Parenting Helpline
Because all questions are important
- Available in:
- English
- Македонски
- Shqip
Parenting can be planned or unplanned, done independently or in partnership, but whatever its form, one thing is certain, the way we raise our children shapes the way they think, feel, behave and learn throughout life.
We all want what's best for our children, but being a parent isn't always easy, and for many, effective parenting is not instinctive. Everyone’s life circumstances are different, but all parents face dilemmas and question their decisions.
When children don’t do what we expect, as parents we can take it personally, feel they are testing our patience, pushing our limits. But it turns out that, children are testing their own abilities, pushing their own barriers. So, positive parenting is not just about the absence of violent discipline methods. It is about understanding child needs and responding to them proactively, recognizing different child developmental stages, being consistent, teaching children the appropriate behavior without using punishment and fostering personal characteristics such as self-esteem, persistence, independence, empathy, curiosity and responsibility.
This may sound as a lot to absorb. But, knowing how to respond in different situations helps parents relax and gain self-confidence which in return adds quality to the time spent with their children and makes the whole parenting experience easier and fulfilling.
The solutions often come as an answer to a question, or an advice after listening to concerns. That’s why we have supported a simple service to offer parents and guardians safe, non-judgmental and anonymous support through the Parenting Helpline.
The free Helpline for parents 075 230 530 offers support and counselling to parents and caregivers and operates every day including weekends from 15:00 to 20:00.
Parents and caregivers may call to get simple tips; or ask for extended support with comprehensive and guided counseling and day by day monitoring of progress made together with the counselors.
The helpline is open to parents, guardians and caregivers of children of all ages, those who plan to become parents or guardians, those who have shared parenting with a partner, single parents and all who are interested in learning more about parenting.
This initiative was implemented with financial support from Austrian Development Agency (ADA).
Advice from the experts on the Parenting Helpline
The team of experts offering support and counseling to parents and caregivers consists of licensed psychologists, family and systemic psychotherapists, and social workers. We talked to them about various topics related to positive parenting, coping with parental stress during a crisis, and adolescent socio-emotional development.
