Nursery World - Positive Relationships: Parenting Programmes

Early intervention programmes are finding greater success by engaging both parents, rather than just mothers, as well as enrolling them before the birth of their child, discovers Annette Rawstrone

The journey into parenthood is one that many adults are unprepared for and it can impact harshly on even strong relationships. Family Foundations is a parenting programme that starts working with couples before their first child is born and aims to give them the tools to be supportive partners and raise their children together.

‘The programme focuses on enhancing the collaboration between parents, which relieves stress and increases support. Then they can naturally become the best parents they can be,’ explains Family Foundations founder Mark Feinberg. ‘I found little support as a new dad but lots of support for my wife. As I began to search the literature, it became clear that supporting dads’ engagement with children depends greatly on the relationship with the mother. That relationship, co-parenting, is a central influence on the well-being of everyone in the family.’

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