Parent and Family Education; Participation in Programs

By raising their children, parents make an indispensable contribution to their children’s positive development and to the future of our society.

The need for information, advice, and support regarding the upbringing of their children has increased significantly among parents. Parent and family education is intended to help strengthen the parenting skills of parents, single mothers and fathers, foster parents, and expectant mothers and fathers. This will enable parents to better fulfill their parenting responsibilities.

The following parenting and family education programs are available locally:

• Family Support Centers
  These are drop-in centers and contact points that provide specific parenting and family education services within a community and are well-connected with other organizations. They offer appropriate and tailored support to meet the diverse needs of families, depending on the child’s age and the family’s situation. Family support centers are affiliated with existing local institutions, such as centers for mothers and fathers, family education centers, as well as parenting counseling centers and child care facilities.
   
• Help for Parents with a Crying Baby
  It is completely normal for babies to cry. It is the only way they can express themselves and communicate their needs. If a baby cries excessively, it is important to first determine whether there are any medical causes for the crying. Once these have been ruled out, parents can seek advice at a counseling center for fussy babies.
   
• Family Mentor Network in Bavaria
  Families can seek support from volunteer family mentors to ease their burden. The breathing room this provides can help strengthen parents’ resilience as well as their parenting and daily life skills. This is intended to prevent stressful situations from escalating into crises.
   
• Parent Letters
  Through the parent newsletters published by the Center for Family and Social Affairs in Bavaria—Bavarian State Youth Welfare Office—parents receive timely, clearly organized, and up-to-date information on their child’s or children’s developmental milestones, from birth through age 18. The parent letters can be sent in print, read online, downloaded, or subscribed to.
   
• Bavarian Parenting Guide (BAER)
  Through the “Bavarian Parenting Guide” portal, families receive concrete support to help them fulfill their parenting responsibilities. With numerous expert articles, the BAER covers all key areas of parenting.
  
  

• “familienst@rk” Web Coaching Sessions
  The web coaching sessions are aimed at parents and address topics related to parenting, family, and relationships. Parents can ask questions via live chat and receive answers and tips from experts. All information about the web coaching sessions is available on the website familienland.bayern.de
  
  

• intakt.info – Self-help platform for parents of children with disabilitiesThe self-help resources offered by intakt.info include easy-to-understand expert information covering the life stages of a child with a disability, the latest news, and information on events and recreational activities, changes in legislation, a Bavaria-wide directory of support services, and opportunities to share experiences and connect with other parents in the community.
   
• Strong Through Bonding—Tips on Parental Sensitivity in the Early Years
  The “Strong Through Bonding” series includes a scientifically grounded parenting guide that, in addition to evidence-based advice, also contains tips, testimonials from other parents, and resources for further support.
  The brochure is supplemented by fold-out leaflets in 18 different languages with easy-to-understand tips and links. In addition, the series includes short videos and expert films on selected everyday parenting issues, which provide parents with valuable tips on how to properly assess and resolve difficult situations. 
  
  
• Strong Through Parenting
  The brochure published as part of the“Strong Through Parenting”campaign contains eight messages that contribute to successful parenting. The brochure is also available in 16 foreign languages (including, for example, English, French, Russian, and Arabic) and in plain language. All editions are also available as downloadable versions.
  
  
• Freedom Within Limits
  The brochure “Freedom Within Limits” provides parents of preschool-aged children not only with important guidance on a parenting approach that supports development and on fundamental parenting issues, but also with descriptions of typical problem situations encountered in everyday parenting. Parents can reflect on, adjust, and practice their parenting behaviors. The brochure can be ordered free of charge.
  
  
• Keeping Love Alive
  The website “So That Love Endures” is designed to help improve communication between partners and deepen the relationship. It offers extensive information on partnership, love, and communication.

Anger and Büchenbach Family Support Centers:

The Anger and Büchenbach Family Support Centers are here for all parents and families in these neighborhoods. Do you have questions, concerns, or issues regarding parenting, family, relationships, or your children’s development? We’d be happy to advise you.

We’ll let you know where else in Erlangen you can find information, advice, and help. Upon request, we can also refer you to other resources.

At each family support center, we also offer parent education and family education programs. These are events for parents focused on children, parenting, or family life. Parents and children can attend many of these programs together to spend quality time with one another.

Contact information for the support centers:

Anger:

Isarstraße 12, 91052 Erlangen
Phone: + (49) 09131 / 86 - 3663
Email: familienstuetzpunkt-anger@stadt.erlangen.de

Büchenbach:

Goldwitzerstraße 27, 91056 Erlangen
Phone: + (49) 09131 / 86 - 3537
Email: familienstuetzpunkt-buechenbach@stadt.erlangen.de