Health education and young people: it's time to join up

Purpose - To explore the importance of joining up and making the links between different topic areas within health education, as well as the importance of working effectively with key partners including children, young people and their families. Design/methodology/approach - The editorial draws on a range of national participation and practice development projects to offer some of the views and ideas of children and young people in relation to health education planning, development and delivery. Findings - Children and young people want to participate in the development of health education; they want it to focus on both the physical and the emotional aspects of health and reflect the realities of their lives; they want professionals to work alongside parents, and for education to be well linked to confidential advice and support. Practical implications - This editorial encourages practitioners to reflect on their practice and consider how they are joining up the different content areas in health education, e.g. sex, alcohol and risk taking, how they are joining up education with health services and how professionals are working with children, young people and their families to develop high-quality consistent health education. Originality/value - The paper serves as a reminder to colleagues to draw on the expertise of children and young people and to consider whether and how their work is reflecting the realities of children's lives.