COSP is a relationship-based parenting program designed to help parents and caregivers better understand their child’s emotional needs.

Here are some of Anna’s reflections from her own perspective as a parent:

Going through the COSP facilitator training has given me new insights into my own child’s needs—and my role as a parent. It helped me notice the moments when my child is seeking connection, reassurance, or space to explore, and how my responses shape my child’s sense of security. COSP uses a simple but powerful tool called “the circle” to explain attachment. It helps us see how children naturally move between exploring the world and coming back to us for comfort and reassurance. Our job as parents is to support both—being a secure base when they want to go out and discover new things, and a safe haven when they need to return for connection and support. Understanding this has helped me recognise my child’s needs more easily and respond in a way that strengthens our bond.

The course encourages parents to reflect on their own emotions and reactions as a parent. I’ve become more aware of the challenges that come with balancing being a “secure base” and a “safe haven” and how my own experiences influence the way I show up for my child. One of the most powerful concepts in the course is Shark Music—those moments when our child’s behaviour triggers something deep in us, making us feel uncomfortable, anxious, or even overwhelmed. It’s often connected to our own experiences of being parented and can make it hard to respond the way we’d like to. Gaining awareness of my own filters has helped me pause, reflect, and choose how I respond rather than just reacting.

One of the biggest takeaways for me has been feeling more confident that I am good enough and that parenting isn’t about being perfect; it’s about being present, responsive, and learning along the way.

The course is designed to be a safe space to reflect on parenting, and I’m looking forward to offering that same opportunity to other parents through the upcoming COSP sessions.