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Parenting and Family Relationships Free Online Parenting Courses (Solihull Online): Understanding Your Child (up to 18 years) If you are a Luton resident, we would encourage you to sign up to

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This course can support families with children aged up to 11 years old.

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Being A Parent

Being a Parent is a free course for local mums, dads and carers of children aged up to 11 years old in Central Bedfordshire. Run over eight weeks by trained parent group facilitators who have first-hand experience of the joys and challenges of being a parent, the interactive and informal course is delivered online via Zoom.

In the course, you will learn:

Strategies for effective communication with your child

Methods to help reduce negative child behaviour

How to better understand your children's feelings

How to have better, more resilient family relationships

Methods for managing family stress.

By the end of the course, you will have:

Increased confidence in your parenting

Positive parenting skills to improve the quality of the interactions you have with your child.

This course is for Central Bedfordshire residents. Talk to us today to find out more and book your place on this free course.

Being a Parent of an Autistic Child

Being a Parent of an Autistic Child is a free course for local parents and carers of children with autism (they do not have to have received a diagnosis) in Central Bedfordshire.

This interactive and informal course is delivered online via Zoom. It is run over ten weeks by trained parent group facilitators who have first-hand experience of the joys and challenges of having a child affected by ASD.

In the course, we will explore:

The experience of being a parent of an autistic child

Understanding your autistic child

Help with communication, interaction and playing with your autistic child

Everyday strategies and routines to assist your autistic child

Understanding your autistic child's behaviour so you can meet their needs

Understanding 'overwhelm/meltdowns' to prevent and helpfully manage recovery.

By the end of the course, you will have:

Increased confidence in your parenting

Positive parenting skills to improve the quality of the interactions you have with your child.

This course is for Central Bedfordshire residents. Talk to us today to find out more and book your place on this free course.

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Being A Parent Courses - Home-Start Central Bedfordshire

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'Being A Parent' is a free course for local parents like you, run over eight weeks by trained parent group facilitators. Find out more here.

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Solihull approach - free online learning

FREE online learning for ALL parents, carers and grandparents living in Luton who care for children and teenagers.

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FREE online learning for ALL parents, carers and grandparents living in Luton who care for children and teenagers. Designed to help you recognise emotions in yourself and your child that bring changes in behaviour, the learning is split into five sections:

Log on via: www.inourplace.co.uk

Sign up and when prompted apply the access code: HATTERS

See our animation below for full details.

The programme is being introduced in the borough by Luton Council's Flying Start and Luton 0-19 Children's Community Health Services with a particular emphasis on fathers, and is available in English and Polish with audio options also available in English and Urdu.

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FREE online learning for ALL parents, carers and grandparents living in Luton who care for children and teenagers. Designed to help you recognise emotions in yourself and your child that bring changes in behaviour, the learning is split into five sections: Log on via: www.inourplace.co.uk Sign up and when prompted apply the access code: HATTERS See our animation below for full details.

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Every child is different. Understanding your child's challenging behaviour could help you to make a behaviour management strategy for home and school. This will usually mean working with your child, other adults at home and teachers on:

consistent rules

ways to reward positive behaviour

how to shape the environment at school or at home

Warning Sent home from school

Being sent home includes:
Informal exclusions (IPSEA)
Reasons for your child's behaviour

All behaviour has a reason behind it. Children like feeling motivated and reassured. They do not enjoy feeling worried or afraid. Your child might not know what behaviour is appropriate.

Look for the reasons behind your child's behaviour. Then ask the school to help you plan a consistent behaviour management strategy for both home and school.

There are lots of reasons a child might not behave well, and you might not be able to change all of them. For example, a new supply teacher or a change in the school timetable.

See if you can find ways to help your child feel:

valuable

confident

connected to other people

that they can take care of themselves

For example, you could try asking your child open questions. These should be questions they cannot answer 'yes' or 'no', such as:

What is your favourite subject in school?

If you could choose something to do, what would it be and why?

What do you think might happen next?

If you want to find out more, you could say:

Triggers for behaviour

Look for things that trigger challenging behaviour. These could be things your child does or things that happen to your child. Keeping a behaviour diary might help. Write down:

the date and time

the behaviour

what happened before

any consequences

Download a trigger diary (Word template)
Look for other triggers such as feeling frustrated, angry, hungry or tired. What your child eats could also be important.
Diet and behaviour in childhood (BBC Good Food)
Consistency and rules

Being consistent helps children to know when their behaviour is good and when it's challenging.

Tell anyone who looks after your child what the rules are. Make sure that your child knows them too. Make time to chat about them as a family, but try not to make it feel like a meeting. If you can, choose a time when your child is having a better day. Aim to include your child when you set rules.

Make a list of rules and put them in a place where your child can find them. If they're young, you could ask them to draw a picture for each rule.
Download a behaviour management plan template (Word)
Praise and encourage your child when you notice them doing something right. Praise should be specific. Try to give praise while your child still remembers what they were doing. This can be hard when you are tired.

Giving your child limited choices can help

For example:

"Do you want to do your homework before or after dinner?" (do your homework)

"Do you want to wear your blue jumper or orange jumper?" (put on a jumper)

Talking to your child's teachers

Look for ways to work together, so that you and the school can manage your child's behaviour consistently.

This could be:

after you find out about an upsetting incident and have had time to think

at the beginning of term

You could also ask to meet more often if you need to. You could talk about:

your child's strengths

making adjustments at school that would encourage positive behaviour, for example being able to play with their favourite thing during quiet times, taking breaks or making things less stimulating

ways for your child to tell the teacher how they are feeling

anything that your child's teacher has noticed

You could also talk about ways to keep your child motivated in school.
Keeping your child motivated in school
Special educational needs

Special educational needs (SEN) support includes looking at:

how your child interacts

their social, emotional and mental health needs

You could ask the school if SEN support would help manage your child's behaviour. This might include support from an educational psychologist.
SEN Support
If SEN support is not enough to meet the needs of your child, you could ask the school to review it. If that does not work, you could ask for an education, health and care (EHC) plan assessment. You can ask the school or apply directly to your local authority.
Apply for an EHCP
SEN support and EHC plans can both include training for staff on how to manage your child's condition.

If your child's teacher cannot help

If there has been an incident, wait until you feel calmer. If talking to your child's class teacher does not work, try talking to someone more senior. Follow the school's complaints procedure. This should be published on their website. This will mean complaining in writing to:

1. the head teacher

2. the school's governors or academy trustees

If following the school's complaints procedure does not work, you can complain to the Department for Education (DfE).
Complain about a school or childminder (GOV.UK)
Talking to your child

Talk to your child about what behaviour is and is not acceptable.

Being on the same team as your child will make it easier to share responsibility and solve the problem.

For example, you could say:

"Something is going on at school. How are we going to solve it?"

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Managing challenging behaviour | Disability charity Scope UK

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Understand the reasons and triggers for challenging behaviour and learn to use strategies to deal with your child’s behaviour at home and school.

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This is a Consultant Paediatrician led community based service for children and young people with su...

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Support and resources for families with children with special educational needs in Bedfordshire

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Support and resources for families with children with special educational needs in Bedfordshire

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https://www.cambscommunityservices.nhs.uk/Bedfordshire/CDC/resources

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Autism Bedfordshire are an independent charity dedicated to improving the lives of autistic people and their families across Bedfordshire.

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Stepping stones parenting course in Bedford Borough

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Stepping stones parenting course in Bedford Borough

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Parenting course for parents of children developmental disability or additional needs.

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Stepping Stones Triple P has been developed for parents of children with a developmental disability or additional need. Because it's based on Triple P's proven parenting strategies, it gives you ways to deal with the kinds of childhood behaviour problems and issues that can make family life stressful.

Stepping Stones Triple P has been evaluated with real families and has been shown to work with children with intellectual and physical disabilities who have disruptive behaviour.
Who is this for?
* Parents of children with a disability (3years to 12years)
Stepping Stones Triple P can help you
* manage problem behaviour and developmental issues common in children

with disabilities

* encourage behaviour you like

* cope with stress

* develop a close relationship with your child

* teach your child new skills
Cost
All Triple P courses are FREE of charge
When the next course
Please check the local offer Training page by clicking here

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ONLINE Triple P - Stepping Stones for parents of children with a developmental disability and/or additional need

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Stepping Stones Triple P has been developed for parents of children with a developmental disability or additional need. Because it's based on Triple P's proven parenting strategies, it gives you ways to deal with the kinds of childhood behaviour problems and issues that can make family life stressful.

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Triple P parenting course in Bedford Borough

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Triple P parenting course in Bedford Borough

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Parenting course for children and young people

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Triple P, is a communications strategy designed to reach a broad cross section of the population with positive parenting information and messages. It is not a course or personal intervention delivered directly to parents.

Stay Positive is the creative face of Universal Triple P. This high-impact communications campaign includes a range of materials (including brochures, posters, newspaper columns, billboards, etc.) that aims to put parenting on the public agenda and to raise awareness of the need to support parents in this vital role.

Universal Triple P aims to:

destigmatise and normalise the process of seeking parenting help

Encourage parents to participate in positive parenting interventions

Increase the visibility and reach of positive parenting interventions

Counter alarmist, sensational or parent-blaming messages in the media

Help parents become more confident and self-sufficient in their parenting

Current Triple P courses
To see which Triple P sessions the Early Help are currently offering please visit the parent/carers training page here

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Bedford Borough Triple P Universal Parenting Programmes

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Triple P, is a communications strategy designed to reach a broad cross section of the population with positive parenting information and messages. It is not a course or personal intervention delivered directly to parents. Stay Positive is the creative face of Universal Triple P.

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Family Action - Managing challenging behaviour in children

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Family Action - Managing challenging behaviour in children

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Managing challenging behaviour - Family Action

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Managing challenging behaviour in children Different children react differently to the family monsters and experiences within their lives. Often one child may have no side effects or developments in behaviour whilst another may experience behavioural changes. Some children may have had difficult ex…

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How can I manage my teenager’s challenging behaviour?

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How can I manage my teenager’s challenging behaviour?

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Support for Parents from Action For Children

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First, keep in mind that it's normal to push boundaries while growing up. Sometimes, though, it can be a sign that your child is struggling. They may need some help to keep mentally healthy.

It's also important to remember that hormones can impact your child's behaviour. Their brain development can, too. The changes children and teenagers go through can mean they feel their emotions very intensely. This can sometimes show up in the way that they behave.

Many factors can influence challenging behaviour. It can be helpful to bear these in mind and explore if any of them might be impacting your child. This could include things like:

You might not know why your child is showing challenging behaviour. But there are a few important ways you can respond as a parent, whatever the reason.

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How can I manage my teenager's challenging behaviour? - Support for Parents from Action For Children

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First, keep in mind that it's normal to push boundaries while growing up. Sometimes, though, it can be a sign that your child is struggling. They may need some help to keep mentally healthy. It's also important to remember that hormones can impact your child's behaviour. Their brain development can, too.

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How to handle to difficult behaviour in Children.

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NHS General behaviour advice for young children

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NHS General behaviour advice for young children

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If problem behaviour is causing you or your child distress, or upsetting the rest of the family, it's important to deal with it.

Do what feels right

What you do has to be right for your child, yourself and the family. If you do something you do not believe in or that you do not feel is right, it probably will not work. Children notice when you do not mean what you're saying.

Do not give up

Once you've decided to do something, continue to do it. Solutions take time to work. Get support from your partner, a friend, another parent or your health visitor. It's good to have someone to talk to about what you're doing.

Be consistent

Children need consistency. If you react to your child's behaviour in one way one day and a different way the next, it's confusing for them. It's also important that everyone close to your child deals with their behaviour in the same way.

Try not to overreact

This can be difficult. When your child does something annoying time after time, your anger and frustration can build up.

It's impossible not to show your irritation sometimes, but try to stay calm. Move on to other things you can both enjoy or feel good about as soon as possible.

Find other ways to cope with your frustration, like talking to other parents.

Talk to your child

Children do not have to be able to talk to understand. It can help if they understand why you want them to do something. For example, explain why you want them to hold your hand while crossing the road.

Once your child can talk, encourage them to explain why they're angry or upset. This will help them feel less frustrated.

Be positive about the good things

When a child's behaviour is difficult, the things they do well can be overlooked. Tell your child when you're pleased about something they've done. You can let your child know when you're pleased by giving them attention, a hug or a smile.

Offer rewards

You can help your child by rewarding them for good behaviour. For example, praise them or give them their favourite food for tea.

If your child behaves well, tell them how pleased you are. Be specific. Say something like, "Well done for putting your toys back in the box when I asked you to."

Do not give your child a reward before they've done what they were asked to do. That's a bribe, not a reward.

Avoid smacking

Smacking may stop a child doing what they're doing at that moment, but it does not have a lasting positive effect.

Children learn by example so, if you hit your child, you're telling them that hitting is OK. Children who are treated aggressively by their parents are more likely to be aggressive themselves. It's better to set a good example instead.

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Advice for parents and carers on dealing with difficult behaviour in toddlers and young children, including toddler temper tantrums.

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NHS advice on how to cope with your teenager

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NHS advice on how to cope with your teenager

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Many parents find their teenager's behaviour challenging.

Teenagers' behaviour can be baffling, stressful, hurtful and often worrying. But in most cases it does not mean there is anything more serious going on than the natural process of becoming an adult.

Many of the common behaviour issues that parents find hard are an essential part of puberty and growing up.

Surges of hormones, combined with body changes, struggling to find an identity, pressures from friends and a developing sense of independence, mean the teenage years are a confusing time for your child.

It can mean they, for example:

become aloof

want more time alone or with friends

feel misunderstood

reject your attempts to talk or show affection

appear sullen and moody

Read more about the possible signs of a problem in your teenager.

Your feelings about your teen's behaviour

Teenagers can challenge even the calmest of parents. When you have further pressures in your life, such as other children, work, relationships, family commitments or illness, it can feel as though your teenager is going to push you over the edge.

Try to step back from the situation, and remember your child or young person may have physiological reasons for behaving in ways that can be difficult to live with. They're probably not enjoying it either.

You're the adult and you will feel that it's your responsibility to guide them through the difficult times, but that is not always easy. Do not expect to enjoy your time with them all of the time, and remember to look after yourself.

How do I cope with the stress?

Parenting a teenager can be exhausting, so it's important to look after yourself, too.

Family Lives, a charity dedicated to helping families, offers the following advice:

make sure you set aside time for yourself

give yourself permission to relax or even treat yourself occasionally

talk about your concerns to your partner or friends, or join a support group or forum

learn techniques for coping with low mood, sadness and depression or anxiety. If you're concerned that you're depressed, anxious or stressed, talk to a GP

How should I act with my teenager?

Teenagers can be largely emotional rather than logical because of their hormones. It is not necessarily pleasant for them, and it can even feel frightening.

Although it might be hard for you, they need you to maintain a calm consistent presence.

Follow these tips:

decide what the boundaries are and stick to them - teenagers may object to these but know they're a sign that you care about them

listen to them when they do want to talk and try not to interrupt until they've finished speaking

allow them to learn from their own mistakes - as long as they are safe - and accept they might do things differently to you

do not bottle up your concerns - if you're worried your teenager may be having unprotected sex or using drugs, try talking calmly and direct them to useful information

allow them to have their own space and privacy

The Young Minds website has more information about parenting that covers many of these subjects.

Where can I find more information and support?

If you're concerned about the physical or mental health of your child or young person it may be a good idea to speak to a GP.

You can also read more about children and young people's mental health services (CYPMHS).

There are also several organisations that provide emotional support and practical advice. You could try:

Family Lives is a charity specialising in supporting families. You can call their confidential helpline on 0808 800 2222 (9am to 9pm Monday to Friday, 10am to 3pm Saturday to Sunday). You can also visit the Family Lives forum

Relate offers relationship advice and counselling. You can also use Live Chat to talk to a counsellor

Young Minds, the mental health charity, has a confidential parents' helpline. Call them on 0808 802 5544 (9.30am to 4pm Monday to Friday)

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Information and advice for parents on dealing with their teenager, including what changes children go through in their teenage years, and how to deal with challenging teenage behaviour.

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Useful document explaining challenging behaviour

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Tips to help cope with all the demands of parenting. Advice on setting boundaries for your child, building relationships and keeping your cool.

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A really useful guide on how to manage challenging behaviour and techniques to support parenting.