We must change perceptions of parenting help

He swiftly withdrew to his room with headphones and Fortnite. A couple of hours later armed with fun things to do, my request to put the games console down and come out and play was not greeted with enthusiasm. Parenting has evolved over the years, and the challenges faced by parents today are distinct, so perhaps we need a different approach? Parents often feel judged if they struggle and are reluctant to ask for help. It’s instinctive and comes naturally, right? Or should the government be more involved?

In Australia, the government has invested heavily in parenting. When it comes to public health campaigns Australia is pretty hard hitting with its attention-grabbing films. Just look at their drink drive adverts. However, their campaign to reach out to all parents and carers to promote the value of parenting programmes has taken a different approach. The campaign aims to reduce the stigma around parents asking for help and support. All parents in Australia have free access to Triple P, which is an evidence-based parenting programme also recognised by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, whose guidelines recommend Triple P programmes in England.