Picky eaters
Read time: 2 minutes
Most parents deal with the challenge of getting their children to eat their greens. But what if your child's picky eating habits are a bit more extreme?
As well as refusing to eat vegetables, picky eating habits can include:
- Having strong food likes and dislikes
- Refusing a wide range of unfamiliar foods
- Turning down foods with a specific texture
Others might show odd habits. These can include:
- Arranging their food
- Not letting different foods touch
- Only eating certain coloured food
Picky eating is something that can begin in early years. But it can often carry on into a child's school years. Some people even remain picky as adults, but not in quite the same way!
Helping your child to enjoy a balanced and healthy diet is really important. It helps their body and brain to grow properly! But that doesn't make it any less challenging! If you're struggling to win them over, don't worry. There are plenty of useful tips you can try to get your child eating healthily.
What causes picky eating?
Genes, parenting style and copying friends can all make a child a picky eater. Picky eaters often have taste buds that are easily upset. Especially bitter tastes and certain food textures. This can make them avoid certain foods.
Children learn from the examples other people set. Friends with picky eating habits can easily rub off on your child. It's also important to stop picky eating habits when they first arise. If you don't, this might worsen as your child gets older.
Should I be worried?
Has your child's picky eating caused significant weight loss? Or failure to gain much weight as they grow older? If so, you should get in touch with their GP. This can be a scary situation. Fortunately, it's very rare. You can help prevent turning picky eating into a problem by following the top tips below.
Top tips on how to handle your child's picky eating habits
Read time: 2 minutes
The NHS shares plenty of helpful tips for parents to help picky eaters get a balanced, healthy diet. These include:
- Try to eat with your child as often as you can. Most of the time, they learn to eat new foods by copying you.
- Add new foods in small portions and praise your child for eating, even if they only eat a little bit.
- Don't force your child to eat anything. If they reject a certain food, take the food away without saying anything.
- Try the food again another time. Children's tastes change, so if you don't succeed the first time, the second time might be a different story.
- Don't leave meals until your child is too hungry or tired to eat.
- Be patient. Your child may be a slow eater.
- Don't give your child too many snacks between meals – two healthy snacks a day is plenty.
- Try not to use food as a reward. Your child may start to think of sweets as nice and vegetables as nasty. Instead, reward them with a trip to the park or promise to play a game with them.
- Make mealtimes enjoyable and not just about eating. Sit down and chat about other things.
- If any of your child's friends are good eaters, invite them round for tea. Your child may learn from them. But don't talk too much about how good the other children are.
- Ask an adult that your child is fond of to eat with you. Sometimes a child will eat for someone else, such as a grandparent, without any fuss.
- Changing how you serve a food may make it more appealing. For example, your child might refuse cooked carrots but enjoy raw carrot sticks.
Help yourself!
Trying to get your child to curb their picky eating habits can be hard work. Most parents have to go through this, but that doesn't make it any easier! Especially if you are worried that your child's diet is harming their health.
If dealing with this leaves you tired and stressed, speak to someone. Don't feel silly for telling people how you feel. Your fellow parents will be able to support you too. They may even have some useful advice. Otherwise, check out the available helplines and support groups designed for parents just like you!
Information from external websites
Action for Children offer top tips for encouraging your child to have a healthy relationship with food.
Family Lives has an article on getting children cooking, which can help picky eaters.
Young Minds have a helpful parents survival guide and a fantastic A-Z of information and advice.
Barnardo's Family Space has a useful section on healthy lifestyles for 4-8 year olds and another on healthy lifestyles for 8-12 year olds. they also share useful ideas for understanding and responding to behaviour in 4-8 year olds and also for routines and behaviour for 8-12 year olds.
Be Your Best Surrey's resources for parents includes information on food and diet.
Safe Space Health UK is a website for young people aged 11 - 14 in Surrey. It offers helpful information about emotional health, lifestyle choices, relationships, keeping safe, growing up and being okay with being different.
Struggling and need to talk?
For you
Action for Children offer 1:1 chat with a parenting coach (Mon - Fri). If they are closed you can leave a message and a parenting coach will get back to you within 3 working days.
Family Lives has a free, confidential helpline, offering emotional support, information, advice and guidance on any aspect of parenting and family life. Call the Family Lives helpline on 0808 800 2222 (Monday to Friday from 9am to 9pm and on weekends from 10am to 3pm).
The Surrey Children and Family Health Advice Line is available from 8am to 5pm, Monday to Friday (excluding Bank Holidays). They can provide support on all aspects of child health, development and parenting for families with children from birth to 19 years old. Call the Surrey-wide 0-19 Advice Line on 01883 340 922
Young Minds has a free parents helpline. For detailed advice, emotional support and signposting about your child call 0808 802 5544 (9:30am to 4pm, Monday to Friday)
For your child
Childline have a free and confidential helpline for children. You could encourage your child to call 0800 1111 if they need to speak to someone - open 7 days a week from 7.30am - 3.30am. Childline also have a 1-2-1 counsellor chat for children who don't want to speak on the phone.
If your child is 11 or older you might want to tell them about the Child and Family Health Surrey text service called ChatHealth. It's a confidential school nurse messaging service for young people aged 11-19. Young people can contact their school nurse in confidence by text. The Chat Health text number is: 07507 329 951 (Mon - Fri 9am - 5pm). All of the issues discussed are confidential unless a child's safety, or that of others, is at risk. The school nurses will always encourage young people to discuss issues with their parents or guardians.
Useful videos on picky eaters
Family Lives share an informative video on fussy eaters.
Family Lives has a video on healthy eating for 5-9 year olds and another on healthy eating for 9-14 year olds. They also have a video for if your child decides to become a vegetarian.
The Families Under Pressure video collection offers a great series of short top tips videos on managing behaviour and help with negative emotions. Perfect for when your family leave you feeling frazzled!
Helpful tools and apps
Action for Children offers top tips for supporting your child's body image.
The NHS has a handy webinar on fussy eating in school age children.
The NSPCC has a great guide on positive parenting with a helpful section on setting boundaries.
Surrey's Early Support team suggest keeping a food diary. It's a handy resource for you to learn about your child's eating habits. You might want to see if anything they are eating triggers sleep issues or behaviour issues too. It is really helpful to take this to the GP if you have concerns about your child's eating (or sleep and behaviour if you think food or drinks may be having an impact).
Surrey's Family Learning and Adult Learning teams have developed a family wellbeing resource, with lots of tips on looking after yourself and your family during these challenging times.
Online parenting guides
Surrey residents get free access to an online guide that include top tips from childcare, education and NHS health experts
How to register
Registration is quick and easy. Go to the OurPlace website and use the access code 'ACORN' to get your free guide.
Access to the guide is unlimited with no expiry date, so you can return as and when you need and want to. Why not watch the Child and Family Health video to find out more.
Community support, courses and local help
Choose the area you live in for local services. Please note that due to coronavirus (Covid-19) very few community services are currently running.
Children and Family Health Surrey Advice Line (Surrey-wide 0-19 Advice Line)
The Surrey Children and Family Health Advice Line is available from 8am to 5pm, Monday to Friday (excluding Bank Holidays). They can provide support on all aspects of child health, development and parenting for families with children from birth to 19 years old. Call the Surrey-wide 0-19 Advice Line on 01883 340 922
The Community Nursing for Children's Emotional Wellbeing and Mental Health Service provides support to children and young people aged 4-18 years who are in a Surrey state school and are experiencing mild to moderate emotional or mental health difficulties.
Referrals to the service are usually made through your school nurse, school and health visitor. Each referral is considered on an individual basis and the best support for the child or young person will be decided. This might involve signposting to services from different agencies according to your child's specific difficulty or short term therapeutic intervention.
They can help with a wide range of emotional, behavioural and physical symptoms and difficulties.
Please contact the team via your child's school or school nurse.
Family Learning
Surrey Adult Learning's Family Learning programme aims to increase parent's skills and help them to support their children. It's free to parents, carers and even grandparents!
You can do online workshops and courses in parenting, wellbeing, anxiety and behaviour as well as phonics, English for EAL families, maths, science and healthy eating. Here's what one parent said about an 'Exploring Behaviour Strategies' course
"What a lovely course…. really constructive with lots of practical tips to go away and work on. I felt much more in control as a parent after last week's class alone! Thank you for being so open and inclusive, and providing a safe environment for us parents to share experiences."
You can enrol on up to 3 free courses and workshops each half term. For further information email: family.learning@surreycc.gov.uk or call 0300 200 1044.
Children and Family Health Surrey Advice Line (Surrey-wide 0-19 Advice Line)
The Surrey Children and Family Health Advice Line is available from 8am to 5pm, Monday to Friday (excluding Bank Holidays). They can provide support on all aspects of child health, development and parenting for families with children from birth to 19 years old. Call the Surrey-wide 0-19 Advice Line on 01883 340 922
The Community Nursing for Children's Emotional Wellbeing and Mental Health Service provides support to children and young people aged 4-18 years who are in a Surrey state school and are experiencing mild to moderate emotional or mental health difficulties.
Referrals to the service are usually made through your school nurse, school and health visitor. Each referral is considered on an individual basis and the best support for the child or young person will be decided. This might involve signposting to services from different agencies according to your child's specific difficulty or short term therapeutic intervention.
They can help with a wide range of emotional, behavioural and physical symptoms and difficulties.
Please contact the team via your child's school or school nurse.
Elmbridge Family Centres
The Elmbridge Family Centres are able to support all families in the area with 0-11's who wish to access support through courses.
Currently we can offer online courses to support parenting and child behaviour. We have tablets to loan if families do not have a suitable device.
We directly offer the Parenting Puzzle course on a rolling basis. and link with many partners who are offering other courses including talking teens, supporting challenging behaviour.
We will resume face to face sessions as soon as the government guidelines allow. These would generally be run at one of our buildings in Walton, Molesey, Cobham or in the local community. We will confirm the exact venue details when your place is confirmed. Please contact us for further details:
- Call: 01932 229103
- Email: elmbridge@spurgeons.org
Or visit the Elmbridge Family Centres website or Elmbridge Family Centres Facebook page.
Family Learning
Surrey Adult Learning's Family Learning programme aims to increase parent's skills and help them to support their children. It's free to parents, carers and even grandparents!
You can do online workshops and courses in parenting, wellbeing, anxiety and behaviour as well as phonics, English for EAL families, maths, science and healthy eating. Here's what one parent said about an 'Exploring Behaviour Strategies' course
"What a lovely course…. really constructive with lots of practical tips to go away and work on. I felt much more in control as a parent after last week's class alone! Thank you for being so open and inclusive, and providing a safe environment for us parents to share experiences."
You can enrol on up to 3 free courses and workshops each half term. For further information email: family.learning@surreycc.gov.uk or call 0300 200 1044.
Parenting Puzzle Course via Zoom
Find out how to get the best out of family life. This 10 week Nurturing Programme is for parents and carers living in Elmbridge. This course encourages and supports parents and carers to enjoy bringing up children of all ages. The sessions are informal, fun and a great confidence booster.
28 April 2021 - 7 July 2021 (break for half term) Wednesdays 10am- 11.30am via Zoom.
£50 per family, but concessions and free places available so please ask.
To find out more contact
- Michelle - michelle@thewellbeingsupervisor.com Call: 07772 348182 or
- Teresa - t.doe@orchard.surrey.sch.uk
The Children and Family Health Surrey Advice Line (Surrey-wide 0-19 Advice Line)
The Surrey Children and Family Health Advice Line is available from 8am to 5pm, Monday to Friday (excluding Bank Holidays). They can provide support on eating problems for families with children from birth to 19 years old. Call the Surrey-wide 0-19 Advice Line on 01883 340 922
The Community Nursing for Children's Emotional Wellbeing and Mental Health Service provides support to children and young people aged 4-18 years who are in a Surrey state school and are experiencing mild to moderate emotional or mental health difficulties.
Referrals to the service are usually made through your school nurse, school and health visitor. Each referral is considered on an individual basis and the best support for the child or young person will be decided. This might involve signposting to services from different agencies according to your child's specific difficulty or short term therapeutic intervention.
They can help with a wide range of emotional, behavioural and physical symptoms and difficulties.
Please contact the team via your child's school or school nurse.
Ewell Family Centre
Ewell Family Centre supports local families with children aged 0-11 years. Parenting support is currently being offered via online workshops.
For more information please visit the Ewell Family Centre website or call the centre to speak to staff on 020 8337 7310
Children and Family Health Surrey Advice Line (Surrey-wide 0-19 Advice Line)
The Surrey Children and Family Health Advice Line is available from 8am to 5pm, Monday to Friday (excluding Bank Holidays). They can provide support on all aspects of child health, development and parenting for families with children from birth to 19 years old. Call the Surrey-wide 0-19 Advice Line on 01883 340 922
The Community Nursing for Children's Emotional Wellbeing and Mental Health Service provides support to children and young people aged 4-18 years who are in a Surrey state school and are experiencing mild to moderate emotional or mental health difficulties.
Referrals to the service are usually made through your school nurse, school and health visitor. Each referral is considered on an individual basis and the best support for the child or young person will be decided. This might involve signposting to services from different agencies according to your child's specific difficulty or short term therapeutic intervention.
They can help with a wide range of emotional, behavioural and physical symptoms and difficulties.
Please contact the team via your child's school or school nurse.
Family Learning
Surrey Adult Learning's Family Learning programme aims to increase parent's skills and help them to support their children. It's free to parents, carers and even grandparents!
You can do online workshops and courses in parenting, wellbeing, anxiety and behaviour as well as phonics, English for EAL families, maths, science and healthy eating. Here's what one parent said about an 'Exploring Behaviour Strategies' course
"What a lovely course…. really constructive with lots of practical tips to go away and work on. I felt much more in control as a parent after last week's class alone! Thank you for being so open and inclusive, and providing a safe environment for us parents to share experiences."
You can enrol on up to 3 free courses and workshops each half term. For further information email: family.learning@surreycc.gov.uk or call 0300 200 1044.
Guildford Family Centre
Guildford Family Centre offer FREE weekly Family Advice Sessions (1:1 call with a family support worker).
These sessions are offered on Monday, Thursday and Friday from 09:15 - 09:45 or 09:45 - 10:15.
Book your free 30 minute, one to one session with a Family Support Worker now. Call 01483 510 570.
Booking is essential as spaces are limited.
Children and Family Health Surrey Advice Line (Surrey-wide 0-19 Advice Line)
The Surrey Children and Family Health Advice Line is available from 8am to 5pm, Monday to Friday (excluding Bank Holidays). They can provide support on all aspects of child health, development and parenting for families with children from birth to 19 years old. Call the Surrey-wide 0-19 Advice Line on 01883 340 922
The Community Nursing for Children's Emotional Wellbeing and Mental Health Service provides support to children and young people aged 4-18 years who are in a Surrey state school and are experiencing mild to moderate emotional or mental health difficulties.
Referrals to the service are usually made through your school nurse, school and health visitor. Each referral is considered on an individual basis and the best support for the child or young person will be decided. This might involve signposting to services from different agencies according to your child's specific difficulty or short term therapeutic intervention.
They can help with a wide range of emotional, behavioural and physical symptoms and difficulties.
Please contact the team via your child's school or school nurse.
Family Learning
Surrey Adult Learning's Family Learning programme aims to increase parent's skills and help them to support their children. It's free to parents, carers and even grandparents!
You can do online workshops and courses in parenting, wellbeing, anxiety and behaviour as well as phonics, English for EAL families, maths, science and healthy eating. Here's what one parent said about an 'Exploring Behaviour Strategies' course
"What a lovely course…. really constructive with lots of practical tips to go away and work on. I felt much more in control as a parent after last week's class alone! Thank you for being so open and inclusive, and providing a safe environment for us parents to share experiences."
You can enrol on up to 3 free courses and workshops each half term. For further information email: family.learning@surreycc.gov.uk or call 0300 200 1044.
Mole Valley Family Centre
Being a parent doesn't mean that you have to stop building your confidence and skills. Mole Valley have a range of courses and groups focusing on your needs. These are always welcoming, fun and interactive! And run at times to suit you and your family.
Visit the Mole Valley Family Centre website for information about courses and groups for you and your child. See what's on at the moment.
To find out more, please contact Mole Valley Family Centre on 01306 740095 or email familycentre@dorking.surrey.sch.uk
Be Your Best Surrey
Be Your Best could help your family to better health by supporting them to eat better and move more
If you have children under the age of 12 who weigh a bit more than they should, Be Your Best can help you:
- eat healthily on a budget
- plan meals – even for fussy eaters
- find ways to be more active
- start swapping unhealthy habits for good
For eligible families they offer one to one consultations with community nurses and exclusive online workshops for parents. To see if you qualify, complete the online enquiry form and you'll get a call you back (if you aren't enrolled into Be Your Best your name, telephone number and email address will be deleted after the call).
The Children and Family Health Surrey Advice Line (Surrey-wide 0-19 Advice Line)
The Surrey Children and Family Health Advice Line is available from 8am to 5pm, Monday to Friday (excluding Bank Holidays). They can provide support on eating problems for families with children from birth to 19 years old. Call the Surrey-wide 0-19 Advice Line on 01883 340 922
The Community Nursing for Children's Emotional Wellbeing and Mental Health Service provides support to children and young people aged 4-18 years who are in a Surrey state school and are experiencing mild to moderate emotional or mental health difficulties.
Referrals to the service are usually made through your school nurse, school and health visitor. Each referral is considered on an individual basis and the best support for the child or young person will be decided. This might involve signposting to services from different agencies according to your child's specific difficulty or short term therapeutic intervention.
They can help with a wide range of emotional, behavioural and physical symptoms and difficulties.
Please contact the team via your child's school or school nurse.
Family Learning
Surrey Adult Learning's Family Learning programme aims to increase parent's skills and help them to support their children. It's free to parents, carers and even grandparents!
You can do online workshops and courses in parenting, wellbeing, anxiety and behaviour as well as phonics, English for EAL families, maths, science and healthy eating. Here's what one parent said about an 'Exploring Behaviour Strategies' course
"What a lovely course…. really constructive with lots of practical tips to go away and work on. I felt much more in control as a parent after last week's class alone! Thank you for being so open and inclusive, and providing a safe environment for us parents to share experiences."
You can enrol on up to 3 free courses and workshops each half term. For further information email: family.learning@surreycc.gov.uk or call 0300 200 1044.
The Red Oak Family Centre
The Red Oak Family Centre works with families with children aged 0-11 years old. We have a team of qualified family support workers who work closely with families to support them in a range of areas including parenting, special educational needs, behaviour, mental health and much more.
The family centre is also a one stop shop for local families to get advice and support. The centre offers a wide range of groups and activities for families; including baby groups, play sessions for parents and carers of children with additional needs, 1-2-1 parenting sessions, parenting courses and child health and development support.
We offer advice and information mornings for parents and carers to pop along twice a week on Tuesdays and Thursdays to get help with topics including housing, finances and benefits, education, form filling, FEET funding and childcare advice, foodbank requests and emergency support and healthy start vitamins.
Our groups and activities will all be up and running shortly once restrictions are lifted and we look forward to welcoming families in the community back into the centre!
Please keep up to date with all the latest information from The Red Oak Family Centre or on The Red Oak Family Centre Facebook page
Welcare Family Centre Redhill
Welcare Family Centre Redhill normally offer a range of courses and sessions.
In line with National lockdown requirements Welcare Family Centre is currently closed. However, staff continue to offer information and advice and 1:1 family support remotely.
If you would like information and advice or are struggling and think 1:1 family support might help, please call the centre on 01737 780884 or email redhill@welcare.org to discuss your needs.
Children and Family Health Surrey Advice Line (Surrey-wide 0-19 Advice Line)
The Surrey Children and Family Health Advice Line is available from 8am to 5pm, Monday to Friday (excluding Bank Holidays). They can provide support on all aspects of child health, development and parenting for families with children from birth to 19 years old. Call the Surrey-wide 0-19 Advice Line on 01883 340 922
The Community Nursing for Children's Emotional Wellbeing and Mental Health Service provides support to children and young people aged 4-18 years who are in a Surrey state school and are experiencing mild to moderate emotional or mental health difficulties.
Referrals to the service are usually made through your school nurse, school and health visitor. Each referral is considered on an individual basis and the best support for the child or young person will be decided. This might involve signposting to services from different agencies according to your child's specific difficulty or short term therapeutic intervention.
They can help with a wide range of emotional, behavioural and physical symptoms and difficulties.
Please contact the team via your child's school or school nurse.
Family Learning
Surrey Adult Learning's Family Learning programme aims to increase parent's skills and help them to support their children. It's free to parents, carers and even grandparents!
You can do online workshops and courses in parenting, wellbeing, anxiety and behaviour as well as phonics, English for EAL families, maths, science and healthy eating. Here's what one parent said about an 'Exploring Behaviour Strategies' course
"What a lovely course…. really constructive with lots of practical tips to go away and work on. I felt much more in control as a parent after last week's class alone! Thank you for being so open and inclusive, and providing a safe environment for us parents to share experiences."
You can enrol on up to 3 free courses and workshops each half term. For further information email: family.learning@surreycc.gov.uk or call 0300 200 1044.
Runnymede Family Centre
Runnymede Family Centre offer a number of parenting courses for parents of children from 0 to11 years who are looking for that extra bit of support, including:
- 9 week Parenting Toolkit via Zoom (starts Thursday 22/04/2021)
For more information please phone 01784 464395 or email info.runnymede@hythe.surrey.sch.uk
Children and Family Health Surrey Advice Line (Surrey-wide 0-19 Advice Line)
The Surrey Children and Family Health Advice Line is available from 8am to 5pm, Monday to Friday (excluding Bank Holidays). They can provide support on all aspects of child health, development and parenting for families with children from birth to 19 years old. Call the Surrey-wide 0-19 Advice Line on 01883 340 922
Clarendon Family Centre
Clarendon Family centre can offer support to families with child 0-11 years old in Spelthorne. This includes information and advice and parenting courses.
If you'd like to find out more please call 07585 658690
The Community Nursing for Children's Emotional Wellbeing and Mental Health Service provides support to children and young people aged 4-18 years who are in a Surrey state school and are experiencing mild to moderate emotional or mental health difficulties.
Referrals to the service are usually made through your school nurse, school and health visitor. Each referral is considered on an individual basis and the best support for the child or young person will be decided. This might involve signposting to services from different agencies according to your child's specific difficulty or short term therapeutic intervention.
They can help with a wide range of emotional, behavioural and physical symptoms and difficulties.
Please contact the team via your child's school or school nurse.
Family Learning
Surrey Adult Learning's Family Learning programme aims to increase parent's skills and help them to support their children. It's free to parents, carers and even grandparents!
You can do online workshops and courses in parenting, wellbeing, anxiety and behaviour as well as phonics, English for EAL families, maths, science and healthy eating. Here's what one parent said about an 'Exploring Behaviour Strategies' course
"What a lovely course…. really constructive with lots of practical tips to go away and work on. I felt much more in control as a parent after last week's class alone! Thank you for being so open and inclusive, and providing a safe environment for us parents to share experiences."
You can enrol on up to 3 free courses and workshops each half term. For further information email: family.learning@surreycc.gov.uk or call 0300 200 1044.
Children and Family Health Surrey Advice Line (Surrey-wide 0-19 Advice Line)
The Surrey Children and Family Health Advice Line is available from 8am to 5pm, Monday to Friday (excluding Bank Holidays). They can provide support on all aspects of child health, development and parenting for families with children from birth to 19 years old. Call the Surrey-wide 0-19 Advice Line on 01883 340 922
The Community Nursing for Children's Emotional Wellbeing and Mental Health Service provides support to children and young people aged 4-18 years who are in a Surrey state school and are experiencing mild to moderate emotional or mental health difficulties.
Referrals to the service are usually made through your school nurse, school and health visitor. Each referral is considered on an individual basis and the best support for the child or young person will be decided. This might involve signposting to services from different agencies according to your child's specific difficulty or short term therapeutic intervention.
They can help with a wide range of emotional, behavioural and physical symptoms and difficulties.
Please contact the team via your child's school or school nurse.
Family Learning
Surrey Adult Learning's Family Learning programme aims to increase parent's skills and help them to support their children. It's free to parents, carers and even grandparents!
You can do online workshops and courses in parenting, wellbeing, anxiety and behaviour as well as phonics, English for EAL families, maths, science and healthy eating. Here's what one parent said about an 'Exploring Behaviour Strategies' course
"What a lovely course…. really constructive with lots of practical tips to go away and work on. I felt much more in control as a parent after last week's class alone! Thank you for being so open and inclusive, and providing a safe environment for us parents to share experiences."
You can enrol on up to 3 free courses and workshops each half term. For further information email: family.learning@surreycc.gov.uk or call 0300 200 1044.
Surrey Heath Family Centre Barnardo's
Surrey Heath Family Centre are currently running a rolling programme of parenting courses, workshops and short sessions via zoom, including:
- The full 10 week parenting puzzle course that encourages parents and carers to enjoy bringing up children and get the best out of family life.
- 4 x Parenting puzzle workshops
For more information about any of the opportunities offered via the above programmes, please call Surrey Heath Family Centre on 07565 202058.
The Children and Family Health Surrey Advice Line (Surrey-wide 0-19 Advice Line)
The Surrey Children and Family Health Advice Line is available from 8am to 5pm, Monday to Friday (excluding Bank Holidays). They can provide support on eating problems for families with children from birth to 19 years old. Call the Surrey-wide 0-19 Advice Line on 01883 340 922
The Community Nursing for Children's Emotional Wellbeing and Mental Health Service provides support to children and young people aged 4-18 years who are in a Surrey state school and are experiencing mild to moderate emotional or mental health difficulties.
Referrals to the service are usually made through your school nurse, school and health visitor. Each referral is considered on an individual basis and the best support for the child or young person will be decided. This might involve signposting to services from different agencies according to your child's specific difficulty or short term therapeutic intervention.
They can help with a wide range of emotional, behavioural and physical symptoms and difficulties.
Please contact the team via your child's school or school nurse.
Family Learning
Surrey Adult Learning's Family Learning programme aims to increase parent's skills and help them to support their children. It's free to parents, carers and even grandparents!
You can do online workshops and courses in parenting, wellbeing, anxiety and behaviour as well as phonics, English for EAL families, maths, science and healthy eating. Here's what one parent said about an 'Exploring Behaviour Strategies' course
"What a lovely course…. really constructive with lots of practical tips to go away and work on. I felt much more in control as a parent after last week's class alone! Thank you for being so open and inclusive, and providing a safe environment for us parents to share experiences."
You can enrol on up to 3 free courses and workshops each half term. For further information email: family.learning@surreycc.gov.uk or call 0300 200 1044.
The Children and Family Health Surrey Advice Line (Surrey-wide 0-19 Advice Line)
The Surrey Children and Family Health Advice Line is available from 8am to 5pm, Monday to Friday (excluding Bank Holidays). They can provide support on eating problems for families with children from birth to 19 years old. Call the Surrey-wide 0-19 Advice Line on 01883 340 922
The Community Nursing for Children's Emotional Wellbeing and Mental Health Service provides support to children and young people aged 4-18 years who are in a Surrey state school and are experiencing mild to moderate emotional or mental health difficulties.
Referrals to the service are usually made through your school nurse, school and health visitor. Each referral is considered on an individual basis and the best support for the child or young person will be decided. This might involve signposting to services from different agencies according to your child's specific difficulty or short term therapeutic intervention.
They can help with a wide range of emotional, behavioural and physical symptoms and difficulties.
Please contact the team via your child's school or school nurse.
Family Learning
Surrey Adult Learning's Family Learning programme aims to increase parent's skills and help them to support their children. It's free to parents, carers and even grandparents!
You can do online workshops and courses in parenting, wellbeing, anxiety and behaviour as well as phonics, English for EAL families, maths, science and healthy eating. Here's what one parent said about an 'Exploring Behaviour Strategies' course
"What a lovely course…. really constructive with lots of practical tips to go away and work on. I felt much more in control as a parent after last week's class alone! Thank you for being so open and inclusive, and providing a safe environment for us parents to share experiences."
You can enrol on up to 3 free courses and workshops each half term. For further information email: family.learning@surreycc.gov.uk or call 0300 200 1044.
Be Your Best Surrey
Be Your Best could help your family to better health by supporting them to eat better and move more
If you have children under the age of 12 who weigh a bit more than they should, Be Your Best can help you:
- eat healthily on a budget
- plan meals – even for fussy eaters
- find ways to be more active
- start swapping unhealthy habits for good
For eligible families they offer one to one consultations with community nurses and exclusive online workshops for parents. To see if you qualify, complete the online enquiry form and you'll get a call you back (if you aren't enrolled into Be Your Best your name, telephone number and email address will be deleted after the call).
The Children and Family Health Surrey Advice Line (Surrey-wide 0-19 Advice Line)
The Surrey Children and Family Health Advice Line is available from 8am to 5pm, Monday to Friday (excluding Bank Holidays). They can provide support on eating problems for families with children from birth to 19 years old. Call the Surrey-wide 0-19 Advice Line on 01883 340 922
The Community Nursing for Children's Emotional Wellbeing and Mental Health Service provides support to children and young people aged 4-18 years who are in a Surrey state school and are experiencing mild to moderate emotional or mental health difficulties.
Referrals to the service are usually made through your school nurse, school and health visitor. Each referral is considered on an individual basis and the best support for the child or young person will be decided. This might involve signposting to services from different agencies according to your child's specific difficulty or short term therapeutic intervention.
They can help with a wide range of emotional, behavioural and physical symptoms and difficulties.
Please contact the team via your child's school or school nurse.
Family Learning
Surrey Adult Learning's Family Learning programme aims to increase parent's skills and help them to support their children. It's free to parents, carers and even grandparents!
You can do online workshops and courses in parenting, wellbeing, anxiety and behaviour as well as phonics, English for EAL families, maths, science and healthy eating. Here's what one parent said about an 'Exploring Behaviour Strategies' course
"What a lovely course…. really constructive with lots of practical tips to go away and work on. I felt much more in control as a parent after last week's class alone! Thank you for being so open and inclusive, and providing a safe environment for us parents to share experiences."
You can enrol on up to 3 free courses and workshops each half term. For further information email: family.learning@surreycc.gov.uk or call 0300 200 1044.
