|
Within your local community, you interact with your family, friends and neighbours in unique ways. But what we all realise is that parenting can be challenging and from time to time, every parent could benefit from a little help.
Parents of young children often feel isolated and lonely - even in busy active neighbourhoods. Pressures and stress from issues such as isolation from supports, employment, finances, health matters and relationships can all create feelings of isolation. And research tells us that social isolation and lack of support can affect how parents cope and how they look after and react to their children. As a member of your local community, you can play a part in providing practical and emotional support to parents, thereby making a difference for children and preventing child abuse and neglect.
In turn, families with young children are often able to help other community members by keeping an eye on the neighbourhood whilst others are at work, collecting mail when you're away or helping out with odd jobs. All of the community benefits when its members work together to create a more child friendly community.
-
Take an interest in children's activities and achievements, empathise with parents about the challenges of parenting, in a supportive and non-judgmental manner and celebrate their successes.
-
When relatives or friends move away, make a real effort to keep in touch. You may not be close enough to provide any practical help but emotional support is always valuable. Just knowing they can still call on you can make a difference.
-
Help to create a broader network of support for families so that they have a few places to turn to for support with different issues (ie. through government and community services).
-
Make contact with the local media and share a story about a child friendly initiative that is happening in your local community.
If you would like to know more about how you can Play a Part, contact our Project Facilitators HERE
|
