Parent relationships, co-parenting and child contact advice
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Family relationships
Arguments, separation, divorce, co-parenting, child contact
Child contact arrangements with a co-parent
As co-parents you’ll need to decide together how much time your child will spend with each of you. This process can feel hard.
Co-parenting with a controlling ex-partner
If you're worried your ex-partner or co-parent is trying to control you, it's important to understand what you can do and where to go for help.
Helping your child adjust to a blended family
Adjusting to a new family set-up is a time of change for everyone. It might take a while to build new routines.
Coping with not seeing your child
Missing your child when you don't see them can feel devastating. Understand your rights as a parent and know where to go for support.
Helping your child adjust to separation or divorce
It can be hard for children to adjust to separation. You can help them feel supported and reassured.
How to co-parent with your ex partner
Co-parenting can be one of the biggest challenges for separated partners but it can also be a positive experience.
How to manage arguments with your partner
If you’re having lots of difficult conversations with your partner, you might need to think about how you manage these.
Look after a friend or relative’s child as a kinship carer
Looking after a friend or relative’s child as a kinship carer can be a rewarding and challenging experience.
Supporting a child with a family member in prison
It can be upsetting for a child if someone they are close to is arrested or sent to prison. You’ll want to support the child through this difficult time.
Coming out as LGBTQ+ to your child
You will know best how to communicate with your child, but here are some things to consider when coming out to your child.
How to have a good relationship with your child when you don’t live with them
Keeping in regular contact and making the most of your time together can help build a good relationship.
What to do if your child doesn’t want to see you
If your child doesn’t live with you all the time, they might not always want to meet on arranged days.
Dealing with disagreements about parenting styles
Many parents have different ideas about how to parent their children, whether they are together or separated.
How to support your partner’s children
If your partner has children from a previous relationship, you can provide a supportive, loving home for the child.
How to ask your partner to help more at home
When you feel like your partner isn’t doing their fair share, it can have a huge effect on you.
Help if you’re worried your child isn’t safe with their other parent
If you have concerns about your child’s wellbeing, there are some steps you can take.
Leaving a relationship when you have a child
Leaving a relationship is never an easy choice, especially if you have a child. You can take steps to help your family cope.
Advice if your child is a young carer
Some children may have extra care responsibilities at home, supporting a family member with physical or emotional needs.
Help if you’re being abused by a partner or co-parent
Abuse can take many forms, but if you think you could be being abused by someone you parent with, get help as soon as you can.
Support your child if they’re worried about seeing their other parent
When you’re separated, children can sometimes develop worries about seeing their other parent.
Co-parenting at Christmas
Christmas can be a challenging time for separated parents. If you can, work together to plan with your child in mind.
Chat on Webchat
Please enter your email address to start a new chat or to continue an earlier chat. We’ll use it to send you a copy of your conversation and to ask for feedback – nothing else.
You don’t need to share any other personal details with us if you don’t want to.
Anything you tell us is confidential. We will only share your information without your consent if you or someone else might be at risk of significant harm – then we would contact the Police, Ambulance, social services, a mental health crisis or other service to help you. For more information, read our
confidentiality policy
We keep chat records for up to 7 years and share anonymised data with organisations that fund the service. Read our
for more details.
Since Leicester City Council is your local authority, we can offer you a chat with a local coach who is familiar with Leicester. Would you like this?
Yes
Chat on WhatsApp
To start a chat, send a WhatsApp message to
07700174470
or click the button below. When you WhatsApp us we’ll be able to see your phone number. We’ll ask what name we can call you, but you don’t need to share any other personal details with us if you don’t want to.
Please do not send any photographs or other attachments in the chat, as these will not be seen by your coach.
Anything you tell us is confidential. We will only share your information without your consent if you or someone else might be at risk of significant harm – then we would contact the Police, Ambulance, social services, a mental health crisis or other service to help you. For more information, read our
confidentiality policy
If you don’t already have WhatsApp, you can
download the app
or
use webchat
instead.
We keep chat records for up to 7 years and share anonymised data with organisations that fund the service. Read our
for more details.
Chat on WhatsApp
To start a chat, send a WhatsApp message to
07700174470
or click the button below.
When you WhatsApp us we’ll be able to see your phone number. We’ll ask what name we can call you, but you don’t need to share any other personal details with us if you don’t want to
but do let us know that you’re in Leicester please so we can make sure a local coach is speaking to you.
Please do not send any photographs or other attachments in the chat, as these will not be seen by your coach.
Anything you tell us is confidential. We will only share your information without your consent if you or someone else might be at risk of significant harm – then we would contact the Police, Ambulance, social services, a mental health crisis or other service to help you. For more information, read our
confidentiality policy
If you don’t already have WhatsApp, you can
download the app
or
use webchat
instead.
We keep chat records for up to 7 years and share anonymised data with organisations that fund the service. Read our
for more details.