Positive Parenting

Parenting can be one of the most challenging and rewarding roles we may have in our lives. But conversations about parenting can be sensitive.

Positive Parenting Cards provide an engaging and non judgemental way for parents, grandparents, carers, and guardians to share their stories of the joys, difficulties and rewards of parenting; reflect on where their attitudes and beliefs about parenting come from; and explore different approaches to working through challenges.

Each of the 40 cards features an original line drawing by artist Anna Marrone, of an everyday object that can be found in many family homes, such as a toaster, a ball, a shoe, a pet’s bowl, a sandwich, a toothbrush or a garden spade. The images are accompanied by a simple sentence starter to get the conversation rolling and to inspire conversation about parents’ hopes and dreams for their children and themselves.

Positive Parenting Cards are engaging, positive, and versatile— spread them out on the kitchen table at home, use in counselling and support sessions, family work or parent education, or in conversations related to out-of-home care.

• 40 laminated, full-colour cards (140mm x 140mm) in a sturdy folio box

BONUS: Free access to the No Room for Family Violence Digital Toolbox

• Digital version of the cards and a digital booklet full of ideas for using the cards
• Extra support resources including ideas bank, card hacks and blogs

To use the digital toolbox, simply create a customer account. All digital products follow our Digital Usage Policy – see Copyright and Digital Usage for details.

• In groups: Spread the cards out and ask members of the group to choose a card and finish the sentence on the card they’ve chosen. You could also ask, ‘Why did you choose that card? Why is it relevant to you at the moment?’ Invite other participants to say how they would complete the same sentence starter.
• With couples: Ask each person in the relationship to choose a card. What is it about the card that appeals so much? Why is the choice significant right now? Invite each person to finish the other person’s sentence starter. What might the different responses reveal?
• Hopes and dreams: Which cards remind you of your hopes and strengths as a parent or carer? What do you feel you do well as a parent or carer? Do any of the cards make you think about aspects of parenting you’d like to get better at?

For more inspiration, explore our Ideas Bank.