- Advice for parents and carers
- BBC Bitesize
- Top tips for parents and carers
- Returning to nursery
- Reflecting on the child in care
- Child in Mind podcasts
- Good days in unusual times
- Youth Wellbeing Directory
- Additional support
Advice for parents and carers
It’s too early to say what the full impact of coronavirus will be on children and young people’s mental health, but the signs are that it will be significant.
We want to support children and young people and their families and to work together to minimise this impact. That’s why we are sharing information and advice.
BBC Bitesize
Since the start of the coronavirus crisis, the Centre has been contributing to the support being provided by BBC Bitesize.
Our own experts have written six articles for parents and carers, which you can read by clicking on the following links - and there's lots more support on offer on the BBC Bitesize website.
'Exams cancelled, no prom: Six ways to help children cope with lockdown loss' by Sheila Redfern
'Eight ways to support your anxious child during the coronavirus pandemic' by Vicki Curry
'Five ways to manage your wellbeing as a parent during lockdown’ by Peter Fuggle and Yvonne Millar
‘How to juggle your responsibilities as a parent at home’ by Nicola Labuschagne
‘Six ways to support your children as lockdown eases’ by Cyra Neave
‘What if lockdown has been a relief for my family?’ by Laura Talbot
Do also listen to the podcast, ‘How to tackle lockdown emotions with Dr Sheila Redfern’, which was broadcast as part of the Bitesize Secondary Parents Survival Guide.
Top tips for parents and carers
Families play a hugely important part in supporting each other at times of uncertainty or concern especially as they will probably be spending more time together because of home working, school closures, and other public health measures.
This pdf provides some simple advice and guidance to parents and carers to help families work together and support one another during the coronavirus outbreak.
Returning to nursery
If your child or baby is set to return to their nursery shortly, you might be feeling worried about how they will cope with the transition. So we’ve put together a list of eight easy things that parents and carers can do to help the process go more smoothly.
Reflecting on the child in care
Dr Anoushka Khan considers the impact of the current crisis on children and young people in care, who in most cases have already faced significant losses in their lives. She looks to the experiences of foster carers since the crisis started and how we can take some encouragement from what they have found.
Child in Mind podcasts
Feeling anxious and worried is a normal experience for children, but how do we know when it's becoming a serious problem and what can we do about it? The Centre's Child in Mind series of expert podcasts includes the episode, 'What do we know about childhood anxiety and what can parents do about it?'
Good days in unusual times
Illustrated book for children
Good days in unusual times’ is a small gift for all children during these days when we can’t do many of the things we usually enjoy. It a small book of tips for how to take care of yourself and have good days. It has been kindly produced by Anne-Mette Lange a clinical psychologist and illustrator Marie Geert Jensen.
Download a copy of Good days in unusual times.
Youth Wellbeing Directory
The Youth Wellbeing Directory is a directory of free to access mental health support services for children, young people and their families across the UK. Many services are still offering support and taking referrals during the coronavirus shutdown though this support may be delivered remotely.
Please use our Urgent help page in you can’t find the support you need.
Additional support
Discover more about the advice and support we're providing to young people, schools and colleges, those working in early years settings, mental health professionals and researchers.