Family can be biological, adoptive, step parents, foster carers, siblings, extended relatives and other significant people in life.  People have different experiences of what a family is, there is no right or wrong.

• A positive environment
• People feel happy, safe and secure
• Good family relationships are enjoyable
• A support system that can help during difficult times
• An environment that supports learning
• Everyone can feel loved, cared for and respected

We talk to each other

Everyone’s thoughts and views are listened to

There are reasonable rules and boundaries

Everyone is respected

People in the family help each other

Supported and cared for by other in the family

Spending quality time together

It is common for there to be difficulties in family relationships.

Many things can affect family relationships

• Bereavements and loss
• Arguments and fallouts
• Family members’ mental health
• Parents separating and families separating
• Family members taking illegal drugs or drinking too much
• Health problems
• Someone leaving the family, perhaps going to university
• Difficulties around money and debt
• Not feeling heard and/ or seen

How you and your child might react and feel when difficulties happen

• Talking about family difficulties doesn’t always make things better and sometimes makes things worse
• Worried about the mood and behaviour of family members
• Feel unsafe and threatened
• Not always listened to or respected by your family when talking to them
• Your family argue and disagree a lot and it makes you feel sad and worried
• Finding it hard to concentrate at school, college, university, work
• Mood changes – anxiety, tiredness, irritation