Building warm and supportive relationships

Research from Dr Alex Martin at Kings College London shows that when fathers are able to develop supportive relationships with their child and their co-parent, this can have long-lasting protective effects for the child, well into middle childhood and early adolescence. This is important for all children, but it is especially important when one or both parents experience mental health difficulties. The research found evidence that this is true for biological and chosen fathers, and in both families where the father lives full-time with the child and families where the child lives part-time with the father.

Research from Dr Alex Martin at Kings College London shows that when fathers are able to develop supportive relationships with their child and their co-parent, this can have long-lasting protective effects for the child, well into middle childhood and early adolescence. This is important for all children, but it is especially important when one or both parents experience mental health difficulties. The research found evidence that this is true for biological and chosen fathers, and in both families where the father lives full-time with the child and families where the child lives part-time with the father.

Julia (practitioner)

Building connection

Parents, remember that the quality of time spent together is more important than the quantity.

Parents, remember that the quality of time spent together is more important than the quantity.

Annie (practitioner)

Building confidence

Supporting your child to develop their independence can help to build their confidence with trying new things. It also shows them that if we keep trying, we can overcome challenging situations.

Supporting your child to develop their independence can help to build their confidence with trying new things. It also shows them that if we keep trying, we can overcome challenging situations.

Ruby (practitioner)

Boundaries

Setting boundaries for your child helps contribute to their safety, wellbeing and overall development. It establishes a supportive environment in which children can learn, grow and develop essential life skills.

Setting boundaries for your child helps contribute to their safety, wellbeing and overall development. It establishes a supportive environment in which children can learn, grow and develop essential life skills.

Ruby (practitioner)

Anxiety and reassurance

Parents, repeatedly reassuring your anxious child can maintain their anxiety. Support your child to build their confidence and independence through words of encouragement.

Parents, repeatedly reassuring your anxious child can maintain their anxiety. Support your child to build their confidence and independence through words of encouragement.

Annie (practitioner)

Parental self care

As parents, we need to be patient with our little ones, but let’s not forget to be patient with ourselves too. Being kind to ourselves not only benefits our wellbeing, it also sets a positive example for our children.

As parents, we need to be patient with our little ones, but let’s not forget to be patient with ourselves too. Being kind to ourselves not only benefits our wellbeing, it also sets a positive example for our children.

Claire (parent + practitioner)

What is in our control

Understanding what we can control, whilst letting go of what we can’t, empowers us to focus our time and energy on the things that can have a positive impact on our parenting.

Understanding what we can control, whilst letting go of what we can’t, empowers us to focus our time and energy on the things that can have a positive impact on our parenting.

Annie (practitioner)

Your parenting jug

Parents, when you take care of yourself, you’ll have more energy and resources to share with your children. How do you like to re-fill your jug?

Parents, when you take care of yourself, you’ll have more energy and resources to share with your children. How do you like to re-fill your jug?

Annie (practitioner)

Autism and sleep

Parents, bedtime routines can help your child with autism to wind-down and prepare for sleep. Have a go at trying these at home.

Parents, bedtime routines can help your child with autism to wind-down and prepare for sleep. Have a go at trying these at home.

NADINE (PARENT + PRACTITIONER)

Should I talk to my child about my difficult feelings?

It can be hard to know how to talk about our feelings with children, here are some tips for speaking to your child about your own mental wellbeing.

It can be hard to know how to talk about our feelings with children, here are some tips for speaking to your child about your own mental wellbeing.

Annie (Practitioner)