Why my son rides a balance bike
Victoria Hazael: I don’t want my son to learn bad cycling habits – stabilisers give false sense of security and encourage over-leaning
Should I send my sick child to school?
Luisa Dillner: Parents in south Wales have been advised that children with tonsillitis, conjunctivitis and glandular fever don’t need time off school. Should they follow these guidelines?
If you want to get ahead, have a lie-in
Tom Hodgkinson: An experiment that allows some lucky teenagers to start school an hour later than usual will prove what we idlers have long suspected – the key to success is plenty of sleep
The UK’s toothache – why children are losing their teeth
The first UK survey of the dental health of under-threes has discovered shocking levels of tooth decay, with sugary drinks often to blame. Here is more on the story in graphics and images from across the ages
Is rugby now too dangerous for children?
Rugby is a tough, physical sport and injuries are a major part of it. But are the risks too high? Should we stop our children playing the game? Tim Lewis investigates
Almost half of child deaths occur in first month of life, UN estimates
Most are from preventable causes such as diseases like pneumonia, malnutrition and complications in labour, but new research highlights success in Rwanda
Can free school meals revive the Lib Dems?
The party’s £1bn policy allows all pupils in all infant classes to get a daily hot meal. Nick Clegg took a lot of flak when it was announced – but how is it working out? Jay Rayner joins him in the school dinner queue
Prenatal alcohol consumption linked to mental health problems
Children whose mothers drink four units of alcohol even once are more likely to suffer from hyperactivity, study shows
Our beautiful sons could die before us
Nick Taussig thought his son Theo was a bit of a late developer. If only that were true. Doctors diagnosed Duchenne, a devastating genetic disorder – and everything changed. He will not rest until he finds a cure
FGM: two young women who woke up world and forced politicians to act
Fahma Mohamed in UK and Jaha Dukureh in US have led global debate on female genital mutilation and movement to end it