Advice for Parents S to Z

This section is organised alphabetically by problem area (e.g. breastfeeding, teenagers, internet safety). If there is a website, support group or helpline you can recommend for this page, please let us know.

School Holidays

Find the 10/11 and 11/12 school holiday dates.

School work, help with

see homework.

Secondary School

This advice from Connexions gives you tips on supporting your child: from starting in year 7, to choosing options in year 9, through to post-16 study.

Sex and Relationships

If you are experiencing relationship problems, contact Relate.

If you need to talk to your children about sex and relationships, try these tips from ParentlinePlus.

Worried about your teen and sex? Get free, confidential advice from ParentlinePlus by texting the word SEX to 84400

Sexual Health

You can get advice on any aspect of sexual health from:Your G.P (Family Doctor),· A Sexual Health Clinic,·NHS Direct (tel: 0845 46 47) or·Sexwise (tel: 0800 28 29 30)

You may also want to direct your children to the advice section of Youthzone for more information. Especially useful are the myth-busting sheets that sort fact from fiction (e.g. you need to get measured for a condom, you can't get pregnant the first time you have sex)

Single Parents

see Lone Parents.

Smoking

Try these tips on dealing with a smoking teenager.

If you or a family member need help to stop smoking, contact:

Bassetlaw Stop Smoking Service tel: 0800 328 8553
New Leaf North Notts tel: 01636 670630 (covers Newark and Sherwood, Mansfield and Ashfield)
New Leaf tel: 0115 934 9526 (covers Greater Nottinghamshire - Nottingham City, Gedling, Rushcliffe, Broxtowe and Hucknall)

Worried about your teen and smoking? Get free, confidential advice from ParentlinePLus by texting the word SMOKING to 84400

Solvent Abuse (Sniffing)

If you think your child may be sniffing, call the Re-Solv national helpline on 01785 810 762 or visit the re-solv website

Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Read Nottinghamshire County Council's FAQs or list of useful contacts, simply click the link in the right-hand banner of this page.

The Parent Partnership Service provides information, advice and support to parents of children with special educational needs.

Step Families

ParentlinePlus has a good section on stepfamilies and dealing with possible difficulties.

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Sun Safety

For information on sun protection visit www.sunsmart.org.uk. we also have these ten tips for protecting children in the sun

Set good habits for the future Teaching children safe sun habits while they are young sets a good pattern for later life.
Remember you can burn in the UK The Great British sun is quite capable of burning your child! Take extra care at home as well as abroad.
Use shade Keep babies in complete shade: under trees, umbrellas, canopies or indoors. Provide shade for prams and buggies, if possible.
Cover them up When outdoors, protect a baby’s skin with loose-fitting clothes, and a wide-brimmed hat that shades their face, neck and ears.
Wear sunglasses Buy good quality, wraparound sunglasses for children, as soon as they can wear them. Sunglasses don't have to be expensive brands.
Find hats they like Encourage children to wear hats with brims, especially if they are not wearing sunglasses. The wider the brim, the more skin will be shaded from the sun.
Use sunscreen wisely Use at least a factor 15 sunscreen and choose a "broad-spectrum" brand that has a four or five-star rating. Apply to areas that cannot be protected by clothing, such as the face, ears, feet and backs of hands. Choose sunscreens that are formulated for children and babies' skin. These products are less likely to contain alcohol or fragrances that might irritate the skin and cause allergic reactions.
Apply sunscreen generously and regularly. Put some on before children go outdoors. Sunscreen can easily be washed, rubbed or sweated off – so reapply often throughout the day.
Don't forget school times Remember play times and lunch breaks on summer school days too. Give children a hat to wear and, if they can't apply sunscreen at school, cover their exposed skin before they go.

Teenage Pregnancy

Read this advice from GoodToKnow if your teenager says she is pregnant. Brook can offer confidential advice, just call 0808 802 1234 or visit brook.org.uk

Teenage parents can get information and advice from; teen issues, bubbalicious, and babycentre. (please note this is not a comprehensive list, but is a good starting point) All parents are encouraged to access services through their local Children's Centre.

Teenagers

Visit www.gotateenager.org.uk for tips, publications and message boards.

Get free, confidential advice and support by texting the word TEEN to 84400

Make sure your teenager has read these sexual health myth-busting sheets, to help then avoid contracting STI's or unwanted pregnancy.

Things to do

Take a look at the Families Information Service website or Nottinghamshire County Council's ' What's On' section.

Toilet Training

Try these tips from netmums or these tips from askamum.

Truancy

Get advice from GotATeenager.

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Volunteering