TV parenting programmes do not provide the best advice to parents worried about bringing up their children, a Government minister has warned.

Beverley Hughes, the minister for children, said mothers and fathers needed parenting classes and face-to-face advice from trained professionals to help them through difficulties.

She was speaking at the launch of the new National Academy for Parenting Practitioners, which will train professionals who work with parents in how to offer support. Ms Hughes said parenting TV shows were often “compulsive” viewing but did not provide the whole answer.

She said: “Parenting programmes make for fascinating television, but for real help that makes a difference, parents need support from someone who is properly trained. That is why the new national academy is going to play such an important role.” …

Ms Hughes continued: “There is a clamour from parents for support with their children, and we want them to know that at some stage while their children are growing up it will be perfectly natural to ask for help.”

Parents can often learn from each other while chatting with other mums and dads informally, she said.

“At the same time, parenting classes can replace some of the informal support that may be missing in today’s society,” she said…

Ms Hughes added: “Fathers and grandfathers are really important. We know that strong father figures are role models that can have a beneficial impact on a child’s development. We need to make sure that when children’s centres and schools talk about parents, they don’t just focus on mothers.”

Source: The Press Association
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