Supporting your child's physical and emotional development

• Your child is growing quickly, becoming more active and therefore has a high-energy requirement. Encourage your child to gradually begin to take responsibility for eating a healthy, balanced diet containing the energy and nutrients that they need.
• Encourage your child to drink water throughout the day.
• Try to ensure that your child has sufficient, good quality sleep.
• Try to ensure that your child gets plenty of fresh air and exercise.
• Encourage your child to talk to you to establish good rapport.
• Ask questions, and make time to listen to their answers, to show that your childs thoughts and feelings are valued.
• If your child shows early signs of an interest, skill or talent try to give them the opportunity to develop that interest further. Encourage your child to experience different activities while they are young so that they can choose which ones they would like to continue as they get older.
• Search for opportunities to visit places of interest as a family. Visits to museums, galleries, the library and other places that your child may find interesting may help with your childs schoolwork as well as encouraging physical activity and a healthy lifestyle.
• Talk to your child about their personal safety.