Parenting Resource Education Network's (PREN) Ground Rules

The following are PREN's standard ground rules, in effect in all PREN center programs. The purpose of these rules is to ensure the safety of everyone in attendance. We ask each person attending programs at this center to read these ground rules and to adhere to them.

• Everyone is welcome to participate.
• Everyone has the right to pass - no one ever has to participate.
• We acknowledge that there are many individual perspectives and values, we agree to respect the opinions of others. We do not inflict beliefs and values on each other.
• Everyone agrees to include all parents, to nurture the self-esteem of everyone present.
• Confidentiality outside the group is preserved.
• We are process, not solution, oriented. The ultimate decision for handling a problem belongs with that particular parent. No one tells another how to solve a problem or issue.
• Group members practice question sensitivity toward each other.
• Each person is responsible for letting the group know if he/she has something to share.
• Everyone fairly shares the "air space." Group members take responsibility for providing time for all members to share.
• Side conversations are kept to a minimum.
• Children are expected to act like children:
  • We recognize that children are at various stages of ability and willingness to share.
  • All participants work to preserve the self-esteem and the physical safety of each child.
  • If a child is in a difficult stage, such as hitting, biting or pushing, parents are encouraged to protect all of the children.
  • Parents need to intervene with their own children if a problem arises.
• We focus on the joys, new awarenesses and successes, not just the problems, struggles and frustrations of parenting.

Parenting Resource and Education Network

Acknowledgements and Disclaimers

Welcome to our center's PREN program! PREN strives to present parenting education that will inform, encourage and equip parents to build and grow emotionally healthy families. PREN programs attempt to sort through the sea of information available on the subject of parenting and have our Certified Parenting Educators present that information to you in a way that is clear, empowering and helpful. We acknowledge that no one program can possibly cover all the information available on every subject. Likewise, we recognize that every family has its own distinct needs. Our hope is that you will receive the information presented in this program with a sense of stewardship to use effectively for the emotional health of your family.

Therefore, we need parents to understand the following:

• Parenting can be difficult, stressful, frustrating and sometimes overwhelming. Parents often have little training to prepare them for this most important job.
• There are no "perfect parents," just as there are no perfect children. We assume that parents are doing the best that they can.
• Healthy parenting can be learned. It is never to late to grow, change and develop new, healthier and more effective approaches for interacting and communicating.
• There are no simple answers, no one magical formula or approach, no one "right" way to parent.
• Parenting is a complex subject and can evoke strong feelings.
• Every child, parent and family is unique. Developmental tasks and sequences are fairly predictable, however, each child grows in his or her own unique way.
• People have varied needs and may perceive things differently. Each person may take away something a little differently than the next person.
• While PREN may share information, skills and principles considered to be emotionally healthy, each parent is solely responsible for his or her decisions about how to apply concepts, information and skills in his or her family.
• PREN invites all parents to investigate the resources listed in the bibliographies listed in our materials or referenced by our Certified Parenting Educators if you wish to validate our concepts or discover more detailed information.
• PREN's programs are educational in nature. They are not in any way meant to replace family therapy, counseling or other resources which may be needed to assist families with specific problems and difficulties. We encourage families to pursue professional assistance when required.

© 1999 Lakeside Youth Service's PREN. All rights reserved. For use by PREN Centers only.