Nobody’s Perfect Parenting (NPP) is a national program that thrives in Manitoba.
The program is geared to parents of children 0-5 years of age but the skills learned can be used at any time in the life cycle.
The parent-centred groups are lead by two co-facilitators. “Facilitators guide the conversation; they are not experts of the content of the program. In fact no two groups are the same,”says Carmen Patterson-Payne, Manitoba Coordinator of NPP.
Parent-centred means that the group brings their needs to the facilitators. The principles of adult learning include learning from life experience, problem solving and respecting values.
NPP grew out of a need to help new parents who were isolated in some way. These parents may be young, isolated or low income; some may have a lower level of education and literacy. With increased mobility, parents may have moved away from family of origin or may merely need to connect with other parents of young children.
NPP has facilitators in many communities in Manitoba so the program is not solely in Winnipeg. The list includes Brandon, Portage la Prairie, Neepawa, Waboden, Dauphin, Camperville, Sandy Bay, South Quill and Cranberry Portage. It is also a program that is popular in Mosaic Immigrant Resource Centre.
“The NPP has had a profound impact on community-based parent programs in Canada. It is recognized as a best practice in parent programs world wide,” says Patterson-Payne.
The goals of the program are:
- Promote positive parenting
- Increase parent’s understanding of child health and development
- Help parents build on skills they already have
- Improve parents self-esteem and coping skills
- Increase self-help and natural support and bring parents in contact with existing community resources
- Build a community based support system among parents of young children
- Prevent family violence
The program is free to parents and child care, snack, and transportation are often provided. The parents also receive booklets with the themes of :
- Safety
- Behaviour
- Mind
- Body
- Parents
These booklets are free, easy to read and published in 5 languages.
What some parents have said:
“I’ve learned to take time for me. I can’t be a good mom to my kids if I’m stressed all the time.”
“Group was something I looked forward to every week.”
“I liked the open communication and no judgement.”
“I didn’t like that it ended.”
Politicians often say that children are our greatest resource, yet parenting and caregivers are the least well paid and the least respected in our society. Nobody’s Perfect elevates parenting to a valued and respected level.
Whenever people meet over purpose, respect, sharing, food and laughter, learning gets done.
