Parents - You’ve got this

A 3 DAY LONG WEEKEND

Every family is unique and we all come to the parenting journey with different values and expectations. Parenting is a lifelong process filled with joys, challenges, and growth. Over a 3 day long weekend our retreats help parents learn how to enjoy every moment of this journey. 

Your parents’ retreat is a golden opportunity to think purposely about your parenting and align around what matters most. At Bluestone you will experience a combination of parenting education, time and space to think about what is important for you as parents, and discussion with our Deirdre Brandner our parenting expert. You will also have the opportunity to put some plans in place for your family as you move forward as parents. 

There will be plenty of time for some well-deserved R and R in Bluestone’s sublime setting. We believe that parenting should be fun, and we want to ensure that you have some fun at Bluestone!

PARENTS RETREATS FOR EACH AGE AND STAGE

Because each developmental stage is different, our parents’ retreats are aligned to ages and stages of your children.

PARENTS TO BE

BABYMOONERS
Congratulations and celebrations! We bet you are feeling excited, apprehensive, hopeful, grateful, amazed, curious, blessed, impatient, overwhelmed, and joyful….and one of you may be feeling nauseous and emotional!

If you are thinking about being purposeful and planned on how you want to raise your child together, we are impressed. You will no doubt make great parents.

The Bluestone Parents To Be Retreat is designed to give you research based insight into parenting and lead you through some activities that will lay the foundations for a happy, healthy and connected family in the years ahead. You will leave the retreat aligned and with a clear focus and plan on your parenting journey.

PARENTING SCHOOL
AGED CHILDREN

5-12 YEARS
Transition to school is a major milestone and our children’s development is truly accelerated during this phase. It also comes with a new set of challenges and questions. Is my child learning at the correct rate? Does my child fit in and have friends? My child is being bullied, what should I do? What should I put in my child’s lunch box? My child has food allergies, how can I keep them safe? How much screen time is the right amount and how do I manage this? Does my child have too much/not enough homework? My child has attention issues what can I do to help? Do I spend enough time with my children? The list goes on….no wonder parents often feel guilty and stressed at times.

Our Parenting School Aged Children Retreat will enable you to support your child’s emotional, social, physical, and cognitive development and give you research based, practical strategies that you can put in place the minute you get home. Importantly you will also lay down the critical foundations for connected parenting for years to come.

PARENTING LITTLE ONES

1-5 YEARS
One minute you are completely in love with your child and the next minute you are tearing your hair out! The joy and challenge of little ones can be an exhausting roller coaster ride. Many parents of this age are drowning in information trying to work out what is best for their little one. Our retreat will give you clarity around behaviour, development and play, routines, and social interaction. All research based with practical tools and tips that work.

You will also lay down the critical foundations and practices for a happy, healthy, and connected family.

PARENTING TEENS

12-18 YEARS
Parenting teenagers can be quite a rollercoaster ride! As our teens go through physical, emotional, and social changes it can sometimes feel like we're trying to figure out a constantly shifting puzzle. How do we give them independence while keeping them safe? And how do we help them make good choices. We worry about how they handle school, emotions and all that screen time? And of course, there is the added challenge of talking to them!

Our Parenting Teens Retreat gives you valuable insights into research based, effective parenting techniques and strategies that will help you navigate these challenges, enabling you to effectively communicate and connect with your teen. The teenage years are an important phase of life. Our goal as parents is to have our teens successfully launch into adulthood and live a fulfilling life. This retreat is an important investment in your teenager’s future and will lay the foundations for great family relationships in the years to come.

BLUESTONE METHODOLOGY

Using Bluestone’s multidimensional Connected Family Model™, each retreat tackles age-appropriate insights, practical strategies, and effective communication techniques to foster nurturing and harmonious relationships with your children. Led by Bluestone’s Australian family psychologist, Deirdre Brandner has helped many parents navigate the journey of parenthood, providing advice and support across the many challenges families face. She is a calm, supportive parent coach whose practical advice has been life changing for many families.

Our parents retreats have three themes that we look at in depth based on the age and stage your family is in;

  • The critical foundations of a connected family that underpin a happy family life, 

  • 4 parenting practices that build connection and enable you to create the family you aspire to be.

  • The 5 parenting essentials that, when done right, help your children learn, develop, and grow to their full potential.

If your family fits into more than one age and stage, please talk to us. We will assist with choosing the right retreat for you.

“As we embark on our parenting journey we wanted to discover and define what we want for our children. There is so much information out there but the Bluestone Parents’ Retreat and their Connected Family Model makes such sense. We feel empowered and confident as we move forward as a family.”

Courtney and Charlie Custeau - Babymooners 

WHAT OUR FAMILIES ARE SAYING

PARENTING GUIDANCE

With a maximum of 5 couples, each retreat is an intimate setting with plenty of time to optimise your parenting partnership as well as hear from other parents in the same age and stage. Each couple (or single parent) will have a private session with Deirdre where you will have the opportunity to get advice on any parenting concerns you have. 

There will also be plenty of opportunity to continue discussions with Deidre in group settings, or while having some well-deserved R&R on property or when we are out and about experiencing the beautiful Matakana Coast.