Handing over control of your child’s toothbrush can be a big moment – if only because now you have to trust that you’ve taught him well how to care for his own teeth, and aside from a quick inspection each day, you’re giving him a little more autonomy over his own body.

It’s just as important that your child eat healthy lunches and snacks at school as it is when she’s at home. Nutritious school lunches are important as they will provide the fuel for her learning. Try encouraging your child to be involved in the preparation of her lunch each day – if she has a say into what’s going into her lunchbox each day, she’ll be more likely to eat it.

• Always wash your hands thoroughly after you’ve handled raw foods.

Teaching your child to keep his body clean is an important part of building his self-esteem – if he cares about the way he presents himself and feels good about his body then he’ll feel pretty good about himself.

Caring for sick kids can be very stressful, particularly if they are experiencing pain due to fever, toothache, ear ache or any of the many other common childhood illnesses that can cause discomfort.

Getting a pet for the family can seem like such a wonderful idea – before you actually do it. But if you haven’t really thought through all the aspects of pet ownership, you can end up feeling that your pet is as much work as your children!

Grazes:

• Grazes are also referred to as scrapes, abrasions, and can include 'carpet burns' and 'gravel rash')

There’s nothing more heartbreaking than having to find a new home for the beloved family pet because of health issues in the family. So consider the following before you choose the next addition to your family:

Deck railings:

• All railings should be 1m high at least