In New Zealand we have many wonderful Parenting support groups. We overview the key organisations, community groups and support groups providing advice and assistance in the area of parenting.
Whoever said parenting was going to be easy?!
Obviously whoever it was never had the pleasures of child birth!......or problems with sick children, tiredness, tantrums, financial pressures, sometimes the isolation, the feeling of having to do it all alone, solo parenting issues…..the list goes on.
Still want to be a parent?.......darn right. There is no more rewarding ‘career’ in this world. Just ask any mum or dad who has been through the hard times and come out the other side to see positive families and relationships, strengthened by the difficult circumstances - like carbon strengthens steel.
But there's some good news for those of us facing difficult and challenging parenting issues – there is help out there. We are fortunate here in NZ to have access to some wonderful support groups and organizations. In addition to family and friends, there are fully-trained people within our communities who can offer professional support, advice and assistance, helping us through the often challenging times we confront in our roles as parents.
Let’s face it, we’re more than just parents. We’re counsellors, teachers, first aid officers. We’re chefs, hygiene inspectors, maintenance engineers. We’re gardeners, taxi drivers, personnel (and personality!) managers. We’re law enforcement officers, fire fighters (physical and emotional!) and referees.
Is it little wonder we often need the help of professionals who are a little more trained in some of these areas than we are. You know, it’s okay to ask for help.
So how do we deal with some of these difficult parenting issues? Where do we turn to for support, advice, assistance?
Remember, at Kiwi Families we’re here to be of assistance to you as parents. If there is anything you would like to see on this website relating to parenting issues, perhaps another support group, please let us know. We will do our best to source the information and place it on the website for future reference for others.
Kiwi Families – supporting kiwi families
In this section, we cover the following topics:
| Birthright |
Working to support, strengthen and advocate for one-parent (single or solo parent) families
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| Brainwave Trust |
Information and advice on how to maximises a child's brain development in its first three years of life
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| Grandparents Raising Grandchildren |
Support and advice for grandparents who are raising their grandchildren
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| KEEA (Bedwetting) |
Information and support for families coping with a child who has wetting or soiling problems
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| Multiple Birth Association |
Supporting families with ‘multiples’, be they twins, triplets, quads or more
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| Open Adoption Network |
Supporting families involved with open adoption, including adopted children, birth parents and the adoptive family |
| Parent to Parent |
Support and information network for parents of children with special needs
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| Parents as First Teachers |
Support for parents with children from birth to age 3, who want to take a vital role in their education
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| Parents Inc |
Makes life better for parents and their children through information and courses to enhance parenting skills
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| Playcentre |
Supports parents who want to take an active role in the pre-school education of their child
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| Plunket |
The number one source of advice in New Zealand for parents with babies, toddlers and pre-schoolers.
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| SPACE Programme |
The SPACE Programme is aimed at (mainly) first time parents and their babies, to support parents through the first year of their child's developmental journey. |
| The Salvation Army |
Provides all sorts of family support including counselling, budget advice, parenting programmes and life skills. |
| Toughlove |
Provides education and support for parents who are struggling with unacceptable behaviour from teens. |