Healthy relationships: Building stronger families
Good relationships are the foundation of happy families and strong communities. However, even the best relationships face challenges, especially during stressful times.
- Programmes like Reducing Parental Conflict offer families tools to handle tough times and come out stronger together.
- Healthy relationships rely on key elements: communication, respect, and resilience.
- Stress from financial worries, parenting challenges, or external pressures can strain relationships. Understanding and support can help overcome these difficulties.
Parental conflict is common. In fact, one in 8 children in couple-parent families live with a parent experiencing relationship distress. Frequent, intense, and unresolved conflict can negatively affect a child’s long-term health and development.
Becoming a new parent is a rewarding experience, but it also brings big changes. Adjusting to new responsibilities can create stress, which may affect relationships and family dynamics.
At Family Hubs, we’re here to help families get support early. By identifying challenges early on, we aim to strengthen bonds and create healthier, happier homes for everyone.
Approaching conflict positively
How we handle conflict as adults sets an example for children, teaching them valuable life skills.
- The Reducing Parental Conflict program emphasizes behaviour during disagreements, not the relationship status.
- Staying calm and respectful during conflicts helps children learn healthy ways to navigate future interactions.
Find out more in the reducing parental conflict video:
Parental conflict and its impact on children
Conflict is a normal part of family life, but how it’s handled matters. When conflict is frequent, intense, or unresolved, the impact on a child could be:
- Mental health challenges (low self-esteem, anxiety, depression)
- Poor academic and physical health
- Difficulty forming relationships
- Increased risk of substance misuse
- Long-term impact on father-child relationships
What is damaging conflict?
- Ongoing arguing with no resolution
- Silent treatment or emotional distance
- Disrespect or hostility
- Shouting and aggression
Who can experience parental conflict
Parental conflict can happen in any family structure, including:
- Married or unmarried parents
- Separated or divorced parents
- Biological, step, foster, or adoptive parents
- Same-sex couples and other caregiving relationships
Common causes of parental conflict
- Different parenting styles
- Financial pressures
- Relationship breakdown
- Health or housing issues
- Substance misuse
- Cultural differences
- Infidelity or past trauma
Understanding and addressing conflict in healthy ways can protect children and strengthen families.
Relationship support from experts and the community
Click is a unique online service providing early intervention relationship support. Individuals, couples, families, and professionals can use Click to access helpful, evidence-based support from a secure, mobile-friendly space.
Find more information about Click and access services here.
Separating better
Digital support for separating parents
Separating better is a free mobile app, which can help guide you through the separation process, find effective ways of co-parenting, and sort out disagreements, all with the wellbeing of your child in mind.
- Emotional support: Interactive Work it out videos using Behaviour Modelling Training to help you communicate better.
- Practical tools: Parenting plan and budget planner to help you co-parent in a positive and effective way, managing the financial and practical aspects of separation.
- Advice and guidance: Information and support on a range of co-parenting issues, including navigating the first steps, sorting out finances and living arrangements, and how to talk to your children about separation.
To download the app visit Separating better