KEY TOPICS (6-11)

Click on one of the key topics below to go to the relevant section.

Allergies/Anaphylaxis
Anger
Bedwetting
Common Children’s Health Conditions
Daytime Wetting
Diabetes

Friendships
Good Sleep
Healthy Eating
Internet Safety
Managing Feelings
Oral Health

Puberty
Sun Protection
Transitioning to Secondary School
Unwell Child
Worries at School

According to the NHS allergies are very common. It is thought that they affect more than 1 in 4 people within the UK at some point in their lives. Allergies are particularly common in children, however some allergies go away as a child gets older, while many are lifelong. Having an allergy can be an irritation, especially if it impacts on everyday activities, but most allergic reactions are mild and can be largely kept under control. Severe reactions, anaphylaxis, can occasionally occur, but these are uncommon. If a child has severe allergies they are likely to be prescribed a pen. For more information and downloadable factsheets by Allergy UK please, click here.

For further information, take a look at the following links:

NHS – Allergies
Symptoms of anaphylaxis
Food allergy
Advice for schools
EpiPen – Kidzone

Anger is a normal and useful emotion. Anger can help to tell children when things are not fair or right. However, it can become a problem if they struggle to control their angry behaviour or if they are continually aggressive.

There are various reasons why a child may seem angrier than other children, including:

• seeing family members arguing or being angry with each other
• friendship difficulties
• bullying
• struggling with school life or exams
• feeling very stressed, worried or scared about something
• coping with hormone changes during puberty

For more information around supporting a child with anger issues, click here.

For more information, click the following links:

Tips on talking to children
Parent Guide
How to control anger
Relaxation techniques

Bedwetting is common in young children but gets less common as children get older. However, for some children, bedwetting remains an on-going problem. The NHS provides useful information on bedwetting and explains the importance of reassuring your child when they have wet the bed. It is important for them to know they have not done anything wrong. It would not be right to punish them for wetting the bed, as this will not help them to stop and could make the problem worse. ERIC also has some great advice for parents regarding bedwetting and other bladder and bowel issues. If your child persistently wets the bed despite trying the strategies recommended please take your child to your GP to assess any underlying medical conditions.

For more information, click the following links:

ERIC – Poo & Wee
Signs of constipation
How to treat constipation
Toileting – Help at School

If you would like some information and advice about the most common infectious illnesses in children please click here. If you have concerns about your baby’s/ child’s health, take a look at the information within our What to do in an emergency page.

Eczema
Eczema is the name for a group of conditions that cause the skin to become red, itchy and inflamed. It often appears on the face, behind the ears, and in the creases of the neck, knees and elbows. Atopic eczema is more common in children, often developing before their first birthday. But it may also develop for the first time in adults. For more information on eczema and its treatment please click here.

Additional Information
British Skin Foundation
National Eczema Society

Impetigo
According to the British Skin Foundation impetigo is a bacterial infection of the surface of the skin. This bacterial infection is the most common skin infection seen in young children but is also seen in people of any age. It can pass from person to person through skin-to-skin contact or via bedding, clothing, and towels and therefore can spread rapidly. For more information on the cause of impetigo and its treatment please click here.

Additional Information
NHS – Impetigo

Epilepsy
The main symptom of epilepsy is repeated seizures. These are sudden bursts of electrical activity in the brain that temporarily affect how it functions. Seizures can affect people in different ways, depending on which part of the brain is involved. If you are a young person with epilepsy, Epilepsy Action has some great advice and support for you. Click here for more information.

Additional Information
Newly diagnosed
Support for schools
Just for kids
Information for parents of children with epilepsy

Daytime wetting is anything from damp patches in your child’s underwear to a complete wee accident. Daytime wetting is very common in children. As a parent/carer you and your family are not alone in dealing with this issue. There can be different causes for daytime wetting and the ERIC website has some excellent information regarding these causes, as well as advice and guidance on managing this issue. For further information please click here. If your child persistently experiences daytime wetting, despite trying the strategies recommended, please take your child to your GP to assess any underlying medical conditions.

Type 1 diabetes is a serious, lifelong condition where your blood glucose level is too high because your body cannot make a hormone called insulin. Caring for a child who has diabetes can be challenging at times. Diabetes UK has some helpful advice for parents on how to care for a child with diabetes, as well as great advice for young people in managing their diabetes. For more advice and support please click here.

For more information, click the following links:

Diabetes in schools
My life
Physical activity
NHS – Type 1 diabetes in children

Friends mean a lot to young people. There will be times when they are getting on with their friends and times when they do not get along. Usually, they make up again, but arguments can sometimes be more serious and can lead to bullying in some cases. This is usually the time when young people need a little extra support. Childline has some great advice about managing friendships, click here for more information.

For more information, click the following links:

Top tips for making friends
Peer pressure
Bullying at school
Building self-esteem and confidence

Sleep is essential to children’s health and growth. Sleep promotes alertness, memory, and performance. When a child gets the right amount of sleep they are more likely to be alert and active and are less prone to behavioral problems. That is why it is important for parents/carers to help their child to develop good sleep habits from an early age. The NHS has some healthy sleep tips for children and guidance on how much sleep children need. A relaxing bedtime routine is one important way to help your child get a good night’s sleep. The Sleep Council has Seven Steps to a Better Night’s Sleep, as well as other great advice for parents.

For more information, click the following links:

Sleep Council
What to do if you are struggling to sleep

Research shows children who stay a healthy weight are more likely to be physically fit, confident, and also less likely to have health problems in adulthood. Children whose parents/carers encourage them to be more physically active and to eat well are more likely to remain healthy. The NHS has some great advice for parents, click here for more information. If you would like some low-cost healthy recipe ideas, take a look at Change4life for inspiration.

Sports and active hobbies are also a brilliant way to get children active, which is really important for their physical health and can help improve their confidence and self-esteem. It does not need to take up a lot of time or be costly. Change4life have some great ideas and resources for families. It is important that children have 60 minutes of activity every day. For local clubs and activities for the
the whole family, please click here.

For more information, click the following links:

Be sugar smart
Sugar swaps
The eat well guide
5 a day
What to feed your children
What can I do if my child is overweight?

The internet is a fantastic tool. Children can learn, play, create and connect with their friends online. But the digital world is changing all the time and it is vital to ensure your children remain safe. For more information around online safety please take a look at the guidance by the NSPCC. Children can be exposed to online grooming and to adult images and content.

Many children enjoy online gaming, it is important that parents monitor who their children are talking to whilst they play online. Some are simple games that you can play on your own and others are big multiplayer games with hundreds of people.

As children get a little older they enjoy talking to their friends online, however, they can sometimes be at risk of cyberbullying. Cyberbullying is when someone bullies, threatens or harasses another person online. Childline has some great advice regarding cyberbullying and ways to deal with it.

For more information, click the following links:

Mobile phone safety
Bullying on social networks
Parental controls
Share Aware

Sometimes young people’s feelings can overwhelm them. At times they can be really happy and at other times they can feel upset or scared. Often they can be unsure why they feel the way they do. It is important to remember that everyone can feel worried, down, upset or angry at times and this can be normal. But if these feelings last a long time they may need a little extra support to help them manage these feelings. Mind has some useful information about understanding feelings, click here for more information.

For more information, click the following links:

Feelings and emotions
Food and Mood
Loneliness
Believe in yourself
Relaxation techniques

A regular teeth-cleaning routine at home is essential to ensure good oral health and hygiene. For tooth brushing tips for children of all ages please click here. Children should also be taken to the dentist when their first milk teeth appear, so they become familiar with the environment and get to know their dentist. You dentist will recommend how often you should bring your child for their dental check-up. The dentist can advise parents/carers on how to prevent decay and identify any dental problems early.

NHS dental care for children is free within the UK. For more information on accessing a local dentist click here.

For more information, click the following links:

How to look after your children’s teeth
Be sugar smart
Sugar swaps
The Eat Well Guide

Puberty is the time when a young person’s body goes through lots of changes, and their body develops and grows into an adult body. Some changes are the same for both genders, and some are different. When puberty does start, girls develop breasts and start their periods. For information on the changes girls experience, click here. Boys develop a deeper voice and facial hair during puberty. For information on the changes boys experience, click here.

Girls normally start puberty around the age of 11 and boys around the age of 12. It is important to remember that these changes start at a different time for everyone, so they should not worry if their friend’s bodies are changing and their body is not. For information on the early signs of puberty click here.

Puberty can be a difficult time for young people because hormones released by the body can cause mood swings. There are lots of hormones going around the body. For girls, hormones called Oestrogen and Progesterone are the ones that lead to the most change and for boys, it is the hormone called Testosterone. Other changes that may be experienced is an increase in spots, possibly acne, and body odour. Don’t worry because puberty can also be an exciting time, as many young people also develop new emotions and feelings, start new interests and make new friends around this time.

Our School Nurses deliver puberty/growing-up talks to young people in year 6 (aged 10 to 11 years of age) in most primary schools across the East Riding. If you would like to learn more, please click here.

For more information, click the following links:

Stages of puberty: what happens to boys and girls
4 You Growing up – what it’s all about
Early or delayed puberty

Playing outside is really important for a child’s development. It is how they learn about the world around them. However, too much direct sun can cause risks, such as skin cancer later on in life. Sunburn can also cause pain and considerable discomfort for children. The NHS recommends that all children should have their skin protected from March to October in the UK. To learn more about sun safety click here.

For more information, click the following links:

Sunscreen and sun safety
How to get vitamin D from sunlight
Heat Exhaustion

Transitioning to secondary school is an exciting time for many young people. However, changing from a primary school to a secondary school is a big step and can cause some young people to feel rather anxious about the changes they will experience. Also, for those children with additional or Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities it is important to ensure they feel safe and have appropriate support throughout this transition period. Young people are not alone when it comes to their worries about secondary school and parents/carers can also feel anxious. Click here for some great advice on how to support children with school anxiety.

These videos by Young Minds provide some fantastic help for young people in year six transitioning to secondary school.
Video: https://youtu.be/xT6ctrk3pVQ
Video: https://youtu.be/0tulyjP9k_4

For more information, click the following links:

Starting a new school
Helping your child with anxiety
Making new friends
What to do if your child is refusing to go to school
Working with your child’s school

As a parent or carer, you know your child better than anyone else, so you are often the first person to recognise when they are unwell. If your child appears seriously unwell please contact 111 for immediate support and advice. In the case of an emergency dial 999 immediately. For further guidance on caring for an unwell child please take a look at our what to do in an emergency page, which includes Choose Well guidance, local GP surgeries and pharmacies, advice by NHS Choice about caring for a sick child, signs of sepsis, how to help a choking child, dental health and much more. If you are in need of reliable advice about common childhood illnesses and infections, please take a look at the NHS Choices website for more information.

Most children really enjoy school, others find it more difficult to cope with a school environment. For example, anxiety can come from the pressure to get good results, dealing with a busy school environment, challenging friendship issues, and struggles in communicating and socialising with peers. Young Minds has some great advice for young people around managing these feelings.

For more information, click the following links:

Cbeebies – Managing anxiety in primary school
Sorting out school problems
Going back to school
About Anxiety
Anxiety in children
Not fine in school