pointresearch . pointresearch Overall, more than two-thirds (67% or 44 parents) of 65 parents who...

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Overall, more than two-thirds (67% or 44 parents) of 65 parents who attended the SKIP parenting workshops agreed they had made changes to their parenting.

Of these, 56.8% (25 parents) agreed that the differences were “significant”. The majority of these were parents of younger children (14 and under).

Parents were most likely to indicate that they had made changes around communication, such as listening to their children, and talking “soft” and not “hard”.

Two parents had ceased physical discipline of their children following the workshops.

Both mothers and fathers were equally as likely to have made changes.

In total, 87.5% of participants commented positively on the workshops, with most believing they had impacted positively on both their work and personal lives.

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In 2008, the Ministry of Social Development and The Warehouse collaborated on a series of Dad’s workshops facilitated by Alfred Ngaro and held at The Warehouse's North Island Distribution Centre (NIDC). Stories and photos from the workshop formed a booklet celebrating all dads which was distributed throughout Warehouse stores for Fathers Day 2008.

Part two of the programme entailed 90 minute workshops focussed on parenting styles, facilitated by Alfred and SKIP educator Vicky Ellison. Over 150 men took part.  

Workshops aimed at producing a Mothers version of the Father’s Day booklet were held with more than 60 women at the Apparel Distribution Centre in 2009 and were facilitated by Moka Ngaro. The Mother’s booklet was distributed in Warehouse stores on Mother’s Day 2010.

This evaluation aims to understand how this project impacted on staff at the NIDC and ADC and provide a series of recommendations as to the future development of the project

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Nine focus groups were conducted with staff of the Warehouse North Island Distribution Centre (NIDC) and Apparel distribution Centre (ADC) in June 2010 to evaluate change which had occurred as a result of SKIP Parenting Workshops held in 2008 and 2009.

In total 72 participants took part; 44 females and 28 males. Of these, 65 participants were either parents or caregivers. The rest were extended family and friends who had some responsibility for children.

One focus group was conducted with eight managers from the NIDC and ADC was conducted to assess workplace impact.

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In total, 63 of 72 parents (87.5%) made positive comments about the workshops.

More than half of all comments (61.1%) indicated that parents had made positive parenting changes as a result of the workshops.

One-quarter of all comments (25%) centred on parents talking with and listening more to their children. Mothers (9) and Fathers (9) were equally as likely to indicate that this was a positive change they made after attending the workshops.

Overall, 15 participants indicated that the workshops had made “little” or “no” difference to their parenting. The majority of these were grandparents or parents of older children (e.g. aged 18 and over).

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Grandmothers / Parents of Teens

Other (e.g. Aunties) Mothers of children 14 and under

Level of Change - Level of Change - MothersMothers Participants were asked to stand on a continuum according to how

much they believed the workshops had made a difference to their parenting.

Mothers of children aged 14 and under were more likely to judge that the workshops had made a “huge” difference, whereas grandmothers and parents of teens were more likely to indicate that the workshops had made “little” difference.

nb: not all groups participated in the continuum exercise

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Grandfathers / Parents of Teens

Other (e.g. Uncles) Fathers of children 14 and under

Level of Change - FathersLevel of Change - Fathers Again, fathers of young children were

more likely to indicate that the workshops had made a “huge” difference.

nb: not all groups participated in the continuum exercise

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(After SKIP) I put my hands

in my pocket so no

spanking. I started talking

to my kids, stopped

swearing at them. They

respect me a lot more.

(Mother)

(After SKIP) I put my hands

in my pocket so no

spanking. I started talking

to my kids, stopped

swearing at them. They

respect me a lot more.

(Mother)

It taught me that when you are angry with your son, to go outside and look at the flowers. (Mother)

It taught me that when you are angry with your son, to go outside and look at the flowers. (Mother)It showed us how important it is to be a dad. If you’ve got kids, it’s up to you to

talk to them and keep them on the right track.

(Father)

It showed us how important it is to be a dad. If you’ve got kids, it’s up to you to

talk to them and keep them on the right track.

(Father)

What I got is it made me feel more of a dad than a macho man. You listen more to your kids, rather than being controlling. You learn from them too...(Father)

What I got is it made me feel more of a dad than a macho man. You listen more to your kids, rather than being controlling. You learn from them too...(Father)

…the one thing that stuck

is the way I talk to them.

After work when I get home

my kids come in for a

story.

(Mother)

…the one thing that stuck

is the way I talk to them.

After work when I get home

my kids come in for a

story.

(Mother)

I have a daughter and if you want to talk you have

to talk soft, not hard. I learnt that in SKIP. (Father)

I have a daughter and if you want to talk you have

to talk soft, not hard. I learnt that in SKIP. (Father)

I learnt some new things

from before, like especially

the words coming out from

your mouth is some bad

things. (Mother)

I learnt some new things

from before, like especially

the words coming out from

your mouth is some bad

things. (Mother)We learned that children are like photocopiers – they copy just what you do. (Mother)

We learned that children are like photocopiers – they copy just what you do. (Mother)

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Participants were asked how much they had talked about the workshops, and whom they had talked with. Nearly one-third (30.1%) indicated that they had discussed the content of the workshops amongst themselves.

For some, these discussions not only provided a source of ongoing parenting support, but they felt closer to their work colleagues.

The workshops appear to have had a wider affect with the messages being taken to extended family and friends; one-fifth of participants indicated that they had talked with others outside of the workplace.

I kept talking about it with my whānau because of the moko.(Mother & Grandmother)

I kept talking about it with my whānau because of the moko.(Mother & Grandmother)

I still talk about what I learned and I share it with my son’s mother. (Father)

I still talk about what I learned and I share it with my son’s mother. (Father)

We still talk about it (amongst ourselves) - we were just talking about it tonight before we came here. (Father)

We still talk about it (amongst ourselves) - we were just talking about it tonight before we came here. (Father)

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The books and posters appear to support the workshops by reinforcing the message and taking them to a wider group than those who attended the workshops. For some, the books and posters were used as a conversation starter with whānau, family, friends and workmates. Mothers and grandmothers were more likely to use the books than fathers.

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Almost half of all participants (48.1%) talked about how the workshops allowed them to build empathy and connect with each other around their shared parenting experiences.

For some, knowing there were others “in the same boat” was reassuring, as was the feeling that they “weren’t alone”.

Sharing experiences gave them insight into the lives of others and gave them a space where conversations could start.

At smoko (after the workshop) a

few of us got around the table and

continued to talk about the

differences and realised there was

so little we knew about each

other... (Father)

At smoko (after the workshop) a

few of us got around the table and

continued to talk about the

differences and realised there was

so little we knew about each

other... (Father)

I think it made me realise that what she’s been through with her children, I went through with my children. So you tend to look at others more softly. (Mother)

I think it made me realise that what she’s been through with her children, I went through with my children. So you tend to look at others more softly. (Mother)

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During the workshops, parents were asked to share their parenting strategies with each other. Some of the participants talked about the value of learning from others’ experiences. Mothers, in particular, felt that sharing strategies with each other was a valuable learning tool.

Just over one-third (34.7%) of parents commented that they continue to talk to their workmates about parenting issues.

To me it was a lot of positive

feedback, especially hearing

from the other fathers.

(Father)

To me it was a lot of positive

feedback, especially hearing

from the other fathers.

(Father)

A surprising thing was another person in the workshop was in the same position as me so that was exciting and we still catch up sometimes. (Father)

A surprising thing was another person in the workshop was in the same position as me so that was exciting and we still catch up sometimes. (Father)

Now we sit on our breaks

and have a chit chat about

our children. (Mother)

Now we sit on our breaks

and have a chit chat about

our children. (Mother)

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Just over one-quarter of parents (27.4%) talked about the emotions they had after the workshops. For some, the workshops were an affirmation of their parenting. These parents talked about feeling “proud” about their parenting and the way they had raised their children.

For others, participation in the workshops resulted in some negative emotions, particularly guilt and regret. Single and part-time parents were more likely to talk about guilt around their parenting, whereas parents of older children were more likely to express regret about some of their parenting practices. Some of this group were motivated by what they heard in the workshop to change their parenting practices.

Most of these parents who talked about emotions, however, felt that the SKIP workshops supported their parenting and gave them ideas as to what to do differently, or they felt as though they could talk to others in the workplace about their negative emotions. For these parents, talking about parenting issues in the workplace (as opposed to talking about their children) was a new and enlightening experience.

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Some participants, particularly males, talked about how their participation in the SKIP workshops had affected their experiences in the workplace. Besides the connections that they built with workmates around their shared experiences, many talked about how the workshops had made them feel “like a big family”.

Many participants talked about how their parenting triumphs were shared among their workmates and supervisors. They felt this made them more of a ‘whole person’ in the workplace, rather than just a ‘worker’.

It’s nice to know that I

can speak to my

Supervisor about my

daughter...

(Mother)

It’s nice to know that I

can speak to my

Supervisor about my

daughter...

(Mother)

We feel like family here...(Father)

We feel like family here...(Father)

It’s nice. It brings us

more together as a

family, not just

workmates.(Mother)

It’s nice. It brings us

more together as a

family, not just

workmates.(Mother)

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ALL the participants who had taken part in the SKIP workshops appreciated the fact that their employer had not only organised and hosted the SKIP workshops, but had allowed them to take part during working hours.

They felt this not only valued them as workers, but also as parents and caregivers.

At least 10 participants noted increased levels of workplace satisfaction as a direct result of their participation in the workshop.

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There was a positiveness

that our company was

actually taking the time to

do something like this, a

programme within the

company that is in work

time that’s for the sake of

ourselves. That’s pretty

much what I took from it, it

was pretty nice of the

company to do that, in our

busy schedule which is on

their payroll. (Father)

There was a positiveness

that our company was

actually taking the time to

do something like this, a

programme within the

company that is in work

time that’s for the sake of

ourselves. That’s pretty

much what I took from it, it

was pretty nice of the

company to do that, in our

busy schedule which is on

their payroll. (Father)

I’ve only been here five years but I’ve seen a

change in the past couple of years, The Warehouse is

doing a lot more for its people. A lot more shared

lunches, extra things, things like this. (Father)

I’ve only been here five years but I’ve seen a

change in the past couple of years, The Warehouse is

doing a lot more for its people. A lot more shared

lunches, extra things, things like this. (Father)

It’s got to start from somewhere. And it started here. It made us feel more valued. And respected. And appreciated. (Father)

It’s got to start from somewhere. And it started here. It made us feel more valued. And respected. And appreciated. (Father)

This company is based on value. One of the objectives is family first. We know it supports us. (Mother)

This company is based on value. One of the objectives is family first. We know it supports us. (Mother)

I don’t think they realised

how successful it would

be... (Father)

I don’t think they realised

how successful it would

be... (Father)

...it helped me with my work and my team,

listening to them. (Father)

...it helped me with my work and my team,

listening to them. (Father)

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The posters and books which were produced as a result of the workshops are still displayed prominently around the workplace. At least eight participants, most of them mothers, spoke of how seeing the posters every day prompted them to reflect on their parenting and made them feel more positive about coming to work.

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For the managers, many of whom are migrants, participating in the workshops gave them a unique insight into the upbringing and cultures of the people they are working with. For some, this enabled them to better understand where people “were coming from” with regards to issues and attitudes in the workplace.

The workshops impacted on a personal level, too. Most of the managers talked about reflecting on their own upbringing and how this influenced their parenting. At least two had changed aspects of their working lives to reflect a better work/life balance.

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Engagement surveys regularly undertaken in the NIDC and ADC show an upward trend in the level of staff engagement. Whilst it was difficult for managers and supervisors to personally attribute any positive change in the workplace directly to the SKIP programme, there was general agreement that staff are more engaged, and have a genuine belief that their wellbeing is a priority in the workplace.

There was general agreement that the SKIP workshops were “the right thing to do”, and that the benefits will be more obvious in the long-term.

The Kiwi way of life is all about family. The more you can do to integrate that into the workforce,

it makes people feel more comfortable. And the more comfortable

they are, the more productive they become. You can’t quantify it, but

you can sort of feel it. (Manager)

The Kiwi way of life is all about family. The more you can do to integrate that into the workforce,

it makes people feel more comfortable. And the more comfortable

they are, the more productive they become. You can’t quantify it, but

you can sort of feel it. (Manager)

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Many participants and fathers in particular, appreciated that the evaluation process had allowed them to come together and talk about parenting with their workmates again. They believed that a ‘refresher’ session once or twice a year would help them maintain impetus for positive parenting.

Participants requested more information on the following:◦ Parenting teenagers, or learning about “the teen brain”◦ Parenting education for couples, particularly if their partner is not a

Warehouse employee◦ Parenting and alcohol

The majority of participants who were interested in further workshops indicated that they would be willing to participate in sessions such as these outside of work time, and some indicated that they would be happy to cover their own (or their partners costs) to do so.

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The SKIP workshops had the greatest impact on parents of younger children. Conversations about parenting started in the workshops but have extended into the

workplace. Participants felt that these conversations not only provided parenting support but have improved collegiality.

Participants felt that the workshops made them feel that their wellbeing was a priority at The Warehouse and described how they felt valued as a `person' rather than a `worker.‘

Participants also felt that there is now a more `family feel' to their workplace culture. It is important to recognise that the workshops can raise feelings such as guilt and regret.

Although the workshops addressed this well, future workplace-based parenting workshops may need to ensure support, such as information about parenting support organisations or EAP programmes, is available if required.

Managers described how the workshops gave them insight into the lives, culture and issues of their staff, in particular an understanding of the importance of family.

The workshop messages have extended beyond the workplace and have been shared with family and friends.

The layered approach (workshops and posters) has extended the life of the workshop messages and act as positive parenting reminders.

Overall it was a positive experience for participants, most of whom were keen to participate in further parenting initiatives, and who would recommend others to do so.