• A short online animated program that supports parents with young children (0-5 years) to build trust with their child
• Shows real-life parent-child trust-in-action examples
• Will support you, as parents, to see your child’s behaviour differently and to enhance your parent-child relationship
• A program you can do on your own, anywhere, anytime. If needed you can show it to your health care professional and discuss the ideas with them 
• Tells the story of trust between parents and young children, and its special importance for positive early childhood development
• Gives ideas about strengthening trust, especially during times when life is challenging  
• Was co-created by nurses, parents of young children, clinicians, and researchers 
• Is evidence-based, with all content grounded in current research in attachment theory, developmental neuroscience, and psychoanalysis  
• Is presented by Prof. Jennifer McIntosh, a leading Australian child development researcher and therapist.

MERTIL for Parents program structure

• A 35-min video consisting of 4 chapters of approx 10 min each
• Audio-only option so you can listen on your phone
• CH 1 contains a 6-min animated message form a child to thier parents, about trust. narrated by a young child
• Online and self-paced; complete at your own pace and in your own time
• Activities to help you think about what you have learnt
• Tip sheets and posters for downloading – print and stick up on the walls
• 5 extra video examples of trust in action with real parents and children

Program outline

The course includes 4 chapters, presented in themes as outlined below:

Chapter 1: Introduction and Message form a child to thier parents – 7 min

• Welcome 
• Message form a child to thier parent anout trust
• Is MERTIL for Parents the right program for me?
• Looking after yourself while you listen

Chapter 2: Why trust matters – 12 min

• What does trust mean for a baby?
• Let’s get rid of some unhelpful myths about babies and parenting ideas
• Parental trust when the parent has had painful relational experiences
• Practical suggestions to build trust and shared delight
• The “good enough” parent..
• Attachment relationships: That special connection between baby and parent
• Trust equipment: Built-in from birth, to communicate, connect, & trust
• Parenting capacities change with stress
• How children tolerate and manage stress

Chapter 3: Trust & trauma, rupture & repair – 11 min

• Being a predictable parent and how this is helpful to a baby
• Rupture and repair
• Good stress, bad stress, and knowing the difference
• What about big rupture?
• When trust has been tricky
• When trauma is part of your parenting picture

Chapter 4: Being your best parent, with support – 10 min

• How do I know if I need professional support with my parenting?
• Signs from your baby
• The trust dance
• Asking for help

 Resources: Activities, Tip Sheets & Posters, Real-life parent-child video examples of Trust in Action, Where to get support