NAPCAN's Helpful Hints to promote wellbeing

Helpful Hints for Parents
PRAISE EFFORT: Praise children for effort, rather than for achievements.

KEEP TRYING: Remember, there is no such thing as a perfect parent. Sometimes parenting is not easy.

PLAY: Children love to teach grown ups how to play games. Children learn from this. So, learn to follow your child's lead.

ASK FOR HELP: If you are stressed and caring for a child, call a friend or family to help. Alternatively you could call the Child Abuse Prevention Service 1800 688 009.

Responding to a Crying Baby The Shaken Baby Project team out of Sydney West Area Health Service and Childrens' Hospital Westmead have produced a short animated film to provide information to parents, carers and professionals about responding to a crying baby. Its goal is to ensure that all those involved with babies understand the importance of not shaking a baby, ever. It provides suggestions and strategies for responding to these stressors. More information, and a link to the film, can be found on the Children's Hospital Westmead website: HERE

Helpful Hints for Everyone
BE POSITIVE: As a general rule, we need nine positive messages to balance one negative message, so spend a day noticing everything your child does right and you will notice a difference.

OFFER HELP: Many parents don't have their family around to help. Be the sort of friend or neighbour who can help parents enjoy their children.

MIRRORING: Remember that adults and parents are models for a child. Try to behave with children and with others as you would like children to behave. Children will copy you but it may take time and practice to get it right.

PRAISE PARENTS: Even when we are enjoying what we are doing, we all need recognition and praise. Being a parent is a particularly important job and parents need all the recognition and encouragement we can give. So offer support rather than criticism. Raising children can be hard. Acknowledge when parents are doing a good job.

UNDERSTAND: Child abuse is mostly not about bad people. Mostly it is about sad situations. Most parents want to do a good job, but some of the time we all need help to do our best.

ADAPT: With so much having changed, not all that we learnt about parenting when we were children will work today. We need to work together to find ways to really support our children in their growing up.