A

Advice: Getting the balance right between giving good advice and nagging can be hard. Listening is a key skill, which both children and parents often lack. Take the time to find out what is going on in your kids' lives and use the summer holidays as a time to sort out any problems that are bothering them.

B

Bullying: According to the NSPCC, 31 per cent of children experience bullying, a further seven per cent feel discriminated against and another 14 per cent have been made to feel excluded. Keep talking to your child and encourage them to react calmly and walk away from bullies.

During the summer holidays enrol your child in activity programmes in sport, drama or music to encourage them to make new friends.

C

Carers: There are an estimated 175,000 young carers in the UK who look after sick or elderly relatives and siblings on a daily basis and take on a lot of responsibilities from a young age. The Princess Royal Trust has a website at www.youngcarers.net which contains lots of information for young carers, including information about days out and holidays.

D

Dads: Fathers-to-be can take up to two weeks' paternity leave if they have been with their employer for 26 weeks or more by the 15th week before the baby is due. Visit www.worksmart.org.uk to find out more information about entitlement.

E

Education: Getting your child into the right' school can be a major source of stress, with some parents choosing where to live on the basis of school catchment areas. Make a list of your top schools and check the admissions criteria carefully. The application process begins in the autumn term for the following September, so the holidays are an ideal time to start thinking about where you want your child to attend school.

F

Freedom: Letting go of teenagers is one of the hardest things a parent has to do, especially when they are on their way to university. Prepare them for independence with advice about budgeting, health and relationships but also know that they need to make their own way, and possibly mistakes, to learn about life.

G

Grandparents: Increasingly grandparents are becoming almost full-time babysitters and while most are happy to spend time with their child's offspring, for others it can be demanding and exhausting looking after a young child. If you have a childcare arrangement with your parents, make sure they are happy with it -if it is on a full-time basis you could even work out a contract of hours and pay so they don't feel taken advantage of. The summer holidays are a time when grandparents will be called on most to help with the kids, so make sure they feel appreciated.

H

Homework: If you have a problem with resources or getting your child to buckle down, try sending them to a local homework club where they will receive support and help if needed.

Visit www.wiltshire.gov.uk for details of homework clubs in your area.

I

Illness: Summer can be a difficult time for allergy sufferers, the three main sources of summer allergy symptoms are grass pollen, weed pollen and mould spores. Over-the-counter medicines are available, or visit www.whatreallyworks.co.uk for suggestions about natural remedies to try.

J

Jet set: To celebrate leaving college or university each year 230,000 18 to 24-year-olds take a gap year worldwide, spending an average of £3,000-4,000. India, Peru and Tanzania are the most popular places for gap year placements. It can be a worrying time for parents, but with emails and phone calls it's possible to stay in touch and the experience helps you to trust your child to make sensible decisions.

K

Knives: Following a spate of fatal stabbings in London, knife crime amongst teenagers is a headline favourite in national newspapers but fortunately in Wiltshire it is a rare occurrence. Educate your children about the danger of carrying knives and hanging around in gangs - with light evenings in the summer more teenagers are on the streets until late at night. Make sure you know where your children are and whom they are with.

L

Lager: According to the NHS, statistics show that one fifth of secondary school pupils admit to drinking alcohol on a regular basis. In the summer there are more opportunities for adolescents to get together in the park and experiment with alcohol; although in some parks such as Trowbridge's there are public orders in place to give the police the power to stop people drinking alcohol in that area.

M

Mums: Mothers are stretched most days, but the summer holidays can be extra stressful. Make sure you take care of yourself and take the time out to relax and rejuvenate.

N

Nutrition: Summer is the time to introduce kids to new salads at barbecues and picnics and to encourage them to eat fruit as frozen kebabs' or in smoothies mixed with ice.

O

Obedience: Positive discipline is the new buzz phrase. Instead of punishing children for bad behaviour and making them take time out on a naughty step, try praising their good behaviour.

P

Pocket money: Pocket money can be a sticky issue, especially in the summertime when children have more leisure time and activities. Set out a pocket money level and stick to it; make your child aware that they will be given a certain amount of money at the beginning of the month and must learn to budget accordingly. If you want them to work for their money, set up a chore rota to make sure the kids do their fair share.

Q

Quarrels: Family holidays can cause tensions to rise and it's easy to wind each other up to breaking point when the whole family is stuck in the car or a small villa. Take plenty of games and snacks to keep the kids occupied and stop them from moaning. Stop for regular breaks so they can run around and let off steam.

R

Recession: With rising food and fuel costs, entertaining the kids can be an expensive business. Save money by exploring the local area, taking advantage of discount vouchers and travelling as a larger group to save money on transport and entrance fees. Visit www.daysout.co.uk for ideas and discounts.

S

Sex: Although the average age for losing their virginity is 16, almost 30 per cent of young men and almost 26 per cent of young women report having had sex before their 16th birthday.

Although it might feel difficult to talk to young children about sex, it's essential to make sure they are given information to make a safe and informed decision.

T

Tests: Testing times for primary school pupils have caused controversy amongst leading academics that believe the quality of teaching can suffer when exams are set as the focal point for the curriculum. If your child is getting stressed out about exams or results, reassure them that they can only do their best and encourage them to be involved in sports, arts and other aspects of school life.

U

UV: Remember slip, slap, slop. Slip on a T-shirt, slap on a hat and slop on some suntan lotion in the sun. Make sure you use waterproof high-factor sun cream and keep in the shade if possible. Give your kids plenty of water and juice to keep them hydrated in hot climates.

V

Video games: The great British weather means that there will probably be at least a few rainy days. Fears over violence and inactivity have made many parents wary of computer games, but with an increase in child-friendly educational and sport-based games, children can enjoy the benefits of video games when they are stuck indoors.

W

Water: When the weather finally heats up its time to get out the paddling pools and visit the beach. Younger children should wear flotation devices and be supervised at all times, older children should be aware of the dangers of water - but also should be able to enjoy themselves safely.

X

X-rays: Summer ,hopefully, brings sunshine and it's easier to encourage kids to go outside and play football, tennis or basketball. Unfortunately this means more trips to A&E after over-enthusiastic tackles or swings result in breakages and fractures. Taking a short course in first-aid can help you to stay calm and give you the tools to know what to do in an emergency.

Y

Youth: A recent survey by The Mirror newspaper found that 92 per cent of 16-19 year olds feel they get bad press and 63 per cent think adults are afraid of them. Not all teens are the same. By teaching your child to respect others, parents can break the cycle of fear that has come to exist in the UK.

Z

Zzzzz: Research from Northwestern University in America has suggested that the reason teenagers sleep in at weekends is down to sleep deprivation during the week rather than laziness. Although that still doesn't explain why they refuse to do the washing up or vacuuming.