Parenting Puzzle course
Free parenting support courses for families with children aged 2 -11
We all need a little support at times when it comes to looking after children. In Central Bedfordshire, free support courses are available for parents and carers of children aged 2 to 11.
The Parenting Puzzle programme helps you build strategies to reduce the stress of parenting and prepare your children for school. It’s also a great place to meet other parents and carers in your area.
Parenting Puzzle runs throughout the academic year (September to July) at local children’s centre across Central Bedfordshire.
Courses available
Four-week Parenting Puzzle workshop
All sessions are free of charge. Those who book on to the course are welcome to attend alone or come with a partner, relative or friend.
The two-hour sessions, which run over four weeks, cover a broad range of topics such as:
- the emotional well-being of parents, carers, and their children
- understanding behaviour, listening skills, communication, praise, and encouragement
- praise and guidance vs. criticism, child-led play, and positive moments
- boundaries, parenting styles, time to calm down, dealing with stress and conflict
- choices, consequences, behaviour to ignore, putting the puzzle together and looking after yourself
Ten-week Parenting Puzzle Nurturing Programme
This free programme delves into parenting in more detail, the two-hour per week sessions, running over ten weeks, focus on:
- empowering parents and carers to build positive relationships with their children
- understanding why children behave as they do
- recognising the feelings behind behaviours (yours and your child’s)
- exploring different approaches to discipline
- finding ways to develop co-operation and self-discipline in children
- learning the importance of looking after yourself
Book your place
Sessions are held at local venues or children’s centres across Central Bedfordshire. Enquiries and bookings should be made directly with each centre through email or telephone.
Four-Week course bookings
The four-week course will be held at the following locations.
Sandy and Biggleswade
Starting 23 September 2026, running on Wednesday afternoons, 1pm until 3pm at Biggleswade Youth Centre, SG18 8JU.
Starting 11 November 2026, running on Wednesday evenings, 6:30pm until 8:30pm at Sandy Childrens Centre, SG19 1HQ.
Email: sandy.childrenscentre@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk
Telephone: 0300 300 8114 or 0300 300 8134
Dunstable
Starting 29 September 2026, running on Tuesday evenings from 6pm until 8pm at Dunstable South Children’s Centre, Oakwood Avenue, LU5 4AS.
Starting 18 November 2026, running on Wednesday afternoons from 12:45pm until 2:45pm at Dunstable South Children’s Centre, Oakwood Avenue, LU5 4AS.
Email: dunstablechildrenscentres@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk
Telephone: 0300 300 8104 or 0300 300 8106
Shefford and Stotfold
Starting 15 October 2026, running on Thursday afternoons from 12:45pm until 2:45pm at Shefford Children’s Centre SG17 5XA.
Email: shefford.childrencentre@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk
Telephone: 0300 300 8112
Ten-week course bookings
The ten-week course will be held at the following locations.
Leighton Buzzard
Starting 17 September 2026, running on Thursday mornings, 9:15am until 11:15am at Leighton Buzzard Youth Centre, LU7 3FU.
Email: lbcc@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk
Telephone: 0300 300 8880
Flitwick
Starting 29 September 2026, running on Tuesday mornings, 8:45am until 10:45am at Willow Grove primary school, Houghton Conquest MK45 3TE.
Email: flitwick.childrencentre@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk
Telephone: 0300 300 8111
Houghton Regis
Starting 16 September 2026, running on Wednesday mornings, 9:30am until 11:30am at Tithe Farm Site LU5 5JB.
Email: houghtonregis.childrencentre@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk
Telephone: 0300 300 8115 or 0300 300 8129