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New Vaping Information for Parents and Carers Booklet

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New Vaping Information for Parents and Carers Booklet

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Check out this Poster designed by Vicki Clark.

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Social media is where children connect, share and chat.

Help make it safer and fun with quick tips on privacy settings, smart sharing and the best ways to stay in the loop on their activity.

Supporting resources

See the latest arcticles on social media online safety issues and find resources to support children and young people.

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Helping children get the most from online activities

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Whether they're chatting on social media or online gaming with friends, find ways to help children build their digital literacy skills and stay safe online.

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🌟The Highland Parent Booklet is here - supporting the health and wellbeing of your primary school aged child

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🌟The Highland Parent Booklet is here - supporting the health and wellbeing of your primary school aged child

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Area Version - FINAL PY Parent Booklet (1)

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Watch the recording of 'Supporting your adolescent child to have better sleep' session here!

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Watch the recording of 'Supporting your adolescent child to have better sleep' session here!

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👋🏼 Welcome to The Parent Hub We are delighted you are here and would love you to take a look about and to share your thoughts and ideas using the various interactive tools below. This really is your page and we would like you to help us design it so that it provides the

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Bullying data From the Planet Youth 2025 Surveys

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Mental Health DATA from the 2025 planet youth survey

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We provide drug and alcohol, and mental health services in the Highland’s.

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Planet Youth Highland February Newsletter

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Planet Youth Highland February Newsletter

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Supporting adolescent sleep routines - a session for parents and carers

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Supporting adolescent sleep routines - a session for parents and carers

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The NHS Highland Health Improvement Team would like to invite all parents and carers of secondary school pupils across Highland to an evening learning session where we will be talking about 'Supporting adolescent children to have better sleep routines'.

The session will be help on Wednesday 11th March from 6.30pm to 7.30pm and parents and carers can register by scanning the QR code in the poster or using this registration link: https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/0dc83b22-5d92-4d28-af01-fc6df6491ec9@10efe0bd-a030-4bca-809c-b5e6745e499a

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We have information and resources about smoking and young people for parents and carers.

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E-cigarettes or vapes have been used by people to help them stop smoking for several years now.

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Whether you've taken drugs, are thinking of taking them, or are just curious and want to know more, it's important to know the real facts about drugs. Know the highs, know the lows, know the risks. Learn everything you need to know about drugs right here.

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Have you added to the Forums on the Parent Hub yet? 

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Have you added to the Forums on the Parent Hub yet? 

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Funding Opportunity! See below for full details

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Funding Opportunity! See below for full details

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The Planet Youth Highland Community Fund Applications are now open (1)

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The Planet Youth - Highland Community Fund

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The Planet Youth - Highland Community Fund

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The fund is open to Third Sector Groups and amounts to £8923 per year for 2 years. The purpose of the fund is to support the Planet Youth model within the local community.

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Planet Youth Highland Community Funding Application Guidance Jan 2026

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Smoke Free Highland – For a smoke free life

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Here you will find information to help you if you are thinking about:

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Watch the recording of 'Supporting your adolescent child to have better sleep' session here!

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Watch the recording of 'Supporting your adolescent child to have better sleep' session here!

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👋🏼 Welcome to The Parent Hub We are delighted you are here and would love you to take a look about and to share your thoughts and ideas using the various interactive tools below. This really is your page and we would like you to help us design it so that it provides the

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Toolkit (scot.nhs.uk)

The H-SAT website contains a wide range of advice and information for young people, parents and carers as well as teachers and health professionals.

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Information source on the use of drugs, alcohol and cigarettes

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This online library provides information in relation to substances in Highland. Topics covered include Tobacco, Alcohol, and Drugs, including New Psychoactive Substances (NPS, previously known as 'legal highs'), Caffeine, and also information about Blood Borne Viruses (BBV).

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Crew neither condemns nor condones drug use: we exist to reduce harm, challenge perceptions and help people make positive choices about their use of cannabis, stimulant and other social drugs and sexual health by providing non-judgemental, credible and up to date information and support.

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🌟 theChat.com - A new resource for Parents and Carers

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🌟 theChat.com - A new resource for Parents and Carers

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As parents we are our child’s primary and most important educator when it comes to how they learn about friendships and relationships, about growing up and puberty, and about being safe. By the time our children are teenagers we want them to make good choices in relationships, we want them to understand topics like consent, and to be safe when they are online and using social media. We can also help them think ahead and learn all they need to know so that when it comes to their sexual health, they are healthy, happy and safe.

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the Chat is a conversation with parents and carers about where, what, when, why and how children and young people learn about relationships, sexual health and parenthood.

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E-cigarettes and vaping is a significant issue for young people in Scotland today. In a recent survey with ASH Scotland, you also told us you wanted to know about the health impacts of e-cigarettes, so we’ve put together some information to give you the facts.

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NSPCC - How to talk to children about drugs

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NSPCC - How to talk to children about drugs

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Anti-Bullying Week 2025 - Bullying – The Power of One

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Anti-Bullying Week 2025 - Bullying – The Power of One

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Find your voice. Use your words. Own your power

We are excited to announce that we busy behind the scenes producing five new anti-bullying films and supporting learning resources for Primary and Secondary age groups, to explore bullying and its ripple effect for Anti-Bullying Week this year.

We will see on screen the perspectives of 'Noah', our main character, his best friend 'Ava', 'Grace' who is bullying him, his parents', and the class teacher. Throughout the five interconnected films, we can see themes of power woven throughout. There is no quick fix for bullying, it takes the power of everyone to create safe, happy, inclusive, and supportive environments where children and young people can thrive.

A sense of personal power can support positive self-esteem and belief in ourselves and our ability to make things happen and bring about change. We want all young people to know that bullying is never acceptable, is not an inevitable part of growing up, claim their rights and use their power to become young anti-bullying activists.

You can get involved with 'Bullying - The Power of One' by registering for an account, or by logging into your existing account, to access our Anti-Bullying Week 2025 resources from 22 October.

Check our social media channels for updates on everything to do with #AntiBullyingWeek #PowerOfOne as we countdown to launch day.

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We are excited to announce that we busy behind the scenes producing five new anti-bullying films and supporting learning resources for Primary and Secondary age groups, to explore bullying and its ripple effect for Anti-Bullying Week this year.

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Help when your child can’t sleep | Sleep Support | Sleep Action

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Sleep support and guidance for families, helping children sleep better. Sleep Action, formerly Sleep Scotland, the UK’s oldest sleep charity.

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The Parent Pact is a way to band together with other parents in your area to agree to delay getting your child a smartphone until at least 14, and social media until 16. It takes 30 seconds - and might just change the world!

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How should I talk to my child about smartphones? Tips for parents at every stage

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How should I talk to my child about smartphones? Tips for parents at every stage

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[.style-intro]Talking to your child about when to get a smartphone isn't always easy - especially as they get older and 'everyone else has one'. But the right conversation at the right time can make all the difference. These guides will help you navigate the discussion with empathy, honesty, and confidence.[.style-intro]

Every family's situation is different - but one thing's clear: more and more parents are questioning the rush to smartphones. Whether you're just starting to think about it or facing daily pressure from your child, you're not alone. These guides offer practical ways to respond with calm and clarity.

How do I talk to my primary school age child about delaying smartphones?

If your child is asking for a smartphone, they're not alone. By the end of primary school, many kids get one, especially with secondary school around the corner. It's tough, but waiting a little longer can benefit their wellbeing. With empathy and honesty, you can help them understand why it's worth it.

[.style-link] Read our guide to talking to primary age children about smartphones[.style-link]

How do I talk to my Year 7/8/9 child about delaying a smartphones?

By Year 7, nearly 90% of kids have smartphones - and your child likely feels that pressure. It's tough, but delaying can be one of the best decisions for their wellbeing. With empathy and honesty, you can help them understand why waiting is worth it.

[.style-link] Read our guide to talking to secondary age kids about smartphones[.style-link]

What if I've already got my child a smartphone, is it too late?

Given your child a smartphone already? You're not alone - and it's never too late to make a change. Here's how to set boundaries, reset habits and support your child to build a healthier digital life.

[.style-link] Read our guide to helping your child build healthier tech habits[.style-link]

Time is precious: the key message that connects with older kids

Teens may tune out warnings about mental health, but they care deeply about how their time is being used - or wasted. Tapping into this is one of the most effective ways to shift habits.

[.style-link] Read our Journal article about how to empower teens to resist addictive design[.style-link]

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How should I talk to my child about smartphones? Tips for parents at every stage | Questions | Smartphone Free Childhood

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Talking to your child about getting a smartphone can be tough - especially when 'everyone else has one'. These guides can help you handle the conversation with empathy, honesty, and confidence.

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Why choosing to delay smartphones gives your child secret superpowers

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Why choosing to delay smartphones gives your child secret superpowers

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[.style-intro]For many families, the biggest reason kids get smartphones isn't because they're ready - it's because everyone else has one. The fear of social exclusion is real, especially around the transition to secondary school, and noone wants their child to feel left out.[.style-intro]

But here's something most families don't hear often enough: waiting isn't holding your child back. In fact, it might just be giving them an edge. In a world where constant connectivity is the norm, the ability to focus, be present, and resist the scroll is fast becoming a superpower.
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Here are the seven superpowers of smartphone-free kids:

Superpower #1: More time

The average 12-15 year old in the UK now spends 35 hours a week on their smartphone, according to a 2025 University of Birmingham study. That's the equivalent of a full-time job. If they're smartphone-free, they get that time back to play, chat, mess about and explore the world in real life.

Superpower #2: More freedom

Kids without smartphones aren't influenced by toxic social media pressures or the need for digital validation. They have space to discover who they really are, free from the constant stress of likes, streaks and status.

Superpower #3: Real social skills

Without a smartphone acting as a middleman, kids focus on socialising face-to-face. Relationships are built on real human connection, and developing those skills helps them form deeper friendships and more confident communication.

Superpower #4: Better mental health

Teens addicted to smartphones are twice as likely to experience anxiety and three times as likely to struggle with depression, according to King's College London. The less time they spend online - and the more time they spend with friends and family - the better their overall wellbeing.

Superpower #5: Skills to thrive in the future

Being tech-savvy isn't about mastering TikTok - it's about knowing how to use technology with intention. The less time children spend passively scrolling, the more time they have to develop focus, critical thinking and creativity - the skills that will really matter in the AI-driven future.

Superpower #6: Clearer focus

Without constant digital distraction, kids are more engaged in their learning. They can concentrate more fully on schoolwork and develop their academic interests without being pulled away by addictive algorithms - leading to better focus and higher grades.

Superpower #7: Better sleep

‍

Teenagers need 8-10 hours of sleep each night for healthy development. Kids without smartphones tend to get longer and deeper sleep, which supports better brain function, emotional balance, and overall wellbeing.

--

This isn't the stuff of sci-fi!

Giving your child superpowers isn't science fiction - it just takes one simple decision: to delay.

Choosing to wait a few more years to get your child a smartphone is about making space for something better. Focus. Freedom. Real connection. And time to grow, play, daydream... and just be a kid.

And here's the real magic: the more of us who choose to wait, the more normal it becomes. Not just for our kids, but for everyone's. What feels like a bold choice today could be tomorrow's default - because the more of us who walk this path and sign the Parent Pact, the easier it gets for others to follow.

[.style-link] Watch and share our short video explaining how delaying smartphones gives your child superpowers with others[.style-link]

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Why choosing to delay smartphones gives your child secret superpowers | Journal | Smartphone Free Childhood

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Delaying a smartphone isn't holding your child back - it's giving them a secret superpower. Check out these 7 reasons why saying 'not yet' gives kids the space, skills and strength to thrive in a digital world, not get lost in it.

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Parents and Carers - we'd love for you to join us at our small group sessions where we will talk about some of the issues affecting the health and wellbeing of young people today.

You can register online to save your space (spaces are limited to 25 per session).

To do this, you must set up a FREE Turas Learn account here: Turas | Sign up.

Then register for the session/s you are interested in using this link: Health improvement : speakeasy - small group sessions for parents and carers | Turas | Learn

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NEW!!! Small group sessions for parents and carers

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NEW!!! Small group sessions for parents and carers

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We are delighted to announce the launch of our small group learning sessions.

These sessions will be super informal, purely for parents and carers and be held in the evening to make it easier to attend.

We will look at issues affecting young people and how parents and carers can support their children around these issues.

Come along with a cuppa to a safe space where you can join in as much as you like or just sit and listen if you prefer.

The first session will be The adolescent brain and risk taking behaviour and we are holding this on Thursday 18th September from 6.30 to 8pm

You will need to create a free Turas account using this link :Turas | Sign up(External link)

After you have done that, you can register for the session using this link: Health improvement : speakeasy taster webinars | Turas | Learn(External link)

We will cap these sessions at 25 so that they are small groups. If there is a desire we will schedule more sessions.

We also have the following sessions coming in September and October:

25th September - Young People, relationships and the online world

2nd October - Healthy relationships, consent and the law.

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In this newsletter:

Highland Update

The adolescent brain and risk taking behaviours

Working in partnership to increase protective factors in communities

Talking to young people about suicide- A guide for parents and carers

15th - 21st of September is Sexual Health week

Learning opportunities and resources

Contact us

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In this newsletter:

Highland Update

Free online gaming and gambling awareness sessions for parents, carers and those working with young people.

The Parent Hub - a place to have your say

Putting Children’s Rights into Practice - 90 minute training sessions

3 Highland schools win the Substance Aware School Award 2025 🎉

Child healthy weight programs

Suicide Prevention - Let's continue the conversation

Useful resources and training opportunities.

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We'd love to hear your ideas. What do you need from the Planet Youth team?

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We'd love to hear your ideas. What do you need from the Planet Youth team?

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W

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What are your ideas? | NHS Highland Engagement Hub

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The new, interactive page for parents and carers across Highland - and we would love to hear from you! What are your concerns. What do you need from our team? This is your opportunity to have your say on the current issues affecting the health and wellbeing of children in Highland. Review our resources. Find out about new learning opportunities and get actively involved in Planet Youth in Highland. Together we can make a difference!

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👋🏼 Welcome to The Parent Hub We are delighted you are here and would love you to take a look about and to share your thoughts and ideas using the various interactive tools below. This really is your page and we would like you to help us design it so that it provides the

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Getting consent Feeling confident about being able to get consent before engaging in any kind of sexual activity really matters! How do I get consent? What…

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Please register prior to the session. Relevant to parents, carers and those working with young people.https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/d55480c2-8ad4-4091-b406-d703aa39b908@10efe0bd-a030-4bca-809c-b5e6745e499a

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https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/53009833-f619-4a62-9f1e-9aa4051ac73d@10efe0bd-a030-4bca-809c-b5e6745e499a

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Copy of Young people, sex and technology  (2)

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In addition to our how-to guides on the most popular apps, you can also find out more about other social apps that children are using. Below we have compiled a list of apps to watch out for and provide a related web link for you to learn more about how to set controls on the app.

Live streaming apps

Live streaming has captured the imagination of teens around the world but also introduced a number of risks they could be exposed to. See our list of safety guides to get up to speed on the most popular Live streaming apps.

Periscope - Designed by Twitter, Periscope lets you share and experience live video streams from your mobile or tablet device.

Live.me - Live.me is a social platform that allows users to connect with others and earn virtual goods which can be exchanged for prizes, rewards, and cash.

YouNow - The app allows you to comment and like users videos and buy gifts that generate money for the app creator.

Social gaming apps

If your child is gaming online, they may be using platforms to allow them to chat and communicate with other players or friends. Use the following safety guides to help keep them safe on the most popular social gaming platforms.

Steam - This is one of the most popular social gaming networks that allows you to buy and play games online and store them in the cloud.

Xbox live - Microsoft's online service for its consoles is called Xbox Live and when you're signed into the service you can chat to other Xbox Live members and befriend them.

Twitch TV - Twitch.tv is a live streaming social gaming platform that is equipped with a chat feature to allow players to interact with each other and live stream and watch video game competitions.

Roblox - One of the biggest online gaming platforms and features social elements which allows players to talk to each other and send friend requests.

Minecraft - One of the most popular gaming platforms among primary school age children (despite 13 minimum age guide).

PlayStation Network - Allows users to go online and access PlayStation Store content, online gameplay and use the chat function to talk to other players.

Nintendo Network - Nintendo's consoles are more family-friendly than most and therefore its chat functionality is a lot more geared to safe interaction for younger players.

Limitation of network filters

Some content and sites can be encrypted, which means they're coded in a way that prevents the controls from knowing what the content actually is, so filters will not necessarily apply. There are also ways of bypassing filters using what's called a Virtual Private Network (VPN) if your child is technologically savvy enough.

They also don't usually restrict purchases through apps or the use of certain programmes that are already on the device. You'll need to consider setting your device controls and platform (such as Chrome or Netflix) controls too.

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Take a look at our list of social media guides to get you up to speed on the most popular platforms and help set the right privacy settings.

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Please register PRIOR to the event using this link:https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/92847581-3650-451c-b208-0d51810587fb@10efe0bd-a030-4bca-809c-b5e6745e499a

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In this newsletter:

Planet Youth Highland Update

The teenage brain and risk taking behaviours

NEW We can now deliver 'Discussing Drugs and Alcohol with Young People' to your teams

Sleep Day 2025 - Why do we need to help our young people prioritise their sleep?

How can parents support young people who self-injure?

Highland Youth Parliament Review Survey closes on 17th March

Resources

Contact us

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Highland Update

Planet Youth in Highland is growing! Will your school join us in 2025?

A short Health and Wellbeing form for all secondary school aged young people in Highland.

Parent and Carer Health and Wellbeing Padlet - NEW!!

Young People and Drugs - Early Intervention and Harm Prevention webinar - Scottish Drugs Forum

New Vaping Posters for displaying in your Youth Clubs, School, GP Practices and shops.

Breaking bad news

Suicide prevention: suicide intervention and prevention program online training (SIPP).

Contact us

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Sway: Create and share interactive reports, presentations, personal stories, and more.

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Sway is an easy-to-use digital storytelling app for creating interactive reports, presentations, personal stories and more. Its built-in design engine helps you create professional designs in minutes. With Sway, your images, text, videos, and other multimedia all flow together in a way that enhances your story. Sway makes sure your creations look great on any screen.

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An Introduction to Planet Youth in Scotland

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Find out more about why Planet Youth in Scotland exists and how we aim to transform the lives of young people and communities across the country.

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Self-Harm Network Scotland provides free compassionate support, resources, and information about self-harm. The power of lived experience enables us to work with each person to find their own way forward.

We also provide support and information to friends, families and professionals. The ‘How We Can Help’ drop-down at the top of this page will take you to the resources you need. If you self-harm and need support, our live chat is available between 6pm – 10pm every evening. Alternatively, you can self-refer for one-to-one ongoing support via the ‘Contact Us’ page.

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Home - Self-Harm Network Scotland Penumbra

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What is self-harm? Self-harm is any non-accidental behaviour which causes, or has the potential to cause, harm to a person. Self-harm is where someone hurts themselves as a way of coping with difficult, distressing or overwhelming feelings or experiences. While we know that self-harm and suicide are linked, we also know that self-harm is often [...]

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Why do young people learn about RSP  in Secondary School

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Why do young people learn about RSP  in Secondary School

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Building resilience in children and teens

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Building resilience in children and teens

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Help them build positive relationships with their friends and other adults

Help them learn to be independent in their actions and thoughts

Encourage them to understand, express and manage their emotions

Help them build their confidence by taking on challenges and allow them to learn from it even if they do not manage to complete the challenges

Other ways to build resilience in your child or teen includes:

Setting personal goals and challenges - Encourage them to plan goals and challenges, which help to boost their self-esteem and confidence. Whether they accomplish them or not, it helps them learn about life in a wider sense.

Invest in their self-esteem - Having a strong sense of self can help them build resilience against any forms of adversity in their lives. Encourage them to get to know who they are, what values they hold and help them take time out to work on themselves.

Encourage them to believe in themselves and their abilities - Help them put themselves first when they need to especially if they are in a stressful situation. Help them list all the things they are good at including being kind, helpful and loving and show them why these attributes are so essential in life. Thinking about their achievements no matter how big or small is great for their confidence.

Encourage them to develop a strong offline social network - Help them build a support network of friends and loved ones who love them for who they are. Give them space to spend quality time with their network and do the things they love to do. This will promote happiness and kindness.

Embracing change - Making necessary changes in all areas of life is a constant thing to do. Even if change is hard to do, try to encourage them to do it, as things will and do change. It is better to be in front of it rather than behind.

Learn to problem solve - These are essential skills for all areas of life. Encourage them to learn problem-solving skills as that is key to building resilience. No matter what the situation or issue is, there is always a resolve from it, even if it means walking away from something that no longer serves you.

See the bigger picture - Encourage your child or teen to see the bigger picture when faced with adversity. Share your experiences with them so they can see you understand what they are going through. Let them know that everything has a process and sometimes we have to go through these things to come out the other end stronger.

Mind, body and soul - Helping them look after themselves is crucial. Not only is it important for them to eat healthy and enjoy treats in moderation, but being active is important too for both mind and body. Getting enough sleep and learning positive mindfulness is important barriers and defence structures for stress, trauma and adversity.

Value who they are - Children will only learn to value themselves if those around them first value them. Give them lots of positive encouragement and praise. This will give them the necessary springboard to take on challenges and boost their self-worth.

Emotional flooding - When a child is upset they can't think straight or begin to sort out what they want to do - they are overwhelmed or 'emotionally flooded' If we think of emotions as water, when we are upset the thinking part of the mind becomes flooded. Listening gives our children a chance to express the feelings and gradually come back into a balanced state where they can start to think through the problem or let go of the feelings and move on. When we name their feelings and what they need, we are helping them understand their own feelings and needs rather than being led by them. Children who learn to handle their emotions tend to have better physical and emotional health, do better at school and get on better with friends. Let them know it is ok for them to seek help and support too if they need this.
Bubblevision
Sometimes, stress is inevitable. Help them create a stress-free zone and teach them this. Make yourself comfortable and close your eyes. Take a few deep breaths and let them out slowly - feel yourself sink more deeply into your seat. Imagine yourself surrounded by a bubble that protects you. Be aware of all the outside things and people that make demands on your life. Now, as you breathe out, feel yourself gently making your bubble bigger, pushing back all these demands. All your worries can wait. Every time you breathe out, make your bubble a bit larger until you feel comfortable. Know that you can step out of the bubble whenever you need to, but for now just relax.

At Family Lives, we do understand how different each situation is. If you would like further support and advice, call us on 0808 800 2222 or email us at askus@familylives.org.uk. You can talk to us online via our live chat service, which is open, Monday to Friday between 1.30pm and 9pm. You can also use our online forums to talk to other parents and share experiences.

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Building resilience in children and teens

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Helping our children build resilience and confidence is one of the most important gifts we can give them.

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What is Planet Youth working to achieve in your community?

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What is Planet Youth working to achieve in your community?

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Family Planning Association

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Parents' A-Z Mental Health Guide | Mental Health Advice

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Parents' A-Z Mental Health Guide | Mental Health Advice

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Our A-Z guide gives you advice on how to help your child with their feelings and behaviour, as well as mental health conditions and life events. We'll also show you where you can get help.

For information and advice on the cost-of-living crisis, including where to find financial support for you and your family, read our guide to money and mental health.

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Parents' A-Z Mental Health Guide | Mental Health Advice

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Our A-Z guide to support has information and advice on how to help your child with specific mental health conditions, and difficult feelings & life events.

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How to talk to your child about mental health

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How to talk to your child about mental health

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Giving our children and young people opportunities to open up is one of the biggest things we can do as parents and carers to support their wellbeing. It can be easy to forget the simple power of sharing what we're going through and feeling heard. But even though you can't fix everything when your child is struggling, you can make them feel seen and understood - and this in itself can make them feel more able to cope.

Talking about how they are, how their day has been and what's on their mind as part of everyday family life shows your child that you're interested in them and want to listen. It also supports them to practise thinking and talking about their feelings, helping them to get to know themselves and what they need.

But talking isn't always easy. You might feel like you don't know where to start, when a 'good time' is, or how your young person will react. Or, you might be worried about making things worse or saying the wrong thing. If this is the case, try to remember that your child doesn't need you to always get it right - they just need to know you're there.

Here, you can find lots of ideas, conversation starters and advice for making talking easier.

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How to Talk to Your Child about Mental Health

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Read our advice on how you can talk to your child about mental health and encourage them to talk about their feelings.

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Crafting a Family Screen Time Policy - Tips for Parents

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Learn how to assess screen use, set goals, and create screen-free zones with our guide on crafting a family screen time policy for children.

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In this newsletter:

Highland Update

World Children's Day 2024

Planet Youth article in The Herald

Winners of our Social Norms Poster Competition

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Sway: Create and share interactive reports, presentations, personal stories, and more.

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Sway is an easy-to-use digital storytelling app for creating interactive reports, presentations, personal stories and more. Its built-in design engine helps you create professional designs in minutes. With Sway, your images, text, videos, and other multimedia all flow together in a way that enhances your story. Sway makes sure your creations look great on any screen.

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Helping you to better protect your children online

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Helping you to better protect your children online

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Access information and resources for parents and carers on keeping your child safer online including conversation starters and video guides.

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This report uses the combined data from the 5 pilot schools to highlight what an important issue bullying is to young people and identifies why it is such a concern and one of the issues we are focussing on as a team.

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Bullying Report - help us make a change.

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Check out this A4 designed by Vicki Clark.

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Parents' Guide to Looking After Your Mental Health

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Parents' Guide to Looking After Your Mental Health

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Worrying or difficult behaviour might be short-lived, so give it some time. All children go through stages of feeling anxious or angry and they can show this in lots of ways - for example, tantrums, crying, sleeping problems or fighting with friends or siblings. They might be adapting to a change in the family or in their school life, or just trying out new emotions, and will generally grow out of worrying behaviour on their own or with family support.

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Parents' Guide to Looking After Your Mental Health

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Supporting your child with their mental health can feel difficult, but we have tips and advice on how you can look after yourself and your child.

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Screen time: impacts on education and wellbeing - House of Commons Education Committee

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Screen time: impacts on education and wellbeing - House of Commons Education Committee

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Children and young people are at risk of encountering online harms while using screens. Examples of online harms include cyberbullying, racism, misogynistic abuse, pornography, and material promoting violence and self-harm. Research by the British Board of Film Classification has found that children are coming across pornography online from as young as 717 and research by the Children’s Commissioner for England found that 79% of children had encountered violent pornography before the age of 18, with the average age that children first see pornography as being 13 years old.

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AMAZE - Age appropriate puberty and sex education videos

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AMAZE - Age appropriate puberty and sex education videos

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AMAZE - Age appropriate puberty and sex education videos

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AMAZE takes the awkward out of sex ed and growing up. Real info in fun, animated sex education videos that give you the answers you actually want to know.

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In this newsletter:

Highland Update

Bullying Webinar on 30th October - Register now!

Vaping Information e-booklet for Parents and Carers

Social norms poster competition - closing 4th November

Useful Resources

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Sway: Create and share interactive reports, presentations, personal stories, and more.

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Sway is an easy-to-use digital storytelling app for creating interactive reports, presentations, personal stories and more. Its built-in design engine helps you create professional designs in minutes. With Sway, your images, text, videos, and other multimedia all flow together in a way that enhances your story. Sway makes sure your creations look great on any screen.

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Protective factors play a critical role in promoting good health outcomes for young people. They are the skills, resources, and support systems that equip them to make better choices and to steer away from risk taking behaviours that can damage their physical and mental health. These factors don’t just shield children and adolescents from harm; they actively promote positive outcomes and help them to flourish.

Family Support

A strong family support system is one of the most influential protective factors. When children feel protected and supported by their family, they develop a sense of security and belonging. Positive family interactions such as quality time spent together, family meal times, encourage open and honest communication, trust and emotional bonding.

Key family related protective factors are:

Parental involvement in education and activities.

Consistent parenting with clear expectations and rules.

Emotional warmth and acknowledging children's feelings.

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In this newsletter:

Planet Youth Update

Discussing Drugs and Alcohol with Young People - new e-module available now

Self Harm

Smartphone Free Childhood pack

ASH Scotland - Tobacco Free School Pack

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Sway: Create and share interactive reports, presentations, personal stories, and more.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Sway is an easy-to-use digital storytelling app for creating interactive reports, presentations, personal stories and more. Its built-in design engine helps you create professional designs in minutes. With Sway, your images, text, videos, and other multimedia all flow together in a way that enhances your story. Sway makes sure your creations look great on any screen.

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This report shows the data from the 5 pilot Planet Youth schools. These schools are: Tain Royal Academy, Dornoch Academy, Golspie High School, Thurso High School and Wick High School. Planet Youth reports aim for a completion rate of over 80% and this was achieved by 4 of the 5 schools. Once school had a lower completion rate of 49%.

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Check out this A4 designed by Vicki Clark.

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Great Ormond Street Hospital - Helping your child get a good sleep

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Great Ormond Street Hospital - Helping your child get a good sleep

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This 60 minute webinar was co-hosted by Planet Youth and Safe, Strong and Free. It ties in Planet Youth data around bullying and the effect that bullying can have on our young people to an informative presentation from Kerry Lowe.

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Planet Youth Bullying webinar with Kerry Lowe (Safe, Strong and Free)-20241030_171304-Meeting Recording

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Mark Hunter, project officer at Fast Forward, shares advice to help you talk to your child about vaping

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Mark Hunter, project officer at Fast Forward, shares advice to help you talk to your child about vaping

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Parent Club: Talking to your child about vaping

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Vaping Illicit Substances - ASH Scotland's Learning Week

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Vaping Illicit Substances - ASH Scotland's Learning Week

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Vaping Illicit Substances - ASH Scotland's Learning Week

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Alcohol, Tobacco and other Drugs: A Parent's Guide

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Alcohol, Tobacco and other Drugs: A Parent's Guide

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Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drugs- A Parent's Guide

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Parent Club (Scot Gov) Information and facts about vaping

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Parent Club (Scot Gov) Information and facts about vaping

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Information and facts about vaping | Parent Club

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In Scotland, it’s illegal to sell vapes or e-cigarettes to anyone under 18, or to buy them for someone who’s under 18. But this doesn’t stop young people from getting hold of them. Here you can find out more about the risks of vaping, how you can talk to your child about it and what to do to support them if they’ve taken it up.

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Young People, Mental Health and Smoking - ASH Scotland

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Learn more about the link between smoking and young people’s mental health.

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Professor Linda Bauld discusses the impact of vaping on young people

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You can now book an appointment by checking our calendar and filling out the accompanying form. However, if all appointments appear to be booked out, please email us at: yp@mikeysline.co.uk to let us know which day you would like an appointment and we will see if that is possible to arrange.

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Change Mental Health - A future where no one needs to face mental illness alone

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young people and mental health - Change Mental Health

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During the teenage years, young people experience challenges that can affect mental health, leading to depression, anxiety, and eating disorders.

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Ideas from SFC on how to have this conversation with other parents.

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These overarching principles will help create a positive conversation

Here are some helpful talking points

* Smartphones decrease attention-span, damage mental health and open up a world of things our kids shouldn't have to deal with

* We all know smartphones are addictive. For kids smartphones can get in the way of all the good stuff: playing outside, hanging out with friends, reading, talking and laughing.

* Of course technology is part of the world now, and children need to learn how to use it. But young children aren't equipped to have a healthy relationship with something addictive. It's hard enough for us adults!

* There are alternatives. Many parents want to be able to contact their children for safety but this needn't be a smartphone.

* Tobacco companies used to market their products to kids as healthy - we think we'll look back on smartphones the same way

* Films are regulated, computer games are regulated, now smartphones need to be.

In terms of pushback that you might receive, Delay Smartphones have some more detailed information and statistics.

Together we're powerful
Sign up to be part of the movement and for the latest updates from our campaign.

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How to talk to other parents - Smartphone Free Childhood

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Smartphone Free Childhood is a grassroots movement on a mission to keep childhood smartphone free. We want to connect parents in their local communities so that together they can make a pact not to give their children smartphones until at least 14, or social media before the age of 16.

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Screen time is just a fact of life these days. But most of us have days when we’ve struggled to unglue them from their screens. Here are some tips for getting them off their screens and into the real world.

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Safe Strong and Free: Support & guidance on bullying behaviour for children and young people

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Safe Strong and Free: Support & guidance on bullying behaviour for children and young people

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Respect Me - Scotland's anti-bullying service

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Respect Me - Scotland's anti-bullying service

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We understand how difficult it is when your child tells you they’re being bullied, or you learn that they may be bullying someone else.

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Safe, Strong and Free - Bullying Guide for Parents and Carers

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Safe, Strong and Free - Bullying Guide for Parents and Carers

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NSPCC - How to talk to your child about relationships, sex and consent

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NSPCC - How to talk to your child about relationships, sex and consent

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Healthy relationships | NSPCC

You might feel awkward. But there are ways you can make it easier:

1. Find a good time to start a conversation.
Your child should feel relaxed and confident they won’t be interrupted. You could try talking when you’re:

on a walk together

in the car (they might feel less pressure if you’re not looking directly at them)

the only people at home.

2. Make the conversation relevant
That could be by using their experience of learning about sex and relationships in school or talking about couples in the media. Or if you've been watching a TV series or film together and one of the characters is in a relationship. Think of open-ended questions to ask, like:

What do your friends think?

What do you think?

What do you think about the relationship?

Do you think the relationship is healthy or unhealthy?

3. Don’t rush. Let your child take their time.
It can help to have a few short conversations rather than trying to cover everything at once. If your child feels uncomfortable, let them know that you’re there whenever they’re ready to talk.

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NSPCC - How to help your child stay safe on Social Media

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NSPCC - How to help your child stay safe on Social Media

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Tips to help children stay safe on social media

Review the location settings - Remind them, and explain why, they shouldn't share location on posts, or public forums and chats, videos or with people they don't know. Review the location settings on their favourite app or game and talk to them about what they're sharing online.

Sometimes it might be appropriate for your child to share their location with a trusted adult or friend. For example, if they're travelling home alone or arranging to meet a group of friends outside school, then it can be a good way to help keep them safe.
Remember: If children share their location publicly, it could be seen by someone they don't know. This can increase the risk of cyberbullying, stalking or unwanted contact (from friends or others) or becoming a target.

Get to know the safety and privacy settings - Explore the safety and privacy settings on any app, to decide which are right to use for your child. Each app has slightly different ways to set up an account, but most have the option to set an account to private, to not allow friend requests, and to hide the user's location. Explain these settings to your child and the reasons for having them in place.

Age ratings and features - Get to know the age ratings of the apps that your child uses. Many have a minimum age of 13 years old to be able to sign up, but you should check the age rating of individual apps to make sure.

Don't forget that you know your child best, and you might decide that they need to be a little bit older before it's suitable for them.

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Review the location settings - Remind them, and explain why, they shouldn't share location on posts, or public forums and chats, videos or with people they don't know. Review the location settings on their favourite app or game and talk to them about what they're sharing online.

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Online life and offline life is just life

For many of us, we see our online lives and offline lives as different, but children are growing up with technology and the internet and for them there isn't a difference; online life and offline life is just life.

Technology can move at an extraordinarily fast pace and it can be difficult to know how to start talking to your child about what they're doing online, who they might be speaking to or discussing the potential risks and issues.

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Talking to your child about online safety

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Sometimes you might be worried about what your child's doing online or who they're speaking to, but not know how to talk to them about it. We've got advice to help.

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Planet Youth Update

Back to school 2024

Highland Sexual Health Service

Planet Youth Highland Event videos now available to watch on catch up!

Mental Health Training available

How does alcohol affect the adolescent brain?

Highlife Highland Activities

Sported- funding applications opening soon

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Sway: Create and share interactive reports, presentations, personal stories, and more.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Sway is an easy-to-use digital storytelling app for creating interactive reports, presentations, personal stories and more. Its built-in design engine helps you create professional designs in minutes. With Sway, your images, text, videos, and other multimedia all flow together in a way that enhances your story. Sway makes sure your creations look great on any screen.