Aware Parenting

Kirsty has been using the Aware Parenting approach for over 7 years with her own tamariki. For the last 5 years, she has been sharing this transformative approach with other families across Australia and Aotearoa as one of only two Aware Parenting Instructors in New Zealand.

What is Aware Parenting?

Founded by Dr. Aletha Solter, a respected Swiss-American developmental psychologist, speaker, consultant and author, Aware Parenting is grounded in the latest child development research. It offers a holistic approach that nurtures healthy attachment, builds emotional resilience through natural healing processes and encourages willingness and cooperation through a relationship-based democratic, approach without the use of rewards and punishments.

Aware Parenting is about navigating the wonder-filled (and sometimes overwhelming!) journey of parenting with heart and wisdom.

It's about:

Juggling everyone's needs (yep, even yours, Māmā!)
Building deep, secure connection with your child/ren and yourself
Helping your little ones sleep peacefully (without sleep training)
Supporting your kids to heal from stress and let those big emotions out in healthy ways
Gaining willingness and cooperation without the use of rewards and punishments (democratic or non-punitive discipline, which doesn't mean no boundaries)
Having the tools to navigate big changes like new siblings, house moves, or changes in family dynamics
Mediating sibling squabbles and growing interpersonal skills

Aware Parenting supports you to raise children who are empathetic, intrinsically motivated, and emotionally resilient - without the need for rebellion or suppressing their feelings as they grow older.

Kirsty Fernanades, Aware Parenting Instructor

"As a family, we were already committed to attachment-style parenting, but struggled to work out how we were meant to get our own needs met amongst it all. Aware Parenting provided that missing piece and was a total game changer for us. It has helped us to connect with ourselves, each other and our children more deeply, to foster secure attachment, to heal our own past hurts and reparent ourselves, to navigate tricky parenting challenges and heal stress and trauma, to guide us in creating and holding boundaries, gaining cooperation and genuine willingness from our kids, engage in play and create more fun and lightness in our family".

"Kirsty is an absolute gem who took the time to really listen to my wife’s story and then to both our views. With the information gathered from us, Kirsty had a lot of knowledge to share with and such a gentle approach to helping us find the keys to achieve the goals we are so wanting for our little girls and how we raise them. We highly recommend if you needing advice and a gentle approach Kirsty is the way to go."

- Ricky, Father of 3

Aware Parenting Support

Kirsty offers support for you and your parenting for a short time or in the long-term.

In our sessions together you will experience:

Deep listening - a chance to really express how parenting is for you, without fear of judgement. An opportunity to bring your whole self, where ALL of you is welcome.
Compassion and empathy - for your journey and your challenges.
Insight, tools and strategies - from an Aware Parenting perspective to move through challenges within you or with your children.
Ongoing care and support - a sense of journeying through parenting with me by your side, rather than alone and in isolation.

Aware Parenting Support options:

All sessions are 1 hour each.

One (1) session - NZD$120

Three (3) sessions - NZD$342 (5% saving on sessions)

Five (5) sessions - NZD$558 (7% saving on sessions)

Ten (10) sessions - NZD$1,104 (8% saving on sessions)

The Aware Parenting Support Circle

A supportive 8-month journey for parents seeking to deepen their understanding and practice of Aware Parenting techniques, facilitated by Kirsty - one of only two certified Aware Parenting instructors in Aotearoa.

The Aware Parenting Circle is ideal for those who: