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Article from Sesame Street

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Resource from the Red Cross

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Power of kindness calendar

Find out how children and young people can practise kindness every day during the coronavirus emergency

As the UK faces a global coronavirus pandemic, things can feel a little uncertain and even overwhelming. But, during these difficult times, one thing is clear: small acts of kindness make a big difference.

Across the country, there has been an outpouring of kindness and children and young people can play their role too. By understanding what we can all do to help tackle this virus, they'll gain a sense of stability and resilience.

The power of kindness calendar helps children and young people learn about and carry out kind acts. There are different sets of kindness activities for both primary school children and secondary school students. For younger learners, facilitators and children will think of kind acts they can do during the month and add them to the blank calendar. For example, they could be more helpful at home, write to a relative or think about how they can safely help someone in the community. For older learners the activities can be carried out individually or together as a family.

Learning objectives

By taking part in the power of kindness calendar activities, children and young people will:

learn about the power of kindness

carry out kind acts

consider how they can be kind to themselves and others

Resource overview

1. Power of kindness calendar
Use the blank calendar to record daily acts of kindness. They can use this to look back on all they have achieved.

2. Activities of kindness
Read the supporting guidance for some ideas for different activities and ideas of daily acts of kindness. There are two different documents, one for primary and one for secondary age groups. Ideas include:

learning about kindness

being grateful

ways to cope

kindness in the community

3. My kind acts
The record card helps children and young people decide on five kind acts that they'll each do during the month. They can use this to look back on all they have achieved.

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Free kindness calendar for children and young people

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Power of kindness calendar Find out how children and young people can practise kindness every day during the coronavirus emergency As the UK faces a global coronavirus pandemic, things can feel a little uncertain and even overwhelming. But, during these difficult times, one thing is clear: small acts of kindness make a big difference.

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Support for your Mental Health during Coronavirus and lockdown

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YoungMinds | Mental Health Charity For Children And Young People

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YoungMinds are a mental health charity for children, young people and their parents, making sure all young people can get the mental health support they need.

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Resources and guidance from WorldVision

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Tags:
Thursday 09, Apr, 2020
Coronavirus

A recent World Vision survey of parents in the UK revealed that more than one in three UK children aged between five and 18 years old (36%) have felt lonely since schools were closed.

The survey also shows that almost a third of parents have noticed negative changes in their children's behaviour since lockdown, including tantrums, nightmares, fighting and crying, as well as physical symptoms such as stomach aches.

Whilst the findings of this survey are cause for concern, there are many things which parents and caregivers can do to help children not just survive through this lockdown, but thrive.
Download activities for children
Child-friendly help

At World Vision, we have decades of expertise helping children deal with the many challenging experiences, trauma and changes to their circumstances that some of the most vulnerable children have gone through.Events such as natural disasters, the loss of parents, or being forced to leave everything behind because of war in your homeland, can cause immense stress on a child's mental wellbeing.

In such circumstances it's important to help children connect with their emotions and understand how they feel at different times. And it's vital they can express these feelings to help the adults around them support them.

World Vision's Child Friendly Spaces become a haven for children, giving them opportunities to leave their worries behind and become children again, to play, draw and create.They are also given ways to explore their feelings through games and exercises which will help their mental wellbeing, and strengthen their ability to cope with life in the future.

Helping children in the UK

We thought that families in the UK might find these activities useful too at this challenging time. We hope that they are helpful and would love to hear your feedback on our Facebook page.
Emotion wheel activities
This sequence of activities uses an emotion wheel to help children name their feelings and discover healthy ways to respond to them.

Activities to download

Building the emotion wheel: This creative idea helps children own and name their emotions.

Emotions and behaviours: Help children become familiar with different kinds of emotions and how they can come out in actions.

Things to do when big feelings are in your heart: Learn helpful ways of responding to difficult emotions.

These calming activities, helping children to be aware of their feelings and to control their physical response.

Use these activities as often as your children need them.

And please feel free to share them with other families who might find them helpful.
How they help
In our Child Friendly Spaces, we call this 'emotional learning'. It helps children in these ways:

Enable children to acknowledge and name their feelings.

Help children to understand that everyone has different kinds of feelings, and that emotions are neither good or bad.

Recognise other people's emotions.

Strengthen children's ability to help themselves to feel better when they are upset, sad or angry.

To realise that everyone can choose to respond in healthy and respectful ways to their feelings.

Other helpful links:
World Vision survey: UK children are lonely, scared and stressed
How to talk to your children about crises
Find our more about our Coronavirus Response Work

Donate to our Coronavirus Appeal

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Coronavirus lockdown: Supporting your child's emotional wellbeing in times of anxiety

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Tags: Thursday 09, Apr, 2020 Coronavirus A recent World Vision survey of parents in the UK revealed that more than one in three UK children aged between five and 18 years old (36%) have felt lonely since schools were closed.

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Booklet to support talking about Corona virus in Primary Schools

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Advice for parents and carers of primary school pupils | Talking mental health primary school | Anna Freud Centre

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This leaflet which was created alongside the Talking Mental Health Animation & Toolkit features an introduction from our Patron, Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge who supported the You're never too young to talk mental health campaign

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BookTrust HomeTime

Looking for something fun as a family? Enjoy storytime with our free online books and videos, play games, win prizes, test your knowledge in our book-themed quizzes, or even learn how to draw some of your favourite characters.
Go to the HomeTime hub

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How to use emotion coaching to help little ones with their worries

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Looking for something fun as a family? Enjoy storytime with our free online books and videos, play games, win prizes, test your knowledge in our book-themed quizzes, or even learn how to draw some of your favourite characters. Go to the HomeTime hub

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Lots of guidance and resources to support from Lancashire Education

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Downloadable wordless picture books to support understanding of Covid-19

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Beyond Words is a UK charity publishing picture stories for people with learning disabilities, supporters, family and professionals. Find out about our books, ebooks, the BW Story App and elearning courses.

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The Seed of Compassion by His Holiness the Dalai Lama

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The Seed of Compassion by His Holiness the Dalai Lama

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This interesting non-fiction book introduces children to the 14th Dalai Lama, the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism, charting his life from early childhood to the present day.

Born in 1935 in a small village in Tibet, he grew up on his family's farm, surrounded by tall mountains, clear streams and many animals. Although his mother was unable to read or write, she taught him many important lessons, sowing in him the seed of compassion, through acts of kindness, generosity and love.

When he was three years old, he was identified as the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama. He subsequently moved to the capital city of Lhasa to embark on his training as a monk, studying many subjects, such as Buddhist philosophy, metaphysics, poetry and medicine. Throughout his life, he never forgot the importance of compassion, a value which remains at the core of his teachings.

Gentle, full-page illustrations set the scene, beautifully enabling children to visualise the environment in which he grew up. With a timeline of key events in his life, and suggestions on how young people can develop compassion, this is a fascinating insight into the life of a key figure in Buddhism.

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This interesting non-fiction book introduces children to the 14th Dalai Lama, the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism, charting his life from early childhood to the present day. Born in 1935 in a small village in Tibet, he grew up on his family's farm, surrounded by tall mountains, clear streams and many animals.

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Resources to support children at this time

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COVID-19 advice and support for parents and carers

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Whether you're working from home with your kids or supporting children with anxiety due to coronavirus, we've got tips and advice for you.

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A social story about school reopening from LGFL

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The Book of Hopes: Words and Pictures to Comfort, Inspire and Entertain Children in Lockdown by Katherine Ruddell (free book online)

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Edited by Katherine Rundell, with contributions from more than 100 children's writers and illustrators

This extraordinary collection of short stories, poems, essays and pictures has contributions from more than 110 children's writers and illustrators, including Lauren Child, Anthony Horowitz, Greg James and Chris Smith, Michael Morpurgo, Liz Pichon, Axel Scheffler, Francesca Simon and Jacqueline Wilson.

The collection, published by Bloomsbury, is dedicated to the doctors, nurses, carers, porters, cleaners and everyone working in hospitals.

Read the book

When schools were closed during the COVID-19 pandemic in both 2020 and 2021 Bloomsbury generously permitted us to share The Book of Hopes as an ebook freely accessible to schools and families.

As part of our Education Recovery support for schools and children we worked with partners to develop a range of supporting resources, that you can find linked below.

The Book of Hopes is now available as a beautiful hardback gift edition, with 23 never-seen-before stories, poems and illustrations, providing an ongoing wealth of discovery, comfort and inspiration for children.

The Book of Hopes is available to buy from all good book retailers. A donation from the sale of each book will go to NHS Charities Together, in gratitude for the incredible efforts of all those who worked in hospitals over the quarantine period. Learn more and purchase your own copy.

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The Book of Hopes | National Literacy Trust

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Read The Book of Hopes: Words and Pictures to Comfort, Inspire and Entertain Children

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We should be prepared for the fact that the end of lockdown might be as hard for us as the start was.

Just as it took us time to find ways of coping during lockdown, we should also expect that it will take time to find our way back, and to reconnect with life.

Our mental health tips: about finding routines, staying connected, eating well, and taking exercise apply just as much now as they did at the start of lockdown - arguably even more so as we remain in a period of high stress but with more demands on us.

Because our situations are unique to us, it is really important to try not to judge ourselves harshly based on what other people are doing. Everybody is facing uncertainty and challenge - and we have no choice but to move through it as best we can.

Fear and anxiety

Fear and anxiety are possibly the most common emotional responses any of us will feel as we approach the release from lockdown. Finding a way to pull ourselves through lockdown took a lot of our emotional energy and we may have found a place that lets us cope, and that we don't want to leave behind just yet.

Many of us fear becoming ill with the virus or passing infection on to loved ones, as the risk increases when people interact. This is an entirely normal response, but risk can be reduced by following the guidelines.

Every time we go back to something it is going to feel unusual or even scary. We might feel nervous or anxious.

That may be because we haven't done it in a while, and we've forgotten how it feels - like going to work. It might be because things have changed because of the pandemic and the routines have changed - like one-way systems and queues to enter shops.

It's important to acknowledge that these feelings are reasonable, and to expect them. It's only by building up tolerance gently that we can move through these fears.

We might feel angry or frustrated at other behaviours and feel the urge to rush to judgment or make comments on social media that reflect our anxiety. It's important to share concerns with people we trust but also to bear in mind that you can't control others' behaviours, and that commenting online can lead quite quickly to unpleasantness.

If you can, express your frustration quickly and privately with someone you trust, and then let it go. If we hold on to things we can get pulled into rumination - where we chew over things in our heads.

For many of us, the pandemic has increased our anxiety, or made existing mental health issues worse. It may take longer to adjust to necessary changes - for example one-way systems in shops blocking off safe exit routes or wearing face masks triggering trauma flashbacks, or panic attacks because of the sensation of not being able to breathe.

If possible, take things at your own pace - but try and challenge yourself to try something different each day or every couple of days. It's very easy to allow the seclusion that was necessary in lockdown to become deliberate isolation as lockdown ends. Celebrate small wins (and big wins) and try and keep a note of what you are achieving.

For many people lockdown has been relatively quiet and isolated. Coming back into shops, traffic, transport, and work might lead to sensory overload - feeling overwhelmed by sights, sounds or smells. Headphones may be a good way to reduce some of this by helping you to focus and creating a distraction with calls, music, podcasts or audiobooks.

Tips on coping with fear and anxiety

Control what can be controlled - there are a lot of things you can't control that cause you fear and anxiety - but there are some things you can manage or plan for. Having an action plan for managing things you might find difficult can help.

Pace yourself - recognising that you need to go at the right pace for you is important. Don't let others bully or pressure you into doing things you don't want to - but try not to let that be an excuse not to push yourself, especially when it comes to reconnecting with friends safely, outside your home, when rules allow and the time is also right for you. It can be hard to let others move forward without you - maybe your child wants to see friends or needs to return to work, but you can't. It's important to discuss concerns with those close to you, but also to allow other people space to move at their own pace.

Build up tolerance - try doing something that challenges you every day, or every few days. Don't beat yourself up if it doesn't go well but keep at it. Keep a note of things you've achieved, enjoyed or surprised yourself doing.

Vary your routines - try and vary your routines so that you see different people and encounter different situations. If one supermarket makes you nervous, try another. If a walk at one time of the day is very busy, try mixing walks at busy times with walks at quieter times.

Talk to work - Many workplaces are allowing more flexible working even if people need to return. If you are finding it hard to get to work, or do particular shifts or activities because of anxiety or fear, speak to your manager or a colleague you trust if that feels right. If you have or have had longer term mental health problems, you may be entitled to reasonable adjustments as a disabled person under the Equality Act. Even if you haven't disclosed before, if it feels safe to do so now you might be able to benefit from doing so.

Coping with uncertainty

There has been a lot of talk of a 'new normal' - but normal is changing and uncertainty, and managing risk, is going to be the reality for the foreseeable future. This is not something that's comfortable for many of us, particularly when we're only just about coping with our mental health.

'New normal' for most of us will mean 'what we need to get through today, or this week' - it's going to be very difficult to predict what the course of the rest of the year will look like, and with so much of the media talking about possibilities and stages without certainty, it's easy to get caught up in 'what-ifs'.

It can help to focus on the things we have learned and achieved in the last few months.

Most of us have been tested in ways we never imagined, have passed those tests and found new ways to manage - or even flourish. For many of us lockdown has challenged our values and what is important to us. The life, values, and attitudes we had in early March might not be the ones we want to return to in July, and there may be opportunities for us to make positive changes in our lives as well.

Focus on the present - you can only do your best with what you have today. With regulations changing frequently, and lots of conflicting media discussions, try and keep a focus on the moment. Mindfulness meditation is one way of bringing your mind back to the present moment.

Bring things that are certain back into focus - whilst a lot of things are uncertain at the moment, there are also things to be hopeful about. Try to record and appreciate good things as they happen. Try and take opportunities to reset and relax.

Talk to people you trust - it's important to talk about how you feel. Don't dismiss your concerns or judge yourself too harshly. You may also be able to find your tribe online, but try and get outside perspectives too.

Picking up social lives

As we move out of lockdown it's going to be possible to start picking up our social lives again - albeit with changes for the foreseeable future. Some of us are desperate to do so - but others will be nervous about doing so - or unable to do so because of their situations.

If you are part of a social group doing an activity together, try and plan ways for people who aren't ready for face to face meetings to still take part.

We may have become comfortable in our own space and with our own company in lockdown - it's been intense in all sorts of ways and we might really have to push ourselves to reconnect with people and overcome initial awkwardness. Whether it's knowing how to insist on social distancing with friends or relatives, knowing where you have to wear a mask, or feeling odd not stopping to chat in the street many of us are keen to get it right, and worried about slipping up. It's all new - and doing your best to follow the rules is good enough for most situations.

That also goes for our children's friendships - many children have been desperate to see friends, but all families are making sense of the changes as they come and it's important to make an extra effort to pick up friendships especially if schools aren't back.

If we are shielding or in a vulnerable group, it's likely that as others around us start to emerge from lockdown and start to do things that we miss, we may feel more isolated and less able to resist pressure to reduce lockdown measures. There's a real risk that employers, schools businesses and friends and family will be less able to relate and support as the lockdown releases for others. It takes considerable emotional labour to keep reminding people why you can't participate or follow the same rules as a shielded person - and there is a penalty in terms of guilt to be paid for many.

Remember that rules and guidelines vary depending on who you are and where you live. You can find more detailed tips on what you can do and what the current limitations here.

Our working lives were changed enormously when lockdown started - whether we stayed working as a key worker, worked from home, were placed on furlough or lost our jobs. As lockdown eases, our working lives will change again, and some people will be looking for new work.

For many of us, coming out of lockdown is not a choice. Across the country people are being called to return to work, even when the official advice is to work from home wherever possible. For many of us this isn't possible and the prospect of return carries with it a need to weigh up the potential safety risks to ourselves and family, with the need to earn money, restart the economy and/or provide service to others.

We offer advice on working during the pandemic here, along with some more specific advice for people whose work is changing as some parts of lockdown are eased.

Looking after children and family

During lockdown, those of us with caring responsibilities have supported our families. For parents and carers, returning to work is likely to provide a distance that might be much welcomed and needed - but also prove challenging emotionally when family closeness has been such a support to so many during lockdown. We have more detailed advice for parents here.

With schools either closed, or only open part time for some pupils up until the summer break at least, parents face a longer term need to cover childcare, assist with school work and make decisions about whether and when to send children back. Parents want to do their best by their children - but many are now under pressure from work to either return to the office, or to resume a level of productivity and engagement which doesn't fit with their childcare responsibilities across the working week. For more information about returning to school here.

A similar situation arises for unpaid carers: perhaps the physical or mental health of the person they care for has deteriorated during lockdown and their own needs have changed. This will mean new assessments and changes in service provision.

Grief

Grief is something many of us will have experienced during the lockdown. Many people will have faced the loss of someone close during these past months, and with attendance at funerals restricted, and non-socially distanced company only very recently available to very specific groups, this has been doubly hard.

As we start to move out of lockdown it will be possible to see people again, and to provide support to those close to us who have been bereaved, although at the moment this must be socially distanced and cannot involve a hug - unless you are a single parent with children aged under 18, or a person living alone, who has formed a 'bubble' with one other household. You can find our information on dealing with loss and bereavement here.

The Mental Health Foundation is committed to bringing readers reliable and relevant information. All of our pages are written and regularly reviewed by our mental health experts, in line with official advice on the coronavirus outbreak.

We need your support to keep providing vital information during this time.
Please consider making a donation today Public Health England have developed explicit guidance on mental health in the crisis. If you want to develop a personalised plan for supporting your mental health you can also visit the PHE Every Mind Matters site, developed in collaboration with the Mental Health Foundation. If you need to talk confidentially you can call Samaritans on 116 123 at any time. We also have a resource on how to get help for your mental health.

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Looking after your mental health as we come out of lockdown

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We should be prepared for the fact that the end of lockdown might be as hard for us as the start was. Just as it took us time to find ways of coping during lockdown, we should also expect that it will take time to find our way back, and to reconnect with life.

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Children | Reading Well | Books | Reading Well

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Reading Well for children provides quality-assured information, stories and advice to support children's mental health and wellbeing. Books have been chosen and recommended by leading health professionals and co-produced with children and families.

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A book to share with younger chidlren

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A book for children about coronavirus that aims to give information without fear.

With everything that is going on at the moment; big changes to children's routines and lots of stories on the news it can be a really scary time for children.

This book aims to open up the conversation about coronavirus and some of the things they might be hearing about it and provide truthful information in a reassuring and child friendly manner.

Feel free to download from the above link. I am more than happy for the book to be read, printed out and shared as wanted.

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Dave the Dog is worried about coronavirus

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dave-the-dog-coronavirus-1-1Download A book for children about coronavirus that aims to give information without fear. With everything that is going on at the moment; big changes to children's routines and lots of stories on the news it can be a really scary time for children. This book aims to open up the conversation about coronavirus and...

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NHS guidance

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Good sleep is important for your child's physical and mental wellbeing.
A relaxing bedtime routine is an important way to help your child get a good night's sleep.

Relaxation tips to help sleep

Doing the same relaxing things in the same order and at the same time each night helps promote good sleep:

A warm (not hot) bath will help your child relax and get ready for sleep.

Keeping lights dim encourages your child's body to produce the sleep hormone, melatonin.

Once they're in bed, encourage your child to read quietly or listen to some relaxing music, or read a story together.

You could also suggest your child tries this relaxing breathing exercise before bed.

Know how much sleep your child needs

The amount of sleep your child needs changes as they get older.

A 5-year-old needs about 11 hours a night, for example, while a 9-year-old needs roughly 10 hours.
See how much sleep your child needs

Avoid screens in the bedroom

Tablets, smartphones, TVs and other electronic gadgets can affect how easily children get to sleep.

Older children may also stay up late or even wake in the middle of the night to use social media.

Try to keep your child's bedroom a screen-free zone, and get them to charge their phones in another room.

Encourage your child to stop using screens an hour before bedtime.

Your child's bedroom

Your child's bedroom should ideally be dark, quiet and tidy. It should be well ventilated and kept at a temperature of about 16 to 20C.

Fit some thick curtains to block out any daylight. If there's noise outside, consider investing in double glazing or, for a cheaper option, offer your child earplugs.

Get help with sleep problems

If you've tried these tips but your child keeps having problems getting to sleep or sleeping through the night, you may feel you want more support.

You can speak to a GP or health visitor to begin with. They may refer you to a child psychologist or another expert.

Teens and sleep

Your child's sleep may change when they become a teenager. Find out about sleep tips for teenagers.

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Good sleep is important for your child's physical and mental wellbeing. A relaxing bedtime routine is an important way to help your child get a good night's sleep. Doing the same relaxing things in the same order and at the same time each night helps promote good sleep: A warm (not hot) bath will help your child relax and get ready for sleep.

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NHS guidance

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List of books on sleep

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list of books on sleep for children uk - Google Search

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year olds self care happy sleeper sammy margo sleep medicine sleep tight healthy sleep habits happy child sleep disorders baby sleep solution mental health

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Wellbeing activities: being kind to yourself

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Wellbeing activities: being kind to yourself

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Explore loneliness and anxiety through wellbeing activities that help children and young people be kind to themselves

Children and young people experience feelings of anxiety, stress and loneliness. Whether it's caused by what's going on in the world like the Coronavirus pandemic or something they experience personally, it's important to they feel supported and able to manage them.

These activities help learners to be kind to themselves and look after their own wellbeing in order to build resilience and coping mechanisms.

Adult wellbeing support

This educational resource is suitable for primary and secondary school aged students, 7 to 18. If you're over the age of 19 try our wellbeing activities for adults. Here you can explore ideas and advice to help manage your own wellbeing, cope with difficulties, and build life skills.

> Wellbeing activities for adults

Learning objectives

Learners will:

build resilience, empathy and kindness

reflect on the importance of wellbeing

learn some coping techniques to support with loneliness and anxiety

develop self-awareness and empower themselves to help with their own wellbeing

think about other people's needs and experiences.

Resource overview

There are different activities for primary and secondary learners and two different document downloads - being kind to yourself and web of connections.

This resource was developed by the British Red Cross in July 2020.

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Wellbeing activities for schools | British Red Cross

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Explore loneliness and anxiety through wellbeing activities that help children and young people be kind to themselves Children and young people experience feelings of anxiety, stress and loneliness. Whether it's caused by what's going on in the world like the Coronavirus pandemic or something they experience personally, it's important to they feel supported and able to manage them.

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Resources to support children and adults with Covid.

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Some resources to support children and adults around anxiety, worry, stress, and fears; including those related to the pandemic/Covid-19 (this page will be updated on a very regular basis so please keep checking it for new entries. This is not an exhaustive or prescriptive list).

Free videos by Dr Karen Treisman to support relaxation and emotional regulation (please feel free to send in requests as I am happy to create more if possible)

Things to be mindful of:
Firstly, please hold in mind, there is no right or wrong. We are all different and going through changes, reflections, and discoveries a lot of the time. We all have different sensory profiles, needs, preferences, pasts and so forth- so, take your time to choose what will be most helpful to you at this time, or none of them at all, if you just need some space or to do something different- there is no one size fits all. There is a menu of options to give some ideas, but there are many more which you might like to try. Be gentle with yourself and others.

People may be experiencing an array of different feelings, and these might be changing and flowing at different times; as well as soaking in other people's feelings and sensations. For more grounding, soothing, and coping tools please see my "Presley the Pug" or "Binnie the baboon" workbooks, my therapeutic treasure box book, or my therapeutic treasure deck of grounding, soothing, regulating, and coping cards.

Please also see my online module on Presley the Pug for a 9.5 hours of videos and resources around emotional regulation and expressing feelings.

1. Hand or star breathing-A video by Dr Karen Treisman introducing a brief breathing exercise called "hand breathing". It can be used for children and for adults. https://youtu.be/NAldSdx-jps

2. Sensory, grounding, soothing, and regulating box- A video by Dr Karen Treisman discussing how to make and create a sensory, soothing, and grounding box which supports all of one's senses to regulate. Suitable and adaptable for children and adults. https://youtu.be/9XyxqWiqLk0

3. Muscle tensing and releasing tool-A video by Dr Karen Treisman introducing a brief tension releasing exercise of tensing and relaxing one's muscles. Suitable and adaptable for children and adults. https://youtu.be/FbhUxg9eHDE

4. Left and right body breathing- A video by Dr Karen Treisman introducing a breathing exercise which supports left and right breathing. Suitable for older children, teenagers, and adults. https://youtu.be/MHwiqovPrXY

5. Rhythm and butterfly breathing-A video by Dr Karen Treisman introducing how rhythm can be used to help to change one's regulation and arousal. Also, this introduces the butterfly hug move which activates both the left and right side of one's brain. Suitable and adaptable for children and adults. https://youtu.be/e6z6TJ1wQDM

6. Externalising worry through worry dolls, worry plaques etc- https://youtu.be/5Q-EoWSJQJg

7. Soaking in a positive moment- A video by Dr Karen Treisman introducing how we can find a happy, feel good, and positive memory and travel back to it, anchor on to it, and soak it in- including using all of our senses. Suitable and adaptable for children and adults. https://youtu.be/RRiQixmqcXI

8. Every interaction is an intervention- video of Dr Karen Treisman explaining her quote "Every interaction is an intervention"- https://youtu.be/8pBkXbCP3Q4

There are many many more worksheets, tips, tools, and resources in my books and cards (available from amazon and a range of other retailers):

1. Binnie the Baboon- a workbook for anxiety, stress, worries, and fears- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AWEGxbnNe4E

2. Presley the Pug- a workbook for relaxation, calm and emotional regulation- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HhjZHu1MjeY

3. Therapeutic Treasure Deck of grounding, regulating, soothing, and coping cards- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mfw_bGIcMcM

4. Neon the ninja focusing on nightmares, sleep difficulties, and night terrors- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x2mnU3TXW8c

These are also available as ebooks and pdfs here- https://www.ebooks.com/en-gb/searchapp/searchresults.net?term=karen+treisman

Please also see my online module on Presley the Pug for a 9.5 hours of videos and resources around emotional regulation and expressing feelings. See the online training tab on this website for more information.

Podcasts and videos from Dr Karen Treisman and a range of other people which might be useful at this time: (for general podcasts about trauma please see recommendations under my links, worksheets, and podcast page).

Karen Treisman discussing how the current situation might evoke and re-trigger past traumas- A video by Dr Karen Treisman discussing how the experiences being felt during the pandemic can be retriggering and resurfacing past traumas and feelings and sending people down a time hole. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=msNO7ZmLXns&feature=youtu.be

Karen Treisman discussion some common survival, protective, and coping tools, skills, and resources-A video discussing some of the survival, protective, and coping responses and skills which we as individuals can use and rely on when in a place of threat, stress, trauma, and fear. Discusses fight, flight, freeze, and many more responses- https://youtu.be/tVw6naHFLKc and an accompanying worksheet (please ensure this is fully cited and referenced if shared or used) around survival skills and patterns- http://www.safehandsthinkingminds.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/feeling-safe-putting-up-defenses.pdf

Karen Treisman discussing some of the survival, protective, and coping responses and skills which organisations, systems, and teams can use and rely on when in a place of threat, stress, trauma, and fear. Discusses fight, flight, freeze, and many more responses. https://youtu.be/PaRwY7qzEyw and a worksheet on this http://www.safehandsthinkingminds.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/organisational-defences-final-bled.pd f (please ensure this is fully cited and referenced if shared or used)

Karen Treisman discussing the importance of how organisations make people feel during this time; and how the values of trauma-informed practice need to be embedded and modelled; and our staff wellbeing needs to be at the forefront- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9J7ayCkw4eg

Karen Treisman- reading a poem written by Karen for Drop for Disorder about trauma, adversity, and culturally informed, infused, and responsive systems and organisational change- "trauma reducing not trauma inducing"- the topic of Karen's forthcoming book on trauma-informed organizations- https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=LRJ9w3jIv0w&feature=emb_logo

Karen Treisman discussing some of the reasons why people might be either/or struggling to fall asleep, having disturbed or change sleep, and/or feeling exhausted and tired more than usual in the context of the pandemic- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ClztIRbjeiI

Karen Treisman discussing some of the different layers of loss, grief, and mourning both at an individual and collective level which people may experiencing, feeling, and seeing. loss amidst the coronavirus- https://youtu.be/n9a79NeUARo

Grief, death, bereavement, and loss online module (7.5 hours and a resource pack)- supporting children and adolescents by Dr Karen Treisman (paid)- creative and expressive resources- safehandsthinkingminds.thinkific.com

Karen Treisman and Lisa Cherry in conversation about trauma, adversity, and culturally informed, infused, and responsive organisations in the context of the pandemic- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4rqbKq9UBHU&feature=emb_logo

Dr Karen Treisman and Kathryn Angelini from Hillingdon virtual school- talking about school, covid, emotional regulation, supervision and much more- https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-irpx9-e02bcf?utm_campaign=u_share_ep&utm_medium=dlink&utm_source=u_share

Dr Karen Treisman and Hannah Albery and Kate Margarson on mind matters- talking about schools, trauma-informed practice, relationships, creativity and much more- http://youtu.be/MCDkkB_Ht5I

Bruce Perry (there is a whole series by Bruce around the pandemic)- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=orwIn02h6V4&feature=youtu.be and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VcDTXJpCMiY&feature=youtu.be&app=desktop

Guy Mcpherson and Bruce Perry- https://www.thetraumatherapistproject.com/podcast/bruce-perry-md-phd-staying-emotionally-close-in-the-time-of-covid-19/

Bruce Perry on decision fatigue in the context of the pandemic- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yc-Nv8eqfgM&feature=share&app=desktop

Racial injustice and covid- http://‪ https://jri.org/podcasts/covid-19-response-and-racial-injustices

Coronavirus and poverty- https://soundcloud.com/user-72463423/episode-2-coronavirus-and-poverty

The Social Matters Podcast- The impact of Covid-19 on Black and minority Ethnic people podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-social-matters-podcast/id1436421996

Nadine Harris Burke on the Black Community and Covid- https://sdvoice.info/the-black-community-covid-19-trauma/

James Docherty and Lisa Cherry on maintaining recovery from addition during covid- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7D5973k_VEw

Neglect in the context of Covid- https://www.childprotectionprofessionals.org.uk/Blog/child-neglect-lockdown-and-the-new-normal

Podcasts around covid from ITTIC- http://socialwork.buffalo.edu/social-research/institutes-centers/institute-on-trauma-and-trauma-informed-care/trauma-talks/trauma-talks-covid19.html

Guy Mcpherson and Peter Levine- https://www.thetraumatherapistproject.com/podcast/peter-levine-phd-managing-in-the-midst-of-covid-19/

Gabor Mate and Russell Brand- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-mJnYmdVmQ and Gabor Mate and Thomas Hubl- https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=FhlVIhjZj4k

Dan Hughes- talking about Covid and children who have experienced trauma- https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=2nLF0wdoSJ0&app=desktop

Madeleine Black about Covid- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WR0uv2gXtHY&feature=youtu.be&app=desktop

Managing stress in the workplace-Jerry Colonna and Camille Preston - https://hbr.org/podcast/2020/03/managing-the-stress-and-uncertainty-of-coronavirus

Stephen Porges and the polyvagal theory and covid- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6FGTHm6R4pc&app=desktop

Autism and covid- https://www.acamh.org/podcasts/cornavirus-autism-a-parents-guide/?utm_source=Subscriber&utm_campaign=0401ae5288-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2019_12_02_03_10_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_f59ca1eb20-0401ae5288-119372361 and supporting neuro diverse children during isolation- https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=dXPtqmHKNoE&app=desktop

Janina Fisher on covid- https://www.thetraumatherapistproject.com/podcast/janina-fisher-phd-managing-in-the-midst-of-covid-19/

The future of children's service in the context of covid- Jenny Cole- https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/wwcsc-talks/id1511700345

Podcast on delivering children's services during covid- https://learning.nspcc.org.uk/news/2020/june/podcast-impact-on-delivering-childrens-services-during-lockdown

Lockdown and stories from adopters - http://www.alcoates.co.uk/p/the-adoption-fostering-podcast.html

A song from beacon house- take what you need- https://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=tDCTKz66vYg

Bessel Van der Kolk podcast about covid- https://www.besselvanderkolk.com/blog/caring-for-yourself and Bessel on helplessness amidst covid- https://www.nicabm.com/when-covid19-leaves-clients-feeling-helpless/

Jennifer King webinar on the impact of trauma on our brains- https://medium.com/@jak292/covid-19-our-brains-our-bodies-our-trauma-8ece7779cc9b

Fran Waters interviewed by Guy McPherson- https://www.thetraumatherapistproject.com/podcast/fran-s-waters-lmft-managing-in-the-midst-of-covid-19/

Juli Alvaredo- home but not alone- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Evv0vgqiAY&feature=share&app=desktop

Paul Gilbert on compassionate mind during covid and beyond- https://www.compassionatewellbeing.com/compassion-safe-relating-and-world-change.html

Sue Badaeu on grief and loss during covid- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0qON_Vcz6U8&app=desktop

The coronavirus can teach us to connect- Ted talk- https://thewisdomcollector.blogspot.com/2020/04/the-coronavirus-crisis-can-teach-us.html?m=1

One small thing has a regular podcast about prison and the justice system- they have been doing a series about covid within this- here is one example- https://play.acast.com/s/justice/2dcd77d4-8fd3-49a3-ab3a-74a41e338d76

Hannah Albery and Lisa Cherry- talking about being a headteacher during covid- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8_7cK2BhQ0

Stuart guest- advice for schools post lockdown- https://pookyh.buzzsprout.com/1183931/4458053-stuart-guest-how-can-schools-take-a-trauma-informed-approach-post-pandemic

Interview on grief and loss from University of Buffalo- http://socialwork.buffalo.edu/social-research/institutes-centers/institute-on-trauma-and-trauma-informed-care/trauma-talks/trauma-talks-grief-loss.html

Short clip by Patricia Berendsen- why am I so tired when working online therapeutically- https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=DRRjetJSzhs&app=desktop

Impact of social work of covid podcast- https://podcasts.apple.com/za/podcast/episode-15-s2-impact-of-covid-19-on-social-work/id1436421996?i=1000471949788

Trauma informed communication- why it is important- https://traumainformedoregon.org/understanding-why-trauma-informed-communication-is-important/

How lockdown can impacts sports and play- https://www.anncrafttrust.org/return-to-play-how-lockdown-affects-sport-and-activity-safeguarding-matters/

Useful links for adults and children (by no means exhaustive or prescriptive, and not in a particular list):

Child and adolescent resources:

Downloadable child friendly explanation about coronavirus- http://www.millfields.hackney.sch.uk/uploads/2019/Corona%20Virus%20Info%20for%20Young%20Children.pdf.pdf and

Some lovely illustrated stories from the Australian Childhood Foundation about corona and hugs- https://www.childhood.org.au/app/uploads/2020/03/Talking-to-Children-COVID-19-Social-Story.pdf and https://www.childhood.org.au/app/uploads/2020/04/hug_HR.pdf

Talking to kids about coronavirus- 2 useful blogs- http://www.jkp.com/jkpblog/2020/03/i-have-a-question-about-coronavirus/ And http://www.jkp.com/jkpblog/2020/03/talking-to-children-about-the-coronavirus/

A book for children about coronavirus- https://nursedottybooks.com/dave-the-dog-is-worried-about-coronavirus-2/?fbclid=IwAR2xzx5IPUaVRZ506wnQKyq-e1vdJ8KZtEpLeXF2AVoROsNfmNJIGbnOGus

Some worksheets for kids whilst they are home, share by Jessica Kingsley Publishers- https://emails.jkp.com/t/t-E7198D9CA58B42F52540EF23F30FEDED

A book illustrated about covid by Axel Scheffler- https://nosycrow.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Coronavirus-A-Book-for-Children.pdf

Stay at home superheroes book- https://issuu.com/sophie_marsh/docs/stay_home_superheroes

Everybody worries. A picture book about coronavirus- https://en.calameo.com/read/000777721945cfe5bb9cc?authid=Xu9pcOzU3TQx

A story for children called "how not to go to school" about lockdown- https://parsleymimblewood.wordpress.com/

A book for children called "stuck inside"- https://www.stuckinsidebook.com/

Story book about coronavirus by UNHCR- https://www.unhcr.org/news/press/2020/4/5e8ecdba4/childrens-storybook-released-help-children-young-people-cope-covid-19.html

While we can't hug story and video for children- https://youtu.be/2PnnFrPaRgY

Time to come in bear animation- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DA_SsZFYw0w&feature=youtu.be

Some info about coronavirus and anxiety for young people- https://young.scot/campaigns/national/coronavirus

I have a question resource for children- https://www.ihaveaquestionbook.com/

Covid related grief and bereavement resources- http://www.childhoodbereavementnetwork.org.uk/covid-19.aspx and https://www.winstonswish.org/coronavirus/

Some worksheets for children during this time (need to be adapted accordingly)- https://documentcloud.adobe.com/link/track?uri=urn%3Aaaid%3Ascds%3AUS%3A18b7fa14-bbb1-4067-9b8a-757d2defb735&fbclid=IwAR2Q24JQp2tx-QFfdP7ZQtwiZaQK5GASgVnpDXZz5dg0e8ahfFx1RoQfLMc

Some videos and activities for adults and children- https://www.childcomwales.org.uk/coronavirus/

A story about covid (American-focused)- https://alliedhealth.lsuhsc.edu/clinics/docs/CarolineConquersherCoronoaFears31820.pdf

Child's guide to staying safe online- https://www.childrenscommissioner.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/cco-childrens-digital-safety-wellbeing-kit.pdf

Adult resources predominantly around trauma: (of course there are overlaps)

Trauma-informed values and principles applied to the current covid situation written by Dr Karen Treisman- trauma informed values in covid

Thinking of those infographic with rainbows poster- thinking of all of those who...

Resources from beacon house about covid, developmental trauma, attachment and much more- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJHupiDtJKA&feature=youtu.be and on survival mode- https://beaconhouse.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/What-Survival-Looks-Like-At-Home.pdf

Trauma-informed Oregon-Trauma-informed response to Covid- https://traumainformedoregon.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Considerations-for-COVID-19-Trauma-Informed-Response.pdf and https://traumainformedoregon.org/tic-wellness-and-routines-rituals/ and https://traumainformedoregon.org/workforce-wellness-strategies-during-covid-19/

Trauma-informed script from trauma-informed Oregon- https://traumainformedoregon.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/The-Anatomy-of-a-Trauma-Informed-Script-TIP-Sheet.pdf

Trauma informed communication- why it is important- https://traumainformedoregon.org/understanding-why-trauma-informed-communication-is-important/

Resources from Bruce Perry and the Neurosequential model- https://www.neurosequential.com/covid-19-resources

Covid response from mad in the UK- non pathologising responses- https://www.madintheuk.com/2020/03/covid-19-resources-were-all-in-this-together/

Covid and pandemic from a social justice and equity lens- https://www.racialequitytools.org/fundamentals/resource-lists/resources-addressing-covid-19-with-racial-equity-lens

Covid and poverty- https://www.jrf.org.uk/report/uk-poverty-2020-21

Pandemic pressures for low income families report- https://www.resolutionfoundation.org/app/uploads/2021/01/Pandemic-pressures.pdf

Social justice resources from the pandemic from irresistible- https://irresistible.org/covid

The Social Matters Podcast- The impact of Covid-19 on Black and minority Ethnic people podcast- https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-social-matters-podcast/id1436421996

Impact of covid on BAME communities from Royal College of Psychiatrists- https://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/docs/default-source/about-us/covid-19/impact-of-covid19-on-bame-staff-in-mental-healthcare-settings_assessment-and-management-of-risk_13052020v2.pdf?sfvrsn=1068965_2

BAME and covid- http://www.bmevoices.co.uk/introducing-you-to-bamestream/

Anti-racist resources- please see the trauma-informed organisation tab for anti-racist resource recommendations.

Coronavirus and the impact on children from the Roma community- http://clok.uclan.ac.uk/33616/1/4%20Roma%20Children%27s%20Participation%20-%20Covid-19%20and%20the%20EU.pdf

Resources for managing stress in a pandemic- https://www.acesconnection.com/g/practicing-resilience/blog/managing-post-traumatic-stress-in-a-pandemic-practices-and-resources-updated-regularly

SAMSHA- Lots of resources and downloads- https://www.samhsa.gov/coronavirus

Living in uncertain times- https://drjenfrahm.com/leading-uncertain-times/

Looking after yourself and your family during coronavirus- https://www.yarboroughacademy.co.uk/for-parents-and-carers/looking-after-you-and-your-family-during-coronavirus/

Some self-care resources from Buffalo Social Work- http://socialwork.buffalo.edu/resources/self-care-starter-kit.html and from the Anna Freud Centre- https://www.annafreud.org/selfcare/

A blog by Dr Liz Gregory- https://weneedtotalkaboutchildrensmentalhealth.wordpress.com/2020/03/27/tips-to-share-with-children-to-help-them-cope-with-the-new-normal/amp/?__twitter_impression=true and one based on teenagers during lockdown- https://weneedtotalkaboutchildrensmentalhealth.wordpress.com/2020/03/29/2and-getting-through-lockdown-together-with-teenagers/

Some resources around disaster responses- https://www.samhsa.gov/dtac/recovering-disasters/phases-disaster

Some resources about panic and worry from Narrative Therapy- https://dulwichcentre.com.au/lived-wisdom-on-panic-worry-and-isolation/

Some resources about Narrative Therapy in a pandemic- https://dulwichcentre.com.au/narrative-responses-to-covid-19/

Useful article in the guardian normalising people's responses- https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/25/why-its-healthy-to-be-afraid-in-a-crisis

Covid resources which are about non-pathologising responses- https://www.madintheuk.com/2020/03/covid-19-resources-were-all-in-this-together/

We are in this together- Lucy Johnstone- Mad in the UK- https://www.madintheuk.com/2020/04/we-are-all-in-this-together/

Media struggle to define what is normal- Mad in America- https://www.madinamerica.com/2020/04/pandemic-media-define-whats-normal/

Understanding our feelings during covid- Mad in the UK- https://www.madintheuk.com/2020/05/understanding-feelings-time-of-covid/

The impact of covid on early years- https://www.suttontrust.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Getting-the-Balance-Right.pdf

EMDR in the context of Covid- https://mcusercontent.com/952e63a91783a30a4877e5acc/files/424023bb-a404-4dc9-80ae-75f7f8c3052f/EMDR_Resources_in_the_Era_of_COVID_19.pdf

Some resources from the BPS- https://www.bps.org.uk/news-and-policy/advice-talking-children-about-illness

Trauma-informed response for covid- http://chicagotorturejustice.org/wellness-during-the-coronavirus/#trauma

Covid related grief and bereavement resources- http://www.childhoodbereavementnetwork.org.uk/covid-19.aspx and https://www.winstonswish.org/coronavirus/ and https://www.phoenixgrouphq.com/bereavement

Grief and loss online module by Dr Karen Treisman (paid)- creative and expressive resources- safehandsthinkingminds.thinkific.com

Covid trauma working group- https://www.traumagroup.org/

Responding to stress experienced by hospital staff resources- https://www.kingsfund.org.uk/audio-video/stress-hospital-staff-covid-19

Health journal about covid- https://www.magonlinelibrary.com/coronavirus

Digital poverty blog- https://www.thirdsector.co.uk/zoe-amar-covid-19-%E2%80%93-charities-action-digital-divide/digital/article/1683991

Remote working book- https://seasaltlearning.com/finding-your-campfire-a-remote-working-survival-guide/

Some tips by Dr Karen Treisman around attending virtual events- Some top tips and ideas for attending a virtual event

A report about young people using online therapy in the charity world- https://www.thinknpc.org/resource-hub/charities-young-people-and-digital-mental-health-services/

Community response to covid- a range of resources- https://ccr.publichealth.gwu.edu/covid-19

Community resources from Kenya including posters in a variety of languages- https://sites.google.com/green-string.org/covid-19-kenya/home

Some theraplay resources which can be done virtually- https://theraplay.org/product/theraplay-activities-for-telehealth/

Some guided mediation- https://corona.pocketproject.org/practice-tools/

Some sensorimotor tools and ideas during the pandemic- https://sensorimotor.pages.ontraport.net/online-therapy-resources

Some EMDR resources during the pandemic- https://mcusercontent.com/952e63a91783a30a4877e5acc/files/424023bb-a404-4dc9-80ae-75f7f8c3052f/EMDR_Resources_in_the_Era_of_COVID_19.pdf

Some videos and activities for adults and children- https://www.childcomwales.org.uk/coronavirus/

Colour in poster- this won't be forever- by Emma Paxton- http://imagistic.co.uk/free-covid-19-printables/

Safeguarding, covid, and education- https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-safeguarding-in-schools-colleges-and-other-providers/coronavirus-covid-19-safeguarding-in-schools-colleges-and-other-providers

Going back to school over covid blog by Mary Meredith- https://marymered.wordpress.com/2020/04/14/five-ways-to-help-children-heal-when-schools-reopen/amp/?__twitter_impression=true

Reopening education after covid- https://case.edu/socialwork/traumacenter/sites/case.edu.traumacenter/files/2020-06/COVID-19%20and%20Opening%20of%20Educational%20Institutions.pdf

Schools supporting children around bereavement in the context of covid- https://www.winstonswish.org/coronavirus-schools-support-children-young-people/

Pupils views about change to education around covid- https://edpsy.org.uk/features/2020/pupil-views-around-the-covid-19-pandemic-an-opportunity-for-change-in-education/

Help with remove education (England)- https://get-help-with-remote-education.education.gov.uk/

Babies born during lockdown report- https://babiesinlockdown.files.wordpress.com/2020/08/babies-in-lockdown-main-report-final-version.pdf

Covid and impact on babies report- https://parentinfantfoundation.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/210115-F1001D-Working-for-Babies-Report-FINAL-v1.0-compressed.pdf

Mandalas to colour in- covid related- https://www.dropbox.com/s/rsxquk12joqe9vo/Healing-from-the-Inside-Out-Affirmations-and-coloring-pages-for-covid19%20(2).pdf?dl=0

NHS and anxiety- https://www.nhs.uk/oneyou/every-mind-matters/anxiety/?WT.tsrc=Search&WT.mc_id=Anxiety&gclid=CjwKCAjwsMzzBRACEiwAx4lLG5nZ-vEMTwxo3vaH0eBTh3sJLVydiJkxwHJS7114R37GGwIXXRzJ9BoC_0YQAvD_BwE

For those interested in CBT resources- https://www.psychologytools.com/

Some info for adults about coronavirus and anxiety- https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/publications/looking-after-your-mental-health-during-coronavirus-outbreak/while-working

Doing what matters in times of stress- A guide written by WHO- https://www.who.int/publications-detail/9789240003927

Coronavirus and prisons- https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cbp-8892/

On-The-Line. A film made in lockdown by 42 young refugees. https://youtu.be/PSeBhWTvTxQ‬
Some social work, child protection, and care specific resources:
Some guidelines for social workers during this time- https://www.basw.co.uk/professional-practice-guidance-home-visits-during-covid-19-pandemic

Social work amidst the pandemic- https://www.researchinpractice.org.uk/children/news-views/2020/april/social-work-with-children-and-families-in-the-pandemic/

A spotlight about remote working in the courts by a judge- http://www.transparencyproject.org.uk/remote-justice-a-judges-perspective/

Virtual family group conferences- https://www.communitycare.co.uk/2021/01/14/virtual-family-group-conferences-fared-covid-19/

Journal on social work during covid- https://sw2020covid19.group.shef.ac.uk/

Journal on social work during covid- next edition- http://sw2020covid19.group.shef.ac.uk

Journal on social work during covid- edition 5- https://sw2020covid19.group.shef.ac.uk/

Resources to support social workers during covid- https://www.communitycare.co.uk/2020/05/26/social-work-podcasts-support-covid-19/

Safeguarding in covid for community and voluntary groups- https://learning.nspcc.org.uk/news/2020/may/safeguarding-during-coronavirus-voluntary-and-community-groups

The impact of covid on care leavers report by staf- https://www.staf.scot/news/staf-report-covid-19

David Grimm writes an article of some of the experiences of lockdown from a care experienced perspective- https://www.nationalconfidentialforum.org.uk/news-events/2020/05/national-confidential-forum-participant-david-grimm-issues-advice-to-care-experienced-people-during-lockdown/

A collaborative poem about care experienced young people during lockdown- https://imohub.org.uk/definecare-collaborative-poem-by-care-leavers/

Covid and increased cyber and online abuse report- https://t.co/5k0x0fpZjr?amp=1

Virtual children's hearings report- https://www.celcis.org/files/6815/9646/6463/Virtual_Childrens_Hearings_Report_3rd_August_2020.pdf

Coronavirus and safeguarding/child protection- https://learning.nspcc.org.uk/safeguarding-child-protection/coronavirus

Podcast on social work leadership amidst covid- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0qON_Vcz6U8&app=desktop

Podcast on delivering children's services during covid- https://learning.nspcc.org.uk/news/2020/june/podcast-impact-on-delivering-childrens-services-during-lockdown

Covid guidance and foster care/residential- https://www.health-ni.gov.uk/publications/covid-19-guidance-foster-care-and-supported-lodgings-settings and https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-on-isolation-for-residential-educational-settings/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-on-isolation-for-residential-educational-settings

Introduction of placements and adoption transitions from corambaaf- https://corambaaf.org.uk/sites/default/files/uploads/Managing%20Introductions%20of%20children%20with%20their%20prospective%20adopters%20270320.pdf

Report looking at kinship carers during the pandemic. Kinship carers are hugely important & often a neglected & poorly represented group of people- https://www.frg.org.uk/images/Cross_party_PT_on_KC/Kinship_carers_experiences_report.pdf

Impact of lockdown and school closures on care experienced young people- https://www.adoptionuk.org/Handlers/Download.ashx?IDMF=b3326f3b-4cdf-46fe-94e1-8724bbb75475

Home visits and child protection- the challenges of physically distancing- https://www.researchinpractice.org.uk/children/news-views/2020/july/child-protection-and-risks-from-covid-19-home-visits-and-the-challenges-of-social-distancing/

Young carers and the impact of covid- https://www.anncrafttrust.org/young-carers-and-covid-19/

Young carers and covid- a report by UEA- https://www.caringtogether.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/UEA-young-carer-CRCF-COVID-19-final-findings-v1.0.pdf

Young people's experience of the justice system during covid- https://www.cycj.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/COVID-19-and-justice-report-final.pdf

Family and drugs courts briefing during covid- https://justiceinnovation.org/sites/default/files/media/documents/2020-05/fdac_briefing_final.pdf

The impact of covid on children living in poverty- https://view.publitas.com/the-childhood-trust/children-in-lockdown-the-childhood-trust-report-june-2020/page/1

Social work guidance around covid- https://markallenassets.blob.core.windows.net/communitycare/2020/04/PSW-Coronavirus-Ethical-Response-and-Best-Practice-Guide.pdf

Children with disabilities during covid- https://contact.org.uk/news-and-blogs/dcp-left-in-lockdown/

Impact of social work of covid podcast- https://podcasts.apple.com/za/podcast/episode-15-s2-impact-of-covid-19-on-social-work/id1436421996?i=1000471949788

Virtual contact between children and birth parents blog written by Research in Practice- https://www.researchinpractice.org.uk/children/news-views/2020/april/virtual-contact-between-children-and-their-birth-families-during-lockdown-unexpected-opportunities/

Lockdown and stories from adopters- http://www.alcoates.co.uk/p/the-adoption-fostering-podcast.html

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Covid, Anxiety, Stress- Resources & Links

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Some resources to support children and adults around anxiety, worry, stress, and fears; including those related to the pandemic/Covid-19 (this page will be updated on a very regular basis so please...

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How to help your child feel safe about returning to school

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How to help your child feel safe about returning to school

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School closure due to the pandemic has brought uncertainty and lack of structure to many families but, over time, home-schooling has become the 'new normal'. As many schools reopen, families are now faced with a new uncertainty and a need to adapt again.

During school closure family experiences will have varied considerably and for some children returning to school may be enjoyable and even a relief, whilst for others it may feel sad, scary and confusing.

Schools have worked hard to introduce new routines and practices to keep children safe when they return to school, including bubble groups that stay together across learning and play.

When adjusting to these changes in school life, it is normal for children to feel anxious and sad. Over time these feelings often ease, but there are ways families can support their children to feel more positive about being back at school again.

Deciding on whether children should return to school may have been a difficult process for many families. Weighing up concerns about the safety and wellbeing of children or close relatives and work commitments is not easy and sending children back to school may understandably cause carers to feel anxious, sad or even guilty.

Even if we do not discuss our feelings directly with our children, they can pick up on our emotions. In order to understand what your child might be sensing it's a good idea to stop and notice how you are feeling by talking to someone you trust, writing down your feelings, or practising mindfulness to gain insight into your emotions.

Choose a moment when you feel calm to talk to your child about school. Be aware that they might try to copy your feelings as a way to understand the situation and how to react to it. If you want your child to feel more excited about school, try to show some excitement yourself by talking to them about the positives and what they might have missed, such as seeing their friends.

Try to listen to your child and acknowledge their feelings. If they are feeling anxious about school, encourage them to write down their worries as they occur and post them in a worry box, or if they are younger you can help them to draw a picture that represents their concerns.

As parents and carers we naturally want to reassure children but too much reassurance can perpetuate worry. If your child feels very anxious, try and limit discussions around worries to once a day for 30 minutes and have a dedicated "worry time" to talk about concerns.

Problem-solving is a useful strategy to lessen worrying. Help your child to identify and describe a problem they are concerned about, such as 'my friend is in a different school bubble group and we can't be friends anymore'. Then come up with as many solutions as possible, consider the pros and cons of each, and decide which solution to try, for example: they could speak with their friend regularly by phone.

A growth mindset can help your child believe that they can keep on learning and changing, seeing challenges as a normal part of life and opportunities for growth. Considering the current uncertainties, including the possibility that the school routine may change again, this mindset is important to nurture in both our children and ourselves.

One of the best ways to encourage this mindset is through daily reflection on positive experiences, particularly at school. Families could think of three top things that they have enjoyed that day, and talk about this during a mealtime, or write or draw these activities in a gratitude journal together. You could encourage your child to consider what kind words or actions helped them through the day, either their own or from others, or think up a quote for the day such as 'I can do this' or 'School might feel tough before it gets easier'.

School will feel different now and your child will need to get used to new ways of doing things. Families may also need to revive essential routines that have lapsed over lockdown such as eating and sleeping at regular times and making time for exercise. It's also important to put in in place regular activities that children enjoy and make them feel good as this can support a child's positive attitude towards school.

Discuss with your child what fun routines could be introduced such as scooting or biking to school. If your child has packed lunches agree what should go in the lunch and make this together. Consider new routines after finishing school such as doing something creative, having some agreed screen time or going to the park. And if you have discovered fun and new activities during lockdown, make sure you plan for how to keep these going around school.

As children have got used to spending more time with their family during the school closures, they may start to miss it as they return to school. It can help to introduce special time together for a specified amount of time and at an agreed time each day for a child's chosen activity. As a family, you can also agree fun activities to plan for the weekends for children to look forward to.

To help with motivation, you could create a reward chart together that can counteract what your child finds challenging. For example, if they find school worrying, the rewards might be for going to school every day, or, if they find a change in class structure difficult, the rewards might focus on talking to new classmates. The timeframe for achieving the goal should be clear and the reward itself specific - for example stickers, a small toy, or an experience such as a movie night. Alongside this, general praise for attending school and engaging with the new routine can help your child feel positive about the experience.

These are challenging times for children, as they adapt to a different type of school environment, but by listening to how they are feeling and putting into place different ways of thinking and fun routines, we can help them to see the positives in being back at school.

Dr Jessica Richardson is Principal Clinical Psychologist for Trauma, Anxiety and Depression Clinic, National & Specialist CAMHS, Maudsley and Co-Director for Children and Young People's Increasing Access to Psychological Therapies at King's College London. Additional support by Drs. Patrick Smith,, Zoe Maiden, and Sarah Miles and Prof Andrea Danese of the National & Specialist CAMHS Clinic for Trauma, Anxiety, and Depression at the NHS Maudsley Hospital.
For more advice on anxiety about returning to school see this featuring Dr Jessica Richardson or watch the Families Under Pressure animations. King's College London and NHS Maudsley Hospital work together to make children and young people's mental health better.

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How to help your child feel better about being back in school

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School closure due to the pandemic has brought uncertainty and lack of structure to many families but, over time, home-schooling has become the 'new normal'. As many schools reopen, families are now faced with a new uncertainty and a need to adapt again.

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PDF from ELSA

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Guide to supporting your children

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A psychologist's advice on how to help your children deal with the many emotions they may be experiencing now.

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) brings with it feelings like anxiety, stress and uncertainty - and they are felt especially strongly by children of all ages. Though all children deal with such emotions in different ways, if your child has been faced with school closures, cancelled events or separation from friends, they are going to need to feel loved and supported now more than ever.

We spoke with expert adolescent psychologist, best-selling author, monthly New York Times columnist and mother of two Dr. Lisa Damour about how you can help create a sense of normalcy at home while navigating "the new (temporary) normal."

1. Be calm and proactive

"Parents should have a calm, proactive conversation with their children about the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), and the important role children can play in keeping themselves healthy. Let them know that it is possible that [you or your children] might start to feel symptoms at some point, which are often very similar to the common cold or flu, and that they do not need to feel unduly frightened of this possibility," recommends Dr. Damour. "Parents should encourage their kids to let them know if they're not feeling well, or if they are feeling worried about the virus so that the parents can be of help."

"Adults can empathize with the fact that children are feeling understandably nervous and worried about COVID-19. Reassure your children that illness due to COVID-19 infection is generally mild, especially for children and young adults," she says. It's also important to remember, that many of the symptoms of COVID-19 can be treated. "From there, we can remind them that there are many effective things we can do to keep ourselves and others safe and to feel in better control of our circumstances: frequently wash our hands, don't touch our faces and engage in social distancing."

"Another thing we can do is actually help them look outward. So to say to them, 'Listen, I know you're feeling really anxious about catching coronavirus, but part of why we're asking you to do all these things - to wash your hands, to stay home - is that that's also how we take care of members of our community. We think about the people around us, too.'"
>> How to talk to your kids about COVID-19 >> Read our tips on handwashing
2. Stick to a routine

" Children need structure. Full stop. And what we're all having to do, very quickly, is invent entirely new structures to get every one of us through our days," says Dr. Damour. "I would strongly recommend that parents make sure that there's a schedule for the day - that can include playtime where a kid can get on their phone and connect with their friends, but it also should have technology-free time and time set aside to help around the house. We need to think about what we value and we need to build a structure that reflects that. It will be a great relief to our kids to have a sense of a predictable day and a sense of when they're supposed to be working and when they get to play."

She suggests getting your children involved too."For children 10 and 11 or older, I would ask the child to design it. Give them a sense of the kinds of things that should be included in their day, and then work with what they create." When it comes to younger children, "depending on who is supervising them (I realize that not every parent is going to be home to do this) structure their day so that all of the things that need to get done before anything else happen: all of their schoolwork and all of their chores. For some families, doing that at the start of the day will work best for kids. Other families may find it may work okay to start the day a little bit later after sleeping in and enjoying breakfast together as a family." For parents who are not able to supervise their children during the day, explore with your caretaker ways to create a structure that works best.

3. Let your child feel their emotions

With school closures come cancelled school plays, concerts, sports matches and activities that children are deeply disappointed about missing out on because of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Dr. Damour's number one piece of advice is to let them be sad. " In the scope of an adolescent's life these are major losses. This is bigger for them than it is for us because we're measuring it against our lifetime and experience. Support, expect and normalize that they are very sad and very frustrated about the losses they are mourning." When in doubt, empathy and support are the way to go.

4. Check in with them about what they're hearing

There is a lot of misinformation circulating about the coronavirus disease (COVID-19). "Find out what your child is hearing or what they think is true. It's not enough to just tell your child accurate facts, because if they have picked up something that is inaccurate, if you don't find out what they are thinking and directly address the misunderstanding, they may combine the new information you give them with the old information they have. Find out what your child already knows and start from there in terms of getting them on the right track."

If they have questions you can't answer, instead of guessing, use it as an opportunity to explore the answers together. Use websites of trusted organizations like UNICEF and the World Health Organization for sources of information.

Many children are facing bullying and abuse at school or online around the coronavirus disease (COVID-19). It's important your children know that you're always there for them should they experience bullying. "Activating bystanders is the best way to address any kind of bullying," says Dr. Damour. "Kids who are targeted should not be expected to confront bullies; rather we should encourage them to turn to friends or adults for help and support."

>> Get the facts: Read our coronavirus disease (COVID-19) explainer for parents
>> How to talk to your child about bullying
5. Create welcome distractions

When it comes to processing difficult emotions, "take your cues from your child, and really think a lot about balancing talking about feelings with finding distractions, and allow distractions when kids need relief from feeling very upset." Have a family game night every few days or cook meals together. Dr. Damour is using dinner time to connect with her daughters. "We've decided that we are going to have a dinner team every night. We mix it up in pairs, so we rotate who is in charge of making dinner for the family."

With teens and their screens, allow for some leeway, but not a free-for-all. Dr. Damour advises to be up front with your teenager and say that you understand they have more time on their hands, but that it's not going to be a good idea to have unfettered access to screens or social media. "Ask your teen, 'how should we handle this? Come up with a structure and show me the structure that you're thinking about, and then I'll let you know what I think.'"

6. Monitor your own behaviour

"Parents of course are anxious too and our kids will take emotional cues from us," explains Dr. Damour. "I would ask parents to do what they can to manage their anxiety in their own time and to not overshare their fears with their children. That may mean containing emotions, which may be hard at times, especially if they're feeling those emotions pretty intensely."

Children rely on their parents to provide a sense of safety and security. "[It's important that] we remember that they are the passengers in this and we are driving the car. And so even if we're feeling anxious, we can't let that get in the way of them feeling like safe passengers."

Interview and article by Mandy Rich, Digital Content Writer, UNICEF

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6 ways parents can support their kids through the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak

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A psychologist's advice on how to help your children deal with the many emotions they may be experiencing now. The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) brings with it feelings like anxiety, stress and uncertainty - and they are felt especially strongly by children of all ages.

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How to help your child feel safe about returning to school

# data[].attributes.subject
How to help your child feel safe about returning to school

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
School closure due to the pandemic has brought uncertainty and lack of structure to many families but, over time, home-schooling has become the 'new normal'. As many schools reopen, families are now faced with a new uncertainty and a need to adapt again.

During school closure family experiences will have varied considerably and for some children returning to school may be enjoyable and even a relief, whilst for others it may feel sad, scary and confusing.

Schools have worked hard to introduce new routines and practices to keep children safe when they return to school, including bubble groups that stay together across learning and play.

When adjusting to these changes in school life, it is normal for children to feel anxious and sad. Over time these feelings often ease, but there are ways families can support their children to feel more positive about being back at school again.

Deciding on whether children should return to school may have been a difficult process for many families. Weighing up concerns about the safety and wellbeing of children or close relatives and work commitments is not easy and sending children back to school may understandably cause carers to feel anxious, sad or even guilty.

Even if we do not discuss our feelings directly with our children, they can pick up on our emotions. In order to understand what your child might be sensing it's a good idea to stop and notice how you are feeling by talking to someone you trust, writing down your feelings, or practising mindfulness to gain insight into your emotions.

Choose a moment when you feel calm to talk to your child about school. Be aware that they might try to copy your feelings as a way to understand the situation and how to react to it. If you want your child to feel more excited about school, try to show some excitement yourself by talking to them about the positives and what they might have missed, such as seeing their friends.

Try to listen to your child and acknowledge their feelings. If they are feeling anxious about school, encourage them to write down their worries as they occur and post them in a worry box, or if they are younger you can help them to draw a picture that represents their concerns.

As parents and carers we naturally want to reassure children but too much reassurance can perpetuate worry. If your child feels very anxious, try and limit discussions around worries to once a day for 30 minutes and have a dedicated "worry time" to talk about concerns.

Problem-solving is a useful strategy to lessen worrying. Help your child to identify and describe a problem they are concerned about, such as 'my friend is in a different school bubble group and we can't be friends anymore'. Then come up with as many solutions as possible, consider the pros and cons of each, and decide which solution to try, for example: they could speak with their friend regularly by phone.

A growth mindset can help your child believe that they can keep on learning and changing, seeing challenges as a normal part of life and opportunities for growth. Considering the current uncertainties, including the possibility that the school routine may change again, this mindset is important to nurture in both our children and ourselves.

One of the best ways to encourage this mindset is through daily reflection on positive experiences, particularly at school. Families could think of three top things that they have enjoyed that day, and talk about this during a mealtime, or write or draw these activities in a gratitude journal together. You could encourage your child to consider what kind words or actions helped them through the day, either their own or from others, or think up a quote for the day such as 'I can do this' or 'School might feel tough before it gets easier'.

School will feel different now and your child will need to get used to new ways of doing things. Families may also need to revive essential routines that have lapsed over lockdown such as eating and sleeping at regular times and making time for exercise. It's also important to put in in place regular activities that children enjoy and make them feel good as this can support a child's positive attitude towards school.

Discuss with your child what fun routines could be introduced such as scooting or biking to school. If your child has packed lunches agree what should go in the lunch and make this together. Consider new routines after finishing school such as doing something creative, having some agreed screen time or going to the park. And if you have discovered fun and new activities during lockdown, make sure you plan for how to keep these going around school.

As children have got used to spending more time with their family during the school closures, they may start to miss it as they return to school. It can help to introduce special time together for a specified amount of time and at an agreed time each day for a child's chosen activity. As a family, you can also agree fun activities to plan for the weekends for children to look forward to.

To help with motivation, you could create a reward chart together that can counteract what your child finds challenging. For example, if they find school worrying, the rewards might be for going to school every day, or, if they find a change in class structure difficult, the rewards might focus on talking to new classmates. The timeframe for achieving the goal should be clear and the reward itself specific - for example stickers, a small toy, or an experience such as a movie night. Alongside this, general praise for attending school and engaging with the new routine can help your child feel positive about the experience.

These are challenging times for children, as they adapt to a different type of school environment, but by listening to how they are feeling and putting into place different ways of thinking and fun routines, we can help them to see the positives in being back at school.

Dr Jessica Richardson is Principal Clinical Psychologist for Trauma, Anxiety and Depression Clinic, National & Specialist CAMHS, Maudsley and Co-Director for Children and Young People's Increasing Access to Psychological Therapies at King's College London. Additional support by Drs. Patrick Smith,, Zoe Maiden, and Sarah Miles and Prof Andrea Danese of the National & Specialist CAMHS Clinic for Trauma, Anxiety, and Depression at the NHS Maudsley Hospital.
For more advice on anxiety about returning to school see this featuring Dr Jessica Richardson or watch the Families Under Pressure animations. King's College London and NHS Maudsley Hospital work together to make children and young people's mental health better.

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How to help your child feel better about being back in school

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School closure due to the pandemic has brought uncertainty and lack of structure to many families but, over time, home-schooling has become the 'new normal'. As many schools reopen, families are now faced with a new uncertainty and a need to adapt again.

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Talking to children and families

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How a child or young person reacts to the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak may depend on their age, past experiences or understanding of what's happening.

Some children and young people, including those with additional needs and disabilities, may find it difficult to deal with things or struggle with adapting to changes in their routine.

For instance, some may worry more than normal, which can show up in physical symptoms like stomach ache. Others may behave differently, getting more angry, distant or acting up in other ways.

Some children may have had a strong reaction early on whereas some may have coped initially but shown signs of difficulty later on.

Some younger children may have enjoyed more time with the family and struggle with restrictions easing, while others may have managed any changes well.

If you are a parent or carer, it's important you know how to look after the mental health of those you care for during difficult times. Here are some tips that might help.

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Looking after children and young people during coronavirus - Every Mind Matters

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How a child or young person reacts to the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak may depend on their age, past experiences or understanding of what's happening. Some children and young people, including those with additional needs and disabilities, may find it difficult to deal with things or struggle with adapting to changes in their routine.

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Resources from Save the children

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1. Be calm, honest, and informed.

2. Tailor your approach based on your child-think about whether more information makes them more or less anxious.

3. Share facts simply and calmly-kids take their cue from you.

4. Ask your child what they know, answer their questions and address any misinformation.

5. Validate their feelings, while reassuring them- "I understand this can be scary. The risk is still low, and we're well prepared."

6. Remind them of what's in their power-washing hands thoroughly and often, coughing and sneezing into their elbow, getting plenty of sleep, etc.

7. Model good hygiene, and try to make it fun! Think of or create a favorite song to sing while scrubbing hands for at least 20 seconds.

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Talking to Your Children about Coronavirus | Save the Children UK

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1. Be calm, honest, and informed. 2. Tailor your approach based on your child-think about whether more information makes them more or less anxious. 3. Share facts simply and calmly-kids take their cue from you. 4. Ask your child what they know, answer their questions and address any misinformation. 5.

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Alderhey Children's hospital you tube video

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What is coronavirus? A fact sheet for kids

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Advice for families

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If you're worried about a child, encouraging them to talk can be very helpful, whether you're a parent, grandparent, friend or teacher.
If you think a child you know has a problem, it can be hard to know how to start talking to them about it.

When there are problems at home, such as parents fighting, divorce or a death in the family, children can become withdrawn and upset.

Being able to talk to someone other than a parent is sometimes very helpful for children. Grandparents, uncles, aunts, teachers or even a counsellor can all offer support.

Look for clues in their play

Children express themselves through play as well as words. You can learn a lot about how they're feeling by simply spending time with them and watching them play.

Stressed and upset children often play fighting games with their toys. Comment on this by saying, "There are a lot of fights going on" or "It seems pretty frightening". This can help to get them talking about what's bothering them.

Even if you do not start a conversation, you'll be making the child feel more comfortable with you, paving the way for them to open up to you about their problems.

If you can get them talking, gently ask what's wrong. But if the child does not want to open up, let the subject go, then repeat the process at another time until they're ready to tell you what's bothering them.

If a child is too frightened to talk

If you're worried that a child you know might be being abused at home, it can help to ask a question like, "Is mummy getting very cross with you? You can tell me about it if you want to."

A child might not understand that they're being abused. They may simply see it as a parent being angry or annoyed with them.

Children who are being sexually abused often do not talk about it because they think it's their fault or they have been convinced by their abuser that it's normal or a "special secret".

See more signs of child sexual abuse.

Children will often ask if you're going to tell anyone about what they've told you. Never promise not to tell, but explain that you'll only tell other people who want to help.

If you suspect abuse, encourage them to call ChildLine (0800 1111) or ring the NSPCC yourself (0808 800 5000) and get advice about how to report it.

If a child is aggressive or misbehaving

If a child is fighting or being aggressive, they're doing it for a good reason, and talking may help you discover the reason.

Start by telling the child that their bad behaviour is unacceptable and why - for example, because it will harm other people or get them into trouble. Then offer them the chance to talk about why they're angry.

This might not work instantly because an angry child might not listen to you straight away. Don't give up. Children are aware when they're behaving badly, and it's important to find out the reasons why.

See more tips on dealing with child anger.

If your child is worried about scary news

In this digital age it is virtually impossible to stop children from finding out about upsetting news events, such as terrorism, war and violent crime, that they may find traumatic.

Advice from the Mental Health Foundation includes:

do not try to blackout all exposure to news; this is both unlikely to succeed and could actually increase their fears

be truthful about what has happened

let them know it is normal to be concerned and tell them you are also concerned

encourage them to ask questions if they seem unclear about what has happened

reassure them that you will do everything you can to keep them safe

The Mental Health Foundation has more advice about talking to your children about scary world news.

If your child is grieving

Young children don't always understand what death means. It helps to explain it by saying, "Nana's died. She's not going to be with us any more."

Watch children carefully if someone close to them has died. If they seem tearful or withdrawn, encourage them to open up about how they're feeling by talking about the person who's died.

You could say something like, "It's very sad that Nana has died" or "I feel sad that Nana has died, and sometimes it's hard to understand why people die."

See more about children and bereavement.

If you're still worried about your child

If you're still concerned about your child after talking to them, see your GP for further advice.

See some tips on talking to teenagers.

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If you're worried about a child, encouraging them to talk can be very helpful, whether you're a parent, grandparent, friend or teacher. If you think a child you know has a problem, it can be hard to know how to start talking to them about it.

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Wash your hands and mask wearing posters by Nick Sharatt

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Posters to download

More than ever, we all need to be washing our hands at the appropriate times and thoroughly too.

Here's an A4 poster for you to download and print, to help remind everyone. Choose between the soap dispenser and a bar of soap version.

Children can have fun colouring in the black and white version.

Soap dispenser (1MB each)

Bar of soap (1MB each)

Here are three A4 posters that might be helpful in getting young children acclimatized to seeing adults around them in masks. The black and white versions could be fun to colour in.

Face coverings should not be used by children under the age of 3 or those who may find it difficult to manage them correctly.

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More than ever, we all need to be washing our hands at the appropriate times and thoroughly too. Here's an A4 poster for you to download and print, to help remind everyone. Choose between the soap dispenser and a bar of soap version. Children can have fun colouring in the black and white version.

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In July 2020, we joined forces with The Sleep Charity as part of a strong, ambitious mission to empower the nation to sleep better.

Both organisations have worked hard individually, over the years, to achieve change and support to those affected by lack of sleep. By merging, we have strengthened our complementary services to speak with one voice, improve the impact of our work and to raise the profile of sleep as a major factor for health and wellbeing.

The majority of content has now moved over to The Sleep Charity website where you will find a comprehensive resource of sleep information. The Sleep Council website will shortly be removed. Thank you for your support.

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In July 2020, we joined forces with The Sleep Charity as part of a strong, ambitious mission to empower the nation to sleep better. Both organisations have worked hard individually, over the years, to achieve change and support to those affected by lack of sleep.

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Story book to watch.

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Support for adults mental health and also links to other forms of support and guidance

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Emotional coping strategies and information

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BookTrust HomeTime

Looking for something fun as a family? Enjoy storytime with our free online books and videos, play games, win prizes, test your knowledge in our book-themed quizzes, or even learn how to draw some of your favourite characters.
Go to the HomeTime hub

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How to use emotion coaching to help little ones with their worries

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Looking for something fun as a family? Enjoy storytime with our free online books and videos, play games, win prizes, test your knowledge in our book-themed quizzes, or even learn how to draw some of your favourite characters. Go to the HomeTime hub

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Acts of Kindness to keep children busy

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Lockdown is in full swing and you may be wondering what to do to entertain the kids tomorrow. Why not try one of our acts of kindness for kids? There is something for children of all ages - to teach them the importance of kindness, especially at a time like this.

Whether you want to encourage kindness to family members, friends or strangers, random acts of kindness can come in all different forms and sizes! From donating unwanted toys and clothes to giving compliments, you may just pick up some kindness ideas to use yourself!

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1. Donate unwanted toys: ask kids under 10 to decide which toys they no longer need and explain to them how thankful other children would be to receive their donations. In lockdown, why not leave them outside with a handmade sign to say that they're free - and let someone re-home them, as families walk past on their daily exercise!

2. Make a sign to thank key workers: explain how important key workers are to children of any age and encourage them to make a sign to put up in the window! Or, if you have a drive - why not draw it on in chalk?

3. Say thank you: encourage kids to give thanks for the little things! Give thanks to their siblings for making them laugh, or for sharing toys. For older children or teenagers, get them to give thanks to someone for a deeper reason e.g. thanking their grandparents for the lessons that they have taught them.

4. Give compliments: this one is similar to the above, but giving a compliment to someone teaches children to be more selfless and to think of others' feelings as well as their own.

5. Paint a picture for your friends: get younger children to paint a picture for their school friends if they're missing them! Take a picture and send it to their parents via Facebook! This is a safe lockdown version of the good old fashioned posting method.

6. Ask your neighbours if their dog needs walking: this is perfect for teenagers to gain a sense of community, through calling neighbours and offering selfless favours. It will not only help to build their confidence, but also to realise the true value of building good relationships!

7. Smile at 20 people: whilst out on your daily exercise, encourage younger children to smile at everyone they pass - it might just make someone's day a little less lonely.

8. Be kind to animals: encourage children to feed the birds in your back garden with some bread crumbs that you can make using your loaf! Lockdown is a great time to be more appreciative of nature!

9. Send a video message: record a video of your kids telling family members how much they're missing them! Send them the video and praise them for saying such kind words.

10. Pick up litter: use your daily exercise one day to go on a litter picking walk. Wear gloves or bring tongs to make sure they're not touching anything nasty! Put them in a black bin bag en route and enjoy thanks from your community!

11. Write a letter: encourage kids to write a surprise letter to mum or dad to make them smile. This is perfect for children who want to practise their writing!

12. Write a kindness poem: ask kids to make up a poem about being kind. Inspire them to read it every morning to set them up in a kind mood for the rest of the day!

13. Adopt an animal online: if you're able to donate a few pounds a month towards your child's chosen animal, why not teach them the importance of being charitable? There are lots of websites that allow kids to name their animals and to print off pictures etc.

14. Ask for donations for their birthday: as it may be hard to family members to get gifts, if it is their birthday during lockdown, encourage children to ask for a few donations in their name instead of presents!

15. Donate clothes and leave a note: children love surprises, so why not leave a note in an item of clothing that you're going to be donating once lockdown is over?

16. Inspire them to surprise you: let them know that surprises are a really great act of kindness and that you would appreciate a surprise bath or a handpicked bunch of flowers from the garden?

17. Leave out water for the wildlife: during this beautiful weather that we have been having during lockdown, some of your wildlife would be appreciative of a water bowl! Birds may want to bath and foxes might want a drink. If you've got lots of gadgets at home - why not set up a camera to catch them using it when you've gone inside!

18. Put together a shoebox: go on a hunt around the house for things that you could donate to a homeless person. Smellies, dried foods and an item of clothing in a shoebox would make a lovely gift to give to someone after lockdown ends.

19. Penny hunt: drop a few pennies on your daily walk for other kids to find later on! It may just make their day to find a penny and pick it up.

20. Shout to a neighbour: inspire kids to start a conversation with neighbours over the fence - but more importantly, get them to ask questions. "How are you doing?" and "what have you been doing?" will be greatly welcomed by bored neighbours!

21. Teach someone something: ask your kids to take turns in teaching each other something, or ask them to teach you something that they learnt at school. Be sure to express your thanks for this new knowledge!

22. Say "yes": encourage them to say yes to everything they're asked that day (this game can sometimes turn a bit silly).

23. Be grateful: before they go to bed, ask them what they have been grateful for that day.

24. Make a daisy chain: explain to siblings that random acts of kindness and love will make their relationships much stronger!

25. And finally: if during lockdown, your kids haven't been spending their pocket money, encourage them to put their money together with their siblings to save up for a joint purchase! Make sure they something extra special to show them that it is always better to share.

If you've been inspired by our random acts of kindness today and you'd like to do more - why not make a kindness calendar with the kids? Schedule daily or weekly acts for them to engage with and reap the rewards of your good karma!

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25 Acts Of Kindness To Keep Kids Busy In Lockdown by Kidadl

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Lockdown is in full swing and you may be wondering what to do to entertain the kids tomorrow. Why not try one of our acts of kindness for kids? There is something for children of all ages - to teach them the importance of kindness, especially at a time like this.

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Childline calmzone has lots of activities and ideas to support feeling calm

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There are lots of way to feel calmer. Try our breathing exercises, activities and games or watch a video to help let go of stress.

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Video and activities to support

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The Big Idea: Of all the tools in the toolbox, hope can be the most helpful of all.

Nurture Hope
NOTE: As with every workshop in this topic, these activities can benefit both kids and adults, individually or together, one-on-one or in groups. Depending on who you're working with at a given time, adapt or omit activities as you see fit-you know your kids and families best!
Trauma can destroy a child's confidence and self-esteem, but there are ways to begin strengthening it. Big and small goals encourage little ones to look to the future, rather than staying focused on the past. Having confidence in one's ability to learn and grow is a powerful force in healing and allows kids to build a sense of hope for the future. In this workshop, parents and kids can look forward-and move forward-with hope.

1. I Can Do It

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hy1na0WXjUs

First, watch Abby Cadabby stick to her goal in this video, "I Can Do It." With Sophia's support, she begins to remember and believe in her power to reach her goal. Then say:

Abby wanted to turn her pumpkin into a coach. What would you like to do?

What do you want to learn about? What would you like to learn to do? What do you want to get better at?

Let's say it together like Abby did: "I know what I want. I can figure it out. I can keep trying." (You might add, "I have what it takes. I'll get there.") Let's imitate Abby's hand gestures as we say each sentence. (Kids learn with their bodies!)

2. Creating Feelings of Strength and Confidence

Download printable

Getting out of the "thinking brain" and dropping into one's body can change one's state of mind. Demonstrate this simple yoga pose, "tree pose," with kids (and grown-ups!) using these printable instructions.

3. I Can Flower

Download printable

Grown-ups can boost the confidence of little ones, working together to create an "I Can" flower.

4. H Is for Hope

Finally, for your own additional exploration of the topic, plus for parents and caregivers who want to learn more, print and distribute this article, "H Is for Hope."

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Nurture Hope | Sesame Street in Communities

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The Big Idea: Of all the tools in the toolbox, hope can be the most helpful of all. Nurture Hope NOTE: As with every workshop in this topic, these activities can benefit both kids and adults, individually or together, one-on-one or in groups.

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Illustrated by Axel Shaffer a book to explain Cornoavirus to children

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Mindfulness relaxation for children

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The same part of the brain children need to safely cross a busy road is the same part they need to regulate. The development of this part takes time, and lots of experience.

We need to keep our expectations developmentally appropriate. As with all important things, children don’t learn from harsh words or a harsh responses. None of us do. They learn by watching, and by doing with us, over and over.

Let go of any agenda to ‘get them to behave’ or to ‘control themselves’. The more we hold on to an agenda, the more impatient we’ll be, and the more disappointed or angry we’ll be when things don’t go as expected.

Just like crossing the road, the capacity for self-regulation will emerge in time, provided they have the right experience. The experience they need is our calm, strong, loving presence in the face of their big feelings. Think of it like being their anchor in their emotional storm. Breathe, feel what they feel, and be with. Then wait for the storm to pass. You don’t need to fix anything. They aren’t broken. This is part of how they grow, not a diversion from it.

During big feelings, preserve your connection as much as you can. This will maximise your influence when things come back to calm. This is the time to talk about what’s happened, what can be done differently next time, and any putting right that might be needed. When they are calm, they’ll be in a brain state more compatible with learning. There’s no hurry for this.

In the same way we have to keep our expectations of our children developmentally appropriate, we have to keep our expectations of ourselves humanly appropriate. Sometimes we’ll lose our minds (literally, lose our thinking minds) and go back to impulse and instinct when we’re in front of big feelings. We’re human, and that’s what humans do sometimes. A child in big feelings will trigger our own fight or flight, but instead of fighting or fleeing for them, we might be driven to fight with them or flee from them. If this happens, repair the rupture as soon as you can. This is an opportunity to model humility, the okay-ness of imperfection, responsibility (response-ability) and putting things right - all important growth points.♥️

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Mindfulness - Videos for Kids Archives - Hey Sigmund

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Mindfulness - Videos for Kids (Or their flight crew.)

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Advice on what to do if your child is feeling worried or anxious

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Relaxation exercises to do at home with your kids | Save the Children UK

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The Coronavirus pandemic can cause anxiety and stress for children. We're sharing easy, at home exercises to help ease that stress.

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From Leeds Children hospital with links on as well

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Video on getting to sleep from Sesame Street

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Sesame Street Monster Meditation #2: Goodnight Body with Elmo and Headspace

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Supporting your child with managing anxiety

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Easy to share with children from Priory Healthcare

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ByDr Hayley van Zwanenberg, Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist at Priory Group

If a child has anxiety, it can have an effect on their ability to function and enjoy life. We have created a series of illustrations that can help you to explain to a child why anxiety can happen, when it can happen and what they can do if they do feel anxious.

The illustrations can help a child to recognise what is happening to them and understand why they may be feeling a certain way. They can also help you to reaffirm to the child that they are not alone and always have you to turn to.

For further information on how anxiety can start in a young person, how it may present, and how you can help them recover, please read our accompanying blog on childhood anxiety.

You can also read about the treatment that is available at Priory for young people with anxiety on our Anxiety and Young People's Services pages.

Can't find what you're looking for?

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ByDr Hayley van Zwanenberg , Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist at Priory Group If a child has anxiety, it can have an effect on their ability to function and enjoy life. We have created a series of illustrations that can help you to explain to a child why anxiety can happen, when it can happen and what they can do if they do feel anxious.