This term, we are hosting Dr Jenny Brown, who will bring us insights from The Parent Hope Project and the Confident Parenting program. With over 35 years of experience working in child, adolescent and family health, she brings a wealth of knowledge in how to support parents in their parenting role.
Dr Jenny Brown’s approach has refreshing differences to other parenting programs. It recognises that out of a place of love for our children and a good desire to see them succeed, parents can often be drawn into feeling like they need to constantly fix or manage their children’s struggles. Advice from loved ones, professionals and other parenting programs often reinforce this child-focussed effort. For example, by giving us strategies to manage a child’s behaviour or advice on managing screen time and bedtime routines. While these child-focussed approaches have their place, it can also be helpful to reflect on managing our own responses and how we can become calmer, more thoughtful, and more confident parents while maintaining strong connections with our children.
One insight from the programs that particularly resonated with me is the recognition that sometimes we want something more for our children than they want for themselves. Whether it is academic success, social connections, or trying new experiences. When our investment in the outcome exceeds theirs, we can create pressure that works against connection. Her approach isn’t about becoming permissive or giving up our responsibility to guide and protect, rather it’s about examining our own motivations and boundaries, and ensuring our responses come from a thoughtful place of supporting our child’s growth rather than managing our own fears and worries.
Dr Brown’s research demonstrates that when parents redirect their energy away from worrying about their child and focus on how they manage themselves within the relationships, they recover confidence in their capacity to contribute positively to their child’s development. It isn’t about becoming passive or permissive; it’s about becoming more intentional in our responses, which creates the conditions for our children to develop resilience, confidence and healthy relationships.
Join us for:
Confident Parenting with Dr Jenny Brown
Monday 8 September 2025
5:30pm – 7:15pm
Light refreshments from 5:30pm
For families wanting to explore these concepts further there will be a follow-up course in Term 4, The Parent Hope Project, facilitated by Mrs Nikki Bowden, Dean of Pastoral Care, Junior School, and Mrs Jenny Kemp, Dean of Pastoral Care, Senior School.
Dr Brown is Director Emeritus of the Family Systems Institute and author of several books including Growing Yourself Up and Confident Parenting. Her upcoming book The Parenting Paradox will be released later this year. Her publications are available in the Selim Library for families who wish to explore her work further.