Healthy families
One thing's for sure - health is a hot topic. There's a huge amount of advice available on illness, exercising and everything in between. Incredibly, there are a whopping 100,000 health websites on the Internet, so how can you find the best information about keeping your family fit and healthy? National Family Week has scoured the web for the very best resources.
Common childhood illnesses
Chicken pox, coughs, colds, throat infections. It can seem like it's one ailment after another when you've got young children. Thankfully, there's lots of great advice on the web to help parents get their children back to full health as soon as possible.
Highly respected website for children and families from Great Ormond Street Hospital, with information on hundreds of conditions
Children First For Health
For a "no nonsense" A-Z health encyclopaedia, NHS Direct is a safe choice as it's regularly checked by senior health professionals
NHS Direct
Children with special needs
Parents caring for children with a serious condition, disability or special needs have to cope with even more pressure than the typical day-to-day parenting concerns. Many organisations offer support, advice and information to support these parents and make their lives a little bit easier.
Contact a Family supports families with disabled children and puts them in touch with others in the same boat
Contact a Family
Essential information about living with cystic fibrosis and its symptoms and treatments
Cystic Fibrosis Trust
Practical information about epilepsy, including a fun "Beach Park" website for children
Epilepsy Action
The place to go for autism information, with pages for parents, siblings and grandparents
National Autistic Society
The national charity dedicated to creating a world without barriers for deaf children and young people.
National Deaf Children's Society
Keeping fit
Keeping fit needn't be a chore if you engage the whole family and make it fun. There are lots of things you can do together to increase your fitness and there's never been more information available on how to live healthier lives. No more excuses - start getting active today!
Active Places allows you to you search for sports and fitness facilities anywhere in England
Active Places
Just for kids! The British Heart Foundation offers practical tips and games about keeping healthy and active
British Heart Foundation
Fitter Families initiative is the national voice for educating families on how to incorporate lifestyle habit changes, thorough a unique SAS (Simple, Achievable and Sustainable) approach
Fitter Families
Excellent, clear advice on how to live well, with sections especially for babies, children, men and women
NHS Choices - Live Well
Complimentary and alternative medicine
Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is becoming increasingly popular. More women are using CAM to help conception and birth and some parents use alternative therapies to treat childhood complaints. Parents should be aware that CAM isn't suitable for everyone and can have potentially dangerous side effects. Always let your doctor know if you intend to try CAM.
Common sense advice about how to choose a CAM practitioner
Complementary & Natural Healthcare Council
Practitioner search facility for putting people in touch with CAM therapists in their area
Institute for Complementary and Natural Medicine
Healthy eating
Never before has so much attention been paid to our diets! Countless news stories talk about childhood obesity and the rise in diabetes and heart disease. Experts say that if we carry on as we are, by 2050, 90% of today's children will be overweight. Make healthy eating fun and you can stop this from happening.
"One-stop-shop" for healthy eating facts, with tips on food safety, labels, nutrition and more
Food Standards Agency - Eat Well
Families on certain benefits can get free milk, fruit, vegetables and vitamins vouchers
Healthy Start
Emotional health
It's not just our bodies that we need to take care of. Our minds need to be nurtured too. The importance of protecting children's emotional health is something that politicians and children's professionals have been concerned with for some time. So what can parents do to help raise happy, confident children?
Care for the Family aims to support parents through the ups and downs of family life
Care for the Family
One of the leading directories for counselling advice and information in the UK
Counselling Directory
One for Mums and Dads! Headroom is a BBC campaign to help adults cope with the everyday stresses of life
Headroom
Practical, clearly-written advice for children and parents going through a family break-up
It's Not Your Fault
Expertly-written mental health factsheets on common problems like ADHD and anxiety
Royal College of Psychiatrists
Healthy family relationships
Whether you live in a classic 'nuclear' family or a 'blended' family with step-parents and step-siblings, we all have to work at keeping the peace. There are lots of positive ways to nurture healthy family relationships, such as listening more and spending quality time together. Try these websites for further ideas and advice.
First aid
Knowing some basic first aid techniques can mean the difference between life and death in an emergency. First aid doesn't take long to master and it's something that the family can learn together. Using the websites below, make sure that you're well prepared and know what to do in a crisis and - just as importantly - what not to do.
Great Ormond Street Hospital comes up trumps again with an excellent set of first aid tips for parents
Families First for Health
Our supporters
"National Family Week is the perfect chance for families to make time for each other and have fun while they are doing it."
Esther Rantzen, CBE, Broadcaster, Campaigner and Chair of The Family Commission
"I look forward to taking part in National Family Week and encouraging others to do the same."
Antony Worrall Thompson, Celebrity Chef
"Encouraging families to get active is a subject very close to my heart, so I am thrilled and delighted to be able to show my support for National Family Week."
Sally Gunnell OBE, Olympic Gold Medalist
"I really hope that National Family Week encourages people to take a moment to realize the importance of the people they have around them."
Amanda Holden, Britain's Got Talent Judge
"I am pleased to endorse National Family Week and its aim of promoting and celebrating family life in Britain."
Gordon Brown, Former Prime Minister
"I think National Family Week is a great initiative that will encourage families to come together and realise how important every part of the family is."
Sir Terry Wogan, Radio and Television Broadcaster
"I am delighted to welcome National Family Week. It's full of practical ideas, and it will be great to see organisations from all sections of society join together to celebrate family life."
David Cameron, Prime Minister
