Parenting
All parents want to give their child the best start in life and create a happy family. There's so much information available these days - including a lot of conflicting advice - that it can feel overwhelming. Type 'parenting' into Google and you get over 70 million results! Luckily, we've done the homework for you and selected the very best parenting resources.
Advice & information
When it comes to parenting, everyone's got an opinion! If it's not well-meaning friends and relatives, it's experts on the television. To help you find the useful tips from the masses of advice out there, we've selected the best websites for you to browse. So stop worrying and enjoy being a parent, your way!
Outstanding parenting pages, housing a wealth of clearly-written, useful advice from experts
BBC Parenting
Care for the Family supports strong family life, with advice for Mums, Dads, step-parents and single parents
Care for the Family
Positive advice on all aspects of parenthood. Contains vouchers for family savings, too
Good To Know
Informal and friendly support for families with young children who may be struggling to cope
Home-Start
Healthy body, happy me is a national campaign run by National Day Nurseries Association(NDNA) which aims to give children the energy for play learning and fun.
National Day Nurseries Association
Support and advice to help children remain in contact with parents and extended family after separation or divorce
NSCFC
Much-needed information and support for the 1.9 million lone parents and their children in the UK
One Parent Families/Gingerbread
Helpful, impartial guides to parenting 4 to 16-year-olds from the UK's parenting charity
Parentline Plus
Social networking & forums
While the Internet has its fair share of problems, one benefit is that parents needn't feel alone anymore. Whatever your concern, there are lots of networks to join, where you can share ideas or pick other parents' and grandparents' brains on anything and everything to do with raising children. It's also a great place to let off steam when you're having a bad day!
Popular website offering practical, non-judgmental advice and information on all aspects of caring for under 3s
BabyCentre
A vast resource of information plus a thriving online community providing support and advice from parents.
Babyworld
No nonsense information, tips and fun for Dads, embracing the latest technology and lots of humour too!
Dads' Space
DadTalk is an online community for Dads, using "wrap around technology" and humour to discuss issues
DadTalk
Popular forum just for grandparents, offering tips and support on looking after grandchildren
GrannyNet
The UK's first mother and baby social networking site offers a range of helpful advice videos
Gurgle
Pregnancy & birth
Pregnancy and birth is such an exciting time for Mums-to-be and their families. There's so much to think about! Whatever stage you're at in your pregnancy, there are invaluable sources of information available online. We've listed some of our favourites below.
Lots of help and advice for all expectant and new Mums and Dads to find the best for their baby in a way that's best for them
TheBabyWebsite.com
The only site offering online antenatal classes providing midwife support and advice on pregnancy and birth.
Babyworld
Excellent A-Z list of the topics you're most likely to encounter during pregnancy, birth and early parenthood
National Childbirth Trust
Child safety
Do we ever stop worrying about our children? There's always something to fret about, whether it's road safety, the Internet, stranger danger or playtime accidents. Help is at hand, though. More organisations are making fun, informative online resources for families that can help you to protect your children, wherever they are and whatever they're doing.
Carbon Monoxide is a highly poisonous gas that has no colour, taste or smell. Learn how to protect your family from the dangers.
Carbon Monoxide - Be Alarmed!
Chatdanger gives older children the low down on keeping safe when using chat rooms, emails and texts
Chatdanger
Download accident prevention factsheets and quizzes and activity sheets for all the family
Child Accident Prevention Trust
Excellent advice for older children on how to protect themselves from crime or aggression
Live Life Safe
Superb, interactive road safety website for children and parents, using a hard-hitting approach mixed with 3D animation to get the message across
Tales of the Road
Child development
Seeing your child develop is one of the most exciting aspects of parenthood. Parents notice every detail and always crave more information. It's an area that can cause parents - especially first-timers - some anxiety. Is their child developing 'normally'? Thankfully, there's lots of information available that charts a child's journey from baby to young adult.
Pregnancy, baby and parenting website with up-to-date news, advice, information, features and humour for new and expectant parents
TheBabyWebsite.com
Detailed summaries of the main developmental stages for babies and toddlers, month by month
BabyCentre
Teenagers
There are lots of negative stereotypes surrounding teenagers. Of course, not every adolescent is moody, uncommunicative and rebellious. However, one thing they do all share is pressure, whether it stems from exams, peer pressure or worries about the future. If you want to know more about how best to support your teenager, then take a look at our selection of resources.
Expert opinion and useful advice on all aspects of raising and educating happy, fulfilled girls
MyDaughter.co.uk
Just for dads
Did you know that Dads now provide around a third of the parenting of under 5s? It's great news for families. In response to this trend, new information and support services exclusively for Dads have been launched in the past few years. Here are some of the best.
Provides a special dad's domain with useful advice such as nine top tips for being a great dad
Care for the Family
Fantastic website offering upbeat information about all aspects of fatherhood. Dad Info gives Dads the inside track on raising great kids
Dad Info
An inspiring site based around essential pledges that will help you to be the best dad in the world. For life
Dad Talk
No nonsense information, tips and fun for Dads, embracing the latest technology and lots of humour too!
Dads' Space
Factsheets, advice and a Helpline for Dads who are divorced or separated from their children's Mum
Families Need Fathers
The UK's fatherhood "think tank" publishes research and lobbies government on Dads' issues
Fatherhood Institute
Welcome campaign to make Britain more "dad-friendly" and help Dads feel less invisible
Think Fathers
Youngdads gives younger Dads access to information on everything they wanted to know about pregnancy, birth and beyond - but were too afraid to ask!
Youngdads
Our supporters
"I am pleased to endorse National Family Week and its aim of promoting and celebrating family life in Britain."
Gordon Brown, Former Prime Minister
"I really hope that National Family Week encourages people to take a moment to realize the importance of the people they have around them."
Amanda Holden, Britain's Got Talent Judge
"Encouraging families to get active is a subject very close to my heart, so I am thrilled and delighted to be able to show my support for National Family Week."
Sally Gunnell OBE, Olympic Gold Medalist
"I look forward to taking part in National Family Week and encouraging others to do the same."
Antony Worrall Thompson, Celebrity Chef
"I am delighted to welcome National Family Week. It's full of practical ideas, and it will be great to see organisations from all sections of society join together to celebrate family life."
David Cameron, Prime Minister
"National Family Week is the perfect chance for families to make time for each other and have fun while they are doing it."
Esther Rantzen, CBE, Broadcaster, Campaigner and Chair of The Family Commission
"I think National Family Week is a great initiative that will encourage families to come together and realise how important every part of the family is."
Sir Terry Wogan, Radio and Television Broadcaster
Free downloadable ebook on how to give your kids the gift of self esteem
Postitive parenting expert, Sue Atkins is kindly offering all visitors to the National Family Week site a free copy of her ebook, 'Music for the Soul – how to give your kids the gift of self esteem'. To get your free copy, click here.
