Game on

Helping you be the best Dad you can be for your kids

Catholic Social Services runs the 8-week Game On! parenting programme for Dads, by Dads across the Greater Wellington region. The course is for men – and other male family members who care for children – who want to make the most of their life and their relationships with their kids. The course is good humoured and interactive drawing on the experience of the facilitators and knowledge of the men who attend.

Term One Dates for 2026 :

Hutt – Starting Weds 4th February 2026
-> Venue: St David’s Anglican Church, 3 Seddon St, Naenae.

Wellington – Starting Thur 5th February 2026
->Venue: Level 1, 132 Tory St, Te Aro, Wellington

Click here to register

or contact us for more information

More information

About Game On

• An 8-week dads parenting course based on turning the hearts of the fathers to their children
• Includes 1, 2hr session per week plus some in-between help if needed
• Co-facilitated by two dads, at least one of whom is a qualified counsellor or social worker
• A mixture of prepared content, shared life experience, and some group work.

Who attends?

• Game On is open to any father figure, including brothers, stepfathers, grandfathers, uncles
• Most are referred by professionals; counsellors, social workers, lawyers, family violence agencies, Police, and internal referrals. Many also come through promotion in schools and community noticeboards
• We do not have officially “mandated clients”, the process involves encouraging men to choose to do the course

How is it structured?

• The course begins by creating a safe and non-judgemental space for men to talk about their parenting journey and their hopes in attending the course. Every session includes an opportunity for men to reflect on what happened in the week and how this relates to their goal of being the best dad for their kids.
• During this time men may raise their own parenting issues and goals, and the co-facilitators will aim to incorporate that into the course
• Men are encouraged to share what has worked for them, be affirmed and learn from other participants’ experiences.
• Guided conversations and activities with input from the group form the rest of the content.
  • Week one – Thinking about our kids
  • Week two – Thinking about ourselves
  • Week Three – Communication: Build those skills
  • Week Four – Discipline – what it is and how to use it effectively
  • Week Five – Building self-esteem in ourselves and our kids
  • Week Six – Nutrition – food for the body and mind
  • Week Seven – Making changes
  • Week Eight – Putting it all together and celebration

For more information contact our administrator reception@wn-catholicsocialservices.org.nz .

Here’s some of the feedback received from participants:

• My kids are wanting to spend time with me and laughing more and playing games more
• I`m trying to take on board some of the tools I’ve learnt from the course. The course has given me a real boost in confidence, and I will now talk to my girls and listen more at their level.
• That I need to focus on my own behaviour and think about how I can co-parent with my children’s mother
• I’m interacting more with my kids, being really present
• It’s given me much needed impetus to carry on self-work and care for myself
• Cleaner at home, my words have calmed down, starting to think before I talk
• Game On! has given me fresh perspective and tools/strategies with dealing with not just my daughter but with family and even within myself
• I have learned to stop and think in situations where my daughters are fighting. These changes will, I am sure, form the basis for better relationships with my daughters and consequently my partner
• They (kids) respond better to a more mellow, engaged Dad. They also are becoming more relaxed (early days!!) knowing dad is less likely to be triggered by their behaviour
• Great dynamic, priceless info that every dad should know, great pacing too – allowing space for slightly off-script contributions which were more-often-than-not relevant
• Keep doing what you’re doing!!!

Interested?

or contact us for more information