The government has produced some helpful guidance for parents on supporting children and young people's mental health during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
There's also a guide on looking after your own mental health and wellbeing during the outbreak.
What is coronavirus (COVID-19)?
It can be hard to explain what coronavirus is, especially to young children. This video from the INEQE Safeguarding Group, explains it in simple terms.
These top tips about talking to your child about coronavirus from youngminds.org are really valuable.
- Try not to shield your child from the news, as it’s likely they will find out somehow from school, being online or from friends.
- Talk to your child about what is going on. You could start by asking them what they have heard.
- Try to answer their questions and reassure them in an age appropriate manner. Remember, you do not need to know all the answers, but talking can help them feel calm.
- Reassure your child that it is unlikely they will get seriously ill, and if they do feel ill you will look after them. Your child might be concerned about who will look after you if you catch the virus. Let them know the kind of support you have as an adult so that they don’t feel they need to worry about you.
- Give some practical tips to your child about how they can look after themselves. For example, show them how to wash their hands properly, and remind them when they should be doing it.
- Keep as many regular routines as possible, so that your child feels safe and that things are stable.
- Spend time doing a positive activity with your child (eg reading, playing, painting, cooking) to help reassure them and reduce their anxiety. This is also a great way of providing a space for them to talk through their concerns, without having a ‘big chat’.
- Encourage your child to think about the things they can do to make them feel safer and less worried.
- Be aware that your child may want more close contact with you at this time and feel anxious about separation. Try to provide this support whenever possible.
- Remember to look after yourself too. If you yourself are feeling worried, or anxious about coronavirus, talk to someone you trust who can listen and support you.
Wash your hands
We're being told to learn how to wash our hands properly and to do this regularly. This video is a great clip for children to watch and is only 47 seconds long.
Government advice
Browse the links below to find the most up to date official information relating to coronavirus (COVID-19).
Useful links
You can discover more resources below that can help you to explain coronavirus to young people.
- Easy-Read Social Story
This is a short story to read with a young child to help them to understand what coronavirus is. - Coronavirus story book
This is a short story book from the INEQE Safeguarding Group explaining coronavirus. - NSPCC - Talking to a child worried about coronavirus
Guidance from the NSPCC about how to talk to a child worried about the coronavirus outbreak.
The NSPCC library also has a list of books to support children who are worried or anxious. - Childline – advice for explaining and coping during the outbreak
How to explain the coronavirus outbreak to children and tips for coping. - MIND: coronavirus and your wellbeing
This is guidance from the mental health charity MIND about keeping happy and healthy during the pandemic. - UNICEF
Advice from the United Nations Children’s agency. - Emerging Minds
A collection of resources from Emerging Minds. Supporting children who might be worried about COVID-19 - DfE advice on children and Young People's mental health during the coronavirus outbreak
Official advice from the Department of Education on Children and Young People’s mental health during the coronavirus outbreak.
Education
Guidance about exams/qualifications and SEND provision including EHCPs to help you through the coronavirus period.
General information
EHCP/SEN provision – SEN support and EHCPs
Read guidance and advice from IPSEA about SEND support and Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs).
There is also information available from Special Needs Jungle about EHCP timescales and what my child’s EHCP still provides.
Mediation and tribunals
Special Needs Jungle has advice and guidance about EHCP Mediation, tribunals and tribunal appeals.
You can also find official advice from UK Courts about remote access to family courts.
Aged between 15 and 25?
Please contact us if you are worried about exams and qualifications, or if you are at college. We can talk to you about what happens now and in the future. Don’t worry – we are here to help.
Phone: (01226) 787234
Email: sendiass@barnsley.gov.uk
Website: www.barnsley.gov.uk/SENDIASS
Facebook: www.facebook.com/BarnsleySENDIASS
Facebook Messenger: m.me/BarnsleySENDIASS
Barnsley SYPS
Barnsley SENDIASS launched the Young Person’s service SYPS in 2020. If you are aged 16 to 25, you are welcome to join our Facebook group.
Advice for local authorities and educational settings
- Guidance for local authorities and educational settings
Official guidance for educational settings on maintaining provision. - Guidance for residential educational settings
Isolation guidance for residential schools. - Guidance for educational settings on social distancing
Social distancing guidance for educational settings. - Guidance regarding free school meals
Official guidance regarding free school meals.
Other advice and guidance
- Special Needs Jungle's collection of articles and guidance relating to the coronavirus pandemic.
- Universal Credit eligibility and how to apply for benefits.
- Family Court official guidance from the Family Courts on compliance with child arrangement orders.
- Thinkuknow keeping children and young people safe online.
- National Deaf Children’s Society Guidance on supporting children with hearing impairments during the Coronavirus outbreak.
- The National Autistic Society (NAS) has a collection of useful resources for supporting people with Autism during the coronavirus outbreak.
- The Association for Child and Adolescent Mental Health (ACAMH) podcasts from ACAMH on supporting children with Autism during the coronavirus outbreak.
- Contact: supporting disabled children during the coronavirus outbreak
- Digital safety and wellbeing kit (Children's Commissioner) for parents during the coronavirus pandemic.
- Support for kids with ADHD and managing their attention (Child Mind Institute)
Things to do
Ideas to keep everyone happy, entertained and learning.
Visual timetables
Visual timetables can be effective for children to lessen anxieties, process information and keep structure to their day. As a family we're sure that you will decide whether this will be useful or not but here are some examples:
- Facebook group Top Tips for Mums! has a COVID-19 daily schedule.
- The School Run has a structured timetable and a less structured timetable available to download.
Making your own timetable
Currently Twinkl are offering a free subscription - offer code: PARENTSTWINKLHELPS
There are lots of different visual timetables you can create from the resources on here.
Learning with play
- Play dough
A great way to keep youngsters busy and at the same time help them practice their fine motor skills is to play with play dough - it's great for squeezing and rolling, you can make letters and words out of it or simply just play with it. There are loads of different recipes for making play dough online so could be worth checking it out. - Twinkl
The website Twinkl has provided a free access code for parents (PARENTSTWINKLHELPS). Twinkl is a website to share ideas and resources for teaching. - Phonics play
Phonics Play has provided a free access code for parents. Phonics Play provide resources to support the teaching of phonics.
Username: march20
Password: home - CBeebies
The BBC’s CBeebies website provides lots of useful and fun activities for young children, to encourage learning and play.
- Barnsley Libraries
Barnsley Libraries offer a free eBook service to download on eReaders and tablets.
Maths
- Maths with Carol Vorderman
Free access to her maths website, www.themathsfactor.com - BBC Bitesize
The BBC’s Bitesize website is regularly updated with new content. - Barnsley Libraries
Barnsley Libraries offer a free eBook service to download on eReaders and tablets.
English
- BBC Bitesize
The BBC’s Bitesize website is regularly updated with new content. - Barnsley Libraries
Barnsley Libraries offer a free eBook service to download on eReaders and tablets.
Science and nature
- Wildlife with Steve Backshall
- Science with Maddie Moate
- BBC Bitesize
The BBC’s Bitesize website is regularly updated with new content. - Barnsley Libraries
Barnsley Libraries offer a free eBook service to download on eReaders and tablets.
Sign language
- British Sign Language - Online course
British Sign Language are offering a 'pay what you can' deal to learn British sign language during the pandemic.
Health and wellbeing
- Dance with Oti Mabuse
- Spread the Happiness website
Lots of ideas and activities; posts daily videos. - Barnsley Libraries
Barnsley Libraries offer a free eBook service to download on eReaders and tablets.