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Key Messages

Video chat can be good for your mental health

We may worry about the amount of time we spend online right now, but socialising with friends is also incredibly important – particularly for young people. Video chat is one of the easiest ways that young people can keep in touch during the current lockdown conditions.

One way to make sure there’s a balance between online and offline activities would be for adults and children to draw up a schedule.

Set aside time to use the internet and chat with friends, but also include slots for other important activities such as exercise, eating and family time. Not forgetting sleep!

Decide which apps are suitable for your child

There are dozens of video-chatting apps, each offering different features, so do a little research about which ones your child is using – or wants to use.

Parent Zone offers guides to the key features of many popular apps and games, please be aware that some of these apps may not be as secure as the ones we use in school. The National Cyber Security Centre has recently published its guidance for using video conferencing services securely. It’s well worth checking out for further information.

Activities

2-5 Years – Hungry Little Minds Includes Advice and some apps to download for learning activities

Jessie and friends Video This series of three animations aims to give 4-7 year olds knowledge, skills and confidence to help them respond safely to risks they may encounter online.

Band Runner 8-10 Years (Video)

Outdoor Activity

This activity uses technology to help you learn a little more about how to recognise the various birds that are around this time of year by using the microphone on a mobile phone.

You need to download these 2 free apps below

BirdNET (Bird call recognition software): press the record button for a few seconds then pause, drag your finger along a portion of the screen to select a section of sound recording. Then press “analyse” to see what it has recognised.

Birds of Europe (Plays the call of most european songbirds): This app allows you to play the song of most European birds for comparison. It can also be used to encourage birds of the same breed in your vicinity to start singing.

Play the Robin song on the Birds of Europe app then open BirdNET to analyze the sounds around you to see if you can now detect a nearby Robin

Tell your friends if it worked for you and what other birds you managed to detect.

Good luck!

BIRDS Songs and Rhymes Activity for Infants