Supporting parents and children 1.2. Children are cared for in many ways and almost all children receive a mix of informal care from parents and relatives in the home and more formal care in other settings. Good parenting is the key to ensuring that children grow up happy and well-prepared for adult life. Parents are the first and often the greatest influence on their children s development and education. This is true whether they look after their children full-time or combine parenting and paid work.
Parental care is complimented by a range of other services.
Some, such as parent and toddler groups, family centres, one o clock clubs and toy libraries focus on meeting the needs of children with their carers. They provide valuable developmental opportunities for children as well as the chance for parents to share experiences and resources. Good parenting is the key to ensuring that children grow up happy and well-prepared for adult life. Parents are the first and often the greatest influence on their children s development and education. This is true whether they look after their children full-time or mix parenting with paid work.