Parenting can be a truly radical act.
The way in which we raise our children can have a profound positive impact on our families, our communities, and our world. At its heart, peaceful parenting is a social justice issue: as adults, we have more power than our children. How we choose to use our power matters. If we want a just society, we must move from traditional models of parental control and coercion towards new models of connection, collaboration and freedom.
It’s not just about social change though; peaceful parenting is better for our children, seeking to truly honour and protect their rights. Research has shown us time and again that children who are free from shame and punishments have greater motivation, embrace more challenges, and enjoy the lasting positive effects of a growth mindset. That the less we try and control our children’s behaviour, the less they act in ways which are seen as problematic. That when we prioritise connection and collaboration, the whole family flourishes.
Introducing Beautiful Parenting: The Course
I am committed to supporting parents all over their world with their peaceful parenting journeys. I believe respectful, evidence-based parenting is one of the most powerful and radical acts we can undertake, with a huge potential to change the world for the better.
I decided to take the topics which I felt to be the most foundational to this style of parenting, and create a course filled with ideas, tips, and research to give you the tools to put it into practice.
But the truth is, no matter how many books you read or courses you take (even this one!), I don’t believe that you can just “become” a peaceful parent. It is an active journey, something that needs to be worked on day after day, month after month, year after year, as our parenting adapts and grows alongside our children. It’s about fundamentally changing our mindset as parents, challenging the way we were raised and the traditional models of parentings which surround us and working on ourselves to be able to show up in the way our children deserve, as we model being authentic and empathetic humans.
This is important work but it can be hard at times, and it is even harder without support. We are not meant to do it alone.
Let me – and the rest of the Beautiful Parenting community – hold your hand as we walk this journey together.
Maybe you’ve been practicing peaceful parenting for a while, or maybe it’s a new concept to you and you’d like support in figuring out how to make the change. Wherever you are in your journey, you are so very welcome.
About the course
Each module includes:
- A video workshop on a core aspect of peaceful parenting
- Some extra mini podcasts to take your understanding and practice deeper
- A PDF workbook filled with information, practical ideas, questions for you to work through alone or with a partner, and journalling and reflection prompts
- A curated ‘reading’ list of blogs, books, research, and articles
- Weekly live Q&A videos
- A whole lot of support and guidance from me and other like-minded parents to work through any bumps that come up in your journey
This is not a space where you will be judged for the decisions you have made, or your experiences of parenting. Rather, this is a course where I hope you will feel inspired and challenged to make positive changes – regardless of where you’re coming from – to deepen your connection with your children and build a foundation of respectful, gentle, evidence-based parenting.
Pre-course content pack: Your parenting values
A week before the course starts, you will have access to pre-course materials designed to help you identify your values as a parent. With some audio recordings and a specially designed workbook, this will allow you to hit the ground running when we begin the course.
Module One : Why peaceful parenting?
In this module we will cover:
- Parenting for children’s rights
- Parenting and social justice
- The case for relationship-based parenting
- Consent, control, and modern parenting
- Parenting as a radical act
- Being an ally to our kids
Module Two : Parenting without punishment, praise and rewards
In this module we will cover:
- What do we mean by discipline?
- Discipline and development
- What is the problem with punishments and praise?
- Practical parenting without punishment and rewards
- Setting loving limits
- Nurturing emotional intelligence and resilience
Module three : Calm communication
In this module we will cover:
- The foundation of good communication
- Nonviolent Communication
- Communication in action: Communicating with children
- Communication in action: Communicating with your partner
- Communication in action: Communicating parenting preferences with friends and family
Module four : Playful parenting
In this module we will cover:
- The joyful home
- What do we mean by playful parenting?
- Playfulness for building connection
- Playfulness as parenting tool
- Playful parenting for parents who don’t like to play
Module five : The inner work of parenting
In this module we will cover:
- What do we mean by inner work?
- Identifying our parenting triggers
- Reparenting ourselves
- Practical inner work techniques
Module six : Deep self-care for peaceful homes
In this module we will cover:
- Developing self-compassion
- Creating rhythms which honour your needs
- Simplifying family life
- Building a culture of rest in the home
Post-course content pack: The Peaceful Home
Once the course has finished, you’ll have access to some post-course reflections and journalling prompts to support you to finish your journey on a high, putting your peaceful parenting skills into practice.
Is this course for me?
Yes, if you want to feel more connected to your children, and calmer, less stressed and more patient in your parenting. You want to find more ease and joy in daily life with your family, and want your home to be a place where you feel relaxed and playful.
You want to support children’s rights – even when it feels uncomfortable or challenging – and you believe that creating a more just and peaceful home is the first step towards a more just and peaceful world.
You want to be able to confidently communicate your parenting choices to friends and family, knowing your choices are supported by research and evidence.
You want to grow as a person and as a parent, leaning on the support from a community who will stand behind you and cheer you on.
You believe that your needs matter, too,
Please note: you may join the course from anywhere in the world. Course participants are always international, which adds a wonderful dimension to our online community.
How is the course run?
The next course will next run from the 7th June 2021, with pre-course materials going out on May 31st.
Each week you will receive emails linking to each module, which will be filled with PDFs, audios, videos, and reading suggestions. You will have lifetime access to the materials (which will be updated) and our active and supportive online community, with weekly Q&A sessions each time the course runs (twice a year, in Winter and Summer).
How do I book?
***Please note that booking closes on Thursday 27th May, or when the course is full***
To purchase your place on the course just click the following link:
Spaces cost £119 for the course, weekly live Q&A sessions where you can get personalised advice, and lifetime access to take the course as many times as you like.
If you are already registered with the site from another course, you may need to login before making payment. You can log in here. If you have forgotten your password, you may need to reset this first. If you need any help, just drop us an email and we will be happy to help.
I really look forward to working with you.
“Pay what you can” spaces
If you cannot afford to pay for the full-price of the course but would like to take part, please drop us an email and we will send you simple instructions for how to book a PWYC spot. Please note that you don’t have to to give us any reasons or financial details – we trust that if you’re asking for a space, it’s because you genuinely need it!
I regret that refunds are not offered on online courses, though places are transferrable. By booking your place, you agree to the following terms and conditions:
Beautiful Parenting course T&CsDownload
I look forward to working with you soon.
About Eloise
Eloise Rickman is an author, parent educator and founder of A Beautiful Childhood. She works with clients around the world through online courses and coaching. Her work focuses on evidence-based parenting, home-based and alternative education, and helping families find more rhythm and ease in their daily lives. Extraordinary Parenting (Scribe, 2020) is her first book.
Eloise is a trained doula, and previously studied social anthropology at Cambridge University where she first became interested in how childhood and family practices shape society. She believes that parenting can be a radical act, and that changing the way we raise and educate children has the potential to shape and change society for the better. Her work has been featured on the BBC, and she is a regular guest on podcasts. She lives in South London with her husband and young daughter, who has been home educated from birth.
