Support for parents

We know that being a parent or carer can be one of the hardest jobs. Sometimes we could all do with some extra help and support.

In York there are many in person opportunities for support delivered by a range of services including:

Courses for parents

There are lots of free online and face to face courses for families in York to help parents and carers deal with challenges and help their children.

Courses for parents can help you to:

improve your wellbeing
learn more about your child’s development
know what to expect as a new parent
learn different ways to deal with problems
help your child grow and develop
manage common problems with your child’s behaviour
support your child’s mental health and wellbeing

Courses for parents and carers can help you gain confidence, skills, and knowledge to help build a strong and positive family life. This can help to keep families safe, happy and healthy.

Courses can also provide an opportunity to meet other families, share stories and build a support network.

For a list of free online and face to face courses for parents visit the Family Services Directory.

In addition you can find:

Support groups for parents

There are also a number of support groups for parents and carers in York. Parents and carers come together to share their experiences and help each other.

These groups offer:

a safe place to talk about challenges and celebrate successes
an opportunity to learn new tips
a chance to meet other people who understand what you’re going through

A list of current support groups for parents and how to access them can be found in the Family Services Directory. In addition, find paid for parents support and courses.

Common myths about support for parents

Myth 1:

Asking for help means you're a bad parent.

Getting support shows you want to be the best parent you can be. All parents and carers ask for advice and share experiences.

Myth 2:

Only new parents need support.

Parents of children at any age can benefit from support groups. Whether you have a newborn, a teenager, or an adult child, sharing and learning from others is always helpful.

Myth 3:

Support for parents is just for mums.

Support groups for parents and carers are for everyone. Dads, grandparents, and guardians are all welcome and can gain valuable insights and support.

Myth 4:

They will try and tell me what to do or what I’m doing wrong.

Support for parents is designed to be welcoming and friendly with no judgement. They are there to help people work out for themselves what is going well and offer tools to support if they want to change anything.