We’ve put together some links and information to help you hone your parenting skills. Whether you’re a new parent, seasoned professional, grandparent or carer, there’s always something new to learn!
These will be updated regularly, so bookmark this page!
Helpful websites
The Fathering Project – thefatheringproject.org
The Fathering Project seeks to improve and assist the dads of today to develop and raise the children of tomorrow as best possible for the greater good.
Nature Play – natureplaywa.org.au
A tool to help families and schools replace kids’ sedentary screen-time with playing, exploring and learning outdoors.
Telethon Kids Institute – telethonkids.org.au
At Telethon Kids Institute their vision is simple – happy healthy kids. Their goal is to make a real difference in the community, benefiting children and families everywhere.
Ngala: Parenting, Family, Children and Youth Support – ngala.com.au
Ngala assists parents, families, carers, children and young people in WA. Our support starts before pregnancy and continues through the school years, right up to young adulthood
Raising Children – raisingchildren.net.au
Raising Children Network is supported by the Australian Government. Member organisations are the Parenting Research Centre and the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute with The Royal Children’s Hospital Centre for Community Child Health.
The First Five Years- firstfiveyears.org,au
Parents often share many of the same challenges when raising their child. First Five Years gives parents the expert advice, insights, support and tools they need to make the most of the first years of their child’s life.
Australian Institute of Family Studies – aifs.gov.au
AIFS is the Australian Government’s key research body in the area of family wellbeing.
Metropolitan Migrant Resource Centre – mmrcwa.org.au
The Metropolitan Migrant Resource Centre (MMRC) is a not for profit settlement service organisation, that has more than two decades of recognised achievements in providing high quality, culturally appropriate, client centred services that meet the needs of refugees, humanitarian entrants and newly arrived migrants.
Playgroup WA – playgroupwa.com.au
Playgroup WA is a not-for-profit organisation that has been supporting & establishing playgroups throughout Western Australia since 1972.
CoLab: Collaborate for Kids – colab.telethonkids.org.au
Telethon Kids and the Minderoo Foundation have partnered to create CoLab – Collaborate for Kids. A child’s early years – from conception to the start of school – set the foundation for his or her future wellbeing and success.
Interesting reading
We’ve put together some interesting articles on important topics.
Parenting
What are 21st century parents concerned about? – pursuit.unimelb.edu.au/
Slowing wage growth, the increasing cost of education and the fast pace of social change make it difficult for parents to prepare their children for uncertain futures.
Parenting arrangements after separation – aifs.gov.au
Over the past 10 years, the Australian Institute of Family Studies (AIFS) has conducted multiple large-scale studies of post-separation parenting outcomes, including surveys involving nationally representative samples of separated parents.
Parents: 24/7 CEOs of our kids’ lives – pursuit.unimelb.edu.au
Parenting today is a complicated business, but Professor Lea Waters’ new book, The Strength Switch, focuses on building on our kids’ strengths rather than trying to improve their weaknesses.
What is ‘attachment’ and how does it affect our relationships? generationnext.com.au
Research across many years and many cultures has found around 35-40% of people say they feel insecure in their adult relationships. While 60-65% experience secure, loving and satisfying relationships.
Evidence says we need a prevention approach – early-years.com.au
The evidence suggests we need to adopt a prevention approach to support Australian kids
A parent’s role in literacy and numeracy – firstfiveyears.org
Most parents realise that play is an important part of a child’s life. But what many might not realise is that play improves literacy and numeracy, and it is what children see their parents doing that can influence their interests.
Smacking is also one of the most examined aspects of parenting, with hundreds of studies seeking to determine if there’s a connection between physical punishment and the emotional and behavioural effect on kids.
Mums
Anxiety, stress and motherhood – abc.net.au/news
How Ali Fairbairn managed as things ‘started shutting down’.
Dads
Becoming a dad – raisingchildren.net.au
You might feel overwhelmed at first, but brand-new dads come fully equipped for fatherhood. Fathers are just as good as mothers at recognising and responding to the needs of their newborns. They’re also just as able to care for older children.
What it means to be a modern father – firstfiveyears.org.au
Modern fathers are less likely to be able to change a tyre or fix a dripping tap, but more likely to be able to change a baby’s nappy and bake a birthday cake, research suggests.
Breastfeeding: how partners can help – raisingchildren.net.au
Breastfeeding is something that you and your partner can do as a team!
Early father involvement is important for young children’s development and learning. Most early childhood home visiting programs target mothers for enrollment, but engaging fathers in services can help families achieve desired program outcomes.
Do new dads get the support they need? – firstfiveyears.org.au
From the moment a couple finds out they’re having a baby, the focus is on the mother and the unborn infant. Sometimes fathers are left out, regardless of how they much they want to be involved.
0-8 years
Temperament: what it is and why it matters – raisingchildren.net.au
Temperament is the way children respond to the world. You can think about your child’s temperament in terms of how much or how little he shows of reactivity, self-regulation and Sociability.
Pre-teens
Parenting pre-teens: A pivotal time for children and parents – aifs.gov.au
This short article explores the challenges and opportunities for parents of children in the pre-teen years, based on a recent survey.
Mental health
Poor mental health in teens skyrockets – probonoaustralia.com.au
New research from Mission Australia has found mental health problems in young people is rapidly on the rise.
When fear and anxiety drives parenting – firstfiveyears.org.au
What are the signs you may have become overly anxious or fearful and what can you do to help yourself and your child?