Supporting your child to be healthy

Staying healthy starts early and there's plenty of things that the whole family can do to stay fit, active and well.

Making small lifestyle changes can really have a big impact.

You can find help, advice and support around giving children the best start in life on the following webpages.

Derbyshire County Council's children and family services offer a range of services and support.

Children's Health

The Derbyshire Family Health service offers a wide range of support for 0 - 19 children's health including oral health, breastfeeding, infant nutrition and more.

Better Health Healthier Families - healthy food and activity tips for you and your children.

Healthy weight - lots of ideas for simple changes to help keep your child at a healthy weight and enjoying life.

NHS - Live Well - information from the NHS on healthy living for adults and children including how to move more.

Healthy Start Vouchers

If you’re more than 10 weeks pregnant or have a child aged under 4, you may be entitled to get help to buy healthy food and milk.

You can also find help and advice on helping your child to achieve a healthy weight from the NHS:

Emotional support

Struggling with weight issues can be linked with emotional health and children may experience bullying and low self-esteem linked to their weight.

You might like to try the 5 ways to wellbeing to improve your emotional wellbeing and you can view videos on Youtube.

Changing Lives - Compass offer a service for young people aged five to 18 who are experiencing mild to moderate mental health difficulties.

Young Minds has a wide variety of information about emotional wellbeing and mental health for young people.

Action for Children offer support for parents.

Mental health for children, teenagers and young adults - NHS.

Healthy eating

Healthier Families - Home - NHS

HENRY offers advice and support on healthy eating and reducing meal time stress.

Healthy lunch boxes - lunch box ideas and recipes.

Download the free NHS Food Scanner app to see how much sugar, salt and saturated fat are in your favourite food and drinks, and to find healthier swaps.

Be sugar smart - kids are having over double the amount of sugar than they should. Too much sugar is bad for teeth and can lead to weight gain. Healthier Families has simple swaps to help you be sugar smart and cut back.

Food facts - from getting your 5 a day to fat, salt and sugar guidance. Eating a healthy, balanced diet can all seem a bit overwhelming. But Change4Life has some straightforward food advice.

You can also find lots of new recipes to try with your family at Food. A fact of Life.

You can also download the free NHS food scanner app.

Moving more

It’s About Me - Derbyshire Holidays activity and Food programme

It’s About Me holiday clubs are for children aged 5 to 16 who are eligible for benefits-related free school meals. There are free activities including games, cookery, arts and crafts, sports, health and wellbeing and much more.

Find out more, and book your session, at It's About Me.

Activate with Joe Wicks - a series of fun activities to inspire children to move more this summer.

Healthier Families - from 10 minute shake-up games to information about active hobbies and sports, here's everything you need to get your family moving.

Couch to fitness - a free 4 week family fitness programme featuring 10 minute sessions.

Sleep

Not being able to sleep can have a serious impact on emotional, physical and mental health. The Sleep Charity offers advice and support.

Getting children involved

Healthy Steps - Whether you need advice on better meal planning, getting your 5-a-day, cutting down on sugar, you're one step away from getting practical, easy tips delivered straight to your inbox.