Children and families – dealing with worries
Parent Club is a treasure trove of resources to keep everyone safe and happy. There's advice on everything from behaviour to help with money, as well as information to help everyone cope with the coronavirus measures and the problems they bring.
The NSPCC's Coronavirus Advice has lots of support for parents and carers - worries, tantrums, mental health and more.
Younger children
Relaxation
Older children & young adults
Make your own worry monster.
Shake of the physical feelings of anxiety, and get your endorphins going. Try Cosmic Kids Yoga or get active with PE with Joe, Monday to Friday at 9.00.
Children's Mental Health week
The theme of this year’s Children’s Mental Health Week is Express Yourself.
Expressing yourself is about finding ways to share feelings, thoughts, or ideas, through creativity. It is about finding a way to show who you are, and how you see the world, that can help you feel good about yourself.
Calm Zone has breathing exercises, activities, games and videos to help let go of stress.
Apps to help with relaxation and breathing
Flowy is a breathing exercise app - it's for everyone, but is especially good for younger children.
MindShift and SAM both offer breathing and relaxation exercises, plus lots more strategies and psychoeducation, and are ideal for older children.
(Be aware that some apps have social clouds, and may not be monitored or vetted)
Childline 0800 1111
Childline have information and advice for children and young people on coronavirus worries.
There is a huge online community huge where children can get support from their peers on message boards to help them through any issues they are worried about.
Young Scot's Aye Feel information for young adults about how to look after your emotional wellbeing, support from organisations around Scotland and tips on how to promote a positive mindset.
MoodCafe has advice and self-help information, including top tips for parents, social stories, relaxation... and more.
Moodjuice is a site for information and advice to those experiencing troublesome thoughts, feelings and actions. It is designed to help you think about emotional problems and work towards solving them.
Some advice from a mum and mental health professional ...
- Stay open to your kids and answer their covid questions honestly, but age appropriately. A bit of ‘glossing over’ doesn’t do any harm.
- Set up ‘worry time ‘ once a day, everyday where little people know they have your undivided attention and can sit and talk covid till they are done. Don’t limit them from talking about it outside of this time but do let the ones who struggle to voice worries know that this is an option. Also don’t force it, if they don’t want to talk that’s just fine.
- ‘Worry monsters’ might help act as a place to dispose of these worries. Or maybe make it into a covid-19 fighting superhero ?!
- Try to limit adults’ covid-related chat around them. Don’t shield them, but don’t overwhelm them.
- When your child has an outburst, offer them a hug or some space before dishing out consequences or getting too shouty. We are all feeling stressed, and more irritable, children too. You could set up a little chill zone somewhere - furnished with comforting items (soft toys, bean bag, blanket, sticker book, stress ball etc). If they don’t want a hug or a chat suggest they go chill.