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Advice for parents

Children and young people can sometimes go through difficult stages, show challenging behaviour, or be influenced by things they see and experience — both online and offline. This can feel worrying, overwhelming, or even frightening for parents and carers.

You are not alone in facing these challenges. Many families go through similar experiences, and support is available. The information in this section is designed to help you understand what might be happening, feel more confident in how to respond, and know where to go for help.

Here you can find information about what to do if you are worried about your child’s progress.
Parents can also find information on how concerns may be monitored or referred for further support, along with links to helpful resources to support their child’s development at home.

Concerns about your child's development

Here you can find information about what to do if you are worried about your child’s progress.
Parents can also find information on how concerns may be monitored or referred for further support, along with links to helpful resources to support their child’s development at home.

Concerns about your child's development

Citizens Advice provides comprehensive guidance on a wide range of topics, including rights at work and family relationships.

Unicef has a guide to returning to work after having a baby including practical advice for balancing new parenthood with employment.

Family Lives  is a charity that supports parents in navigating the many changes that come with family life. Their website includes extensive information, telephone support, online videos, and additional resources.

The Childline website provides guidance on many aspects of family relationships, including being a young carer, coping with divorce, and navigating step-families.

Mumsnet gives parents a platform to share practical advice and personal experiences through their website and online forums. The link provided focuses on parents of teenagers, though the site covers families with children of all ages.

You can also find support on finding and affording childcare, including advice on different childcare options and financial help that may be available.

If your child has special education needs or a disability, take a look at Balancing Working While Caring for a Disabled Child.

Citizens Advice provides comprehensive guidance on a wide range of topics, including rights at work and family relationships.

Unicef has a guide to returning to work after having a baby including practical advice for balancing new parenthood with employment.

Family Lives  is a charity that supports parents in navigating the many changes that come with family life. Their website includes extensive information, telephone support, online videos, and additional resources.

The Childline website provides guidance on many aspects of family relationships, including being a young carer, coping with divorce, and navigating step-families.

Mumsnet gives parents a platform to share practical advice and personal experiences through their website and online forums. The link provided focuses on parents of teenagers, though the site covers families with children of all ages.

You can also find support on finding and affording childcare, including advice on different childcare options and financial help that may be available.

If your child has special education needs or a disability, take a look at Balancing Working While Caring for a Disabled Child.

Here you can find helpful information on the support available if you are struggling with the cost of school uniform.
We also outline what schools should be doing to keep uniform costs affordable and guide parents on how to raise concerns if they feel a school’s policy is unreasonable. 

Paying for school uniform

Here you can find helpful information on the support available if you are struggling with the cost of school uniform.
We also outline what schools should be doing to keep uniform costs affordable and guide parents on how to raise concerns if they feel a school’s policy is unreasonable. 

Paying for school uniform

Here you will find practical advice to help you keep your children safe online. We explain how to have open and reassuring conversations about online experiences, set up a safe digital environment, and use tools like parental controls.
You can also learn how to recognise common online risks, such as cyberbullying or inappropriate content, and find links to trusted organisations that provide further support and guidance.

Learn more about online Safety

Here you will find practical advice to help you keep your children safe online. We explain how to have open and reassuring conversations about online experiences, set up a safe digital environment, and use tools like parental controls.
You can also learn how to recognise common online risks, such as cyberbullying or inappropriate content, and find links to trusted organisations that provide further support and guidance.

Learn more about online Safety

This page helps parents understand how to resolve concerns if things aren’t going well at school. It provides practical guidance on how to raise issues, work positively with school staff, and find solutions that support your child’s learning and wellbeing.
Parents can also find information on specific situations, such as exclusions, bullying or reduced timetables, and guidance on who can help and how to make a complaint if needed.

Resolving difficulties at school

This page helps parents understand how to resolve concerns if things aren’t going well at school. It provides practical guidance on how to raise issues, work positively with school staff, and find solutions that support your child’s learning and wellbeing.
Parents can also find information on specific situations, such as exclusions, bullying or reduced timetables, and guidance on who can help and how to make a complaint if needed.

Resolving difficulties at school

This page offers guidance and reassurance for parents whose child may be showing anti-social or potentially criminal behaviour. It explains why acting early is important, helps parents understand possible underlying causes and outlines what support is available.
Parents can also find practical advice on what they can do to help their child, what to expect if their child gets into trouble, and where to access local services such as the Hampshire Youth Justice Prevention Service. 

Anti social and criminal behaviour

This page offers guidance and reassurance for parents whose child may be showing anti-social or potentially criminal behaviour. It explains why acting early is important, helps parents understand possible underlying causes and outlines what support is available.
Parents can also find practical advice on what they can do to help their child, what to expect if their child gets into trouble, and where to access local services such as the Hampshire Youth Justice Prevention Service. 

Anti social and criminal behaviour

Here you will find out what child-to-parent violence is and why this behaviour may happen.
We offer practical advice on how parents can respond and seek support.
Parents can also find guidance on reducing harmful behaviours and links to further resources for help and reassurance. 

Child to parent violence

Here you will find out what child-to-parent violence is and why this behaviour may happen.
We offer practical advice on how parents can respond and seek support.
Parents can also find guidance on reducing harmful behaviours and links to further resources for help and reassurance. 

Child to parent violence

We have created a guide here to help you if you are concerned that your child or young person might be developing views which are becoming extremist. This guide is about safeguarding, protecting and supporting your child or young person, not punishing or criminalising them. 

What to do if you are worried your child is developing extremist views

We have created a guide here to help you if you are concerned that your child or young person might be developing views which are becoming extremist. This guide is about safeguarding, protecting and supporting your child or young person, not punishing or criminalising them. 

What to do if you are worried your child is developing extremist views

Healthier Together provides advice for parents, young people and pregnant women. This website contains a huge range or resources on a variety of mental and physical health topics and across all ages.

Best Start in Life is a 'one stop stop' for advice and support for your child’s development for parents from pregnancy right through to starting school.

Hampshire Healthy Families here you can find workshops, courses and events, as well as details about health visiting and school nurse teams.

Hampshire Happy Talkers provides parents of 0-5 year olds and professionals with advice and resources, or specialist support, where needed, to aid your child’s speech and language development

First Words Together is for parents and carers of babies aged 6-24 months who have concerns about their child’s talking or listening. You can request a place yourself online or ask a health professional to refer you for five sessions run at a local library

Hampshire Healthy Steps helps parents and carers of 2-12 year olds with eating well, sleeping well, getting active and healthy teeth. You can sign up yourself online or ask a health professional to refer you to these friendly group sessions

Health visitors will have regular contact with you starting from pregnancy and your baby’s birth all the way to pre-school years, helping with issues such as feeding, health, growth and development, play and school readiness

School nursing teams work with school aged children and their families to support with general health and wellbeing and promote healthy behaviours for life

ChatHealth is a confidential text service for parents, carers and young people, connecting you with trained nurses who can help with a wide range of health and wellbeing concerns

Supporting You and Your Family to Stay Mentally Well 

Healthier Together provides advice for parents, young people and pregnant women. This website contains a huge range or resources on a variety of mental and physical health topics and across all ages.

Best Start in Life is a 'one stop stop' for advice and support for your child’s development for parents from pregnancy right through to starting school.

Hampshire Healthy Families here you can find workshops, courses and events, as well as details about health visiting and school nurse teams.

Hampshire Happy Talkers provides parents of 0-5 year olds and professionals with advice and resources, or specialist support, where needed, to aid your child’s speech and language development

First Words Together is for parents and carers of babies aged 6-24 months who have concerns about their child’s talking or listening. You can request a place yourself online or ask a health professional to refer you for five sessions run at a local library

Hampshire Healthy Steps helps parents and carers of 2-12 year olds with eating well, sleeping well, getting active and healthy teeth. You can sign up yourself online or ask a health professional to refer you to these friendly group sessions

Health visitors will have regular contact with you starting from pregnancy and your baby’s birth all the way to pre-school years, helping with issues such as feeding, health, growth and development, play and school readiness

School nursing teams work with school aged children and their families to support with general health and wellbeing and promote healthy behaviours for life

ChatHealth is a confidential text service for parents, carers and young people, connecting you with trained nurses who can help with a wide range of health and wellbeing concerns

Supporting You and Your Family to Stay Mentally Well