Children’s Mental Health amidst Covid-19

Many Thanks to Sian Devlin, a Mental Health Expert for this guest blog.

 Promoting Wellbeing: 

• Ensure children stay connected with their loved ones through digital / social media. 
• Take breaks from television and other media.  

  Be Active:  

       Cardiovascular exercise releases endorphins which are chemicals that make us feel happy. 

• Do online workouts 
• Make up dance routines 
• Create a mini sports day in the garden 
• Play active games e.g. musical statues, piggy in the middle, tag 
• Do a fast / timed treasure hunt  

        Joe Wicks P.E Lesson: https://www.thebodycoach.com/blog/pe-with-joe-1254.html  

        Pre School Curious George Workout: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aDLKbtnkKDY  

        Easy Zumba for Kids: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ymigWt5TOV8  

 Mini Mumbler’s Mindfulness:  

Mindfulness (being in the present moment) is great for children. There is a body of research that indicates it can help children improve their abilities to pay attention, calm down and regulate emotion. 

• Mindful Posing 

One easy way for children to dip their toes into mindfulness is through body poses e.g. different animals. To get your children excited, tell them that doing fun poses can help them feel strong, brave, and happy. Ask the children how they feel after a few rounds of trying either of these poses.  

The Superman: 

This pose is practiced by standing with the feet just wider than the hips, fists clenched, and arms reached out to the sky, stretching the body as tall as possible. 

The Wonder Woman: 

This pose is struck by standing tall with legs wider than hip-width apart and hands or fists placed on the hips. 

Disney’s Frozen Themed Yoga: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xlg052EKMtk  

• ‘Grounding Techniques’ – Spidey-Senses  

On the subject of superheroes, this can be a related “next step” to teach children how to stay present. Instruct your kids to turn-on their “Spidey senses,” or the super-focused senses of smell, sight, hearing, taste, and touch that Spiderman uses to keep tabs on the world around him.  

Using all five sentences (Grounding Techniques) can encourage children to pause and focus their attention on the present. It is also a useful distraction technique to reduce anxiety. 

• Children’s Weather Report 

As your children to describe the weather outside with as many adjectives as they can.  

Ask your children to describe how they are feeling at the moment using words to describe the weather – this allows children to identify their present state without over identifying with their emotions.  

Mindfulness Exercises and Scripts for children https://mindfulnessexercises.com/meditation-scripts-for-kids/  

Mindful Kids Meditation Music https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6RSWaOOqk2M  

‘Waking Up’ – a meditation app for children https://annakaharris.com/mindfulness-for-children/  

 Creativity 

Creativity is widely researched in mental health and is considered to be a form of mindfulness that can promote wellbeing. 

• Use your imagination to write a story together and draw pictures 
• Make musical instruments from house hold resources e.g. maracas from yoghurt pots and rice 

• Draw, Paint, colouring in  
• Messy play e.g. spaghetti  

Anna Freud Self Care and Creativity Ideas: https://www.annafreud.org/on-my-mind/self-care/  

Lots of Craft ideas, Printable activities, colouring and puzzles: https://www.activityvillage.co.uk  

Pinterest Creative Craft Ideas for Children:https://www.pinterest.co.uk/metalina/creative-ideas-for-kids/?autologin=true  

 Keep Learning: 

• Learn a new hobby 
• Read together 
• Bake 
• Draw some animals and find out fun facts about each animal  
• Learn some countries and watch videos about their cultures 
• Make a bucket list of all the things they want to do / learn (draw the ideas) 
• Home Schooling 

Twinkl (Teaching Resources) – Code provided for parents: https://www.twinkl.co.uk/blog/how-to-utilise-twinkl-during-the-coronavirus-shutdown-a-guide-for-schools  

Children’s Country Songs: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JD0weQAg8ew  

Online Story: https://www.youtube.com/user/StorylineOnline/featured  

Encourage Kindness and Gratitude: 

• Ask your children to tell you what makes them happy and why 
• Ask your children to give you examples of when they have been kind 
• Talk to your children about why being kind is important 
• Ask your children to think about things that people have done that have been nice for them and be thankful of that. 

Discussing Corona Virus with your children: 

• Be present. Chat to your children about their feelings and emotions. 
• Create an open and supportive environment, where children feel free to ask questions, will help them to cope during stressful times. 
• Do not force children to talk unless they are ready.  
• Answer questions honestly. 

• Use words a child can understand.  
• Acknowledge the child’s thoughts, feelings, and reactions. Let them know their questions and concerns are important.  
• Be reassuring, but don’t make unrealistic promises. It is fine to let children know that they are safe in their house but you can’t promise that there will be no cases of coronavirus in your community.  
• Let children know that there are lots of people to help.  
• Children learn from watching their parents and teachers and listening to their conversations. Stay calm and be thoughtful about what you say. 

• Keep perspective and take information from reliable sources – government and public health, not social media and rumours. 

       Young Minds Tips: https://youngminds.org.uk/blog/talking-to-your-child-about-coronavirus/ 

Supporting Young People’s Mental Health during Periods of Disruption: 

https://www.annafreud.org/what-we-do/anna-freud-learning-network/coronavirus/