Parenting Fresh Little Minds Programme Outline

Parents and guardians are guided through the AMBER Approach to help support parents understanding of their children, support parents wellbeing and equip parents with tools to support there little ones 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.