Public health 5-19 - Parent zone
Parent zone provides information and guidance to parents; including useful links and sign posting to other websites as well as some downloadable resources created by our team. Many of these resources can also be found in the Public Health 5-19 service resources tab on each health priority page.
It is so important that we work together to keep children with medical conditions safe in our schools. We also need to ensure that children and young people with medical conditions and special educational needs have equal access to the learning environment and activities that the rest of the school population has.
Where possible we need to encourage self-management of the condition and promote the self-esteem of the child or young person, as many long term conditions can affect their emotional and mental health and wellbeing,
More specialist support for specific conditions can be accessed through your local area specialist nurse eg paediatric diabetic nurse or the child's GP practice.
Information on common childhood illness, long term conditions and special needs.
Parent leaflets
PH 5-19 Sleep factsheet (PDF 168KB)
PH 5-19 Immunisation parent factsheet PDF !(192KB)
PH 5-19 Dental parent factsheet (PDF 167KB)
PH 5-19 Head lice parent factsheet (PDF 172KB)
PH 5-19 Constipation parent factsheet (PDF 169KB)
PH 5-19 Bedwetting parent factsheet (PDF 169KB)
PH 5-19 Health and development factsheet (PDF 228KB)
Young person leaflets
PH 5-19 Sleep young person factsheet (PDF 193KB)
PH 5-19 Immunisations parent/carer factsheet (PDF 193KB)
Pre-school vaccinations: a guide to vaccinations from 2 to 5 years
Better Care Together is 11 health and care organisations across Morecambe Bay implementing new ways to enable the public to lead happier and healthier lives.
To support parents/carers and their families they have produced some self-care films about common childhood illnesses:
Coughs, colds and breathing video
If your child needs urgent medical attention call your usual out-of-hours GP services, go to your local emergency department or dial 999.
Visit Cumbria Partnership Children's therapy toolkit
The toolkit has lots of ideas and general advice that can be used to support children's development and transition to school.
Immunisations
Immunisations are really important - find out more about immunisations or visit the nhs vaccination page.
Special education needs
Find out more about special education needs
Solihull approach
An exciting, well established model that really works! Solihull approach is all about emotional health and well-being. They have free online courses about being a parent and free downloadable information:
Useful websites
NHS - tips for parents of fussy eaters
Thinkuknow has a dedicated website for parents as well as ones for children of different ages
NSPCC has a web page for parents to provide support for online safety
There are many resources available for parents to help keep children safe when using the internet, our Public Health 5-19 digital wellbeing web page has lots of links.
Parent leaflets
PH 5-19 Internet safety parent factsheet (193KB)
PH 5-19 Mobile phone leaflet (PDF 1.8MB)
PH 5-19 Digital 5 a day leaflet (PDF 812KB)
MOMO Safety guide for parents (PDF 2.1MB) by Internet Safety UK
Young person leaflets
PH 5-19 Internet grooming young person factsheet (PDF 198KB)
Links to websites for healthy weight information can be found on the National Child Measurement Programme tab.
Parent leaflets
PH 5-19 Breakfast parent factsheet (PDF 173KB)
PH 5-19 Fruit and vegetable parent factsheet (PDF 131KB)
PH 5-19 Healthy eating parent factsheet (PDF 173KB)
PH 5-19 Exercise parent factsheet (PDF 112KB)
PH 5-19 Water parent factsheet (PDF 165KB)
PH 5-19 Fibre parent factsheet (PDF 573KB)
Young person leaflets
Change4Life school height and weight checks
School height and weight checks advice and information page
Healthy weight information and advice for parents/carers with very overweight children
Information on the Eatwell Guide to achieve a healthy balanced diet
A website to support people living in Cumbria to be physically active as part of everyday life
A website full of information from the Change4Life campaign; to help families eat well and maintain a healthy lifestyle
A website which offers support to address both the physical and psychological health needs of overweight people
Healthy eating and exercise advice for teenagers. Also has advice on lots of other subjects e.g. feelings, health, lifestyle relationships.
Cumbria Partnerships NHS Foundation Trust - health priorities
Has factsheets covering lots of health topics.
Lots of advice about nutrition, includes information on healthy eating and nutrition courses
A site for 13 to 18 year olds
Information about healthy eating with useful picture guides of portion sizes for people of different ages, from weaning to adult.
Free online counselling for 11 to 18 year olds
Early Years Mindfulness ideas booklet (PDF 1MB)
Family Line (PDF 8MB) is an emotional support and advice line for families to access Monday to Friday.
Moodzone from NHS is a web page with links to common problems and tips to boost mental health. For more websites links have a look at our Public Health 5-19 mental health and wellbeing page.
Support your child to access Free online counselling, support and emotional wellbeing service, chat and forums - it's safe and anonymous. Visit Kooth.com to find out more.
Parent leaflets
PH 5-19 Resilient tips for parents factsheet (primary) (PDF 183KB)
PH 5-19 Resilient tips for parents factsheet (secondary) (PDF 108KB)
PH 5-19 Emotional health parent factsheet (PDF 179KB)
PH 5-19 Young carers parent factsheet (PDF 190KB)
PH 5-19 Worried about suicide parent factsheet (PDF 238KB)
Young person leaflets
PH 5-19 Self-esteem young person factsheet (PDF 176KB)
PH 5-19 Resilience young person factsheet (PDF 206KB)
PH 5-19 Body image young person factsheet (PDF 385KB)
PH 5-19 Feeling angry young person factsheet (PDF 289KB)
PH 5-19 Feeling sad young person factsheet (PDF 293KB)
PH 5-19 Feeling stressed young person factsheet (PDF 394KB)
PH 5-19 Bereavement and grief young person factsheet (PDF 286KB)
PH 5-19 Transition young person factsheet (PDF 239KB)
PH 5-19 Dealing with traumatic events young person factsheet (PDF 355KB)
PH 5-19 Hearing voices young person factsheet (PDF 216KB)
PH 5-19 Mental illness in the family young person factsheet (PDF 388KB)
Smoking
NHS Choices Under 18s guide to quitting smoking
NHS Choices web page has information regarding smoking and quitting, including a cost calculator, finding a smoking cessation service and links to the NHS Smokefree website.
Alcohol
Talking to kids about alcohol (PDF 872KB) a guide for parents and carers from the Alcohol Education Trust
Talking to your kids about alcohol (PDF 63KB) a guide from Drinkaware
The Alcohol Education Trust also has a parent area to provide you with a huge range of advice and tips on keeping your teenagers safe around alcohol.
Drinkaware is is an independent charity working to reduce alcohol misuse and harm in the UK. We're here to help people make better choices about drinking.
Drugs
Drug prevention for parents (PDF 907KB) a selection of substance abuse prevention resources for parents
Does your child know more than you (PDF 429KB) leaflet from FRANK
Gases and glues (PDF 635KB) is your child at risk what every parent needs to know
Legal highs and club drugs (PDF 1.2MB) A parent handbook
CADAS is a charity that provides drug and alcohol services and promotes harm reduction and supports problematic substance use across all ages and geographical areas of Cumbria
FRANK provides honest information about drugs and has a support helpline and live chat for friendly, confidential advice
Young person leafets
PH 5-19 Peer pressure young person factsheet (PDF 385KB)
PH 5-19 Festival young person factsheet (PDF 199KB)
PH 5-19 Drug and alcohol young person factsheet (PDF 416KB)
PH 5-19 Alcohol and the brain young person factsheet (PDF 256KB)
PH 5-19 E-Cigarettes young person factsheet (PDF 234KB)
PH 5-19 Smoking young person factsheet (PDF 355KB)
Sexual health
Family Planning Association
The sexual health charity Family Planning Association (FPA) provides advice and resources for all ages on sexual health, sex and relationships. Below are a few of their helpful leaflets, they have a whole range of downloadable leaflets on contracption and STi's.
FPA your guide to contraception (PDF 1.3MB)
FPA your guide to male and female condoms (PDF 3.5MB)
FPA your guide to the contraceptive combined pill (PDF 193KB)
FPA your guide to the contraceptive implant (PDF 190KB)
FPA your guide to the contraceptive injection (PDF 216KB)
FPA your guide to the emergency contraception (PDF 144KB)
FPA your guide to abortion (PDF 132KB)
Sex and young people
Link to NHS Choices web page for information for sexually active children and young people and those considering a sexual relationship.
Brook provides wellbeing and sexual health support for young people under 25 years
Cumbria Sexual Health Service Web page belonging to Cumbria Partnership NHS Foundation Trust Sexual Health Clinics, this links into other sexual health pages and resources
Childline is a free, private and confidential service for children. It provides support online, on the phone, anytime. It also has lots of information for children and young people, they have a web page with resources around puberty.
Parent leaflets
PH 5-19 Puberty young person factsheet (PDF 446KB)
PH 5-19 Pornography parent facthseet (PDF 214KB)
Young person leafets
PH 5-19 Peer pressure young person factsheet (PDF 385KB)
PH 5-19 Sexual health young person factsheet (PDF 736KB)
PH 5-19 Pornography young person factsheet (PDF 303KB)
PH 5-19 Sexual bullying young person factsheet (PDF 306KB)
PH 5-19 Festival young person factsheet (PDF 199KB)
PH 5-19 Divorce and separation young person factsheet (PDF 446KB)
An important part of being a parent is looking after yourself too. Parenting is a demanding job and takes a lot of physical and emotional energy. Your physical and emotional health has limits and if you don't take care of yourself you could develop mental and physical problems.
You are not alone. There are a lot of support and services to help you look after your wellbeing.
- Trusted family and friends
- Gp or counsellor, First Steps this is part of Cumbria Partnership NHS Foundation Trust and provides free, talking therapies to adults (18+) in Cumbria.
- Cumbria Partnership Trust website provides advice and information about what's available to parents through the NHS, local authority, helplines and local organisations.
- Minded for families has advice and information from trusted experts and will help you understand what problems occur, what you can do best to support your family, and how to take of yourself.
- The Charlie Waller Memorial Trust has free resources for parents and professionals interested in mental and emotional wellbeing.
- Young Minds have a parent support line available ring 0808 802 5544.
- Samaritans offer a 24hour listening service and can be contacted on 116 123
- Action for children service provides practical support and advice for parents.
- Banardo's works directly with 301,100 children, young people, parents and carers every year.
- Gingerbread the charity supporting single parents families to live secure, happy and fulfilling lives.
- Family Lives is a national family support charity providing help and support in all aspects of family life.
- The NHS Live Well section provides advice, tips and tools to help you make the best choices about your health and wellbeing.