Starship Foundation

Parenting under fives



Disclaimer: This fact sheet is for educational use only. Please consult your doctor or other health professional to make sure this information is right for your child.

Being a parent

Becoming a parent is one of the most important and rewarding jobs we can have. However, there are also times when being a parent can be difficult and stressful. The following resources are aimed at supporting you in your parenting role.
 
There is a useful article, Being a parent, at the South Australian Child and Youth Health website which discusses issues about becoming a parent under the following headings:
  • your feelings about parenting
  • ideas for making parenting easier
  • taking care of your relationship
  • managing anger

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Practical parenting advice

SKIP (strategies for kids / information for parents) is a Ministry of Social Development positive parenting programme supporting parents and caregivers of children under five.
 
See the following resources at the SKIP website:
  • Strategies for parents provides some ideas and tips for managing your child's behaviour looking at ways you can review your response to them and things to try
 

ages and stages - a guide to the different stages of development between birth and age five

managing behaviour - provides information on guidance and discipline for under fives

temperament - information to help you understand why your child might be behaving in a certain way

jealousy and fighting - information to help you help children to learn to handle these feelings

tantrums - information about tantrums, why they happen and tips on how to avoid them

tips on stress

supermarket survival - information about ways to make the weekly shop less stressful

children with special needs - information about parenting a child with special needs including help with areas such as mobility, learning or sensory input

kids and safety - a guide to helping keep kids safe as they explore their world

kids and car seat safety - car seats save lives. Some children love travelling in them and others don't at all. To take the stress out of using them, and to help parents make car travel safe and more enjoyable, SKIP has some tips to help make car seats part of your children's daily routine

 

 

Ages and stages

Tantrums
Supermarket survival
Managing behaviour in under fives
Children with special needs
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Keeping kids safe
Temperament
Jealousy and fighting
Tips on stress
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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Practical parenting advice in other languages

The SKIP pamphlets above have been translated into:

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What do children need?

The Child Youth and Family website has a pamphlet - The ten things children need most. The pamphlet elaborates on the following needs:

  • the basics for health and happiness
  • to feel safe and secure
  • good touching
  • praise and encouragement
  • smiling
  • talking
  • listening
  • new experiences
  • taking care of their feelings
  • rewards and special treats

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Caring for babies and children under five

You and your child, at the Plunket website, is full of valuable information for parents, families and caregivers about caring for babies and children up to five years old:

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How can I be more involved in my young child's learning?

Team-Up bookletThe Team-Up Ministry of Education website provides a wealth of information about how you can be involved in your young child's learning. The Team-Up early childhood booklet is designed to be kept and used as a guide throughout your young child's early years. The following are examples of the booklet's content. You can also order a  free booklet by phoning 0800 TeamUp (0800 832 687).
 
For more information, see:

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Where to go for more information and support

On this website
Early childhood education - information about choosing an early childhood service for your child
 
PAFT (Parents as First Teachers)
PAFT is based on the philosophy that parents are their children's first and most important teachers. The aim of the PAFT programme is to help parents to participate more effectively in their children's early development and learning. PAFT provides free, practical support and guidance to families with young children. This support lasts from before birth to three years. Funding is available for a limited number of families only and enrolment criteria may apply. Contact Family and Community Services for more information or to find out if there is a programme near you. The PAFT National Centre is part of Family and Community Services at the Ministry of Social Development.
 
Plunket
Plunket offers parenting education and support. Plunket Karitane Family Centres provide extra help and support on parenting matters such as breast feeding, sleeping, child behaviour, parent / family needs, and other child health concerns. Call the Family Centre in your area to find out what services they offer. For your local Plunket office or Plunket Karitane Family Centre, check the Plunket website or look under Plunket in your phone book.
Plunket also offers a specialist early childhood health telephone help service. It is available to all families, whanau and caregivers 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Call PlunketLine free on 0800 933 922.
Postal address: PO Box 5474, Wellington 6145
National office phone: 64 4 471 0177
National office fax: 64 4 471 0190
 
Strengthening Families
Strengthening Families is administered by the FACS (Family and Community Services) unit within the Ministry of Social Development. It's a way of providing better co-ordinated support for families / whanau with children under 17, who are working with two or more government or community agencies. The agencies work together with the family to provide support and develop joint solutions to issues, rather than each agency dealing with one part of the problem and never seeing the bigger picture.
 
More information is available on the Strengthening Families website which also provides access to the following brochures:
 
Telephone advice - Healthline and PlunketLine
  • ring PlunketLine on 0800 933 922 if you have child health and parenting questions or queries. For example, if you have questions about such issues as parenting, crying, sleeping, your child's growth, development, behaviour, immunisation, breastfeeding, nutrition, oral health, safety or want to know more about the Well Child / Tamariki Ora programme
  • call Healthline on 0800 611 116 if you need advice about a child of any age who is unwell or hurt, or has any symptoms of sickness. Healthline provides a full range of telephone triage and health advice for children (and adults)
  • both services are available 24 hours and are free to callers throughout New Zealand, including from a mobile phone
Australian websites
 
Raising Children Network: The Australian parenting website
Sponsored by the Australian Government, this parenting website provides information on topics such as behaviour, connecting and communicating, development, health and daily care, nutrition, play and learning, safety and sleep for the following age groups:
  • newborns (0-3 months)
  • babies (3-12 months)
  • toddlers (1-3 years)
  • preschoolers (3-5 years)
  • school age (5-8 years)
 

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Your notes

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Endorsement

This fact sheet was endorsed by PSNZ - 08/11/2010

Copyright

Fact sheets are subject to copyright. In the interests of information sharing they may be copied but acknowledgement must be given to PSNZ and Starship Foundation.
© The Paediatric Society of New Zealand and Starship Foundation 2005 - 2012


The Paediatric Society of New Zealand
http://www.paediatrics.org.nz
Starship Foundation
http://www.starship.org.nz