Parenting

Parents are the main providers of the love, care and stimulation that promote the well being of children. We want each parent to have the necessary confidence, skills, self-belief and strength to be a good parent and an effective role model for their children.

We know that parents are the major influence on a child's life. We also know what a difficult job parenting can be for all of us.

Our aim is to improve support for all parents so that every one of our children has the best possible start in life.

Parenting courses

If you contact Bradford Families Information Service we can give you information or send you an up to date list of parenting courses that are available across the Bradford area.

If it is not possible for you to attend one of these courses, Netmums have joined with Family Links to develop an online parenting course.

The course comes in 3 parts with regular emails over 8 weeks (with a week off in between each part of the course).

• Part 1, Getting the Best, covers praise, discipline and keeping calm; it looks at some helpful strategies for getting the best from your children.
• Part 2, Stopping the Worst, deals with family rules, behaviour, self- esteem and choices; it focuses on understanding and managing worst behaviour and agreeing family boundaries.
• Part 3, Families Together, covers feelings, nurture and labels; it explores how relationships with our children work and looks at having fun together. There are also some useful tools to keep things going.

Please note that the Netmums Parenting Course is only available to Netmums members.

HENRY

What is HENRY?

HENRY is a UK charity working to give babies and young children a healthy start in life.  Everyone wants the best for their children, but with so much conflicting advice it can be hard to know what to do for the best as a parent, especially in the early years. 

What does the HENRY Group Programme include?

The HENRY Group Programme is a free 8 week programme which helps you to provide a healthy, happy, supportive environment for the whole family. The programme includes:

• Week 1 - decide what changes you want to make and set your own goals
• Week 2 - how to juggle life with young children so you all get what you need
• Week 3 - how to respond to children's needs without giving in to all their demands
• Week 4 - positive mealtime tips for a happy family - reducing mealtime stress for everyone
• Week 5 - Ideas for active play to help children learn, develop and stay happy
• Week 6 - food groups, food labels, portion sizes for under 5s, first foods, and snack swaps
• Week 7 - understanding and managing your child's behaviour for a happier home
• Week 8 - celebrate your success as a parent and plan the future for your family

Where are HENRY programmes running?

The HENRY Programme is great for parents with children aged 0-5 years.  Every parent who joins learns something new and useful. Here are the latest dates for the programme:

If you would like to find out further information or join a Programme in your local area please contact your local Children's Centre Cluster.

HENRY Practitioner Training

If you are a practitioner working with families with children aged 0 to 5, or with the children directly and you would like to attend our specialised training (PDF), please book on using the following links.

HENRY Core Training: The HENRY 2 day Core Training covers the principles and practice of the HENRY approach to preventing child obesity, with a particular emphasis on developing practitioners' support skills in work with parents and carers of young children.

A Healthy Start in Childcare: This one day training provides a practical introduction to the knowledge and skills needed to contribute to a healthy start within childcare settings, particularly suited to nursery and Daycare staff and childminders.

Welcome to the World

A friendly, local course for pregnant mums, dads and carers

Welcome to the World is a free, friendly antenatal course for any family expecting a baby. Over eight weeks, it helps pregnant mums, dads and carers prepare for life with a new baby, whether it’s their first child or not. Taking place in local community centres, the course enables expectant parents to share experiences with each other and explore the changes that new babies bring, and how families can provide them with the best possible start in life. It aims to help more families in our area access important antenatal advice and meet other families around them.

Who is it for?

Anyone expecting a baby – mums, dads and carers – usually in weeks 22 to 28 of pregnancy

Where is it delivered?

At local children’s centres and other venues like BD4 Family

Who delivers it?

Local children’s centres and other partners in the Better Start Bradford area. It is a Family Links approved course.

How do families book on?

Contact Family Information Services on 01274 437503 or fis@bradford.gov.uk or see our calendar to find out about courses coming up near you.

More information

The course is packed with useful advice, ideas and discussions, including:

• Looking after your baby while they are in the womb
• Practical tasks of caring for a new baby
• Communicating and bonding with babies
• Understanding baby brain development
• Exploring your future and the move into parenthood
• Exploring your roots, traditions, hopes and concerns
• Considering how parents and carers can look after themselves

Below are the dates of the next sessions: