SECURE START PARENTING
The attachment program that strengthens your child’s security for life
Build a stronger, safer, more connected relationship with your child
Parenting young children can bring out the most tender and challenging parts of us.
One moment, your child wants closeness.
The next, they push you away.
They melt down over something that seems small.
They cling, resist, demand, cry, shut down, or act out.
And as a parent, you may find yourself wondering:
“Why is this so hard?”
“What does my child actually need from me right now?”
“Am I responding the right way?”
“Why do I get so triggered in these moments?”
“How do I stay calm when they are not calm?”
The Circle of Security Parenting Program helps caregivers better understand what is happening underneath a child’s behaviour so they can respond with more confidence, clarity, and connection.
This 8-week program is designed for parents and caregivers of children 6 years old and younger who want to build a secure, emotionally safe relationship with their child.
Your child’s behaviour is often communication
When children are overwhelmed, they may not have the words to explain what they need.
Instead, their needs may show up as:
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Clinginess
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Tantrums
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Defiance
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Big emotional reactions
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Difficulty separating
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Shutting down
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Constant need for reassurance
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Pushing boundaries
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Struggling to calm down
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Wanting independence one moment and comfort the next
It can be easy to see the behaviour and miss the need underneath it. Circle of Security Parenting helps parents slow down and ask: “What is my child really needing from me right now?”
Because when we can see the need beneath the behaviour, we can respond differently.
This program helps parents move from reacting to understanding
Many parents come into this work feeling like they are constantly managing behaviour.
But secure attachment is not about becoming a perfect parent.
It is about learning how to notice, repair, reconnect, and respond in ways that help your child feel safe, seen, and supported.
Through this program, parents begin to understand:
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when their child needs comfort
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when their child needs support exploring the world
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when their child is asking for connection through behaviour
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how their own stress response impacts the interaction
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how to pause before reacting
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how to repair after hard moments
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how to build emotional safety over time
It is about giving parents language, insight, and tools for the moments that feel hardest.
What changes when a child feels securely connected?
When children experience more emotional safety with their caregivers, they are better supported in:
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exploring their environment
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building confidence
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managing distress
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developing trust
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communicating needs
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recovering from hard moments
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strengthening emotional resilience
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forming healthier relationships over time
And parents often experience a shift too.
They begin to feel less confused by their child’s behaviour.
Less caught in guilt or frustration.
More able to pause.
More able to repair.
More confident in how they respond.
The goal is not to eliminate every hard parenting moment.
The goal is to help you understand those moments differently, so they become opportunities for connection instead of disconnection.
Inside the 8-week Circle of Security Parenting Program
This weekly support program is designed for parents and caregivers of children ages 6 and under.
Each week introduces a new topic through facilitator guidance, reflection, discussion, and supportive learning materials.
Together, we will explore how to:
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identify your child’s attachment needs
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read your child’s cues more clearly
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understand what may be hidden underneath behaviour
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support your child through emotional distress
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regulate your own stress response as a caregiver
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provide comfort when your child needs connection
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support your child’s healthy independence and exploration
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recognize ruptures in the relationship
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repair and reconnect after difficult moments
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reduce assumptions about your child’s motivations
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build a more secure parent-child relationship over time
Who this is for
This program may be a good fit if:
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you want to feel more confident responding to your child’s emotions
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your child has big feelings or frequent emotional distress
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you feel triggered, overwhelmed, or unsure during difficult parenting moments
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you want to better understand your child’s behaviour
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you are looking to strengthen your bond with your child
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you want to parent with more awareness, calm, and connection
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you want to break old patterns and build something healthier for your family
Facilitated by Dr. Olivia Chu Yau
The program is facilitated by Dr. Olivia Chu Yau, a Clinical Neuropsychologist and certified Circle of Security Parenting facilitator.
Dr. Olivia brings a compassionate, evidence-informed, and developmentally sensitive approach to helping parents better understand their children and themselves.
The program may be covered by extended health insurance for those with coverage for Psychology.
A stronger relationship starts with seeing your child differently
When you can better understand what your child needs, you can respond with more confidence.
When your child feels safer with you, they can begin to feel safer in the world.
Circle of Security Parenting gives caregivers a framework for building that safety, one interaction at a time.