We welcomed Helen Davidson once again to deliver the Schools Programme talk on Brave Parenting – the 8 ‘R’s. The topic is very pertinent in this day of social media etc., and Helen set about outlining each ‘R’ for the benefit of those present. Regulation is a brain based skill that takes time to develop, but practise makes progress. Deep breathing helps to bring about calmness; Rating skills enable a child to be rational about coping with challenges e.g. not getting their own way; Role modelling is essential so that the child is shown how to deal with a situation. It fosters being rational and how to cope with challenges; Respect is developed through a healthy hierarchy, an essential ingredient in any family; Rules exist abundantly in modern societies and strong boundaries prepare children for life. Don’t be afraid to say “no”, and don’t let your child catch ‘affluenza’!; Routine is something that brains love because it brings stability; Risks are a two edged sword – acceptable and unacceptable. Let your child take acceptable risks such as climbing a tree (only 1 in 4 Aussie kids climb trees these days!), but reduce unacceptable ones, such as accessing pornography, by talking about them; and finally Rewards should be available and dispensed as often as possible. And don’t forget to display your unconditional love to your children. A number of questions rounded off a most interesting morning.