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Parenting children 5-11 years

Children are growing and dealing with changes and different challenges all the time. It can be helpful to acknowledge with your child that change can feel difficult and it takes time to adjust.

If your child is having particular problems or worries and in need of extra emotional support, you might want to take a look together at The Go-To’s  pages for young people about coping with common issues.


How to encourage resilience

You might notice some behaviours in your child during times of change or when life is feeling difficult, for example:

  • They might be especially clingy, tearful or reluctant to go to school.
  • They might have physical symptoms like an upset stomach, feeling sick or a headache.
  • Their sleep might be affected and they might wet the bed.
  • They might be very argumentative, be uncooperative or behave in a way that you find really challenging.

Some general things  which you can do at home will encourage children to be more resilient and able to cope with life’s ups and downs

  • Agree house rules and be consistent as far as possible. Routine is really helpful for children to feel safe.
  • Reward good behaviour and acknowledge this by clearly saying what it is your child has done well and why you are pleased.
  • Provide a healthy and balanced diet and try to eat family meals together as much as possible.
  • Encourage your child to talk about their day, and offer reassurance and praise. Talking and listening properly require hard work and patience, but are really important especially as children get older or when things feel tense or difficult.
  • Support your child to sleep well. Ensure wind down time at bed time, read a book or tell a story.

Sleep Support Service

The commissioned service within North Yorkshire is provided by The Sleep Charity. It uses behavioural therapy, sleep clinics and workshops – rather than medication – to improve a child’s sleep health.

Referral information can be found here. Once referred, a child and their family will be triaged to the most appropriate level of support, based on need, ranging from workshops and webinars, to one-on-one support with a specialist sleep practitioner.

The Sleep Charity have also been commissioned to provide its online Foundation Sleep Workshop for families and professionals in the North Yorkshire area. More information about the workshop can be found here.


Things you might find useful

Growing healthy

The role of the Healthy Child Service is to deliver the Healthy Child Programme for children aged 0-19 years and their families.

Visit Growing Healthy website

BBC Bitesize

The BBC Bitesize website has information, top tips and stories on how to best prepare for high school.

Visit BBC Bitesize website

Coping with anxiety

Is your child suffering with feelings of anxiety? Young Minds has some useful information on how best to support your child.

Visit Young Minds website

Additional needs and support

Does your child have additional needs or a disability? Visit the North Yorkshire  Council SEND Local Offer for advice and support. This includes information on transitioning from Primary to Secondary school.

Visit North Yorkshire Council website

Parenting advise

The Place2Be website offers parenting advise (information and videos) from child mental health experts on a wide range of topics, including ‘My child is anxious’ and ‘Helping children with positive gender identity’.

Visit Place2Be website

Helping your child prepare for Secondary or High School

The Place2Be website has tips on helping your child to adjust, including ways to build your child’s confidence, resilience and self-esteem.

Visit Place2Be website

Podcasts to support sleep

Podcasts to play children before bedtime, to help them relax and fall asleep.

Visit Tutti Frutti website

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