Tag Archives: Parenting

Wondering what to tell the children?

A new game for parents and carers of children under 16 has been developed by Coventry University and game developers (Playgen) with input from health and council partners in Coventry and Warwickshire.

The game is being supported by the county council’s Family and Parenting Support and Respect Yourself teams who have had a positive response from the families they have tried it out with.

In the game, parents play through realistic situations they may face with their child with an aim to improve their communication skills. They are asked to complete short surveys throughout play with the game ultimately evaluating how they talk with their child and offering helpful advice. The game itself is based upon a successful theory and evidence based parenting programme called What Should We Tell the Children About Relationships and Sex. There are two versions to play: one for younger children (aged 5-9) and one for older children (aged 10-14).

By contributing to a holistic approach to parenting, the game benefits parents and carers by helping to alleviate difficulties talking about sensitive topics and the consequences of risky behaviour which cause substantial stress. It’s also completely free and can be completed in an individuals own time.

The game can be accessed at www.besavvy.org.uk/besavvy/game.aspx.

Beating bullying

National Anti-bullying week, the annual awareness raising campaign from the Anti-bullying Alliance, is taking place next week 14-18 November.

The week gives people an opportunity to spend some time looking at this issue in innovative ways to get the message out about how damaging bullying can be.

With the slogan ‘Stop and Think – words can hurt’ this year’s theme concentrates on tackling verbal bullying. This was an issue raised by young people who attended the Anti-bullying Alliance summit last year who were concerned about the use of racist, homophobic and anti-disability language which demean particular groups or individuals.

The Anti-bullying Alliance suggests schools and communities use the week to: 

  • challenge the casual use of derogatory language in schools, colleges and communities
  • raise awareness of the consequences of using demeaning and harassing language through technology
  • create language charters that makes it clear what is and isn’t acceptable
  • give children and young people the tools to challenge others when they use derogatory language, to find new ways of expressing how they feel if they are angry or upset, and to make a conscious effort to speak positively and to compliment others
  • encourage adults to consider how they model the use of language with children and young people (this includes all practitioners working with children and young people but also celebrities and people in positions of power)

Warwickshire County Council supports the campaign and is encouraging schools to get pupils to look closely at the topic.

Warwickshire County Councillor Heather Timms, Portfolio Holder for Children, Young People and Families said: “Warwickshire schools and communities work together to beat bullying throughout the year but this week offers a chance to apply renewed vigour to stamping it out. We hope everyone will get on board and think about what they can do to make their friends and families safer.

“Our schools are already very involved in developing and delivering anti-bullying programmes and a close information sharing network has grown between schools, the local authority, and partners to ensure we can be effective in spreading anti-bullying messages.”

Warwickshire County Council’s Family Information Service (FIS) offers an anti-bullying service which gives information and advice to parents worried about bullying. They also publish a guidance leaflet available in hard copy or to download at www.warwickshire.gov.uk/bullying. Visit the website or call FIS on 0845 090 8044 for more information.

Schools can download resources to support lesson planning and run activities during anti-bullying week at www.anti-bullyingalliance.org.uk.

Warwickshire’s Celebration of Parenting Services

Practitioners from a diverse range of public, private, community and voluntary services working with families across Warwickshire came together on 19 October to review parent support in the county and celebrate the local integrated parenting workforce.

Celebrating Parenting Day is an annual event, organised and facilitated by Warwickshire’s Parenting Development Team (PDP).

Practitioners, managers and volunteers from a plethora of services shared good practice methods and models and discussed the benefits to families of services working together to improve outcomes for children, young people and families and support family life.

A series of workshops took place to raise awareness about services for parents and families across sectors as well as to celebrate the positive outcomes of evidence based and accredited parenting programme Triple P, which practitioners across Warwickshire have been delivering to parents since 2009.

Workshops were interactive, fun and informative and facilitated by practitioners from Family Information Service (FIS), Positive About Young People (PAYP), Family Intervention Project (FIP) and Relate.

Caroline Thompson PDT Manager commented: “This day of celebration was a resounding success. It was heartening to see practitioners and volunteers from such a variety of services come together to share individual and mutual successes as well as discussing plans for the future.  Moreover, the positive attitude and commitment of partners to the wellbeing of children, young people and families was palpable.

“I am proud to be a part of this integrated team taking services forward to meet the needs of families and ultimately to improve outcomes for children and young people.”

For more information about family and parenting support in Warwickshire contact the Family Information Service on 0845 090 8044 or visit www.warwickshire.gov.uk/fis

Celebrating parenting

Practitioners from a diverse range of services who work with Warwickshire families got together last week (Wednesday 19 October) to review parent support in the county and celebrate the local parenting workforce.

Workers from a number of settings and professional backgrounds including schools, children’s centres, and clinics shared ideas and looked at how they work together.

The Celebrating Parenting Day was organised by the county council’s Parenting Development Team to offer services a chance to reflect on their practice. A series of workshops took place on areas which often pose additional challenges to families and workers such as, learning disabilities, substance misuse and teenagers.

This event is took place during national Parents’ Week – an annual event set up by independent charity National Family and Parenting Institute to raise awareness of the information and support available for families.

Warwickshire County Councillor Heather Timms, cabinet member for children, young people and families said: “We recognise that families come in all shapes and sizes and all want different things from services, so the support we deliver has to be adaptable to meet these needs.

“Last week’s event offered an ideal opportunity for all our children and family services to look more closely at the activities they offer families and whether they could do anything better.”

Parenting Practitioner, Caroline Thompson added: “Holding this event during National Parents’ Week helped raise the profile of family support in Warwickshire. Our dedicated family workforce is totally committed to getting to know local families and find out about their needs, everyone left equipped with extra information and resources to make sure parents get the right support.”

For more information about family and parenting support in Warwickshire contact the Family Information Service on 0845 090 8044 or visit www.warwickshire.gov.uk/fis

To find out more about national Parents’ Week visit www.parentsweek.org.uk

Walk to School Week

Families across Warwickshire will this week leave their cars at home and take part in Walk to School Week.

As part of the national campaign, children across Warwickshire will be saying goodbye to the school run and striding out for Walk to School Week (17 – 21 October). Over 70 schools in Warwickshire will be taking part in this October’s Walk to School Week.

Over the past two decades, the number of children walking to school has dramatically dropped from 62 per cent to 50 per cent. Forty two per cent of children are driven to school in cars, despite the fact that the majority of primary school children live within a 20 minute walk of their school.

There are many good reasons for children to walk to school. Walking is key to fighting childhood obesity, but it can also be beneficial to children in other ways, helping them learn vital road safety skills, to interact with their local environment and to become ‘streetwise’ and develop independence. By encouraging children to be active in their daily life from an early age, parents can ensure that their children get the amount of exercise needed to stay fit and healthy.

Hannah Collett, Sustainable Travel Officer for Warwickshire County Council, said: “Walking to school is a brilliant way to get some physical activity and some fresh air into your day. Children are often more alert and ready to learn if they have walked to school. When children are driven to school, they miss out on the opportunity to socialise with friends and burn off some energy before starting the school day.”