Toddlers and pre-school

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Your child's personality will now be starting to emerge in a big way. You may be dealing with tantrums, floods of tears when you leave them, or a child with no sense of fear.

Then there are food issues, potty training, settling into childcare, early learning, plus health and development worries.

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.

Access parent resources, organisations and useful websites providing information on a range of topics such as potty training, terrible two's, child development and bed wetting.

Useful resources and parenting advice

Birth to five: Your NHS guide to parenting in the early years (NHS Choices)

A comprehensive guide to your child’s early years, from new born baby to toddler to nursery age.

Disability, Pregnancy & Parenthood International

Runs an information service with helpline about pregnancy and parenting for disabled parents.

Easy-read guides on pregnancy, babies and toddlers

Guides for parents with learning difficulties: My pregnancy my choice; You and Your Baby 0-1; You and Your Little Child 1-5.

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.

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.

Parenting (BBC)

A good general source of parenting advice and information. Sections include: toddlers, primary school, pre-teens and teens, and child development.

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.

Preschooler (BabyCentre)

Information for parents with preschool children, covering all the main issues including behaviour problems, discipline a child, separation and independence.

Ready Steady Toddler! (NHS Health Scotland)

Hands-on guide to help you through the toddler years, covering: communication, playing, food and diet, childcare, bedtime, development, potty training, personality, tantrums, health, home safety, additional support needs.

Toddler (BabyCentre)

Information for parents with toddlers covering all the main issues including activities for toddlers, toddler sleep, picky eaters, and tantrums.

Understanding Childhood

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

British Stammering Association Pre-School Stammering Resource for Parents

Comprehensive website for parents of preschool children who stammer or stutter.

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.

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.

From breakfast to bedtime - helping your child through the day (Family and Parenting Institute)

A great little booklet tips on parenting toddlers. Includes advice about responding to the difficult times and offers a few simple ideas.

Infant and toddler forum

Provides expert guidance on toddler health and nutrition. Their website includes Little People's Plates, the one-stop-shop for helpful, practical advice on toddler feeding.

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 behaviour - helping you deal with child behaviour

A website which offers advice, help and support to any parents or carers who need guidance when dealing with a child's behaviour.

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.

Potty training (NHS choices)

An expert give tips and advice on when to start potty training your child, how to get started and what to do if you run into problems.

Preschooler behaviour (BabyCentre)

A wide range of articles on young children's behaviour and habits, including aggression, biting, defiance, ignoring, nail biting, telling tales and whining.

Preschooler sleep (BabyCentre)

A wide range of articles on young children and sleep including children's sleep problems and bedtime problems.

Scottish Autism

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

Sibling rivalry (Understanding Childhood)

Information about how children can react to a new brother or sister in the family.

Sleep Information (Cerebra)

Useful series of articles on child sleeping problems, sleep routines and patterns.

Sleep Scotland

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

Tantrums (Parent Channel TV)

If you are a parent or carer of a young child you are probably no stranger to the dreaded toddler tantrums. This video will give you some really useful tips on how to cope with tantrums and ways to stop them from happening again in the future.

Temper Tantrums (Children 1st)

A short guide to help you deal with temper tantrums in children.

Tempers and tears in the twos and threes

Leaflet about coping when young children have temper tantrums.

Toddler behaviour and habits (BabyCentre)

A wide range of articles on toddler behaviour and emotional development, including parents' tips, dealing with aggressive behaviour, dummies, tantrums and sibling rivalry.

Toddler sleep (BabyCentre)

A wide range of articles on toddler sleep including toddler sleep problems and toddler bedtime problems.

Web4Health: psychology free online

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

Childcare factsheet (One Parent Families Scotland)

Childcare information and advice, including finding childcare - for single parents.

Daycare Trust

National charity campaigning for quality, affordable, accessible childcare for all. Has telephone helpline for parents and website search for local childcare information.

Flexible Childcare Services: childcare for all families

Quality, affordable home-based childcare for both lone and two parents families. Tailored services to suit your child and circumstances, particularly if your child has a disability or special educational need.

Guide to choosing a childminder (Scottish Childminding Association)

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

Scottish Childcare

Website where you can find your local childcare information services in Scotland.

Scottish Childminding Association

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

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.

Children first aid (British Red Cross)

Help on treating a wide range of baby and children first aid emergencies, including choking, unconsciousness, resuscitation, high temperatures and burns.

Go safe with Ziggy

A new approach to early years child road safety education, based on stories and fun interactive activities. By taking children on a learning journey with Ziggy, real life situations are brought to life in an engaging way.

Good Egg Guide to in-home child safety

A step by step guide to help you keep your children safe in your home as they grow up.

Preventing accidents at home (NHS Choices)

A video on how to make your home childproof and prevent avoidable accidents.

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.

Safety in the home (Parent Channel TV)

Learn about safety in the home and how to make sure your home is baby proof.

Scottish Good Egg Guide to in-car child safety

This website explains why it is so important for your child's car seat to be correctly fitted and shows you how to find the best seat for your child's weight, height and age.

Think! Education - road safety

The website provides information for parents and carers about how to keep children safe on the road.

Capability Scotland

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

Caring for a disabled child (NHS Choices)

Advice and practical support with everyday hands-on caring, such as feeding, toilet training and helping them get to sleep.

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.

Disability, Pregnancy & Parenthood International

Runs an information service with helpline about pregnancy and parenting for disabled parents.

Down's Syndrome Scotland

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

Easy-read guides on pregnancy, babies and toddlers

Guides for parents with learning difficulties: My pregnancy my choice; You and Your Baby 0-1; You and Your Little Child 1-5.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Bookbug: Scottish Book Trust early years programme

Gives free books to all Scottish children up to primary age. Also runs Bookbug sessions - free, fun and friendly events including songs, stories and rhymes.

British Stammering Association Pre-School Stammering Resource for Parents

Comprehensive website for parents of preschool children who stammer or stutter.

Child's play: top ten tips (Parenting across Scotland)

All children can play, no matter what their age or ability. Here are some tips from Parenting across Scotland to help you and your child play.

Children's experience of primary school (Understanding Childhood)

Helps parents and carers think about the new experiences and challenges facing children starting school.

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.

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.

Get the right school

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

I CAN: helps children communicate

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

Learning and play (Family and Parenting Institute)

Ideas for games to play with young children. Also looks at why play matters in your child's development.

Learning at home

Your baby is an amazing little person with a natural curiosity for learning. When you look at the world through their eyes, at how babies learn, you'll discover a million fun ways to encourage their learning - and all you really have to do is play!

Life skills

As well as helping with words and numbers, there's a lot you can do to get your child ready for school.

Local authorities in Scotland

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

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.

Play Talk Read

Website with lots of ideas for improving your child's early learning by playing, talking and reading with them.

Play@Home (NHS Health Scotland)

Play activities and ideas which will help your child’s development and well-being.

Pre-school education (Adviceguide)

Straightforward information about your child's right to pre-school education, how to choose a provider, what to expect and how to complain.

Starting primary school: top ten tips (Parenting across Scotland)

Parenting across Scotland has ten tips on making starting school easier.

Talking Point

Talking Point gives parents and carers the information they need to help their children develop communication skills.

Words for Life

Ideas and activities for things you can do and ways in which you can get involved to help them develop your baby and child's language development.

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.

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.

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.

British Stammering Association Pre-School Stammering Resource for Parents

Comprehensive website for parents of preschool children who stammer or stutter.

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 first aid (British Red Cross)

Help on treating a wide range of baby and children first aid emergencies, including choking, unconsciousness, resuscitation, high temperatures and burns.

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.

Childsmile: improving the oral health of children in Scotland

Information on caring for your child’s teeth and getting the best dental care for children.

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.

Cystic Fibrosis Trust

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

Dyspraxia in children (The Dyspraxia Foundation)

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

Eczema (NHS Choices)

Helpful tips and advice about managing your child's eczema.

Epilepsy Scotland

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

Head lice information for parents (NHS Health Scotland)

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

Healthy Start

Free food vouchers for low income families with children under 4 and pregnant women - exchanged for milk, fresh fruit, fresh vegetables and infant formula milk.

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.

Infant and toddler forum

Provides expert guidance on toddler health and nutrition. Their website includes Little People's Plates, the one-stop-shop for helpful, practical advice on toddler feeding.

Kids and food (Netmums)

Ideas for getting your child into food and cooking, including simple cooking skills breakfasts, snacks, lunchbox ideas, party food and food allergies.

Leg and foot problems in children (NHS Choices)

Explains the most common problems with walking and feet, and gives advice on first shoes, foot care and nail care.

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.

Physical activity guidelines for children under 5 years (NHS Choices)

How much physical activity do children under 5 years old need to do to keep healthy? This is the current guidance for parents from the NHS.

Potty training (NHS choices)

An expert give tips and advice on when to start potty training your child, how to get started and what to do if you run into problems.

Preschooler sleep (BabyCentre)

A wide range of articles on young children and sleep including children's sleep problems and bedtime problems.

Ready Steady Toddler! (NHS Health Scotland)

Hands-on guide to help you through the toddler years, covering: communication, playing, food and diet, childcare, bedtime, development, potty training, personality, tantrums, health, home safety, additional support needs.

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.

Sleep Information (Cerebra)

Useful series of articles on child sleeping problems, sleep routines and patterns.

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.

Ten steps for healthy toddlers (Parent Channel TV)

It can sometimes be difficult to get toddlers to eat a healthy diet. These tips will help you to ensure your toddlers gets the most out of meal times.

Toddler sleep (BabyCentre)

A wide range of articles on toddler sleep including toddler sleep problems and toddler bedtime problems.

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.

Web4Health: psychology free online

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

Sibling rivalry (Understanding Childhood)

Information about how children can react to a new brother or sister in the family.

Talk 2

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

Web4Health: psychology free online

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

30 things to do before you're 3 (Play Talk Read)

Ideas for simple games and activities for preschool children.

Child's play: top ten tips (Parenting across Scotland)

All children can play, no matter what their age or ability. Here are some tips from Parenting across Scotland to help you and your child play.

Day out with the kids

Useful listing of places you can go with your children: museums, play areas, country parks, wildlife centres, beaches, swimming pools and play centres.

Family days out (The rough guide to accessible Britain)

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

Free family fun (Netmums)

Ideas for free activities to do with kids: places to go, games to play, arts and crafts, having fun at home and on rainy days.

Kids and food (Netmums)

Ideas for getting your child into food and cooking, including simple cooking skills breakfasts, snacks, lunchbox ideas, party food and food allergies.

Play Talk Read

Website with lots of ideas for improving your child's early learning by playing, talking and reading with them.

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 buggies

Website providing free information on walks that are suitable for parents with buggies and young children.