Parents

Presenters

Jonathan Young , Father And Child Trust Christchurch and Jordon Cairns.

Jordon turns 15 in February and will become a father later in 2006.

This workshop will discuss how parenting has changed (particularly fathering) in New Zealand through exploring how young people would like to raise their own children, and what hopes they have for themselves and their offspring.

Following a presentation on the 'facts' about teenage fathers and how the role of fathers has changed from 'the bread winner', to becoming more involved in the raising of their children the workshop will move towards, expelling myths about 'young fathers' - such as being 'dead beat dads', bad parents, or not wanting anything to do with their children.

Workshop participants will b drawn into a discussion about memories from their own childhood - things they would change, things they would keep for their own children and the difference between friends and parents. Should parents try to be their children's friends? What boundaries should be followed? What needs to happen in society to make people better parents? Is it too late for people who already have children to change?

Father and Child Trust was established in Christchurch in 1997 and currently provides advocacy, support, education and referral services for fathers with children throughout New Zealand. Father and Child Trust seeks to add to the knowledge-base of the role of fathers in society through research.