Mental Health and Wellbeing
Maintaining your family's health and wellbeing
Looking after you and your family's mental health and well-being will be paramount in the coming weeks or maybe months. Take a look at our blog for more information.
We have teamed up with Jenby's to provide an activity book to support wellbeing at this time. The competition is now closed. Please see the letter with information here and click on the picture to download the activity book.
We would love for the children to create their very own piece of history with a time capsule. Click on the icon to download a template for some ideas.
Click on the image to direct you to the sites below.
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The Division of Clinical Psychology’s Faculty for Children, Young People and their Families (CYPF) has published tips for talking to children about illness, in light of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.
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A booklet created by Warrington Borough Council specifically related to Coronavirus and its effects. |
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BBC Newsround: What is being done to tackle the virus? |
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A few tips for preparing for COVID-19 in a trauma informed way:
- Don’t ignore what’s happening, because your children - especially those with histories of trauma - will pick up on the fact that things are unexpectedly different in their worlds. Be calm and clear in any explanations.
- A good message is to talk about the virus and how “we’re working together to keep more people from getting sick by reducing some activities…and people are working to help one another out!”
- Focus on what WILL stay the same…little things, that you’ll still get up and eat breakfast, you’ll still have lunch, you’ll still sleep in your bed, etc. Give a nice long list.
- If you sense a child is becoming anxious about it, call it out casually: “I noticed you might be a bit anxious about something…I’m wondering if it has anything to do with XYZ?”
- Provide visual structure for your children. Make a visual plan for the day, introduce it in the morning, and work your way through it during the day. This is containing for the child. It will take extra effort on your part but will help them to manage their anxiety.
- Outdoor play, baths, sensory play, etc. will be helpful activities. Walks, beach and forest trips or nature trails are suggested.
- Remember that unexpected change, loss of routine and structure, and increased stress in the world will be HUGE triggers for many of your kids. Focus on co-regulation; keep expectations appropriate.
- Be kind and considerate when you can. Not just practical tasks but understanding that in unpredictable times of change we can all feel anxious too.
Advice from Childline for children and young people:
https://www.childline.org.uk/info-advice/your-feelings/anxiety-stress-panic/worries-about-the-world/
