A NEW monthly parenting course that supports and encourages young mums and dads to communicate and build relationships with their children through play, art and craft activities has been launched in Worcestershire.

Young parents who help lead the Malvern Munchkins group, which has been running for the last 12 years, have formed a new positive parenting course after a funding bid to the Local Network Fund was successful.

The positive parenting courses are run by the Borrowers Toy Library, a toy and play resource lending service.

Sue Rogers, from the Borrowers Library, said: "The young parents decide among themselves what activities they want to do each month, and so far, we have played with clay and made little bags to hold materials and carry resources.

"The aim of the group is to get the young parents to take time out to play and communicate with their child and learn new skills at the same time."

"The course also looks at disciplining children, team working, and contains informal and formal learning activities.

"It gives young parents parenting support and promotes positive play between parent and child, which builds the child's development skills and has a positive impact on both the mother and child's behaviour."

After six months, everyone attending the course is given free membership to the Borrowers Toy Library to borrow resources and encourage play at home.

Becky Dwight, Worcestershire Teenage Pregnancy and Parenting manager, said: "It's an important part of the partnership's strategy to work with young parents and get them to return to education, training or employment.

"The Malvern Munchkins is a fantastic resource and the positive parenting course is excellent. The partnership fully supports this project and the work it does to encourage young parents to learn new skills.

"I hope that many more young parents will take the opportunity to join the programme and learn the valuable skills that this group offers."

For more information on Malvern Munchkins please contact Su Dryden on 01684 575 363, or for information on joining the Borrowers Library, contact Sue Rogers on 01684 891 081.