MUM Jane Evans is playing a key role in a television series about violent children starting this week.

The specialist in trauma parenting from Sutton Benger is one of the experts helping families dealing with violence in the new Channel 5 series, My Violent Child.

Mrs Evans, 53, has worked in parenting for 20 years with the NSPCC, Barnardos, Children’s Services and in domestic violence work.

She now trains professionals, such as early years workers and social workers, to work with families where relationships with children have broken down.

Last month she spoke in front of 800 parents at an international conference in Mumbai.

Mrs Evans rejects traditional techniques like the ‘naughty step’ or ‘rewards and star charts’, in favour of exploring emotions and working with a child’s natural desire to connect.

She said: “It is important to focus upon building respectful, emotionally connected relationships with children, as that is best for their mental health, safety and learning.

"Encouraging parents to be calm, to connect with their child’s feelings and then correct kindly, ensures all of these.”

In the first episode of My Violent Child, being aired tomorrow, Mrs Evans worked with a family where the violence of one child was having an impact on three siblings.

In a second episode, to be shown on Wednesday March 18, she helps a mother with two children suffering high levels of anxiety.

Mrs Evans, who herself has a son and two step-children, was was approached by the TV company in Bristol while working on a Wish for a Brighter Future, a project supporting young people affected by parent abuse.

“It’s been exciting and emotional to work with Channel 5 and Popkorn TV in making this series," she said.

"It’s been an opportunity for me to share my passion for a more current way of parenting to a much wider audience as well as helping specific families who are in crisis. I’m still in touch with one of those families today.”

She is not phased by the prospect of becoming a celebrity after her television appearances.

“Bring it on,” she said.

“It is getting the important message out that parenting is not about punishing or consequences. I’ll go to India, I’ll be on TV, I’ll do whatever it takes.”