Wellbeing

Children's Mental Health Week - 1-7 February.

Please find below a selection of resources added this week to support parents and children with mental health. We hope you find them useful. 

The documents below contain information on high-quality resources to support family life and parenting, with advice on keeping children entertained, looking after everyone’s mental health and where to turn for extra help, including confidential helplines

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There are also practical ideas on how to incorporate the Five Ways to Wellbeing into family life to support children and young people through these challenging times.

There are also lists lots of useful self-help apps and websites and a range of resources, including helplines, to support young people with their mental health.

 CBBC - Operation Ouch Special Episode - suitable for KS2

 CBeebies - Get Well Soon Coronavirus - suitable for KS1 and Reception

In the 'Operation Ouch'  episode, Dr Chris, Dr Xand and Dr Ronx explore the science behind the current Coronavirus pandemic, answering lots of questions along the way about why the outbreak occurred, what the virus does to your body, and how patients are being treated. We suggest you watch these episodes with your child so you can also address any questions they might be thinking about. Again, use this if you feel it would be helpful for your child.

The 'Get Well Soon Coronavirus' programme is suitable for KS1 and Reception children. In the episode Dr Ranj explains coronavirus to his puppet Jobi. They also sing a song about washing your hands.

The guide below contains lots of useful self-help apps and websites and a range of resources, including helplines, to support young people with their mental health.

Covid-19 Time Capsule

Below you will find all the printables you need if you wanted to create your own 2020 Covid-19 Time Capsule. This year will go down in history as a year where the world changed because of Coronavirus COVID-19. Our lives have changed dramatically since restrictions have come into place to minimise the spread of the virus, and the world will undoubtedly be different when we get to the other side.

To help your children mark this historical moment in time, and provide an opportunity for children to talk about their feelings at this time, then a time capsule might be a useful activity to think about.

John Cross challenge videos have moved to their own dedicated sub page! The videos can be found by clicking on the hedgehog icon above. Please continue to take a look at the videos and have a go at the challenges.

New digital book about Coronavirus for children

Axel Sheffler has illustrated a digital book for  primary school aged children, free to anyone to read on screen or print out about the coronavirus and the measures taken to control it. Published by Nosy Crows and written by staff within the company, the book has had expert input. There is a suggestion at the back of the book, that families might make a donation to help our health service if they find the book useful. The book can be read and/or downloaded using the link below.

 https://nosycrow.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Coronavirus_INSwith-cover.pdf

 Anxiety around Covid-19, where can I access support?

Please see below links to websites that you might find helpful.

Explaining Coronavirus to children and young people

• Child Mind Institute guidance: https://childmind.org/article/talking-to-kids-about-the- coronavirus/
• A social story: https://carolgraysocialstories.com/wp- content/uploads/2020/03/Pandemics-and-the-Coronavirus.pdf
• Another social story: https://carolgraysocialstories.com/wp- content/uploads/2020/03/Learning-About-the-Corona-Virus-by-Dr.-Siobhan-Timmins.pdf
• https://www.bps.org.uk/news-and-policy/talking-children-about-coronavirus
• Tips for parents of young children including age-appropriate responses to common questions, a guide to self-care, and activities for young children experiencing social distancing: https://www.zerotothree.org/resources/3210-tips-for-families-coronavirus
• An informative animation for older children and young people: https://www.brainpop.com/health/diseasesinjuriesandconditions/coronavirus/
• The BBC Newsround site has a comprehensive section on coronavirus with text and video guidance focusing on tips if a child is worried, how to wash your hands, and what self- isolation means: https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/51204456
• https://www.elsa-support.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Someone-I-know-has-coronavirus.pdf

        Support materials that can be used to explain why someone gets coronavirus. These have been 

          provided by Elsa support Uk.

Mental health resources

• Young Minds: https://youngminds.org.uk/blog/what-to-do-if-you-re-anxious-about- coronavirus/
• Mind guides to planning for staying at home or indoors, taking care of your mental health and wellbeing and a checklist re: are you ready to stay at home? https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/coronavirus-and-your-wellbeing/
• Advice for young people, parents, carers, schools and colleges about what each one of us can do to support the wellbeing of those in our lives. Includes self-care activities which you can do at home: https://www.annafreud.org/what-we-do/anna-freud-learning- network/coronavirus/
• Autism and the Corona virus- 20 tips: https://petervermeulenblog.wordpress.com/2020/03/16/autism-and-the-corona-virus-20- tips/