Explore OxonDads
Taking Care Of Dad
Looking after yourself is vital to your role as a dad; whether it is taking time out for yourself, building relationships with your family and friends or simply just looking after your own health.
Dad's Groups
There are Dads Groups that meet on a regular basis in every major town in the county. Usually at a Children’s Centre, they offer a great opportunity for dads and their young children to meet other dads and join in a wide range of fun and activities. Non Resident dads may also find Children’s Centres a great place to have unsupervised contact visits.
Widowed Dad's
Being the sole earner for the family may be initially daunting. If you have children, you not only have grief to cope with, but theirs as well. While children may be a comfort, it can be hard to make time for them and to be sensitive to their needs. The increased responsibility of bringing up children on your own may seem overwhelming. However, there is a lot of support available in Oxfordshire. Going to a Dads’ Group may be a good first step.
Non Residential Dad Information
Keeping a strong relationship with your child, even if you're no longer in the same house, is so important. If you're in regular contact with your child, he or she is likely :
• To recover better from the split,
• To do better at school,
• To be less likely to get into trouble and
• To have better mental health.
Tips from OxonDads
A good relationship with your child's mother is crucial. So no matter how bad things might have become, concentrate on trying to heal any rifts and try to move to a respectful, supportive post-separation relationship.
• Your living arrangements may have changed and you may be some distance from your child but you'll still need to create a warm, family atmosphere when he or she is with you.
• Draw on all your resources - family and friends - so that you're not isolated and your partner is reassured about where your child is staying.
Do
• Make sure you are on time when picking up and dropping off your child
• Help your ex out so that she feels you're an asset and not a nuisance
• Keep up your child support payments
Don’t
• Use your child to get at your partner
• Say unpleasant things about your ex in front of your children
• Change arrangements to see your child at the last moment
Looking after yourself is vital to your role as a dad; whether it is taking time out for yourself, building relationships with your family and friends or simply just looking after your own health.
Dad's Groups
There are Dads Groups that meet on a regular basis in every major town in the county. Usually at a Children’s Centre, they offer a great opportunity for dads and their young children to meet other dads and join in a wide range of fun and activities. Non Resident dads may also find Children’s Centres a great place to have unsupervised contact visits.
Widowed Dad's
Being the sole earner for the family may be initially daunting. If you have children, you not only have grief to cope with, but theirs as well. While children may be a comfort, it can be hard to make time for them and to be sensitive to their needs. The increased responsibility of bringing up children on your own may seem overwhelming. However, there is a lot of support available in Oxfordshire. Going to a Dads’ Group may be a good first step.
Non Residential Dad Information
Keeping a strong relationship with your child, even if you're no longer in the same house, is so important. If you're in regular contact with your child, he or she is likely :
• To recover better from the split,
• To do better at school,
• To be less likely to get into trouble and
• To have better mental health.
Tips from OxonDads
A good relationship with your child's mother is crucial. So no matter how bad things might have become, concentrate on trying to heal any rifts and try to move to a respectful, supportive post-separation relationship.
• Your living arrangements may have changed and you may be some distance from your child but you'll still need to create a warm, family atmosphere when he or she is with you.
• Draw on all your resources - family and friends - so that you're not isolated and your partner is reassured about where your child is staying.
Do
• Make sure you are on time when picking up and dropping off your child
• Help your ex out so that she feels you're an asset and not a nuisance
• Keep up your child support payments
Don’t
• Use your child to get at your partner
• Say unpleasant things about your ex in front of your children
• Change arrangements to see your child at the last moment
Useful Links
• Oxfordshire Family Information Services: www.oxonfis.org.uk or call
08452 26 26 36
• For your local Children’s Centre www.oxonchildrenscentres.org.uk
• Relationship support, guidance and information for parents and families: Relate www.relateforparents.org.uk or call 0300 100 1234
• Parentline free confidential telephone support 24 hours a day: Parentline Plus: www.parentlineplus.org.uk or call 0808 800 2222
• Mental Health Support and Information: Oxfordshire MIND: www.oxfordshire-mind.org.uk or call 01865 247788
• Free Independent health advice for men: Men's Health Forum: www.malehealth.co.uk
• Independent voice for male health in England and Wales tackling the issues and inequalities affecting the health and well-being of men and boys www.menshealthforum.org.uk
• Grief support for children and their families both before and after a major bereavement, helping them to move forward www.seesaw.org.uk/
• Oxfordshire Family Information Services: www.oxonfis.org.uk or call
08452 26 26 36
• For your local Children’s Centre www.oxonchildrenscentres.org.uk
• Relationship support, guidance and information for parents and families: Relate www.relateforparents.org.uk or call 0300 100 1234
• Parentline free confidential telephone support 24 hours a day: Parentline Plus: www.parentlineplus.org.uk or call 0808 800 2222
• Mental Health Support and Information: Oxfordshire MIND: www.oxfordshire-mind.org.uk or call 01865 247788
• Free Independent health advice for men: Men's Health Forum: www.malehealth.co.uk
• Independent voice for male health in England and Wales tackling the issues and inequalities affecting the health and well-being of men and boys www.menshealthforum.org.uk
• Grief support for children and their families both before and after a major bereavement, helping them to move forward www.seesaw.org.uk/
a site by Dads
for Dads in
Oxfordshire
for Dads in
Oxfordshire
© OxonDads 2011| Run by Oxfordshire Parenting Forum Registered Charity No. 1080678
Sponsored by The Waites Foundation
e: info@oxondads.co.uk