Teenagers

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Even if you feel close to your teenage son or daughter, keeping on the ball is not easy. Sex, relationships, drugs, alcohol, stress, gangs, school, exams, bullying, whatever - things can get out of hand. Thankfully, there is a lot of information and support out there.

Find useful parent resources on a range of topics such as teenagers and sex, troubled teenagers, drug abuse, exam stress, bullying and internet safety. 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 tips on Parenting teenagers and Sex, relationships and teenagers.

Useful resources for parents of teenagers

Free parenting classes and courses

Some councils and health boards in Scotland offer free parenting classes - find out if there are classes running near you.

Got a teenager (Family Lives)

Website giving advice for parents of teenagers and anyone with a teenager in their life. Offers parent-to-parent support, informal advice, useful information and a community of other parents.

Mumsnet: by parents for parents

Offers advice and information for parents and families - anything from pregnancy to starting school to troubled teens. The website has parents' chatrooms.

Netmums

A family of local websites covering the UK. Each site offers information on everything from where to find playgroups and how to eat healthily to where to meet other mothers, and has a range of parenting advice from pregnancy to teens.

One Parent Families Scotland

Provides information to lone parents and others working with them, develops parents' confidence and employability, and provides flexible childcare. A telephone helpline service is provided.

Parent Channel TV

Short videos on parenting 5 to 19 year olds, delivered by professionals and parents. Offers advice and information about a range of issues including bullying, health and relationships.

Parenting teenagers: top ten tips (Parenting across Scotland)

Tips to help make the teenage years easier.

Parentline Scotland

Free, confidential, parent support helpline for anyone caring for a child in Scotland. You can call about any problem, however big or small.

Teenage years (Parent Channel TV)

Video about the changes going on for a teenager, and looking at some flexible, non-judgemental ways to understand them and help them cope with the ups and downs of being a teenager.

Understanding Childhood

Website where you can download leaflets covering many aspects of children's emotional development from birth to adulthood, and family relationships.

Alcohol advice for parents (Drink smarter)

How you can influence your child's drinking. Includes a downloadable guide (PDF) 'You, your child and alcohol'.

BEAT: beating eating disorders

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

Beatbullying

Works directly with children and young people who are being bullied, or who bully. Particularly concerned with children bullied at school, and provides bullying support and advice.

Bedwetting: factsheet for kids (KidsHealth)

Clearly written and helpful advice for children and their families about children's bed wetting.

Behaviour (Parent Channel TV)

A selection of videos about children and teenagers' behaviour.

Bullying (Young Minds)

Information and where to get help if you're worried that your child being bullied, or that your child is a bully.

Communicating with teenagers (Dad Talk)

Advice for fathers on communicating with their teenage son or daughter in a positive way, including listening and keeping communication going.

Drugs - what every parent should know (NHS Health Scotland)

Booklet for parents about drugs. Includes talking and listening, facts about drugs, why young people become involved in drugs, what happens to young people who take drugs, and the law.

Drugs and alcohol: just say no (Fatherhood Institute)

Pamphlet for dads to help them communicate effectively with their children on the topics of drugs and alcohol.

Encouraging better behaviour: a practical guide to positive parenting (NSPCC)

Helpful advice and information for parents and carers about their childrens behaviour and how to encourage better behaviour in children of all ages using various methods including positive parenting.

ERIC: education resources for improving child continence

Provides information, support and resources to families on wetting, soiling and other continence problems in children. Has a telephone helpline.

Gambling laws concerning children (Law & Parents)

Gambling among children and young people is a growing concern. This page gives some advice as well as legal information about children gambling.

Got a teenager (Family Lives)

Website giving advice for parents of teenagers and anyone with a teenager in their life. Offers parent-to-parent support, informal advice, useful information and a community of other parents.

Hands On Scotland

Toolkit designed to encourage emotional wellbeing in children and young people. There are two main sections: one section on helping children flourish and another on troubling behaviours.

Harmless: self harm support and information

Harmless provides a range of services about self harm including support, information, training and consultancy.

Hormone hijack 14-19 (Parent Channel TV)

A video about how to support the natural process of change as your teen enters adulthood – being ready for mood swings, changing attitudes, and the emergence of sexual and emotional maturity.

Keeping your cool: advice for parents on managing stress and anger (NSPCC)

Helpful advice and information for parents and carers about how to manage stress and stay calm in challenging situations with children.

Kids behaving badly (Parent Channel TV)

A video about what types of teenage behaviour are normal and what you need to watch out for, and how can you make sure you’re in control of the situation.

Mindroom

One-to-one support for families of children and adults with learning difficulties.

No Knives Better Lives: advice for parents

Practical advice for parents and carers on what they can do to reduce the likelihood of a child carrying a knife.

Parentline Scotland

Free, confidential, parent support helpline for anyone caring for a child in Scotland. You can call about any problem, however big or small.

Re-Solv Scotland

Provides information for children, young people and parents about solvent abuse and volatile substance abuse. Has a telephone helpline.

Scottish Autism

Scottish autism provides help and support to families living with autism. They have a dedicated telephone helpline staffed by professionals.

Sleep Scotland

Support to families of children and young people with additional support needs and severe sleep problems. Telephone helpline available.

Supporting teenagers (Understanding Childhood)

Advice for parents of teenagers - helping them think about the difficulties and changes children may experience in the early and middle teens.

Talk to Frank

Information and advice on drug use for teenagers and family members. Telephone helpline, an online forum and a web enquiry service.

Tips on talking to teenagers (Netmums)

Helpful advice about talking to your teenager.

Web4Health: psychology free online

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

Young Minds

Information and support on bullying, depression, exams, divorce and separation and more. They have a parent's helpline for anyone worried about their child's emotional problems or behaviour.

Youth in Mind

Search for websites, books, services and helplines if you are concerned about your child's mental well-being or behaviour. Online assessment also available.

Anti-bullying information for parents (RespectMe)

Answers questions parents might have about bullying, gives ideas on supporting their child, and signposts to bullying advice and support agencies.

Beatbullying

Works directly with children and young people who are being bullied, or who bully. Particularly concerned with children bullied at school, and provides bullying support and advice.

Bullying (Young Minds)

Information and where to get help if you're worried that your child being bullied, or that your child is a bully.

Bullying information (Childline)

Bullying advice and support for children, including child bullied at school and cyber bullying.

Bullying UK

Website offering bullying advice to parents, children and young people.

ChildLine

Free confidential helpline giving support for children in distress or danger.

Gangs (Parentchannel.tv)

Some former gang members talk about their reasons for joining and leaving gangs, and some experts explain how you can help keep your teen safe from gang culture.

Kidscape

Offers bullying advice to parents through its telephone helpline service, also tips and information through the website.

Leaving children at home alone (NSPCC)

Helpful advice and information for parents and carers about leaving your child at home alone, choosing a babysitter and guidance for keeping your child safe.

No Knives Better Lives: advice for parents

Practical advice for parents and carers on what they can do to reduce the likelihood of a child carrying a knife.

Out alone: your guide to keeping your child safe (NSPCC)

Advice and practical tips to parents on how to prepare children for being out on their own.

RespectMe YouTube channel

Videos about child bullying from Scotland's anti-bullying services. Includes advice for parents and carers about how to support a young person who has been bullied.

Safety advice (Child Accident and Prevention Trust)

Expert safety advice to parents to help you understand the risks, and give your children a safe environment to grow up in. Phoneline for safety advice and information.

Scared of School

Website for kids by kids, containing information and support on the issue of being afraid to go to school because of 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.

UK safer internet centre

Internet safety website, teaching you how to use MSN, social networking sites and Google safely, and about parental controls for mobiles, laptops and games consoles.

Capability Scotland

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

Cerebra

Cerebra’s website has a wide range of information for parents of a child with a brain injury or brain related condition. They also have a helpline.

Child Brain Injury Trust

Provides information, support and training to anyone affected by childhood acquired brain injury.

Contact a Family

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

Cystic Fibrosis Trust

Support, advice and information for families of children and babies with cystic fibrosis through helplines and publications and online services.

Down's Syndrome Scotland

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

Easyhealth

This website brings together easy read health information: over 500 easy read health leaflets on a wide range of subjects, plus videos.

Enable Scotland

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

Enquire: the Scottish advice service for additional support for learning

Independent advice and information to families of children who need extra learning support in schools. Telephone helpline service is provided.

Family days out (The rough guide to accessible Britain)

Accessible, family friendly places to go, including visitor centres, museums, adventure and wildlife parks.

Grapevine Disability Information Service

Confidential advice and information for disabled people and their families in Edinburgh, East Lothian and Midlothian. Telephone and text phone helpline available.

Kindred Scotland

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

Making contact

Online space for parents of a disabled child to share experiences and get support from each other.

Mindroom

One-to-one support for families of children and adults with learning difficulties.

Moving on to adult life

A resource pack for young people with disabilities and their families about making decisions on planning a good adult life for themselves and their families.

National Blind Children's Society

A comprehensive 'one-stop-shop' service for parents and carers of visually impaired children, including a helpline.

National Deaf Children's Society (NCDS)

NCDS offers support, advice and information for families of deaf children, including a helpline, family officers, local groups, benefits and education appeals advisers.

NetBuddy

Free online special needs support, Netbuddy is a place to share practical tips and solutions for supporting people with learning disabilities and autism.

Preparing for adult life - disabled young people (Contact a Family)

Downloadable booklet (PDF) from Contact a Family about transition planning and services for young adults (16+) with a disability.

Scottish Autism

Scottish autism provides help and support to families living with autism. They have a dedicated telephone helpline staffed by professionals.

Scottish Spina Bifida Association

Information, helpline, family support and local support groups for parents and carers of a baby with spina bifida and spina bifida children.

Sibs: for brothers and sisters of disabled children and adults

Website for siblings of a brother or sister with any disability, long term chronic illness, or life limiting condition. There is a section for parents.

Sleep Scotland

Support to families of children and young people with additional support needs and severe sleep problems. Telephone helpline available.

STEPS (clubfoot, hip dysplasia or any other lower limb condition)

STEPS offers confidential advice and support to people affected by hip dysplasia, clubfoot and other lower limb conditions.

Transition Information Network

A website for parents and carers of disabled young people as they start to become adults.

Tricky moments (Enable Scotland)

Tricky moments - a new booklet for parents who have a child with a learning disability. The booklet provides practical tips and strategies for managing challenging behaviour.

Update: disability information Scotland

Provides general disability information and contact details of appropriate local and specialist organisations.

Walks with wheelchairs

Website providing free information and maps for walks that are suitable for people who use a wheelchair.

British Stammering Association Secondary School Education Resource for Parents

Comprehensive website for parents of secondary school children who stammer or stutter.

Choosing a school - a guide for parents (Scottish Government)

Information from the Scottish Government about choosing a school run by a local council. Gives a general explanation of the law relating to placing requests.

Curriculum for Excellence (Education Scotland)

Curriculum for Excellence is the name given for the education system in Scotland being brought in from 2010-11 - find out more.

Dyslexia Scotland

Provides information and support for parents who have a child with dyslexia or think that their child could have dyslexia.

Education choices from 5 to 16

Information from Citizens Advice on parental rights in relation to education, including choosing a school, home education, and what to do if your choice of school is refused.

Education Law Unit

Legal representation for pupils and parents. Information and advice about all aspects of education law including parental rights, and children with special needs education. Telephone helpline available.

Enquire: the Scottish advice service for additional support for learning

Independent advice and information to families of children who need extra learning support in schools. Telephone helpline service is provided.

Exam Guide (Education Scotland)

List of Scottish national qualifications and grades, together with links to more detailed information.

Excluded from school (Education Law Unit)

Information for children and young people who need extra help at school and have been excluded from a school in Scotland. Includes their rights to education.

Get the right school

Website providing information and advice for parents on education choices and applying for schools outside your local catchment area.

Guidance on home education (Scottish Government)

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

I CAN: helps children communicate

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

Local authorities in Scotland

Find every local council's website and contact details here. Useful for finding information about local services, childcare and education.

Mindroom

One-to-one support for families of children and adults with learning difficulties.

My world of work (Skills Development Scotland)

Advice to young people and their parents about education and career options.

Parentzone (Education Scotland)

Information about education in Scotland and ideas to help parents support their children's learning. Includes choosing a school, the curriculum, parent councils and supporting learning at home.

Scared of School

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

School work and exam stress (Young Minds)

At exam time, many parents are anxious about how much their children are studying, whether they are looking after themselves, and whether they will get the results they need. Here are some tips to help your child and releive the stress.

Scottish Parent Teacher Council

The national organisation for parents' groups in Scottish schools. Supports parents who want to get involved in their children's school by providing advice and information.

Walk to school (Living Streets)

Helpful tips about keeping children safe when they walk to school. Explains the benefits to children, parents and the environment.

Action for Sick Children (Scotland)

Information and advice to parents and families on any aspect of caring for a sick child or young person, including their healthcare rights.

Alcohol advice for parents (Drink smarter)

How you can influence your child's drinking. Includes a downloadable guide (PDF) 'You, your child and alcohol'.

Allergy UK

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

Asthma UK

Advice helpline with an asthma nurse and a comprehensive website, including a parents section and information on asthma in children.

BEAT: beating eating disorders

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

Bedwetting: factsheet for kids (KidsHealth)

Clearly written and helpful advice for children and their families about children's bed wetting.

Breathing Space Scotland

Telephone helpline service and website supporting anyone feeling down or depressed.

British Dental Health Foundation

Have a helpline, and their website includes a lot of useful information including dental care for mother and baby, children's teeth.

CFHS recipe book (Community Food and Health (Scotland))

Recipes designed to increase the amount of fruit and vegetables in our diet from community food initiatives around Scotland.

Child health advice (Great Ormond Street Hospital)

Great Ormond Street Hospital experts provide advice to questions and concerns on all aspects of childhood health and behaviour.

Children's Chronic Arthritis Association (CCAA)

Run by parents and professionals of children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), the CCAA provides support, and information.

Children's Hospice Association Scotland (CHAS)

Provides the only hospice services in Scotland for children and young people who have life-shortening conditions for which there is no known cure.

CLIC Sargent for children with cancer

Care and support for families with a child who has cancer, from specialist social workers and nurses, to free accommodation near hospitals. They have a helpline.

Cooking on a budget (Netmums)

Low cost healthy recipes for kids from Netmums members.

Cruse Bereavement Care Scotland

Offers a free confidential bereavement counselling and support to people of all ages. Has telephone helpline.

Cystic Fibrosis Trust

Support, advice and information for families of children and babies with cystic fibrosis through helplines and publications and online services.

Drinkline and Drink Smarter

Helpline for anyone who wants more information about alcohol, local services that can help, or simply to talk about drinking and alcohol issues. There's also a website 'Drink Smarter' about sensible drinking.

Drugs - what every parent should know (NHS Health Scotland)

Booklet for parents about drugs. Includes talking and listening, facts about drugs, why young people become involved in drugs, what happens to young people who take drugs, and the law.

Drugs and alcohol: just say no (Fatherhood Institute)

Pamphlet for dads to help them communicate effectively with their children on the topics of drugs and alcohol.

Dyspraxia in children (The Dyspraxia Foundation)

Information and practical advice about dyspraxia in pre-school children, primary and older children.

Easyhealth

This website brings together easy read health information: over 500 easy read health leaflets on a wide range of subjects, plus videos.

Epilepsy Scotland

Advice, information and support, including a helpline, for families who have a child with epilepsy.

ERIC: education resources for improving child continence

Provides information, support and resources to families on wetting, soiling and other continence problems in children. Has a telephone helpline.

Feeding your growing child (Food Standards Agency)

Practical advice on what to cook for children and make healthy food choices for your growing child.

Hands On Scotland

Toolkit designed to encourage emotional wellbeing in children and young people. There are two main sections: one section on helping children flourish and another on troubling behaviours.

Harmless: self harm support and information

Harmless provides a range of services about self harm including support, information, training and consultancy.

Head lice information for parents (NHS Health Scotland)

Helpful advice for parents about head lice, their treatment and prevention.

Helping friends and family: 12 things to try when a loved one is struggling (SAMH)

Practical suggestions for what you can do if a member of your family is showing signs of mental health problems.

Immunisation Scotland: your guide to immunisation and vaccines

Find out about immunisations and vaccines. Immunisation helps protect against serious diseases such as measles, mumps, whooping cough and polio.

Know the Score

Information and advice on drugs for parents and young people. Helpline also available.

National Eczema Society

Provides practical advice about the management of eczema and treatment for eczema; has a helpline and a network of local support groups.

NHS 24

If you or your child is feeling ill call the NHS 24 helpline. Alternatively use the self-help guide on the website.

NHS Inform

NHS Scotland's health information service. Includes a health A-Z, common health questions, local and national support groups directory, and news on health issues.

Re-Solv Scotland

Provides information for children, young people and parents about solvent abuse and volatile substance abuse. Has a telephone helpline.

Scottish Association for Children with Heart Disorders

Supports families who have a child with a heart defect. Has local branches across Scotland running events and activities, holiday breaks and family weekends.

Scottish Autism

Scottish autism provides help and support to families living with autism. They have a dedicated telephone helpline staffed by professionals.

Scottish Spina Bifida Association

Information, helpline, family support and local support groups for parents and carers of a baby with spina bifida and spina bifida children.

STEPS (clubfoot, hip dysplasia or any other lower limb condition)

STEPS offers confidential advice and support to people affected by hip dysplasia, clubfoot and other lower limb conditions.

Supporting prisioners families: young people (12-16)

A Families Outside booklet (PDF) for young people 12-16 who are affected by imprisionment. Contains information about what happens when a relative is sent to prison and what support is out there for them.

Talk to Frank

Information and advice on drug use for teenagers and family members. Telephone helpline, an online forum and a web enquiry service.

Together for Short Lives

Information about what care and support is available for families of children with life-limiting or life-threatening conditions. They have a helpline.

Walk to school (Living Streets)

Helpful tips about keeping children safe when they walk to school. Explains the benefits to children, parents and the environment.

Web4Health: psychology free online

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

Wellbeing (Parent Channel TV)

A selection of videos about ways to support your child's physical and emotional wellbeing.

Young Minds

Information and support on bullying, depression, exams, divorce and separation and more. They have a parent's helpline for anyone worried about their child's emotional problems or behaviour.

Youth in Mind

Search for websites, books, services and helplines if you are concerned about your child's mental well-being or behaviour. Online assessment also available.

Communicating with teenagers (Dad Talk)

Advice for fathers on communicating with their teenage son or daughter in a positive way, including listening and keeping communication going.

Family breakup 14-19 (Parent Channel TV)

Video looking at family breakups from a teenager's point of view and how to understand and accept their point of view, and include them in the decisions that you make.

Got a teenager (Family Lives)

Website giving advice for parents of teenagers and anyone with a teenager in their life. Offers parent-to-parent support, informal advice, useful information and a community of other parents.

Healthy Respect

Information for parents and carers on teenage sexual health and relationships. Topics include: talking together; sexuality and gender; religion and beliefs: learning disability; the law.

I’m under 18 and need someone to talk to (Relationships Scotland)

Support for children and young people whose parents are splitting up through local family mediation services.

LGBT Youth Scotland

Community-based organisation, working to improve the health and wellbeing of youth lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) youth in Scotland.

My teen watches porn (Parent Channel TV)

Teenagers may be being exposed to pornography. Learn more about this behaviour and what it might mean if you discover your teen has been watching porn.

Parents Enquiry Scotland

Provides help, information and support for parents and families of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender children (LGBT) children. Have helplines run by parents of LGBT children.

Relationships (Transition Information Network)

Booklets and other resources on sex and relationships for disabled teenagers and their parents and carers.

Sex (Parent Channel TV)

Video about teenagers and sex, and how you talk to your teenager about sex without feeling embarrassed.

Sex, relationships and teenagers: top ten tips (Parenting across Scotland)

Parenting across Scotland tips on talking about sex and relationships with teenagers.

Speakeasy in Scotland

Free eight-week courses where you can learn about contraception, puberty keeping your teenager safe and about sex and relationships in the family context.

Stay or go? Young people living at home and leaving home (Scottish Council for Single Homeless)

A guide for parents to help your child prepare for the time when they leave home. Provides information about different options and details about how to plan for the move.

Supporting teenagers (Understanding Childhood)

Advice for parents of teenagers - helping them think about the difficulties and changes children may experience in the early and middle teens.

Talk 2

Website with lots of useful materials aimed at supporting parents in talking to their children about growing up, sex and relationships.

Tips on talking to teenagers (Netmums)

Helpful advice about talking to your teenager.

Web4Health: psychology free online

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

Wellbeing (Parent Channel TV)

A selection of videos about ways to support your child's physical and emotional wellbeing.

Family days out (The rough guide to accessible Britain)

Accessible, family friendly places to go, including visitor centres, museums, adventure and wildlife parks.

Phototrails

Countryside walks and trails that have been rated for their accessibility.

Planet Science

A wide range of scientific experiments and activities that your kids can do with or without you.

Summer Fun 4 Kids

Directory of summer camps and courses.

VisitWoods

Visiting woods is a great day trip for kids. This website from the Woodland Trust shows where you can find woods to visit near you.

Walks with wheelchairs

Website providing free information and maps for walks that are suitable for people who use a wheelchair.

Young Scot

Information for young people (age 11-26) including things to do such as clubs, sports, and volunteering.