Here at St Andrew’s we want all our children and families to flourish in every way. On this page you will find links and resources to support wellbeing and mental health at this unprecedented time. The links and resources we share are to be used by anyone: children and adults alike.
Coronavirus and your wellbeing
Books to help discussion about coronavirus
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Everybody Worries by John Burgerman
Everybody Worries offers your child the reassuring message that this crisis will pass, we are there for them, and we will get through this together.
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Coronavirus story
This story provided by ELSA provided information and clarity about coronavirus for children.
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Don't Worry Little Bear
An Early Years Storybox story to help children be able to understand what is going on and to process their thoughts and feeling about it all.
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My Hero is You
With the help of a fantasy creature, Ario, “My Hero is You, How kids can fight COVID-19!” explains how children can protect themselves, their families and friends from coronavirus and how to manage difficult emotions when confronted with a new and rapidly changing reality.
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The Book of Hopes
Not about coronavirus, but a wonderful resource neverthless. Words and pictures to comfort, inspire and entertain children in lockdown.
Spirituality
At St Andrew's, we support children of all faiths or none to be abe to explore spirituality, life questions and faith in a safe, creative and interactive way. Here are some resources and links about Christian hope during the pandemic, which may be helpful if this is appropriate for your family.
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Matt and the children's team at St Andrew's
Matt and the team run a Families Facebook group with fun videos and interactive teaching. Email the church office to join the group and find out how your children can get involved.
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St Andrew's Church
A link to our church's youtube channel where weekly services are streamed
Exercise
Exercise releases chemicals in your body, like endorphins and serotonin, that help to improve your mood. If you exercise regularly, it can reduce your stress and symptoms of mental health conditions like depression and anxiety. It also relieves stress, improves memory, helps you sleep better, and boosts your overall mood.
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Go Noodle
Go Noodle gets children up and moving to fun, engaging content and games. It allows children to wake up their bodies as well as engaging their minds.
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BBC Super Movers
These are videos that will get your child up and moving, and they are linked to the curriculum. The can also be selected based on which key stage your child is in.
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Joe Wicks daily PE lessons
While the schools are closed, Joe Wicks is running a live PE lesson every week day at 9am from his YouTube channel.
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10 minute shake up games
Change4Life and Disney have teamed up again to bring you new Shake Up games inspired by Disney and Pixar's Toy Story 4 and Incredibles 2, and Disney's The Lion King and Frozen.
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#This is PE
Videos will be posted at 1pm on a Monday, Wednesday and Friday. You don’t need to be in PE kit and you don’t need sports equipment. All of the videos will use things that you can find around the home.
Hygiene
More important now more than ever before, educating children on good hygiene is the best way to avoid the spread of infection and viruses. Teaching the principles of correct hygiene at an early age forms good habits and can help keep individuals healthy in later life.
How to wash your hands NHS song | NHS
A child friendly song explaining how to wash your hands. For a written version of the full technique, head to The NHS website: https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/h...
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Hygiene and health games
This website will give you links to a variety of resources that link to hygiene and health. For example; personal hygiene, staying fit, nutrition, human body.
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Food hygiene
Free food hygiene resources for children in KS1, KS2 and KS3
Nutrition and Diet
Eating a nutritious diet helps you keep a healthy body. New research finds that your food choices may also affect your mood and mental health. This is sometimes called the “food-mood connection.”
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Diet and mental health
Information from The Mental Health Foundation about links between diet and mental health
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Food Facts
Lots of free resources that teach children where food comes from, hot to cooking and about healthy eating. There are also some lovely recipes on here if you are struggling for ideas with meals.
Self-care
Self-care is about the things that we can do to look after our own mental health.
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Self-care Tips
A variety of activates that will help you and your child to manage your wellbeing.
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Calm Zone
There are lots of way to feel calmer. It's about finding what works for you. Try some of these breathing exercises, activities, games and videos to help let go of stress.
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Self- care Journal
You can set your child up with a free account where they can keep an online mood journal, along with plenty of other self-care activities
Reflection
Personal reflection allows us to grow as people. It allows us to review what we have already done. and think about targets and goals for the future.
Children could keep a diary to write down their thoughts, feelings and emotions. They may even want to add newspaper articles about the current situation, as they are experiencing a unique moment in history.
Below are some resources to help chidlren reflect on their experiences.
Meditation and Mindfulness
There are thousands of studies that have shown mindfulness meditation can positively impact mental and physical health. Whether it’s by reducing stress, improving sleep, increasing focus, or improving relationships, research shows mindfulness works.
Guided Meditation for Children
Mindfulness colouring is a relaxing and calming activity which can also encourage children to explore their creativity while improving fine motor skills. Colouring has the ability to relax the fear center of your brain, the amygdala. It induces the same state as meditating by reducing the thoughts of a restless mind. This generates mindfulness and quietness, which allows your mind to get some rest.
