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Parenting is one of the most difficult jobs in the world. But by aiming to bring out the best in your child, by listening and understanding, praising and encouraging their efforts, noticing and rewarding good behaviour and doing things together that you both enjoy, you will be helping to strengthen your child as an individual. Parental attention and praise is one of the biggest motivators for children so you need to use it in the right direction. Giving your child attention for negative behaviour encourages bad behaviour, so the aim is to reward and encourage good behaviour with attention and praise while tackling and reducing any bad behaviour. But this is far easier said than done. Parenting with confidence and providing a positive role model is largely based upon having access to information and support. Advice and support services identified within this website can help you in developing those skills and to be confident in helping your children. In specific see the ‘Parenting Support’ page on this website for more information. Self Esteem Your child’s self esteem is the best protection they can have from peer pressure and increased vulnerability to some crimes and safety issues. You can help your child’s self esteem in many ways, both in a positive way and negative way. There are several key things you can do to help build a good sense of self esteem in your child. Being a good positive role model and praising their good behaviour, giving positive and true feedback about their behaviour, talking with your child and helping them to see things in a good way and not be negative about themselves, and by being spontaneous and affectionate…. Making them feel great! Promoting Health & Wellbeing Encouraging good health in your child is something that most parents do without thinking. From making sure they brush their teeth or reminding them to wash, you are an important source of information and advice and an influential role model for your child, especially in early life. Eating healthily is a very important aspect of promoting health and wellbeing and indeed encouraging good behaviour. By eating a balanced diet and enjoying lots of different foods you help to build your child’s health from an early age. Granted, often some children refuse to eat certain foods and teenagers may go through fads of what they like, which is quit normal. But by helping them to develop a positive view of food and a sense of healthy eating, not only will this improve their health throughout their lives, but will also help to improve behaviour. A lot of behaviour is a result of eating some types of food. i.e. fatty foods not only increase your cholesterol but also slows down the brain, e-numbers and additives in food encourages erratic behaviour. If you want to know more about healthy eating, nutrition and the affect food has on behaviour then contact a health professional, like your GP, or see some of the links below. Advice for parents and carers
Information for Parents and carers Parentline Available seven days a week, 24 hours a day, parentline plus offer a free confidential helpline, including information and support, and the chance to talk through the issues facing parents. Tel: 0808 800 2222 or Textphone: 0800 783 6783 Parenline Plus also have a textphone available for people who are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech impairment. Like Parentline, this service provides opportunities to get support on being a parent. This service is open 9am – 5pm, Monday to Friday. Alternatively you can visit the Parentline Plus website, see below. Children’s Centre’s For information about your local Children’s Centre visit the ‘Map of Services’ on this website or you can call the Brighton & Hove City Councils Information Line on (01273) 290000 Mon-Fri 9am-5pm. Alternatively you can contact the Children’s Information Service, Tel: (01273) 293545, who can provide parents and carers with information regarding a range of other services in the city which you can access for further advice. Links Parentline Plus is a national charity that works for, and with, parents and families. They can offer parents and carers a range of advise and information regarding a range of parenting issues. To find out more visit the website and look around. Parentline Plus also have a free advice line which can offer advise and support to parents. Contact Tel: 0808 800 2222 Parents Online (POL) is a web site for parents, by parents. It can offer a range of information and advise regarding parenting issues to do with young children. The Parents centre provides parents and families with information and support regarding a range of issues including learning, childcare etc. UKParents.co.uk is a network and community of parents and people wanting to become parents. Through the website parents and carers can access information and talk to other parents around the UK about a range of issues. The Direct gov website gives you information about all public services in the UK, including information about parenting, rights, transport, education, a guide to government and much more. For parents by parents is a website designed by parents to provide other parents with information and advice about parenting issues. Gingerbread is the leading support organisation for over 1.8 million lone parents and their children throughout England and Wales who can provide a range of advice and information for lone parents. Pink parents is a website which offers a range of support services and social activities for all LGBT families. |
