Research into parenting classes

Parents of children with behavioural problems are being offered the chance to sign up for classes as part of a Devon-based trial.

Researchers at the Peninsula Medical School in Exeter want to find out which types of parenting courses work best.

So far about 100 parents in Plymouth have taken part in classes, which deal with bad behaviour including tantrums and fighting.

The researchers plan to publish their results for use nationwide.

Families that come to us say they want less shouting, less squabbling, less fighting, fewer tantrums Malcolm Fletcher, parenting practitioner

Luda James, from Plymouth, attended parenting classes after struggling to cope with her six-year-old son Kai's aggressive behaviour.

She said: "My confidence with my parenting has gone way up, I'm happy that I can manage, I know what I'm doing now."

Malcolm Fletcher, who administers parenting courses around the UK, said: "Families that come to us say they want less shouting, less squabbling, less fighting, fewer tantrums.

"They want to get control back as parents."

Louise Brownhill, from the Peninsula Medical School, said Plymouth had been chosen for the research alongside Hackney in London because they had very different demographic profiles.

The medical school is working with researchers from King's College London and the Institute of Psychiatry to assess which types of parenting classes work best for which parents.

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