Positive Parenting

Positive parenting supports the secure attachment between a parent/ carer and a child, helping build resilience and encourage healthy development.

Positive parenting is about the parent/carer being a good role model to a child. Children learn by watching, and will behave as you behave and interact with people.

Playing with your child is important; try playing a game, have a puppet show, engage in pretend play or read a story together. Allow your child to interact with other children, you could visit a park or a children centre.

For more information on positive parenting, please read through the NSPCC Encouraging Better Behaviour booklet.

Please explore the following sections for more information:

Healthy child programme

The Healthy Child Programme for children aged 0-5 years focuses on a universal service, providing families with a programme of screening, immunisation, health and development reviews, supplemented by advice around health, wellbeing and parenting.
 
For more information, click on the link below:
 
The aims of the Healthy Child Programme 4 Barnet service:
 
  • to promote a strong attachment between parent/s and child, the result of which will be better social and emotional well-being in children
  • to ensure more children remain healthy and safe
  • to reduce obesity by promoting healthy eating
  • to increase breastfeeding
  • to aim for children to be ready for starting school
  • aim for early recognition of development delays, growth problems, ill-health and safety concerns

Routine appointments

There are key times within your child’s development that we will arrange appointments to see you and/or your baby/child.
 
We may send you an ‘ages and stages’ questionnaire (ASQ3) to complete in preparation for the appointment to reflect on your child’s progress. This allows you the opportunity to bring any issues of concern to the appointment for discussion.
 
The questionnaire also includes lots of activity ideas to try with your child.
 
  • Antenatal appointment between 28 -38 weeks pregnancy (see information on whooping cough vaccinations in pregnancy).
  • Birth visit at home between 10-14 days.
  • Development review between 6-8 weeks.
  • Under 1 year development review between 32-52 weeks of age.
  • 2 year development review between 2 years and 2 years 6 months.

Additional support

The Health Visiting team can also offer support in a variety of areas including:
 
  • breastfeeding
  • introducing solid foods/healthy eating
  • behaviour, sleep and toilet training
  • home safety and accident prevention
  • chlamydia screening for 15-25 year olds
  • support children who have long term health needs
  • depression

You can contact your Health Visitor to discuss any health problems that concern your children, yourself or any other family member.

The Red Book (personal child health record)

Your child’s red book is usually given to you at the hospital when they are born. It is the main record of your child’s health and development which professionals should update when a child is seen in a health care setting. It contains lots of information about your child including, immunisations, routine reviews, your child’s firsts and growth charts.
 
The red book belongs to the NHS and you should take care of it and ensure it is available at all contacts with your baby/child when seeing a healthcare professional.

Last updated29 Nov 2024
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