Supporting your child's physical and emotional development

• Encourage your child to eat breakfast as part of a healthy, balanced diet. It helps to give your child the energy that they need to start the day well and contains some of the essential vitamins and minerals that they require. Eating breakfast also improves your childs ability to concentrate and learn.
• If your child has school dinners talk to them about what they eat and try to encourage them to vary their meals.
• Your child is likely to follow good eating habits established at this time throughout the rest of their lives.
• Encourage your child to drink water throughout the day.
• Try to ensure that your child has sufficient, good quality sleep.
• Encourage your child to get plenty of fresh air and exercise.
• Show your child that you are interested in them. Encourage them to talk to you so that you can learn about what they are doing in their life and understand how they are feeling.
• Encourage your child to talk about him/herself in a positive manner.
• Explain to your child the importance of respecting differences in people and in their beliefs.
• Interests and hobbies help to develop social skills. Classes and clubs are not the same structure as school classes and your child may have the opportunity to meet new children and adults in a social setting.
• Dont push too hard it is important to check with your child whether they are enjoying new activities.
• Try to continue to visit places of interest as a family.
• Talk to your child about their personal safety, including on the internet.