Who we are
GroBrain trains Early Years practitioners to integrate infant mental health and brain development into their regular practice. Foundations for emotional wellbeing are laid in the first few years of life when the brain is developing at its fastest.
We live in an age of mental health struggles, high anxiety, depression and stress, which sadly often begin in childhood. Infant mental health is new to most parents, and insights into brain development can be a strong motivation to make small but significant changes. Our vision is to turn the tide, break the negative cycles we see being passed on and help raise a generation of emotionally healthier adults.
We live in an age of mental health struggles, high anxiety, depression and stress, which sadly often begin in childhood. Infant mental health is new to most parents, and insights into brain development can be a strong motivation to make small but significant changes. Our vision is to turn the tide, break the negative cycles we see being passed on and help raise a generation of emotionally healthier adults.
What we do
GroBrain offers a combination of training and resources to equip a wide range of practitioners working with parents in the Early Years.
How we do it
We offer a unique range visual interactive resources, designed to be used flexibly either 1:2:1 or in groups, giving parents:
- Information on the vital part they play in 'wiring up' their baby's brain, especially the ability to manage stress
- Increased understanding of child development, especially emotional development
- Increased sensitivity to babies' signals and cries and why comfort is so important.
- Increased motivation to talk, read, sing and play with their babies - promoting school readiness
- Understanding of how these parenting skills link with infant brain development
How to train with us
There are currently two levels of training:
Foundation Level: Equipping practitioners to talk about infant mental health 1:2:1 with parents.
Facilitator Level: Equipping practitioners with existing training/experience in facilitating parenting groups to deliver a GroBrain Baby Course or GroBrain Toddler Course.
Most of our training is In-House but some Open Access Courses are also available.
Foundation Level: Equipping practitioners to talk about infant mental health 1:2:1 with parents.
Facilitator Level: Equipping practitioners with existing training/experience in facilitating parenting groups to deliver a GroBrain Baby Course or GroBrain Toddler Course.
Most of our training is In-House but some Open Access Courses are also available.
Why use GroBrain?
- All our materials are science-based.
- Grobrain has been used effectively over the past 10 years with a wide range of families, including more vulnerable parents
- We don't just give you the underpinning knowledge. We equip you to explain the theory to parents yourself.
- We 'translate' concepts from research into pictures, diagrams and activities that parents can understand.
- Infant mental health can be integrated into your regular work with parents, even when time is short.
- The pace and style of our Baby Course and Toddler Course make them fun to deliver and fun for parents to attend. The drop-out rate is low.
- Our resources are highly visual, including PowerPoint/KeyNote presentations to use in groups on 1:2:1 on tablets, laminated A3 pictures to raise discussion in 'low tech' situations, unusual visual aids, Facilitator Manuals for all our courses to ensure programme fidelity, posters, leaflets for parents, evaluation forms and certificates.
- Supports ACE awareness for practitioners and the families they support.
Who we work with
GroBrain is being widely used by Flying Start, a Welsh-government funded programme for vulnerable families with children 0-5. Over the past ten years we have trained hundreds of their frontline workers. The Swansea JIGSO Flying Start team has recently been awarded a prize by the Royal College of Midwives for reducing inequalities.
What people say about us
"GroBrain is an integral part of all we do, and can be applied to any situation. It helps young people know what they need to do to be good parents. The 'brain wiring' is just so simple for them to understand and it's the bit they remember." Mike Davies, JIGSO Manager April 2019
Parent Packs, posters, leaflets
FACEBOOK We write regular posts on the FB GroBrain Page
Contact us at info@grobrain.com
Contact us at info@grobrain.com