New
New
Year 4

Healthy families

I can describe what a healthy family should feel like.

New
New
Year 4

Healthy families

I can describe what a healthy family should feel like.

These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

Switch to our new teaching resources now - designed by teachers and leading subject experts, and tested in classrooms.

These resources were created for remote use during the pandemic and are not designed for classroom teaching.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Families are never perfect and many families struggle.
  2. Parents and carers may not always have as much money and time for us as we would like.
  3. Families need rules and routines to keep things fair and safe.
  4. There is a difference between secrets and surprises.
  5. Problems in our families are never our fault and we should seek help if we don't feel safe.

Keywords

  • Family - the people we live with and may be related to

  • Struggle - when someone is finding it hard to overcome a challenge

  • Rules - expectations to follow that can keep us safe

  • Secret - something that is kept hidden

Common misconception

I am responsible for how my family is.

Although we can help our parents and carers, it can never be a child's responsibility to ensure the wellbeing of the whole family. Even if a child makes mistakes, or has additional needs, the health of the family is the responsibility of the adults.


To help you plan your year 4 RSHE (PSHE) lesson on: Healthy families, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Emphasise that love and care are the most important things.
Teacher tip

Equipment

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
  • Depiction or discussion of peer pressure or bullying

Supervision

Adult supervision recommended

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

Loading...

Prior knowledge starter quiz

Download quiz pdf

6 Questions

Q1.
Match the words with their definition.
Correct Answer:healthy,when something is good for us, our minds and bodies

when something is good for us, our minds and bodies

Correct Answer:respect,treating others kindly, valuing their feelings, ideas and boundaries

treating others kindly, valuing their feelings, ideas and boundaries

Correct Answer:boundary,an imaginary line separating what we will and won't allow

an imaginary line separating what we will and won't allow

Q2.
Which statements are true?
Correct answer: There are many types of families around the UK.
There is one type of family that is normal.
Families always stay the same.
Correct answer: Families can change over time.
Q3.
Who are examples of trusted adults?
Correct answer: parents/carers
any adult we meet
Correct answer: school staff
adults online
Q4.
Finish the sentences so that they are correct.
Correct Answer:Families should treat each other ...,kindly and with love.

kindly and with love.

Correct Answer:Families shouldn't make each other ...,feel scared or worried most of the time.

feel scared or worried most of the time.

Correct Answer:We should ask our family for help if ...,we are upset, worried or sad.

we are upset, worried or sad.

Correct Answer:Parents and carers should ...,provide the things that children need.

provide the things that children need.

Q5.
Which are examples of phrases we can use to stick up for ourselves by firmly stating what we feel and what we need?
Correct answer: "I don't want to play that game today thanks, let's play it tomorrow instead."
"I never want to play with you again as you suck!"
"Your ideas for games are rubbish, I don't want to play with you again."
Q6.
In friendships, we need to our needs and the needs of others.
Correct Answer: balance

Assessment exit quiz

Download quiz pdf

6 Questions

Q1.
Match the words with their definition.
Correct Answer:family,the people we live with and may be related to

the people we live with and may be related to

Correct Answer:struggle,when someone is finding it hard to overcome a challenge

when someone is finding it hard to overcome a challenge

Correct Answer:secret,something that is kept hidden

something that is kept hidden

Q2.
Families need to keep things fair and safe, for example, treat each other with respect and ask before you borrow something from someone else.
Correct Answer: rules
Q3.
Which statements are true?
I am responsible for how my family is.
Correct answer: It can never be a child's responsibility to ensure the wellbeing of the family.
Correct answer: Our family's health is the adult's responsibility, although we can help.
Some families are perfect.
Q4.
Which of these scenarios are surprises?
an adult has made you feel uncomfortable
someone has told you not to tell your trusted adults something
Correct answer: there is a birthday party next week for your grandpa that he doesn't know about
Correct answer: you have a present to give to your friend
Q5.
What should we do if we don't feel safe or if we are worried about our family?
Correct answer: speak to a teacher
not tell anyone
blame ourselves
Q6.
It's important to remember that families are never and that all families struggle at some point.
happy
content
Correct answer: perfect