION & BREATHE

Curriculum Aim:

Parents/Guardians benefit from sharing and learning from one another’s experience.

Parents/Guardians will leave ready to explore the meaning of the ‘B’ of AMBER with their child.

Parents/Guardians will leave with:

• An understanding of how BREATHE helps at home.
• Learning to master the central nervous system through breathwork.
• An understanding of chemical messengers and mirror neurons.
• Tools and techniques that will help reduce anxiety and stress to create calm at home.
• An understanding of using breath to promote restfulness and sleep.
• Having explored the role of Gratitude and Appreciation.
• A reflection on their own needs for wellbeing and how that in turn will fortify their family.
• Having explored the value of positive connections to thrive and the importance of kindness to ourselves and others.
• Two relate challenges:

1) Complete the child’s passport.

2) 10-minute BREATHE challenge at home.

Session 4 SELF-CARE & EXPRESS – (ALL BOTTLED UP)

Curriculum Aim:

Parents/Guardians benefit from sharing and learning from one another’s experience.

Parents/Guardians will leave ready to explore the meaning of the ‘E’ of AMBER with their child.

Parents/Guardians will leave with:

• An understanding of how EXPRESS helps at home.
• A knowledge of tricky feelings and how they present in your child.
• Feeling empowered that you know something is rumbling with your child.
• Having explored emotions in the body and how to help children release build up emotions/feelings or calm down excess emotion.
• Tools and techniques to encourage the expression of emotion and energy through both conversation and other non-talking methods.
• An understanding that people have an impact on one another’s energy, mood and emotional health.
• An awareness of how emotions/feelings drive thoughts and behaviour and impact relationships.
• Knowledge on how to settle everyone’s emotion, worry and energy.
• Two relate challenges:

1) Complete the child’s passport.

2) 10-minute EXPRESS challenge at home.

Session 5 PEOPLE TIME & ME TIME – RELAX

Curriculum Aim:

Parents/Guardians benefit from sharing and learning from one another’s experience.

Parents/Guardians will leave ready to explore the meaning of the ‘R’ of AMBER with their child.

Parents/Guardians will leave with:

• An understanding of how RELAX helps at home.
• Awareness of the diversity of the world and all adults and children.
• Identifying the importance and power of the different types of connections required for children to thrive in today’s world.
• Knowledge of the benefits of connecting with groups, nature, family and most of all connecting with yourself.
• More aware, confident and more prepared to help support children navigate their need for people time and me time.
• Having had the experience of a guided sensory relaxation.
• Learning the difference between restorative relaxation and sleep.
• Knowledge of how to cultivate regular restorative relaxation at home before bedtime.
• Two relate challenges:

1) Complete the child’s passport

2) 10-minute RELAX challenge at home.

Session 6 TRANSFORM (GRADUATE & GROW)

Curriculum Aim:

Parents/Guardians benefit from reflecting and sharing from one another’s experiences, what worked/what didn’t and supporting each other.

Parents/Guardians will leave ready, willing and able to nurture and build resilience with their child and family using the AMBER approach.

Parents/Guardians will leave with:

• An understanding of how the AMBER Approach can be incorporated into their family routine and at home.
• A review of tips, tools and techniques (a tool kit) to use at home to help support and aid the daily emotional life of both children and themselves.
• Two relate challenges:

1) Complete the child’s passport.

2) 10-minute challenge at home.

Parents/Guardians will leave feeling empowered to make small changes that make big differences to creating healthier, happier, calmer and loving homes.