Age 5-12

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One minute it's their first day at school, next they seem nearly grown-up. It can be a struggle to keep up with what's going on for your child from now on.

Maybe they've started getting into trouble at school or are getting bullied. Maybe it's just nits. Or maybe there's a serious problem, like a learning difficulty.

We hope you'll find the information you're looking for here, if not get in touch. And if there are  any organisations or websites that have helped you, please let us know.

We've also put together Ten Top Tips on Starting Primary School and Starting High School for parents and families.

 

Local Authorities in Scotland

Link to every local authority website in Scotland on Directgov website. Useful for finding information about local services, childcare and education.

Mumsnet: by parents for parents

Wide range of advice and information for parents and families.

One Space

Parenting website for single parents. It provides information for lone parents on issues including, bullying, parenting teenagers, life after separation.

Understanding Childhood

Website providing downloadable information leaflets for families to help raise emotionally secure children.

BBC Parenting

A good general source of parenting information.

CHILDREN 1st

Working to give every child in Scotland a safe and secure childhood for 125 years.

Parentline Scotland

ParentLine Scotland is the free, confidential, telephone helpline for anyone caring for a child in Scotland.

Kids Behaviour

Advice, help and support to parents and families who would like information on dealing with their child's behaviour.

Web4Health: Psychology Free Online

Answers to more than 900 questions about psychology, mental health and relationships.

Alcohol - what every parent should know

Information and advice for parents about young people and alcohol.

Alcohol and young people

Information about the legal aspects of alcohol use.

BBC Bare Facts

Provides information to parents about talking to their children about sex, love and relationships.

BBC Parenting

A good general source of parenting information.

Beat Bullying

Provides children, young people and their parents with a range of information about being bullied.

BEAT: Beating Eating Disorders

Information, advice and support on all aspects of eating disorders. Includes telephone helpline service.

Bedwetting: factsheet for kids

Clearly written and helpful advice for children and their families.

Bullying

Advice about what to do for children who are being bullied.

Bullying Helpline

Freephone bullying helpline from ChildLine for children and young people who are experiencing bullying.

Bullying UK

Advice to parents, children and young people about bullying.

Bullying: why it matters

Explains what bullying is and why some children bully.

ChildLine

Free confidential helpline for children in distress or danger.

Children's experience of primary school

Helps parents and carers think about the new experiences and challenges children face when they go to school.

Circle: supporting families in Scotland

Supports children at risk of school exclusion, neglect and abuse and provides family support services.

Cruse Bereavement Care Scotland

Free confidential bereavement counselling service to people of all ages.

Disabled Parents Network

National support organisation with a telephone helpline service.

Down's Syndrome Scotland

Provides support, advice and information to people with Down's syndrome, and advice to parents, carers and professionals.

Drugs - what every parent should know

Information for parents about drugs and how they are used.

Drugs and Alcohol: Just Say No - a guide for fathers

Information and advice for dads about talking about drugs and alcohol with their children.

Enable Scotland

Offers a range of services for children and adults with learning difficulties and support for families.

ERIC: Education Resources for Improving Child Continence

Resource for wetting and soiling and other continence problems. Telephone helpline service is provided.

Hands On Scotland

A one stop shop for web based practical information and advice on how to respond to a raft of difficulties experienced by children and young people.

Parentline Scotland

ParentLine Scotland is the free, confidential, telephone helpline for anyone caring for a child in Scotland.

Guide to choosing a childminder

Information on what a childminder can do for you and your family and some issues you may want to consider.

Local Authorities in Scotland

Link to every local authority website in Scotland on Directgov website. Useful for finding information about local services, childcare and education.

Paying for Childcare

Website where you can find out about the financial support you may be able to receive to help with the costs of childcare.

Scottish Childcare

Free, impartial information on childcare and pre-school education services throughout Scotland.

Scottish Childminding Association

Information to parents and carers about choosing childminding as a childcare option. They provide a telephone helpline.

Summer Fun 4 Kids

Directory of summer camps and courses.

Childcare for lone parents in Scotland

Information and advice about finding childcare for lone parents.

Childcare Support for Disabled Children (Capability Scotland)

Capability Scotland provides information about advice for parents who wish to access childcare.

Childcare vouchers

Money-saving government scheme for working parents who pay for childcare.

Daycare Trust

National charity campaigning for quality, affordable, accessible childcare for all. Has a helpline for parents.

Action for Sick Children (Scotland)

Safeguards the interests of all sick children, young people and their families.

Alcohol - what every parent should know

Information and advice for parents about young people and alcohol.

Alcohol and young people

Information about the legal aspects of alcohol use.

BBC Bare Facts

Provides information to parents about talking to their children about sex, love and relationships.

BBC Parenting

A good general source of parenting information.

Be safe online

Find out about online bullying, chat rooms and file sharing.

Beat Bullying

Provides children, young people and their parents with a range of information about being bullied.

BEAT: Beating Eating Disorders

Information, advice and support on all aspects of eating disorders. Includes telephone helpline service.

Bullying

Advice about what to do for children who are being bullied.

Bullying Helpline

Freephone bullying helpline from ChildLine for children and young people who are experiencing bullying.

Bullying UK

Advice to parents, children and young people about bullying.

Bullying: why it matters

Explains what bullying is and why some children bully.

Chat Safer

Information about keeping children and young people safe on the internet.

Child Accident and Prevention Trust

Independent advice and information on child safety for parents and carers.

ChildLine

Free confidential helpline for children in distress or danger.

Children's experience of primary school

Helps parents and carers think about the new experiences and challenges children face when they go to school.

Circle: supporting families in Scotland

Supports children at risk of school exclusion, neglect and abuse and provides family support services.

Drugs - what every parent should know

Information for parents about drugs and how they are used.

Drugs and Alcohol: Just Say No - a guide for fathers

Information and advice for dads about talking about drugs and alcohol with their children.

Enable Scotland

Offers a range of services for children and adults with learning difficulties and support for families.

Hands On Scotland

A one stop shop for web based practical information and advice on how to respond to a raft of difficulties experienced by children and young people.

Internet Safety Zone

The site has a specific parents section that includes information about cyberbullying, pornography and online grooming.

Kidscape

Charity set up to prevent bullying. Offers a telephone helpline service to parents also tips and information through the website.

Kidsmart

Providing information to parents about keeping children safe and being being 'smart' on the internet.

Re-Solv Scotland

Charity dedicated to the prevention of solvent abuse. Provides information for children, young people and parents about solvent abuse and volatile substance abuse. Have a telephone helpline.

Think U Know: Keeping children safe online

From social networking to online gaming this website has lots of useful tips covering all online activities.

Equity in Education

Offers informal support, advice and advocacy to parents of children with additional support needs in Scotland.

Special Needs Information Point

Advice and information for parents and families looking for help with their child's additional support needs. Telephone helpline service.

Capability Scotland

Works with disabled people of all ages and their families and carers. Run a telephone advice service.

Childcare Support for Disabled Children (Capability Scotland)

Capability Scotland provides information about advice for parents who wish to access childcare.

Contact a Family

Information, advice and support to parents and carers of children with any special need or disability. Has a telephone helpline.

Disabled Parents Network

National support organisation with a telephone helpline service.

Down's Syndrome Scotland

Provides support, advice and information to people with Down's syndrome, and advice to parents, carers and professionals.

Enable Scotland

Offers a range of services for children and adults with learning difficulties and support for families.

Enquire: the Scottish Advice Service for Additional Support for Learning

Independent advice and information to families of children who need extra help at school. Telephone helpline service is provided.

ERIC: Education Resources for Improving Child Continence

Resource for wetting and soiling and other continence problems. Telephone helpline service is provided.

Grapevine Disability Information Service

Provides free, confidential information, including a helpline, to disabled people and their families.

Equity in Education

Offers informal support, advice and advocacy to parents of children with additional support needs in Scotland.

Excluded from school

Information about the rights of a child if they have been excluded from school in Scotland.

Get the Right School

Information and advice for parents who wish to apply for a school outside of their local area.

Guidance on home education

Government guidance aiming to establish good practice between education authorities and parents who are educating their children at home.

I CAN: helps children communicate

Support and information about children's speech and language development. Has a helpline for parents.

Local Authorities in Scotland

Link to every local authority website in Scotland on Directgov website. Useful for finding information about local services, childcare and education.

Parents as Partners in Learning

Information for parents about learning at home, developing partnerships with school and an introduction to parent councils.

Parentzone

Website for parents includes information on education in Scotland and advice on supporting children's learning.

Primary Times

Magazine and website for parents, pupils and staff of primary schools across the UK.

Starting high school

Parenting across Scotland has 'Ten Top Tips' on helping them the move to high school easier.

Starting primary school

Parenting across Scotland has 'Ten Top Tips' on making starting school easier.

Summer Fun 4 Kids

Directory of summer camps and courses.

BBC Parenting

A good general source of parenting information.

Childcare Support for Disabled Children (Capability Scotland)

Capability Scotland provides information about advice for parents who wish to access childcare.

Children's experience of primary school

Helps parents and carers think about the new experiences and challenges children face when they go to school.

Choosing a School - A Guide for Parents

Information for parents in Scotland about choosing a local council school. Gives a general explanation of the law relating to placing requests.

Contact a Family

Information, advice and support to parents and carers of children with any special need or disability. Has a telephone helpline.

Education choices from 5 to 16

Comprehensive information about parent's rights in relation to education.

Education Law Unit

Can provide legal representation for pupils and parents. Information and advice about all aspects of education law. Telephone helpline service available.

Enquire: the Scottish Advice Service for Additional Support for Learning

Independent advice and information to families of children who need extra help at school. Telephone helpline service is provided.

Scared of School

Website for kids, by kids, containing information and support on the issue of being afraid to go to school due to bullying or other reasons.

Scottish Book Trust Bookbug programme

The programme gives the gift of free books to all Scottish children.

BBC Parenting

A good general source of parenting information.

Childcare for lone parents in Scotland

Information and advice about finding childcare for lone parents.

Circle: supporting families in Scotland

Supports children at risk of school exclusion, neglect and abuse and provides family support services.

Disabled Parents Network

National support organisation with a telephone helpline service.

Web4Health: Psychology Free Online

Answers to more than 900 questions about psychology, mental health and relationships.

Action for Sick Children (Scotland)

Safeguards the interests of all sick children, young people and their families.

Alcohol - what every parent should know

Information and advice for parents about young people and alcohol.

Alcohol and young people

Information about the legal aspects of alcohol use.

Allergy UK

Charity providing information on allergy, food intolerance and chemical sensitivity. Telephone helpline available.

BBC Bare Facts

Provides information to parents about talking to their children about sex, love and relationships.

BBC Parenting

A good general source of parenting information.

Be safe online

Find out about online bullying, chat rooms and file sharing.

Beat Bullying

Provides children, young people and their parents with a range of information about being bullied.

BEAT: Beating Eating Disorders

Information, advice and support on all aspects of eating disorders. Includes telephone helpline service.

Bedwetting: factsheet for kids

Clearly written and helpful advice for children and their families.

Bullying

Advice about what to do for children who are being bullied.

Bullying Helpline

Freephone bullying helpline from ChildLine for children and young people who are experiencing bullying.

Bullying UK

Advice to parents, children and young people about bullying.

Bullying: why it matters

Explains what bullying is and why some children bully.

Capability Scotland

Works with disabled people of all ages and their families and carers. Run a telephone advice service.

Chat Safer

Information about keeping children and young people safe on the internet.

Child Accident and Prevention Trust

Independent advice and information on child safety for parents and carers.

Childcare Support for Disabled Children (Capability Scotland)

Capability Scotland provides information about advice for parents who wish to access childcare.

ChildLine

Free confidential helpline for children in distress or danger.

Children's experience of primary school

Helps parents and carers think about the new experiences and challenges children face when they go to school.

Circle: supporting families in Scotland

Supports children at risk of school exclusion, neglect and abuse and provides family support services.

Cruse Bereavement Care Scotland

Free confidential bereavement counselling service to people of all ages.

Disabled Parents Network

National support organisation with a telephone helpline service.

Down's Syndrome Scotland

Provides support, advice and information to people with Down's syndrome, and advice to parents, carers and professionals.

Drugs - what every parent should know

Information for parents about drugs and how they are used.

Drugs and Alcohol: Just Say No - a guide for fathers

Information and advice for dads about talking about drugs and alcohol with their children.

Enable Scotland

Offers a range of services for children and adults with learning difficulties and support for families.

ERIC: Education Resources for Improving Child Continence

Resource for wetting and soiling and other continence problems. Telephone helpline service is provided.

Grapevine Disability Information Service

Provides free, confidential information, including a helpline, to disabled people and their families.

Hands On Scotland

A one stop shop for web based practical information and advice on how to respond to a raft of difficulties experienced by children and young people.

Internet Safety Zone

The site has a specific parents section that includes information about cyberbullying, pornography and online grooming.

Kidscape

Charity set up to prevent bullying. Offers a telephone helpline service to parents also tips and information through the website.

Kidsmart

Providing information to parents about keeping children safe and being being 'smart' on the internet.

Parentline Scotland

ParentLine Scotland is the free, confidential, telephone helpline for anyone caring for a child in Scotland.

Re-Solv Scotland

Charity dedicated to the prevention of solvent abuse. Provides information for children, young people and parents about solvent abuse and volatile substance abuse. Have a telephone helpline.

Scared of School

Website for kids, by kids, containing information and support on the issue of being afraid to go to school due to bullying or other reasons.

Think U Know: Keeping children safe online

From social networking to online gaming this website has lots of useful tips covering all online activities.

Excluded from school

Information about the rights of a child if they have been excluded from school in Scotland.

Scottish Child Law Centre

Legal advice for and about children and young people. Providing a telephone helpline, email and text service for under 18s.

Scottish Children's Reporter Administration

The centre of the Children’s Hearings System. Their website provides information for parents and carers whose children have been asked to attend a hearing.

Young people's rights

Information on the rights of children and young people in Scotland.

Action for Sick Children (Scotland)

Safeguards the interests of all sick children, young people and their families.

Alcohol and young people

Information about the legal aspects of alcohol use.

ChildLine

Free confidential helpline for children in distress or danger.

Choosing a School - A Guide for Parents

Information for parents in Scotland about choosing a local council school. Gives a general explanation of the law relating to placing requests.

Citizens Advice Scotland

Network of advice centres (CABs) all over the country.

Contact a Family

Information, advice and support to parents and carers of children with any special need or disability. Has a telephone helpline.

Down's Syndrome Scotland

Provides support, advice and information to people with Down's syndrome, and advice to parents, carers and professionals.

Education choices from 5 to 16

Comprehensive information about parent's rights in relation to education.

Education Law Unit

Can provide legal representation for pupils and parents. Information and advice about all aspects of education law. Telephone helpline service available.

Enquire: the Scottish Advice Service for Additional Support for Learning

Independent advice and information to families of children who need extra help at school. Telephone helpline service is provided.

Paying for Childcare

Website where you can find out about the financial support you may be able to receive to help with the costs of childcare.

BBC Parenting

A good general source of parenting information.

Benefits information for children and families

Details of benefits for expecting a baby, bringing up children, tax credits, bringing up children with special needs, and more.

Childcare for lone parents in Scotland

Information and advice about finding childcare for lone parents.

Childcare vouchers

Money-saving government scheme for working parents who pay for childcare.

Citizens Advice Scotland

Network of advice centres (CABs) all over the country.

Daycare Trust

National charity campaigning for quality, affordable, accessible childcare for all. Has a helpline for parents.

It's not your fault

Practical info for children, young people and parents going through a family break-up.

Sibling rivalry

Information that helps parents understand how siblings react to a new child in the family and their own feelings about coping with the demanding tasks ahead.

Web4Health: Psychology Free Online

Answers to more than 900 questions about psychology, mental health and relationships.

BBC Bare Facts

Provides information to parents about talking to their children about sex, love and relationships.

BBC Parenting

A good general source of parenting information.

ChildLine

Free confidential helpline for children in distress or danger.

Hands On Scotland

A one stop shop for web based practical information and advice on how to respond to a raft of difficulties experienced by children and young people.

Parentline Scotland

ParentLine Scotland is the free, confidential, telephone helpline for anyone caring for a child in Scotland.