Parenting school-age children (6–12)
🔵 Wellness practice
School-age children are learning independence, friendships and how to handle feelings.
- Keep a rhythm: sleep, meals, homework, play and family time.
- Talk about feelings in everyday moments: car rides, walks, bedtime.
- Give small responsibilities such as chores, and thank them for helping.
- Praise effort and strategies, not only marks.
- Stay curious about friendships. Ask who they play with and how it went. Take reports of bullying seriously.
Try this week
Ask each evening: “What was one good thing, and one hard thing today?” Just listen.
When to seek help
Speak to a school counsellor or doctor if worries, sadness, stomach aches or school refusal continue for weeks, or if learning or friendships suffer.