Information for parents and carers to support children and young people during the coronavirus pandemic
There is a great deal of information about coronavirus being released every day and you and your family will be at home a lot more during the coming weeks. Some of the information on this page may help everyone in your household to remain calm and connected.
Here are some helpful tips for supporting children and young people at this time that have been recommended by Glasgow city council or visit the anxiety and resilience section of our website for more advice.
HELPFUL HINTS
- Allow your children to use apps such as FaceTime to connect with friends and family members who don’t live with them. For more tips on how to stay connected visit the NHS inform guidance.
- For younger children, having a conversation may not be so easy, so suggest that they take part in an activity. You could download the Together APP – a free video chat app which also helps families read books together, play games and more.
- Set aside quality one-to-one time with each child to give them the chance to talk to you about any worries or concerns they may have. For some helpful tips visit Unicef’s guidance on Covid-19 parenting and getting 1 to 1 time.
- If you are worried about your child’s health and wellbeing, contact your GP or NHS 24 on 111 outside surgery times.
TAKE NOTICE
Taking notice of what is happening in the here and now can help children shift their focus away from worrying about the ‘what if’s’ in the future. Here are some ideas and resources that may help:
- Colouring can be a great way to help your child relax, unwind and keep their mind occupied. Visit the Young Scot website to download a free printable ‘Mindfulness Colouring Book’.
- Visit the Young Minds website for information on how to create a ‘self soothe box’ to help children feel more grounded and relaxed if they find themselves feeling worried or anxious.
Walking and noticing is a simple activity suitable for all ages. Go for a walk outside with your child and focus on their surroundings. What do they see, smell, hear, touch? How does this make them feel?
Additional resources
We have also compiled some additional resources below regarding Covid-19 that may be useful to parents and carers:
View our resource with useful websites & links regarding Covid-19 for parents and carers
Time for Us
Time for Us is an activity pack developed by the Mental Health Foundation Scotland. The pack is intended to enable adults to support young people aged 11-17 and facilitate conversations around their feelings and coping strategies.
View the Mental Health Foundation’s Time for Us Activity Pack
