Useful Links

General Family Support in Luxembourg

The Ministry of Family and Integration:
Division IV – Family, Children and Youth

Address: 12-14 avenue Emile Reuter, L-2420 Luxembourg
Web page: www.mfi.public.lu
Email: info@mfi.public.lu
Telephone: +352 247 865 00

 

Office National de l’Enfance (ONE)

Address: 67 rue Verte, L-2667 Luxembourg
Web page: www.one.public.lu
Email: one@one.etat.lu
Telephone: +352 247 73696

 

Service National de la Jeunesse (SNJ)
Unité Soutien au secteur jeunesse (Youth Support)

Address: 138, boulevard de la Petrusse, L-2330 Luxembourg
Web page: www.snj.lu
Email: info@snj.etat.lu
Telephone: +352 247 86465

 

The Ministry of Education

Address: 29 rue Aldringen, L-2926 Luxembourg
Web page: www.men.lu
Email: info@men.lu
Telephone: +352 247 851 00

Introduction to the Luxembourgish School System in English

 

Fondation Kannerschlass: Eltereschoul/École des parents

Eltereschoul/École des parents is a parent/family support organization divided into six educational institutes around Luxemburg. Offers consultation, family education and linking to other support organizations.
Address: 110 avenue Gaston Diderich (Eltereschoul Luxembourg-Ville)
Web page: www.kannerschlass.lu/eltereschoul
Email: eltereschoul-luxembourg@kannerschlass.lu
Telephone: +352 47 96 44 66

 


 

General Parenting

Family Lives: A UK-based website with lots of articles and information about subjects to do with building a healthy family environment for children and parents alike.

Empowering Parents: An American website full of interesting and useful articles about parenting. Highly recommended reading from preparing for the first day at school to kids leaving home and coming back with their dirty laundry.

Help Guides: An American website that has more than 200 articles, videos, and other resources based on the latest research, and updated regularly by a team of mental health professionals and writers. You can search topics of interest A-Z including information about family relationships, child development and additional educational needs.

The Mindsight Institute: The mission of The Mindsight Institute is to provide a scientifically grounded, integrated view of human development for mental health practitioners, educators and parents to promote the growth of vibrant lives and healthy minds. Dr. Siegel (founder) has written several books about this and collaboratively with Tina Bryson ‘The Whole Brain Child’ & ‘No Drama Discipline’.

Raising Boys: The Steve Biddulph community for Raising Boys brings together a collection of posts, articles and useful links for anyone wanting to connect and find out move about raising loving, connected and sensitive young men.

Raising Girls: The Steve Biddulph community for Raising Girls brings together a collection of posts, articles and useful links for anyone wanting to connect and find out move about raising loving, connected and strong young women.

NSPCC UK: The NSPCC offers parents information and advice about protecting their children from abuse online and in their day-to-day life including their ‘Underwear Rule’ for younger children.

 


 

Newborns & Babies (up to 18 months)

Pregnancy & Parenting

NCT: A helpful source of evidence based information and advice for parents.

NHS Choices: The website is a wealth of information for all things health and pregnancy related.

Baby Center: Offers a nice summary of your baby’s development week by week.

Mayo Clinic: Provides information and guidance on a healthy pregnancy and your baby’s development week by week.

Ask Dr Sears: The founder of the Attachment Parenting ethos shares both information and insights.

 

Antenatal and Postnatal Depression

NCT: Advice and information on parenting issues from conception to 2 years including ante and post natal depression.

NHS: The UK Health Service’s online patient information service including information on PND, symptoms and treatments.

Association for Postnatal Illness: UK based organisation offering support and helpline for those affected by postnatal illness.

Postpartum Support International: International organisation supporting those affected by postnatal illness or anxiety.

PANDAS: Friendly and approachable pre and postnatal depression advice and support for families.

PostpartumDepression.org: A US based community website that offers support, shared stories and comprehensive resources to those experiencing and affected by PPD. This accessible website aims to “encourage women and to educate families”.

 

Fertility

Infertility Network UK: The UK’s leading fertility charity offers information and support to anyone facing fertility issues. Services include a UK based Supportline staffed by trained nurses and a helpline through which you can get support from volunteers who have faced similar challenges.

Fertility Europe: The association of European organisations and associations involved in fertility. Also provides a space for families to share their special stories in English and/ or their mother tongue.

Assisted Conception Taskforce: Provides online support and advice for couples experiencing fertility issues and keeps a list of registered centres world wide.

 

Miscarriage and Loss of a Baby

The Miscarriage Association UK: Offering support and information to those affected by miscarriage.

SANDS: The stillbirth and neonatal death society supports anyone who has been affected by the death of a baby before, during or shortly after birth.

 

Sleep & Crying

Cry-sis: UK charity offering parents support to cope with excessive crying. Offers UK based phone helpline open 9am – 10pm daily.

NCT: UK parenting charity offering helpful information and research on babies sleep.

Lullaby Trust: Charity promoting safe sleep messages and supporting families bereaved due to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.

 

Feeding

Sage Femmes Liberales: Community Midwives in Luxembourg offering support and home visits to new parents.

Initiative Leuwensufank: Luxembourg parenting charity offering a helpline and email as well as counselling and breast feeding support.

La Leche League: Providing breast feeding support groups and advice via phone and email.

Well Baby Clinic: Also offers a range of groups to provide support to English speaking mums through pregnancy and the early months of motherhood.

 

Your Baby’s Development

The Social Baby: Information and products to support parents in understanding their baby’s earliest communications.

The Wonder Weeks: Website, book and App that helps parents understand their baby’s ‘mental leaps’.

Words for Life: The parents section of the National Literacy Trust UK’s website offers some helpful advice and resources.

 

Birth Defects and Disorders

Cerebral Palsy Symptoms: A comprehensive free resource with accurate and up-to-date information on the many aspects of cerebral palsy and other birth injury complications.

 


 

Toddlers & Young Children (18 months – 5 years)

Sleep & Crying

Cry-sis: UK charity offering parents support to cope with excessive crying. Offers UK based phone helpline open 9am – 10pm daily.

NCT: UK parenting charity offering a wealth of helpful information and research on babies sleep.

Lullaby Trust: Charity promoting safe sleep messages and supporting families bereaved due to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.

 

Introducing Solid Food

Australian Breastfeeding Association: Australia’s leading breastfeeding organisation, providing mothers with practical mother-to-mother support and information.

Baby Led Weaning: Provides information, blog and recipes for baby led weaning.

HiFiveBaby: An American blog from a registered nurse that has well-written, accurate & helpful information and advice regarding baby led weaning.

Department of Health (UK) booklet ‘Introducing Solid Foods’: Booklet guiding parents through introducing solid food, step by step.

Kelly Mom: Offers a wealth of knowledge and resources about breast feeding and introducing solids.

La Leche League: Providing breast feeding support groups and advice on introducing solid food to breast fed babies

Ligue Medico-Sociale: Luxembourg charity providing a wide range of health promotion services including feeding advice.

NCT: The UKs leading parenting charity offers evidence based information on feeding issues.

Well Baby Clinic: Also offer a range of groups to provide support to English-speaking mums through pregnancy and the early months of motherhood

Work & Pump: Website specifically devoted to tips for breastfeeding working mums

 

Antenatal and Postnatal Depression

NCT: Advice and information on parenting issues from conception to 2 years including ante and post natal depression.

NHS: The UK Health Service’s online patient information service including information on PND, symptoms and treatments.

Association for Postnatal Illness: UK based organisation offering support and helpline for those affected by postnatal illness.

Mind: UK based charity supporting those affected by mental health issues.

Postpartum Support International: International organisation supporting those affected by postnatal illness or anxiety.

PANDAS: Friendly and approachable pre and postnatal depression advice and support for families.

PostpartumDepression.org: A US based community website that offers support, shared stories and comprehensive resources to those experiencing and affected by PPD. This accessible website aims to “encourage women and to educate families”.

 

Relationships

One plus One: Resources and an on line training module to help couples adjust to the transition from partners to parents.

The Couple Connection: Information, insights and videos to help couples communicate.

Gingerbread: UK based charity providing advice, support and online forums for single parents.

 

Your Baby’s Development

Birth to Five Timeline: An online resource from NHS charting babies developmental milestones from birth to 5.

The Social Baby: Information and products to support parents in understanding their baby’s earliest communications.

The Wonder Weeks: Website, book and App that helps parents understand their baby’s ‘mental leaps’.

Words for Life: The parents section of the National Literacy Trust UK’s website offers some helpful advice and resources.

 

Playgroups and Mother & Toddler Groups

British Ladies Club (BLC)

American Women’s Club of Luxembourg (AWCL)

St. George’s International School Playgroup

There are also activities run by private organisations for these see listings in “Family Guide” or the “What’s on for Kids” website

Other publications that have useful listings include “Just Arrived” and “City Savvy Luxembourg”

 

Children’s Educational Activities Sites

The Crafty Crow – Crafts from around the world: Why not teach your child the history of Bretzelsonneg, or Pretzel Sunday, whilst making them together. This occurs on the 4th Sunday in Lent and on this day traditionally boys give the girl they like a pastry shaped as a pretzel. The larger the pretzel the more the boy likes the girl. If the girl feels the same way she will give the boy a decorated egg on Easter Sunday. On leap years the roles are reversed. This practice is celebrated in Luxembourg by singles and married couples.

Activity Village: is a parent run website full of activities closely related to the English primary curriculum for all the year round.

National Geographic Kids: site with animal and environmental conservation activities

Cbeebies: International site for pre–school activities lots of crafts and games.

Mr Maker: UK site helps young children learn about crafts, shapes and of course the infamous ‘minute maker’ great for small attention spans.

Kidsites: gives a listing of Children’s Activity (mainly American) sites on the Internet.

 

Children’s Indoor Play Areas (age appropriate) – in Luxembourg

Zig Zag

Indyland

YOYO

Children’s Indoor Play Areas: in Germany – Trier

Trampoline Trier 

Children’s Indoor Play Areas: in Belgium – Arlon

Atomic Kids

Children’s Indoor Play Areas: in France – Thionville

Badaboom

 

Language (Communication) Development

I Can: Children’s communication charity provides advice & resources for parents and practitioners.

Talking point: Information and advice an online ‘progress checker’ for parents to support their child’s communictation from birth – 18.

Words for Life: The parents section of the National Literacy Trust UK’s website offers some helpful advice and resources.

Sing and Sign: Baby Sign Language website that introduces method of learning and teaching Baby Sign Language to baby’s and toddlers to improve communication before and in the early stages of speech development.

Raising Bilingual Children: This website is for parents seeking information related to questions about raising children in a bilingual environment. Multilingual Education is a challenging task requiring much creativity, continuity and dedication for those parents raising children in such an environment.

 


 

Children (5 – 10 years)

Children’s Educational Activities Sites

The Crafty Crow – crafts from around the world: Why not teach your child the history of Bretzelsonneg, or Pretzel Sunday, whilst making them together. This occurs on the 4th Sunday in Lent and on this day traditionally boys give the girl they like a pastry shaped as a pretzel. The larger the pretzel the more the boy likes the girl. If the girl feels the same way she will give the boy a decorated egg on Easter Sunday. On leap years the roles are reversed. This practice is celebrated in Luxembourg by singles and married couples.

Activity Village: is a parent run website full of activities closely related to the English primary curriculum for all the year round.

National Geographic Kids: site with animal and environmental conservation activities

Mr Maker: UK site helps young children learn about crafts, shapes and of course the infamous ‘minute maker’ great for small attention spans.

Kidsites: gives a listing of Children’s Activity (mainly American) sites on the Internet.

 

Language (Communication) Development

Raising Bilingual Children: This website is for parents seeking information related to questions about raising children in a bilingual environment. Multilingual Education is a challenging task requiring much creativity, continuity and dedication for those parents raising children in such an environment.

 


 

Adolescents & Teenagers (10 – 18 years)

Improving Communication in the Family

How to Talk to Teens – An Empowering Parents online article by Megan Devine that gives 3 ways to improve communication with your teenager.

7 Tips for Better Family Communication – An interesting article by Stephanie Tallman Smith about ways of improving communication in your family as children grow and family dynamics change.

Rules of Good CommunicationAn article from the Family Lives website about better communication with teenagers in the family.

 

Education & Study Skills

Ministry of Education: Information on schooling for students with a foreign mother tongue in Luxembourg.

Guide to Homeschooling in Luxembourg: An international website (with country-specific pages) providing information, resources and support for homeschooling families and educators.

BBC Bitesize: follows the UK curriculum but also has lots of activities, ideas and revision around subjects of interest to school children in general.

 

Positive Motivation

Supporting Positive Motivation in Teenagers: An online blog by psychologist Rick Hanson Ph.d., who writes about “the essential inner skills of personal well-being, psychological growth, and contemplative practice – as well as about relationships, family life, and raising children”. The article highlighted here has realistic working ideas that parents can adapt to help nurture their own children’s commitment to a positive life path.

7 Easy Ways To Motivate Someone With Asperger’s: This is a specialist book (available as a physical or eBook format) produced by Asperger Experts. It contains powerful, yet accessible techniques grounded in psychology and personal experience, that aims to motivate and influence without resorting to arguing, manipulation or stress. An invaluable (after-sales) online help and support service from Asperger Experts is an added bonus that comes with the purchase of this book.

 

Internet Safety

Digizen (UK): This UK Digizen website provides information for educators, parents, carers, and young people. It is used to strengthen their awareness and understanding of what digital citizenship is and encourages users of technology to be and become responsible DIGItal citiZENS. It shares specific advice and resources on issues such as social networking and cyberbullying and how these relate to and affect their own and other people’s online experiences and behaviours.

Cybersmile: is a UK based charity that raises awareness of cyberbullying or mobbing and helps the people who have been affected by it. They also highlight the pros and cons of digital social networking.

Bullying UK: This is an interactive site for young people and adults, that focuses on all types of bullying.

Common Sense Media: The leading independent nonprofit organization dedicated to helping families make smart media choices, by providing unbiased information, trusted advice, and innovative tools. Their Parent Concerns and Parent Blog sections are crammed with articles and practical advice to aid families in understanding and navigating the pitfalls and possibilities of raising children in the digital age.

 

Sex & Relationships

Childline UK: YouTube channel has various videos aimed at young people about issues to do with keeping themselves safe, coping with puberty, sex and relationships.

Scarleteen Sex Education for the Real World: This is a comprehensive sex & relationship education site for teenagers. You may want to visit this site before suggesting it to your child if only to help you understand the complexity of this issue for young people today. It will also serve as a useful place to go to share discussion one to one.

 

Drugs & Alcohol

Talk to Frank: is a UK based comprehensive website for young people and adults about Drugs & Alcohol. It gives information and advice about drugs, their use, the risks and the effects. We recommend that parents visit this site to increase knowledge about drug use, drug names (including slang names) and popular drugs used by young people.

 

DrugRehabCom: A US website designed to equip patients and families with the best information, resources and tools to overcome addiction and to pursue lifelong recovery. Their Substance Abuse Guide for Parents is particularly useful as it focuses on teens and addiction. There are practical sections on prevention, risk factors, symptoms checks, and tips for constructive conversations.

 


 

Last updated:  Friday 28th September, 2018