UK parents like UW advice

British parents are getting child-rearing advice that originates with UW-Extension and the School of Human Ecology – and liking it.

An Anglo-American project translated the “Parenting the First Year” newsletter into British English and distributes it to new “mums” across the pond.

The instructional parenting newsletter was authored by SoHE and Extension child development specialist Dave Riley, SoHE alum Dori Schatell and UW-Extension nutrition specialist Susan Nitzke.

The “English” translation changes diapers to nappies, strollers to prams, and alters the actual content to fit the British social context better. “The British evaluation report is fun to read,” says Riley. “The mothers say that our newsletter is “Dead lovely’ and “Bang on!'”

Riley collaborated with British pediatrician Tony Waterston to create the British version. In April, Riley and Waterston will present the results of their impact evaluations at the Royal Academy of Pediatrics meeting in York, and the International Conference on Parenting in London.

Meanwhile at home, the guide is used in 15 U.S. states and is available in Spanish. More than half of all Wisconsin families with newborns receive the newsletter. There are 80 distribution networks organized by UW-Extension’s county-based Family Living Educators.

The monthly series offers child-rearing advice in an age-paced format, so parents of a 5-month-old baby get information about 5-month-olds and what parents can look for and do.

For information about “Parenting the First Year,” visit: http://www.uwex.edu/ces/flp/parenting/index.html. “Parenting the First Year” is available through UW-Extension Publications. Visit: http://www1.uwex.edu/ces/pubs/index.cfm.