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.

Dad Talk

Provides opportunities for dads to talk on and offline, enables dads to access informtion and support that is specifically targeted at fathers.

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.

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 Space

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

Parenting (BBC)

A good general source of parenting advice and information. Sections include: having a baby, your kids, family matters, fostering and adoption, dads, play and do; safety; childcare, work, support and help with school work.

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.

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.

Understanding Childhood

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

Bedwetting: factsheet for kids (KidsHealth)

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

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.

Childrens experience of primary school (Understanding Childhood)

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

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.

From Breakfast to Bedtime - helping your child through the day

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

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.

Kids 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.

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.

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.

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.

Childcare support for disabled children (Capability Scotland)

Capability Scotland provides support for families with disabled children who wish to access childcare.

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.

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.

Paying for childcare (HM Revenue & Customs)

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

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.

Child Safety (RoSPA)

Advice, information and resources for safety practitioners, parents, teachers and other professionals who work with children about child safety on the road, in the home and at play.

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.

Childrens Traffic Club

Helps 3-4 year old children learn child road safety skills in a fun way.

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.

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.

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.

Childcare support for disabled children (Capability Scotland)

Capability Scotland provides support for families with disabled children 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.

Cystic Fibrosis Trust

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

Disabled Parents Network

Supports all parents with a disability and provides a telephone helpline service.

Downs 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.

Equity in Education

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

Family Fund: helping disabled children

Provides grants to low income families with severely disabled or seriously ill children, aged 17 years and under.

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.

Kindered Scotland

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

National Blind Childrens Society

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

National Deaf Childrens 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.

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.

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.

Childrens experience of primary school (Understanding Childhood)

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

Childs 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.

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.

Equity in Education

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

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.

Local authorities in Scotland

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

Parentzone

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.

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 on any aspect of caring for a sick child or young person. Also provides support to families and children at hospital and signposting to other sources of help.

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.

Bedwetting: factsheet for kids (KidsHealth)

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Home Link

Provides support and befriending to families with young children who are under stress and experiencing difficulties in South Edinburgh and Midlothian.

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.

Little Peoples Plates: feeding the under 3s the food they need

Healthy eating website for parents of infants and toddlers. Provides tips and guidance about mealtimes, fussy eaters and lots more.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.