Single parents are using the power of meditation to combat the stress of screaming children and running a home.

Mothers in Oxford have been attending a series of workshops aimed at teaching them how to cope with the aggravation that goes with raising young children.

They parents have been taught how to meditate, regulate their breathing and take time out at three morning sessions at Windale Community Primary School, in Greater Leys.

Mother-of-two Aaron Pratley, 24, from Priory Road Littlemore, said: "Sometimes you're just tired and cranky and you start shouting for no reason, but the course is starting to make a difference.

"I'm taking my children into consideration a lot more. I have learned to think about why I'm angry, and think of my children before that split second when I start shouting."

Monica Odwar, 32, from Three Corners Road, Greater Leys, who has three children, said: "It has been fantastic so far. Most of the time I'm dealing with the children and not myself. They all want my attention at the same time, which is hard, because I'm just one person.

"The course has helped me to manage my children and manage my stress."

The five-week workshop, called Stress Management For Parents, was organised as a pilot scheme by Blackbird Leys Children’s Centre and Oxfordshire Mind.

Organisers hope they will be able to extend the scheme to other children’s centres next year.

The parents have learned how to meditate, be aware of times when they are stressed and how to create a self-care plan.

They have been asked to keep an 'unpleasant events calendar' where they can write down their feelings when they are close to breaking point.

Maria Ward, outreach worker for the Blackbird Leys centre, said: "It's about teaching them to be able to cope with all the demands at any one time.

"Parents have expressed feelings where they are so angry they fear they might hurt their children, or they feel a bit of a failure because they are not a perfect family.

"As well as the children there are issues like housing, finance and relationships which play on their mind constantly."

Parents at the workshops have been taught to follow six basic skills to help de-stress their lives.

-Be aware of stress. Remind yourself of tell-tale symptoms, such as tiredness or restlessness, rather than explode at someone.

-Take time out. Walk away from the problem for a couple of minutes until you have calmed down.

-Create a self-care plan. Make sure you eat a balanced diet, get as much sleep as you need and exercise two or three times a week.

-Buy a diary or use a calendar. Simple time-management skills can improve your life.

-Solve problems together. Involve your children in decision making, where appropriate, to develop their sense of responsibility.

-Find support. Find other parents or relatives who can help you with baby sitting or join you for a chat at less busy times.

For details of the classes, call Ms Ward on 01865 779615.