Thursday 16 January 2014

Dates for the Diary - New Man Enough Course Starting January 28th




Man Enough

Calling all Dads…
Dads, step Dads, resident Dads, absent Dads, estranged Dads,
single Dads, foster Dads, Granddads, challenged Dads …
If you want to
Ö      Improve your time with your children
Ö      Understand where they’re coming from
Ö      Feel a more confident parent
Ö      Improve communication between you and your children
Ö      Help children develop into responsible & cooperative adults
Ö      Learn new skills that will improve all your relationships


Then come and join other Dads for an opportunity to

·      Share ideas
·      Discuss problems
·      Gain insight into: Fatherhood, Relationships, Parenting

Dads only.   Guaranteed to improve your relationship with your kids.

Comments from one participant:
     “even though all the Dads were from really different backgrounds I relaxed and enjoyed it.
    We all had similar problems and it really helped me understand my kids and why they do things they do.”
     another said “it will create rounded happier parents & children”

7 week course Tuesdays 7pm – 9pm. Starts Tuesday 28th January 2014 at
South Abingdon Children’s Centre, Caldecott Chase Abingdon OX14 5GZ
For more information and to book a free place
·        call the Children’s Centre on 01235 555524: ask for Cindy or Sandra

·        or email Lucinda.Cave@actionforchildren.org.uk







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Dates for the Diary - Upcoming Seminar - Being Autism Friendly - An Introduction to the Autism Spectrum: Practical Hints and Tips for Working with Families Thur 23rd Jan


Oxfordshire Parenting Forum



Being Autism Friendly - An Introduction to the Autism Spectrum:
 Practical Hints and Tips for Working with Families

The seminar will be led by Becky Loveless, Family Support Worker from Autism Family Support, a project of local charity Children In Touch
Becky will lead a participative seminar, including case studies. Topics to be covered include: The Background of Autism; Explanation of the Triad of Impairment; Sensory Processing Difficulties; Signposting; Practical Hints and Tips, including Communication, Visual Aids, Behaviour Management, Problem Solving, Social Stories and Comic Strip Conversations. 

 Date:              Thursday 23rd January 2014               
Time:              6:00pm – 8:00pm (6:15 seminar start)
Venue:            Cherwell Centre, 16 Norham Gardens, Oxford OX2 6QB
Cost:                £10 non-members, £5 members
Parking:          The University of Oxford Department of Education has given kind permission for us to use their car park in Norham Gardens. Please note that anyone using this car park does so at their own risk.  
                        Free parking also available in Bevington Road; parking in Norham Gardens, Crick Road, Fyfield Road and Bradmore Road free after 6:30pm

This seminar will be of particular interest to any professional supporting families who experience Autistic Spectrum conditions, including:
Parenting Workers * Family Support Staff * PCAMHS * CAMHS * Probation Workers *
Health Visitors * YOT Workers * Early Intervention Hub Staff *
Primary and Secondary School Pastoral Staff * Parents

Please Note: This seminar isn’t appropriate for young people on the Autistic Spectrum to attend. Please see Children In Touch website for opportunities for them.

Light refreshments will be provided

Places must be reserved in advance. Please email Nicky Lisle on: admin@oxfordshire-parenting-forum.org.uk. Payment can be made in cash or by cheque before or on the day; please make cheques payable to Oxfordshire Parenting Forum. Oxfordshire County Council delegates can pay by BACS using Creditor No. 11351.

Closing date: Monday 20th January 2014


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ANNUAL CONFERENCE: Understanding mental health and resilience in parents and children






ANNUAL CONFERENCE: Understanding mental health and resilience in parents and children

Location: London
Venue: Senate House, Malet Street, London WC1E 7HU - Map
Organiser: Parenting UK
Date: 26 March 2014
Time: 9.30am - 4.30pm
Book now

Programme

Featuring key speakers from NSPCC, Centre for Mental Health, and YoungMinds, plus an opportunity to learn about the new Parenting Support Quality Mark, this conference will explore the impact of mental health in family settings from when a baby is born to coping with teenage mental health problems and parents' own needs.
Delegates will have an opportunity to discuss strategic and practical solutions for supporting parents who either have mental health problems themselves or who care for children and young people who do. The sessions will explore methods of building resilience in parents to help reduce stress and minimise the negative impacts on parenting.
As many as 120,000 babies may be affected by the current gap in perinatal mental health support* and yet around 80% of new mothers with mental health issues feel unable to report them**. Up to one million children are affected by the need to care for parents with mental health problems in later life. Providing adequate support in building emotional resilience is more important than ever.
CANparent update and the Parenting Support Quality Mark - Parenting UK will give an update on the outcomes and findings of the CANparent parenting class voucher project, following the conclusion of its two-year trial period
We will also offer an exclusive update on the new CANparent Quality Mark for providers of universal parenting support, with information on how to obtain the Quality Mark and what this means for your organisation and the sector as a whole.

Speakers

Sally Hogg from the NSPCC will be sharing her findings on perinatal mental health.
Lorraine Khan from the Centre for Mental Health will be talking about on delivering parenting programmes to parents whose children have behavioural problems.
YoungMinds (TBC) will be talking about how to support parents in building mental and emotional resilience in their children and young people.
More speakers to be announced.

Delegates will:

  • Assess the challenges of mental health issues within family settings and how the latest findings can feed into parenting and family support work
  • Discuss the impact of a range of mental health problems from perinatal depression to teenage anxiety
  • Build confidence by learning how to recognise and respond to mental health needs, including partnership work and referals
  • Explore practical methods of building resilience in parents and children to prevent the escalation of mental health problems

Who should attend:

  • Parenting and family practitioners
  • Children's centre workers
  • Families services officers
  • Mental health policy organisations
  • Mental health practitioners
  • Commissioners of children and families and adult mental health services
  • Social workers
  • Directors of children's services
  • Youth Workers
  • Youth engagement teams
  • Anyone working with families where knowledge of mental health problems would enhance their role

To Book click on the link below - 




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Allow children to help themselves to food at the table, say scientists






Children who are served dinner at the dining table are less likely to be overweight, according to the latest bout of research on this subject,

And what's more, if you allow them to help themselves from serving bowls, rather than you pre-plating up their food, it will result in them eating less.

It's because, say the scientists, children learn to recognise when they are full quicker when sitting around a table and serving themselves than if given a plateful of food in front of the television.

The results emerged from a study of children aged between two and five in more than 100 child care centres in the US.

Lead author Dr Brent McBride, director of the child development laboratory at the University of Illinois, said: "Family-style meals give kids a chance to learn about things like portion size and food preferences.

"When foods are pre-plated, children never develop the ability to read their body's hunger cues. They don't learn to say, okay, this is an appropriate portion size for me."

The researchers added that children should not be pressurised into finishing a serving as this can encourage them to eat more than they need.

Dipti Dev, a graduate student in nutritional sciences at the University of Illinois, said: "Instead of asking 'are you done?' [parents] should ask children, 'are you full?'. Or they should say, 'if you're hungry, you can have some more'.

"Asking the right questions can help children listen to their hunger and satiety signals."

And if you're worried about your children not eating enough, she reassuringly added: "If a child doesn't eat at one meal, he'll compensate for it over a 24-hour period.

"Making kids eat when they're not hungry is probably the worst thing you can do. It teaches them not to pay attention to their body's signals."

The research was published in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

To see the full article from Parentdish.co.uk please click on the link below for more pictures and content.
http://www.parentdish.co.uk/2014/01/15/allow-children-to-help-themselves-to-food-at-the-table-say-scientists/#!slide=aol_1004573

We think this news story will be of interest to our visitors. However, please note it is from another source and does not necessarily represent the views of Oxondads.  If you would like to comment on this article please click on the "No Comments" below or alternatively E-Mail  info@oxondads.co.uk
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The Reluctant House Dad: Why dads will always be heroes






The other night, a dad friend and I were talking about our kids and the kind of relationships we have with them.

His three boys – 16-year-old twins and their brother, aged 13 – are older than my sons (nine and six) by a good margin and he spoke with a certain sadness about how he'd 'lost them' – especially the oldest two.

"We used to have such fun together," he explained.

"But now they treat me as if I'm an embarrassment – even when I'm not dancing in front of their girlfriends, or telling jokes to their friends, or cheering them on at football! I used to be their hero."

Then he looked at me with such poignancy that I could swear he had a tear in his eye.

"You've got all this to come, you know. Enjoy your lads while you can. It doesn't last."

His words were still chiming during half-term last week. I spent pretty much every waking minute with my lads, sometimes just with them; sometimes with them and their mates.

At times it was quite tedious, for example, sitting on a bench in an adventure playground while they whooped and cheered as they zipped by on a zip-wire.

But most of the time, it was tremendous fun: kicking a ball about, building a LEGO fort, watching movies, playing board games, taking the mickey, and even making pizzas for when their mum got home from work and their older sister (my stepdaughter) returned from her dad's (who is her hero).

Far and away the best times, though, were the spontaneous cuddles. The youngest would climb onto my lap, grab my head in a lock and whisper: "I love you so much I want to crush your head to pieces!" (Yes, he's an odd boy).

But his big brother was more articulate. As I tucked him into bed each night, he'd kiss me and say: "You're the coolest dad in the world."

And I'd reply, fishing for another compliment: "How do you know? You've only got one dad."

To which he'd reply: "Because my friends say you are, too. And funny."

Which I guess translates as: "You're my hero, Dad."

Now I appreciate that this might come across as a gushing blow of my own trumpet but – hey! – so what? I'm chuffed to bits – especially because I know it's not going to last.

When my boys start sprouting hairs and dropping pitch, they will morph into surly, self-conscious, knuckle-dragging teenagers like my friend's sons.

Their dad is no longer their hero – but an embarrassment. So I plan to revel in my Superdad status for as long as I can.

I'm not unusual. According to a new survey, 90 per cent of children describe their dad as their hero.

Much of the media paints us as cringe-making muppets, when in fact our children are very, very proud of us, giving us credit for a lot of stuff that we might think goes overlooked.

A quarter love us for how we look after our families and fifth appreciate how hard we work to give our families a good life.

The survey, for LEGO, says our kids give us credit for driving, mending and fixing, and helping them with their homework.

But most of all, they think we're cool enough to want to hang out with us and play.

OK, this hero worship might fade during the teen years, but I had some news for my friend.

"What do you think of your own dad now?" I asked him.

He replied: "He's amazing. The way he's dealt with everything since our mum died. The way he picked himself up. He's a great guy. What about yours?"

"Same," I said. "He's the coolest man I know. I just wish I could see more of him because when I do it's like being with a best mate."

That's us dads: once a hero, always a hero, with just a blip along the way.
To see the full article from Parentdish.co.uk please click on the link below for more pictures and content.
http://www.parentdish.co.uk/family/why-our-dads-will-always-be-heroes/?icid=maing-grid7%7Cukt4%7Cdl2%7Csec3_lnk2%26pLid%3D236783#!slide=aol_1007945


We think this news story will be of interest to our visitors. However, please note it is from another source and does not necessarily represent the views of Oxondads.  If you would like to comment on this article please click on the "No Comments" below or alternatively E-Mail  info@oxondads.co.uk
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Figuring Out Fatherhood - Daddy's my favourite







It's three o'clock in the morning, and my wife is kicking me awake (she rarely nudges gently).

"Noah wants his dinosaur toy in bed with him," she grumbles. "And he says he wants you."

Blearily (and blindly, due to my terrible short-sightedness) I stumble into Noah's bedroom. My three-year-old is mumbling to himself in his half-awake, desperate-for-a-dinosaur-toy state.

"I don't want you, mummy, I want daddy," he croaks.

This is not the first time he has shunned my wife in favour of me. On a few occasions recently he has given her the cold shoulder: the other day we both picked him up from nursery and he made a beeline straight for me and leapt into my arms for a cuddle, leaving my wife a little stranded and feeling quite a lot like the third wheel. He's even gone so far as to quite happily tell me he loves me, and only admit to loving his mum when encouraged to.

This is by no means a reflection on my wife's parenting skills: she's the best parent I know - even better than my own mother, who used to make us goody bags before we went on long car journeys. In fact, to be quite honest, I have no idea at all why Noah suddenly has this new found affection for me.

I must admit it gives me mixed feelings. On one hand, it's wonderful to feel so wanted and to get so many cuddles, but on the other I feel guilty that, for some reason, Noah seems to be preferring me to his mum at the moment. She laughs about it, and tries to give the impression that it doesn't bother her, but I can tell that it does, and I don't blame her.

I can only imagine that because I'm out at work eight hours a day for five days a week I'm something of a novelty, not just for Noah but for all of my kids. (My favourite moment of the day, incidentally, is seeing our one-year-old daughter's reaction when I step in through the door in the evening, but that's another story).

Think about it: my children see their mum all day, and - despite how hard she works to feed and entertain them - they're too young to appreciate all she does. Then I come bounding in after being absent for so long like a long-lost relative on 'Surprise, Surprise' and start winding them up, telling jokes, wrestling on the floor, and so on; and it's that novelty factor that I think is contributing to Noah's undying love for me.

(It could just be that I'm a good parent, but I'm really not sure that's true. I'm almost certain it's the novelty thing.)

Experience tells me that this is just a temporary affection. Isaac - our eldest - went through a similar phase, and now he's a complete mummy's boy. Soon enough Noah will be running past me into the arms of his mum, and I'll be the one standing there all awkwardly like someone who's just gone to shake someone else's hand and has been left hanging.

On second thoughts, then, there's really no need to find some kind of solution to this situation. Maybe I should just enjoy it while it lasts.
To see the full article from Parentdish.co.uk please click on the link below for more pictures and content.

 http://www.parentdish.co.uk/kids/daddys-my-favourite-i-dont-want-mum/?icid=maing-grid7


We think this news story will be of interest to our visitors. However, please note it is from another source and does not necessarily represent the views of Oxondads.  If you would like to comment on this article please click on the "No Comments" below or alternatively E-Mail  info@oxondads.co.uk



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Men, Teen’s and Children health websites




Sometime we just have to take care of our self’s 1st before we can take care of others

Men’s Health Website


Teen Health

As we all know teenagers go through alot, mental and physical. The BDG has put a list together to help find the answers to some question you might have for your teen.

Teen Health Websites

Kids Health

The BDG wants all dads to make sure that their kids are strong and healthy. So we put a short lists of sites to help you get the info on how to care for your kids.

Kids Health Websites



We think this news story will be of interest to our visitors. However, please note it is from another source and does not necessarily represent the views of Oxondads.  If you would like to comment on this article please click on the "No Comments" below or alternatively E-Mail  info@oxondads.co.uk






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