Parental Support
These are the parenting courses running in January 2010. They offer parents a chance to talk, learn new approaches and develop existing skills.
If you are interested please contact:
Daphne Pratt
- Tel: 07500 225655
Xenia Pourpourides
- Tel: 07795 014024
You can also contact Karin Ridout, Parenting Commissioner via email:
- Email: karin.ridout@barnet.gov.uk
Family links
10 Week course, two hours per session, held once a week, for parents of 2-15 year olds. This course helps you reflect on the experience you had as a child and of being parented and how this effects your parenting now. The focus is on looking after yourself and understanding your own and your child’s emotional needs, to help you build good communication within the family.
Thursday 14 January 2010
- Martins Primary School, Plane Tree Walk, East Finchley, N2 9JP
- 9.15am – 11.15am
Strengthening families, strengthening communities
13 week course, 3 hours per session held once a week, for parents of 3-18 year olds. We will explore the way families communicate and the influence the wider culture and community can have on your family. This course promotes positive relationships for you and your children, teaching effective discipline methods to give you confidence and skills to make home life more bearable.
Thursday 14 Jan 2010
- Wingfield Children’s centre, The concourse Mercury, Graham Park, Colindale, NW9 5XN
Wednesday 20 January 2010
- Barnet Impact, 80 Daws Lane, Mill Hill, NW7 4SL
Monday 1st February 2010
- Barnet Community Centre, 48-50 Victoria Road, New Barnet, EN4 9PF
- 9.30am - 1pm
Being a parent is one of the most difficult jobs there is, for which little training or preparation is available.
Most families experience difficulties and challenges at some stage of their children’s lives. It is not always easy to talk about worries or know where to go for help or advice. Parents can feel that they are failing in some way if things go wrong and it can be difficult to share anxieties.
Before you leave your child with a minder
Make sure you use people you can trust to care for your child. Ask to see certificates or registration documents and speak to other parents who have used the minder or babysitter you are considering .
Situations where you are concerned about the welfare of a child
You could speak to the parent and check if there are difficulties where you could offer some support. However, if you are worried about a child being abused, you should contact Barnet children’s services or the NSPCC to report your concerns.
Helping to protect children is everyone’s responsibility and social workers rely on information from all members of the community so that concerns can be investigated. Children are rarely removed from home as they are usually best cared for by their own families. However, sometimes families need support to look after their children safely.
You need to discipline your child but you don't want to smack them
There are many positive alternatives to smacking which are more effective in managing behaviour. Children learn best when they are given incentives for good behaviour and there are various strategies that work well for different age groups.
Your health visitor can be a useful source of advice and practical guides are available from organisations such as Barnardo’s and NSPCC.
When you think your child is being bullied
It is important that this issue is raised at school so that the appropriate action can be taken.Bullying is unacceptable and schools are required to have an Anti-Bullying Policy . It is important that parents and schools work in partnership to take action to deal with the bully and encourage ways for your child to protect themselves and seek help .
You have suspicions your child may be using drugs...
If your child’s behaviour, appearance or financial situation changes, you should include drug and alcohol use in your list of ‘I wonder if’ questions . Observe and talk to your child and ensure you are informed about drug use and the effects of different types of drugs.
For further information about safeguarding children and safer parenting, please use the contact details opposite.
Children, young people and families
Email this pageLast modified by: Ursula Roy on 25/01/2010