Making mistakes is a part of life. Everyone makes them ALL the time.

It doesn’t matter if you’re a parent, a teacher, a police officer or even the Queen! There will be times when you make mistakes.

You might feel afraid or worried about what other people think of you.

It can be hard to admit that you’re wrong or made a mistake. Try not to be hard on yourself. It’s okay to make mistakes. Nobody’s perfect.

Mistakes teach us a lot of things. There’s always something to learn.

Getting good at something like making new friends, doing homework, or learning a new game, means being okay with making mistakes. It’s how we learn to do things better!

Try to work out how the mistake happened.

This can help you know what to do differently next time. The important thing to remember is that we are always learning. Getting better at things takes practice.

The internet is amazing, but it can also be scary

Playing games, looking at videos and talking to friends online can be a lot of fun! Take a look at these tips to make sure you do it safely.

Don’t give out information about yourself

Don’t share personal stuff online like your full name, address or phone number. Someone could try to use this information to find you. Choose a fun nickname instead!

Only talk to people you know

When using social media or online messaging, make your profile private and only add your friends in real life. Talk to your parents first before you chat with people you don’t know.

Think carefully before you press send

You can get in trouble with Police if you send photos of you or other people without clothes on. You can also get in trouble if you bully someone or talk about hurting them.

Watch what you buy online

Some stuff on the internet needs money like playing games or shopping. Always ask your parents before spending money online!

Talk to an adult if you feel worried

Some things on the internet might make us feel scared or confused. Always talk to a parent or an adult you trust if you are worried about something online.

Sometimes friends fight

Having a friend is not always fun. Sometimes friends get angry with each other or feel hurt about something. Fighting can be really upsetting for everyone.

It’s ok to have a break and figure out how you feel

Spend some time apart from each other. Do some things you enjoy. Ask yourself what you’re feeling and how your friend might feel.

Let’s talk about it

Talk to your friend alone in a quiet place. Try to stay calm. It’s good to let your friend know how you feel about the fight but remember to listen to how your friend feels too.

What happens now?

You might still want to be friends after the fight. Or maybe you don’t want to stay friends anymore. It’s ok for friendships to change - a new friend might be just around the corner!

If you live with your parents you might talk to them a lot

Talking to your parents is something you probably do every day or most days. You might tell them about school or friends, ask them questions or get help with something.

But talking with your parents can sometimes be hard!

Sometimes you feel sad, angry or upset. Maybe you don’t know how to talk to your parents about it, so you bottle it up instead.

You might worry what your parents will do or say

If you worry about what your parents think, you’re not alone! Lots of other kids have the same worries as you.

Why it can be hard talking to your parents

You might worry your parents will get angry at you or you might get into trouble. Maybe you think they won’t listen, won’t believe you or you just don’t want to bother them with your problems.

How do you have a good talk with your parents?

Luckily, we’ve got lots of tips to help you! On the next few pages we give you some ideas to make it easier to talk with your parents.

Tip 1: Practice

It can help to plan what you want to say. Try practicing with a friend or a counsellor at Kids Helpline. You could write down what you want to say before you try talking to your parents.

Tip 2: Stay calm

Try to talk when you feel calm and less upset or angry. This helps you tell them what you need to say in a clear way that they can better understand.

Tip 3: Time it right

Find a time when your parents aren’t busy so they can give you their attention. Try to do it when you’re alone or at home. This means they can listen carefully and understand what you are trying to tell them.

Tip 4: Being unsure is ok

Remember, it's ok not to have all the answers! If your parents ask you lots of questions but you aren’t sure about the answers it’s ok to say “I don’t know yet” and together you can figure it out.

Being stuck in the middle

It can be upsetting to see your friends fight or not talk to each other. Being stuck in the middle can be really hard and you might not know what to do.

Tell your friends how you feel

You may feel uncomfortable, worried or upset about your friends fighting. Be honest with them about how it makes you feel. Let them know that you don’t want this to change your friendship.

You don’t have to pick a side

Just because your friends are fighting doesn't mean you have to fight too. It’s OK to tell them that you don't want to pick sides and that you want to be friends with both of them.

Be there for them both

Let your friends know that they can talk to you. Listen to your friend about how they feel. Tell them that you care. Make sure you don’t say anything bad about the other friend.

Help them talk to each other

Sometimes your friends might need some help to work things out. When they are both feeling calm and ready to talk, you can help by getting them together to talk.