Free courses for parents and carers of children aged 2 – 11 years
We all need a little support at times when it comes to looking after children, and across Central Bedfordshire, there are free courses for parents and carers of children aged 2 to 11 to help.
The Parenting Puzzle programme helps to 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 is being run throughout the year at your local children’s centre with two courses available to residents of 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 10 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.
Shefford and Stotfold Children’s Centre
Starting on 10 June 2025, running on Tuesday evenings from 7pm to 9pm.
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.
Flitwick
Starting 12 May 2025, running on Monday evenings from 5pm to 7pm at Flitwick Children’s Centre.
Email: flitwick.childrencentre@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk
Telephone: 0300 300 8111
Houghton Regis
Dates and times to be confirmed.
Email: houghtonregis.childrencentre@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk
Telephone: 0300 300 8115 or 0300 300 8129
Sandy and Biggleswade
Starting on 24 April 2025, running on Thursday mornings from 9:30am to 11:30am at Biggleswade Youth Centre.
Email: sandy.childrenscentre@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk
Telephone: 0300 300 8114 or 0300 300 8134
Dunstable
Starting on 22 April 2025, running on Tuesday afternoons from 12:45pm to 2:45pm at Dunstable South Children’s Centre.
Email: dunstablechildrenscentres@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk
Telephone: 0300 300 8104 or 0300 300 8106
Leighton Buzzard
Starting on 24 April 2025, running on Thursday mornings from 9:30am to 11:30am at Leighton Buzzard Children’s Centre.
Email: lbcc@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk
Telephone: 0300 300 8880