Overview
Parents play a critical role in children's lives. It's a role, however, that can be full of challenges for families and parents as their children grow. The Department recognises that the best way to ensure children are happy, safe and resilient is to strengthen families, family networks and communities.
Families website
Our Families Website provides information, resources and links that can support Northern Territory parents and families in their task of raising children.
Tip sheets
Parents, step-parents, grandparents and carers can access nearly 80 tip sheets providing information on topics such as:
- what to expect and how to support babies, children and teenagers as they go through different stages of development
- how parents can deal with issues such as biting, tantrums, toilet training, pocket money and the internet
7 Steps to Safety
The Department has developed the 7 Steps to Safety kit to help parents plan for the safety of their children at home. The kit aims to give children the skills and confidence they need to feel and be safe at home. Download the following steps:
- Step 1: Make Your Place Safe - gives families tips to help make their house and yard safe for their family.
- Step 2: Cool Tools for Family Rules - gives families ideas on how they can make rules that best suit their needs and help children to make safe and responsible decisions. Families can make their own 'Our Family Rules!' chart.
- Step 3: Feel Safe with People - helps parents teach their children what to do if they feel scared or uncomfortable with someone. Children can make their own 'Helper Plan' so they'll know who to talk to if they feel frightened or worried.
- Step 4: What's Special About Our Family? - helps families work out their own needs as they plan for their children's care and safety.
- Step 5: Emergency - helps parents teach their children what to do in an emergency: how to recognise an emergency; how and when to ring 000; and how to make an 'Emergency Contacts" list that's right for them.
- Step 6: Ready Yet? - helps families work out if their children are ready to spend time at home on their own.
- Step 7: Make a Care Plan - helps families make a 'Care Plan' so that parents and children can feel confident that children will be well cared for if something happens and parents suddenly can't be there to look after them.
Parentline
The Department understands that sometimes parents and others who care for children in the Northern Territory need to talk to someone when things get tough.
That's why the Department of Children and Families funds Parentline - a confidential telephone counselling service.
Parentline operates 8.00 am - 10.00 pm seven days a week.
