The father was offered the chance to read a bedtime story for his kids and they all lived happily ever after.
That is not quite the full story, but a parenting programme at the Otago Corrections Facility (OCF) is giving prisoners the chance to bond with their children by narrating stories so their kids can hear their dad read them a bedtime story.
Story Book Dads is based on a British programme and has been adapted for New Zealand prisons. Prisoners at OCF are flocking to the programme as some fathers look at ways of getting closer to their kids, some they have not seen for years.
Fictional stories are recorded on to DVD so children can look at the pictures and read the book while hearing their father's voice narrating the story.
Two prisoners who spoke to the Otago Daily Times yesterday said it was a fantastic idea and a great way of having some form of relationship with their children.
One who has seven children aged from 3 to 14 years, leapt at the chance to become involved.
‘‘I haven't seen my kids for ages and this is a great way to let them know I'm still around and they can actually hear me reading them a story. It helps bring the books alive,'' he said.
Prisoners are also allowed to decorate the DVD cover as well as make art work, including personalised cards, puppets and colourful illustrations to accompany the recorded story.
Another prisoner has a 6-year-old son and 4-year-old daughter. He was very keen to maintain a relationship with them although he was behind bars.
Both men picked a Christmas book to record before last year's festive season. They enjoyed the experience of voicing different emotions and tones for the book and were thrilled with the final result.
The reaction was wonderful, the man with seven children said.
He was imprisoned when his youngest child was only a year old so he has yet to form any kind of meaningful relationship with her. The stories ‘‘give me a connection with her'', he said.
OCF programmes manager Sandy Stoddart said the programme was well received by all the prisoners on the course and many had asked to become involved again.
‘‘Story Book Dads is proving to be a huge success, with many prisoners learning how important communication with their children is and how it can be done successfully even while they're in prison.''
While the first course is over, Mr Stoddart said staff were still encouraging those prisoners to keep up the communication with their families.
‘‘The course has taught them that interacting with their kids doesn't need to be a grand gesture - a card or art work will make a huge difference.''
