I have got a child under 5 years old

“No-one trains you to be a parent, you are just expected to get on with it!”

There are lots of different things to think about in the first five years of your child's life. Hopefully this section will have information that you will find useful. If at any time you feel you can't find what you are looking for please use our 'ask anything' page.

Parenting courses, groups and services

• Mellow Parenting - A 14 week, one day a week programme for parents who are experiencing or have experienced depression and post natal depression; parents with alcohol misuse problems; parents on parenting orders; parents with anxiety or stress; and parents with parent/child maltreatment problems or with children on the child protection register.
• Kickstart for drug using parents of children under 5 years
• The Parenting Puzzle - Family Links Nurturing Programme
• Dinosaur School - A parenting programme for families struggling with the behaviour of their children at home and/or at school.
• Time out for... Family Matters York run a number of parenting programmes including; time out... for toddlers, for parents, for dads, for special needs and from anger

As well as these parenting programmes there are a number of key services locally that are helpful.

• York Family Information Service offer free and impartial information and advice on anything and everything to do with family life. We support mums, dads and carers of 0-19 year olds or up to 25 years for disabled children.
• Children's Centres offer a wide range of services for parents or carers from preganancy through to 5 years old. There are nine Children's Centres in York. Our Children's Centre pages has lots of information about what is happening at your local centre and how you can get involved. 
• Health Visitors aim to help you and your children lead as healthy a life as possible both physically and mentally. Find out where you can access health visitors at different groups by searching our service directory.
• Toddler groups often welcome parents who are expecting babies. Meeting with other parents gives you the chance to share experiences and ideas, learn new skills, get advice and information and most importantly you will feel better equipped to cope. Find local toddler groups by searching our service directory.
• The National Childbirth Trust has a York branch that provides support for parents and parents-to-be locally, runs antenatal classes and organises various activities and events including the ever-popular Nearly New Sales.

Parenting websites, helplines and text services

• Family Information Direct is a set of national websites, helplines and services for parents or carers. They deal with a wide range of topics and there will be one that is right for you!
• In York there are many different services that are available to support families. Take a look at our service directory to find a service that can meet your need.

Top Tips!

• Children don't come with a handbook! The Family Information Service have asked parents and carers for their 'top tips' to pass onto others. These tips won't work for every different type of family but you may find something that you can use.

Disability or additional needs?

• ASCEND (Autism Spectrum Condition Enhancing and Nuturing Development) - ASCEND is an 11 week programme run for parents of children who have a diagnosis on the autism spectrum.
• We have developed a set of information pages with parents and carers of disabled children. They contain information about what services are available locally and how to access them.
• CANDI stands for Children AND Inclusion. It is a parent-led forum for parents or carers of children with disabilities or additional needs.

Separating or Lone parent?

• The Centre For Separated Families provide advice, information and support for separated families in the York area. Services include individual telephone and email support, benefits advice, one-to-one counselling, referral for private grants and family holidays, parenting advice and training.

• Child maintenance is regular, reliable financial support that helps towards a child’s everyday living costs. The parent who doesn’t have main day-to-day care of the child pays child maintenance to the parent or person (such as a grandparent or guardian) who does, but it can be about more than just money. Child Maintenance Options have more information.