Advice & Training for Parents

Dad's information and advice

Hertsmere Leisure Children’s Centres are committed to making all their services Men Friendly. You can expect a warm welcome at all our sessions. For the opportunity to meet other Fathers why not try one of our Dads Clubs which run in Borehamwood, Bushey, Park Street and Potter Bar?

We would also like to hear from you if you have any suggestions on how we can develop our services for fathers further please email childrenscentres@hertsmereleisure.co.uk

Father and Child Time

Do you find it hard to find the time together?  Here are a few practical ideas that other fathers have tried and tested:-

• It’s nice to set aside sometime just for you and your child.Why not try sharing activity like reading with your child? It is a great way to develop your child’s listening and speaking skills. You could visit the library and choose some books together  (see our suggestions on father friendly books). This would be a good way to help your child develop their confidence and would enable you to create a stimulating learning environment at home

• Why not get involved in your child’s parent and toddler group, pre school, nursery or come and join us at some of the activities the Children’s Centre can offer? Have you thought about volunteering (look out for adverts at your local Children’s Centre). This will help you become familiar with how your child spends part of their day.

• Why not share an interest or hobby with your child? For example, if you enjoy gardening ask your child to help you. Children love being responsible for small jobs such as planting seeds or watering the garden and you will be helping them learn about nature.

We hope you enjoy trying out some of these ideas together.

Books

Father Friendly Books as featured on the www.dad.info site

There is lots of help and support for Fathers; we hope you find the follow websites helpful:

General support and forums for dads

DadTalk – website dedicated to provide Dads online forums to discuss topics which are important to them in relation to their role as a dad
www.dadtalk.co.uk

Dad Info – website dedicated to giving Dads the information they need, from a Dad’s perspective.
www.dad.info

Dads UK – a voluntary support group for Dads offering advice, information and forums.
www.dads-uk.co.uk

Fathers Direct – an organisation that promotes the role of all fathers.
www.fathersdirect.com

Dads-Space - website dedicated to giving dads information on a range of subjects including aspects of health and development
www.dads-space.com

Fatherhood Institute
The UK’s fatherhood think tank, helping to collate the research on fatherhood, helping shape the government’s family policy, influencing the public debate on fathers, training family services to be father – inclusive.
www.fatherhoodinstitute.org

Home dad is an interactive website for dads bringing up their children. Dads can meet up, offer advice and support and share their experiences of hands on fathering.
www.homedad.org.uk

Support for separated Dads

Dadcando.com – website that offers a range of practical resources for activities to do with your children – specifically aimed at non-resident dads.
www.dadcando.com

Families Need Fathers (FNF) – seek to obtain the best possible blend of both parents in the lives of children. FNF have a helpline and produce guidance and fact sheets for separated families.
www.fnf.org.uk

Gingerbread – a helpline and website offering lone parents and their children practical and emotional support on a range of subjects.
www.gingerbread.org.uk

Only Dads – a website for support for single dads on a wide range of subjects.
www.onlydads.org

The Centre for separated families – the centre for separated families is a national charity that works with everyone affected by family separation in order to bring better outcomes for children.
www.separatedfamilies.info

Action for prisoners’ families – provides information and raises awareness of the impact of imprisonment on children and families
www.prisonersfamilies.org.uk

Support for Dads with Disabled Children

Contact a family – UK charity offering advice, information and support to parents of all disabled children, with a dedicated father’s page on the website.
www.cafamily.org.uk/families/familyissues/dads/index.html

Support for young dads
Young Fathers initiative – online information and advice on a variety of topics for young dads and dads to be.
www.young-fathers.org.uk

Top of page