Symbolically, it gives a child a bit of a problem (5)
I believe the answer is:
totem
'symbolically it' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this defines the answer.
'a child a bit of a problem' is the wordplay.
'a child' becomes 'tot' (term for a young child).
'a bit of a problem' becomes 'em' (I am not sure about this - if you are sure you should believe this answer much more).
'tot'+'em'='TOTEM'
'gives' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for totem that I've seen before include "Badge of tribe etc" , "Pole used in ritual" , "Venerated emblem" , "Image representing tribe" , "Tribal symbol (maybe on pole)" .)