boy standing in sunshine

4-8 years

Whether preparing for school or in school, 4 to 8 years is an exciting time in your child’s development.

Parenting is often described as a journey, with different stages that present different rewards and challenges along the way. Many of you have told us you’re not always confident in dealing with some of the more challenging aspects of your child’s behaviour. Well don’t worry – you’re in the right place! 

Between the ages of 4 and 8 your child is growing and developing fast. Your child will need food to provide energy and the essential nutrients to help them grow physically, as well as good sleep, lots of activity and plenty of opportunities to develop their sense of self and self-worth. 

This is a great time to start good habits for a healthy lifestyle, to help your child be healthy now and in future. We’ll cover how to do this in our guide to healthy lifestyles. 

Another milestone in your child’s life is starting their school journey. Starting school can bring big changes to family life and is an exciting time but it is also natural for you and your child to have worries. 

You may have many questions from ‘how do you apply?’ through to ‘how can I help my child prepare for school?’ You may also have noticed that your child’s behaviour is changing. This is perfectly normal as they may also have questions about starting school. There’s a lot of support available, and we’re here to help you find it.