Guides to Parenting and Coping during Lockdown

Please find attached various resources from the local authority Early Help team and NHS England that might be of use during these uncertain times. These particularly talk about the Solihull approach and there are FREE online modules available to Parents and Carers. There is also information around coping with the complexities of family life during this time.

Here is a link to support your child’s learning and mental well-being. This can also be found on Facebook and Instagram.

Explaining Coronavirus to children and young people

• Child-friendly information and activity book, available in several languages: https://www.mindheart.co/descargables 
• Child Mind Institute guidance: https://childmind.org/article/talking-to-kids-about-the-coronavirus/
• How to support children with anxiety around coronavirus, including an easy-read explanation for children and adults with learning difficulties: https://www.specialneedsjungle.com/calming-coronavirus-anxiety-children-everyone-else/#Update
• A social story: https://carolgraysocialstories.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Pandemics-and-the-Coronavirus.pdf
• Another social story: https://carolgraysocialstories.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Learning-About-the-Corona-Virus-by-Dr.-Siobhan-Timmins.pdf
• https://www.bps.org.uk/news-and-policy/talking-children-about-coronavirus
• Tips for parents of young children including age-appropriate responses to common questions, a guide to self-care, and activities for young children experiencing social distancing: https://www.zerotothree.org/resources/3210-tips-for-families-coronavirus
• An informative animation for older children and young people: https://www.brainpop.com/health/diseasesinjuriesandconditions/coronavirus/
• A comic exploring coronavirus to help young people understand: https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2020/02/28/809580453/just-for-kids-a-comic-exploring-the-new-coronavirus?t=1584464333506
• Handwashing: https://www.who.int/gpsc/clean_hands_protection/en/
• The BBC Newsround site has a comprehensive section on coronavirus with text and video guidance focusing on tips if a child is worried, how to wash your hands, and what self-isolation means: https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/51204456

Mental health resources

• Young Minds: https://youngminds.org.uk/blog/what-to-do-if-you-re-anxious-about-coronavirus/
• Protecting your mental health in uncertain times (specific to Coronavirus): https://afsp.org/taking-care-of-your-mental-health-in-the-face-of-uncertainty/?fbclid=IwAR3ScDBfuhV5INKyutAG9IPNm4JnjjLOmHxv5w8SR9pBbDDU-8Hhy1QH-L8  
• About social distancing: https://www.apa.org/practice/programs/dmhi/research-information/social-distancing
• Mind guides to planning for staying at home or indoors, taking care of your mental health and wellbeing and a checklist re: are you ready to stay at home? https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/coronavirus-and-your-wellbeing/
• Advice for young people, parents, carers, schools and colleges about what each one of us can do to support the wellbeing of those in our lives. Includes self-care activities which you can do at home: https://www.annafreud.org/what-we-do/anna-freud-learning-network/coronavirus/
• Autism and the Corona virus- 20 tips: https://petervermeulenblog.wordpress.com/2020/03/16/autism-and-the-corona-virus-20-tips/