Parents have the chance to learn how to deal with their children's sibling rivalry, tantrums and pouting at a parenting course being offered at the Women's Resource Centre.

The course — based on clinical psychologist and child discipline expert Thomas Phelan's 1-2-3 Magic theory — is aimed at parents of children aged two to 12 and especially those whose offspring have special needs.

A range of topics on how to parent will be covered, including how to deal with a youngster misbehaving in public and how to get them to do homework and keep their rooms tidy.

Kathy Harriott, from the centre, said: "The beauty of the course is that parents have an opportunity to meet and discuss their specific problems and find out they are not alone.

"Parents also try out the methods in the course and come back the following week to discuss how it worked or didn't work and receive input and advice on how to improve on what they are doing.

"If parents want to buy the book and do the programme for themselves they can do that and it is certainly helpful but being in the group somehow helps people to follow through."

She added: "The course is open to any parent or anyone who provides care for the children. Parents consistently report that stress in their household has decreased by the end of the five weeks of the course."

The course runs from February 18 to March 17 and costs $50 per person. Classes take place on Monday evenings between 5.30 and 7.30.

Parents need to register by Friday, February 15 at the centre at 58 Reid Street, Hamilton (above Music Box) and there is a maximum group size of 12. Registration is between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on weekdays.

The Women's Resource Centre will be offering another Dr. Phelan programme — How to Survive Your Adolescents — later in the year. To find out more about his courses visit www.parentmagic.com.