Hello and welcome to the latest Family Information Service newsletter. Our job is to give you the info and resources you need to help your family life run a little smoother. We can help with:
- Childcare – finding it and advice on paying for it
- Local baby and toddler groups
- Events, clubs, activities, and fun things to do in the school holidays, for all ages
- Getting parenting and family support
- Finding health and wellbeing support
We cover everything and anything to do with family life, so if you have a question, chances are we’ll be able to help, or if we can’t, we’ll point you in the direction of someone who can.
Find us on Facebook, Instagram or X. Call 01743 254400 or email ShropshireFIS@shropshire.gov.uk
 Parenting can be full of ups, downs, big feelings and lots of learning – for both you and your child. Join the parenting team to talk about what’s going on for you and your family. Together you’ll make sense of tricky moments and share simple ideas that can make life calmer and more positive.
You will explore issues like:
- Communicating and building connection with your child
- Routines like sleep and bedtime, and any other routines you have as a family
- Understanding behaviour and big emotions
- Child development and how you can support it
Groups are aimed at parents of children aged 0-5 years and are free to attend.
Starts: Tuesday 5th May 2026 from 12:30pm – 2:30pm at Sunflower House, Kendal Road, Shrewsbury, SY1 4ES. All groups run for 10 weeks from the start date excluding the School Holidays.
To book a place please contact the Parenting Team by: Emailing: Parenting.team@shropshire.gov.uk Or Telephone: 01743 250950
 Starting school is an exciting milestone – for your child and for you. Find out how everyday moments at home can help your child feel confident and prepared, whatever stage they’re at.
Preparing for school – sometimes called school readiness – isn’t about knowing the alphabet or being able to count to ten. It’s about your child building the confidence, skills and habits that will help them to feel like they belong, make friends and get the most out of their learning opportunities. Find out more on the Best Start in Life website Preparing for school – Best Start in Life
 Juggling family life and raising children in a digital world can be challenging. Find out more about how to support healthy screen habits for children under 5.
Digital screens are a part of modern life, but finding the right balance between screen time and other activities for young children can be tricky. That’s why we’ve created this evidence‑informed guidance to support parents and carers in shaping healthy screen time habits for little brains. Find out more on the Best Start in Life website Baby and toddler screen time guidance – Best Start in Life
 Switched on to Privacy is a campaign from the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) to help parents and carers of 4 – 11 year olds talk to their children about online privacy.
Just as parents would talk with their children about road safety or speaking with strangers, online privacy is another life skill children need as they grow up. Small, regular conversations can help children understand what personal information is, how it’s used, and how to make safer choices online. Find out more here Switched on to privacy | ICO
 Getting a first mobile phone is an exciting milestone for young people and an important step towards independence. It can also feel overwhelming for parents and carers, as phones open up access to the online world as well as new responsibilities. Taking some time to set up the device properly and talk through expectations can help your young person build healthy, safe habits from the start.
This guidance is designed to support you in making confident decisions and putting practical measures in place to help keep your child safe while they enjoy the benefits of their first phone. Find out more here First-phone-checklist.pdf
 During puberty, your brain goes through a period of rapid growth and change. These shifts can sometimes feel confusing, but they also bring exciting new perspectives. This short pathway is a great starting point for teenagers who want to understand how their brain works, how it’s changing, and what that means for emotions, relationships and everyday life.
Follow short bitesize content with information about brain development, emotional health and relationships. It will help teenagers understand how the teenage brain changes in adolescence, how it affects sleep and social connections and how to take care of their mental wellbeing during this important stage of development.
Join the learning pathway for all preteens and teenagers: a journey of understanding emotional health, relationships, brain development and how to support your mental wellbeing.
Understanding your brain (for teenagers only!) – Togetherness
This course is free for any young people in Shropshire using the access code DARWIN18
 Puberty brings rapid changes to your brain, which can affect how you feel, think and behave. This pathway is a great place to start for teenagers who want to understand their emotional health, exploring why certain feelings arise, how to manage them and how to take care of themselves during this important stage of growing up.
Designed by our clinical child psychologists, psychotherapists and health practitioners, this pathway is practical, relatable and easy to follow. In bitesize stages, they’ll learn how the teenage brain differs from an adult’s, how emotions shift during puberty and how to express and process difficult feelings. The tools and techniques in this pathway are designed to help teenagers feel more confident and connected as they move toward adulthood.
Join our learning pathway for all preteens and teenagers: a journey of understanding emotional health, why you feel the way you do and how to manage these feelings.
This course is free for any young people in Shropshire using the access code DARWIN18
Understanding your feelings (for teenagers only!) – Togetherness
 Did you know that you are now able to borrow eBooks and eAudiobooks via our bigger and better BorrowBox service.
BorrowBox is the UK’s most popular platform for eBooks and eAudiobooks, with the widest range of content and the most intuitive interface available.
On your phone, on your iPad, on your home computer, BorrowBox means the doors to your local library never close, and you can borrow from Shropshire Libraries 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
The range of titles available on BorrowBox is extensive so we are sure you’ll find something fantastic to borrow!
The BorrowBox app incorporates a dedicated eBook reader and eAudiobook player and is available now from the App Store and Google Play. Install it on all your mobile devices for free.
Useful links
Here’s a handy guide to get you started: How to Get Started on the BorrowBox App
Jump straight in and discover BorrowBox now: Shropshire Libraries – BorrowBox
Don’t forget, you will need your library card number and PIN to access this service.
What do you think of our newsletter? Do you find the info in it useful? What would you like to see more, or less, of? Got any ideas to make it even better? Take our super short survey and let us know. Seriously, it’s only four questions long – FIS newsletter feedback form. Thank you!
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