What Our Parents Say – New | Begin with the Children

What Our Parents Say

The Foundation initiated its engagement of Parents of Newborns starting in 2015 on a pilot test ba-sis in one hospital birthing center. The test was successful and other birthing centers were added. By February of 2020, the Foundation had enrolled more than 9,000 families (about 18,000 parents) in its Begin with the Children Parenting Program.

During the years 2017 – 2019 the Foundation sent three opinion surveys to its enrolled parents. In two of these surveys, the final question asked was for respondents to state in their own words what they liked best about our Program. While we received hundreds of responses reflecting many views of why our parents love our program, we share only 101 of their unedited responses organized in 11 primary subjects.

Parent Leadership

1

It provides useful parenting information for parents…very helpful for first-time parents.

2

It gives me tips to help parent my child.

3

I like the simpleness of the plan. I also appreciate the direct teaching ideas of how to be an effective parent.

4

Encouraging words; Helpful hints; Reasonable ideas.

5

I like the counsel & advice it gives parents to have a successful family & happy, good, healthy relationships.

6

I like the advice and support it offers to me and my husband on how to best help our child be successful and grow.

7

It helps me understand how to be a great parent.

8

It helps me understand my role as a parent.

9

It is a good reminder every month to be more thoughtful about how you parent & to better understand your child’s needs.

10

Very educational; Great guidance.

11

I love receiving the information and learning.

12

I like all the great information there is. It seems like the information is well thought out and put together in a way that everyone can understand.

Marriage & Family Relationships

1

I like its Foundation. It helps me set the importance of being intentional in my parenting and in my marriage.

“This is a
program that
literally brings
your family
together”

2

I think so often our family is pulled this way and that and it feels so overwhelming and stressful. This is a program that literally brings your family together through Family Hour and gives you ideas on how to better connect, slow down, and get on the same page.

3

It helps me create a solid foundation in my relationships—especially that of my husband by giving specific tips & explanations.

4

The most difficult thing is to keep our marriage strong when kids are so time consuming. I appreciate the reminder & suggestions. Kids are better off when my husband & I are close and united.

5

Love bringing it back to what started this family in the first place, my marriage.

6

I love the idea of family being first and foremost. It’s such a good reminder.

7

I get focused on things I need to be doing, and it is so nice to remember that one of the most important things is to love my husband & family.

8

My husband and I like that it helps us to stay focused on the things that matter most in life which is our children. Having a plan like Begin with the Children helps us give our children a better/happy life.

9

I like the council & advice it gives parents to have a successful family & happy, good, healthy relationships. I love my family & I

always wanted my family relationships to be strong. I love reading/finding ways to build family relationships..

10

I love my family & I always wanted my family relationships to be strong. I love reading/finding ways to build family relationships.

11

I like that KinderKronicle is consistent—sometimes you blink your eyes and six months are gone and these reminders help keep us on track.

Child Development & Milestones

1 The Child Chat section (especially the ones written from the point of view of the baby) is my favorite—it’s been a good reminder of what I can expect from my baby at this stage and helps alleviate some of my uncertainty as a first-time parent.

2 I liked that it showed where my child should be developmentally each month. I like the advice that it gives every month as far as parenting. Being a first-time parent, sometimes it’s hard to know what to do and can be overwhelming. So, I appreciate the advice.

3 I like how it grows with my child. It helps me adapt to their age & focus on how I can interact with my child on their specific level.

4 I like that it helps parents with each stage the child goes through. I especially like Galinsky’s 6 stages of parenthood. It has helped me with my 2 children!

5 It teaches me things I never knew! It also helps me bring our family together,and it strengthens all of us. I love the help.

“I like how it
grows with my
child.”

6

Step by step knowledge & information really helped us. Beginning with the first month, I received the 3 Parent Things

parenting principles. With each successive month thereafter, I received more positive information to help us become better parents.

7I like the monthly reminders of what I am doing day to day is important. It gives good tips and things for me to incorporate in my daily life as a mom.

8 I like the monthly parenting tips & new ideas. I believe in continual self-improvement, so the resources have been helpful.

9 I enjoy learning new ways to encourage a healthy, happy family relationship.

10

Helpful tips and ways to help my child.

11 I like that it highlights what I should be focusing on as a parent. It simplifies things!

12 I like how there are simple suggestions to do each month so it’s not overwhelming.

Encouragement & Motivation

1

Well, I like that I agree completely. I like that you present everything in such an encouraging way. I like that you keep it simple. I like that I feel like it matches my family—that it really will work for us.

2

The positive messages. Everything goes better with a positive outlook.

3

I really like that it begins with love. I can tell a big difference from situations when I parent with love & kindness than if I’m worn out.

4

As a new parent, it helped give motivation and inspiration.

5

I love the focus on how to make the family stronger.

6

I feel that every time I’ve read the “Family Relationships” section, I have immediately seen how applicable it is to me and it’s usually something I start to work on.

“It begins with love.”

7

I like the positive focus and reminder to parent now with the end goal of what we want for our children to be like as adults in view.

8

I like that it showed me I am not alone—it helped & made us feel normal rather than broken.

9

The frequent reminders that family relationships are important.

10

It reminds me on a monthly basis to “check” on my parenting habits & make sure I’m doing the best I can & gives me resources/reminders to do better.

First Time Parents & Single Parent Support

1

I think it is particularly helpful for first- time parents as a means of support & to help them feel more comfortable & knowledgeable.

2
The Child Chat helps alleviate uncertainty as a first-time parent.

3
Being a first-time parent, sometimes it’s hard to know what to do and can

be overwhelming. So, I appreciate the advice.

4 As a new parent, it helped give motivation and inspiration.

5 I’ve enjoyed receiving a different perspective on different aspects that come with being a parent.

6 I think it’s wonderful you have a single parent corner. I’m not single but I still read it. Sometimes I feel like a single mom and this helps keep things in perspective.

7I like that it showed where my child should be developmentally each month.

8I appreciate suggestions and writings that reinforce our parenting style—even with a support system in place.

9
I love “hearing” what’s going on in my child’s voice! It makes her more relatable & it’s just plain fun!

10 It helped me interact with my baby better.

“I think it’s
wonderful you
have a single
parent corner.”

Practical Parenting Tools & Reminders

1
I love the KinderKronicle. There have been several times when an issue that was addressed was exactly what we needed.

2
With each successive month thereafter, I received more positive information to help us become better parents.

“Simple and
easy to read.”

3
I like that KinderKronicle is consistent and keeps us on track.

4
I like the monthly reminders that what I do day to day is important.

5It reminds me to “check” on my parenting habits & gives me resources to do better.

6I like that they (KinderKronicle) are manageable—not too long or too frequent. I can actually have time to read them.

7It’s easy and straightforward.

8
Simple and easy to read. Relevant information and helpful and positive encouragement.

9
I like all the great information there is well thought out and easy to follow.

10 I love this program and it’s reminders.

Format, Style & Accessibility

1

I like that you present everything in such an encouraging way.

2

I like that you keep it simple.

3

I like the simplicity of the plan.

4

It’s easy and straightforward. By easy, I mean simple.

5 It’s easy to follow but very effective.

6

I like that they are manageable—not too long or too frequent.

7

I love the different ideas that are presented. They are tried and true.

8

Simple and easy to read.

9

Relevant information and helpful encouragement.

10

I enjoy the direct teaching ideas of how to be an effective parent.

“It’s easy to follow but very effective.”

Overall Positive Impact & Education

1

It helps me bring our family together, and it strengthens all of us.

2

It gives me a place to start—if I want my dream family, I need to work for it.

3

I like receiving reminders to focus on the things that matter most.

4

It provides helpful suggestions that reinforce parenting.

5

It keeps me motivated and inspired as a parent.

6

I appreciate reminders that family relationships are forever and worth improving.

7

I like the focus on teaching responsibility to children.

8

I feel like it matches my family—that it really will work for us.

9

Very educational; Great guidance.

10

I appreciate the assistance I have been given as a parent.

“It keeps me motivated and inspired as a parent.”

Confidence & Reassurance

1

I like that it gives me confidence that I am doing the right thing as a parent.

2

It reassures me that parenting is a process, and it’s okay not to have it all figured out at once.

“It helps me feel
more secure in
my decisions as
a mom.”

3

I like that it reminds me that my role as a parent is important.

4

I appreciate that it helps me feel more secure in my decisions as a mom.

5

It reassures me that even small things I do with my children every day matter.

6

I like that it shows me I’m not the only one who struggles—other parents face the same things.

Strengthening Bonds

1

It reminds me that my children need time with me more than things.

2

I like that it gives me fun ideas to bond with my children.

3

It helps me find ways to connect with each of my children individually.

4

I like that it encourages me to spend more intentional time with my kids.

5

It motivates me to talk, play, and read more with my child.

“It puts parenting into perspective and
reminds me of my purpose as a parent.”

Parenting with Perspective

1

It helps me think long-term about what kind of adults I want my children to become.

2

I like that it puts parenting into perspective and reminds me of my purpose as a parent.

3

It helps me keep my priorities in order when life feels overwhelming.

4

I appreciate that it points me toward focusing on what truly matters most in family life.

5

I like that it reminds me to slow down and treasure the moments with my children.

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