Our team have been busy compiling and sharing useful resources to get us all through this tricky time. Take a read below to find just a few:

NB. This webpage is being updated with new and helpful resources regularly. Be sure to check back!

Friday 29 May

As some start to turn their attention to the ‘new normal’ we need to remind ourselves of a few things for our emotional wellbeing:
 It is ok to feel how you feel
Your feelings deserve to be recognised, acknowledged & respected
 Give yourself permission to grieve
For many, we are grieving what was and what could have been. Make space for the feelings of grief it is ok to shed tears, to process loss.
 Practice self-care
Self-care is the ability to prioritise your mental, emotional, physical and spiritual needs. For example, developing a regular sleep routine, journaling, setting up a daily meditation or connecting with friends and loved ones virtually.
 Rest
It is important to take time to rest when your body calls for it. This time is stress-enhancing and anxiety-producing.
 Create a plan that keeps you safe
You may be feeling triggered or activated. List or plan activities or tasks that feel grounding. Listen to music, go for a walk, take a shower/bath.
 Reach out, maintain social connections
Physical distancing should not mean that we sever our social connections. Staying connecting and in community with those who love and support us is critical.

Tuesday 5 May

One of our clinicians has recently shard some books for children that she thinks you might find useful:

• Are You Sad, Little Bear? – A book about learning to say goodbye, Rachel Rivett

• Have you filled a bucket today? A guide to daily happiness for kids, by Carol McCloud

• The Invisible String, by Patrice Karst

• Hey Warrior, a book for kids with anxiety, by Karen Young

Friday 24 April

Self-care

If you’re looking for self-care, something that you can do to pick yourself up, then try a Butterfly Hug. Click here to read more.

Or a simple self-care exercise to calm nerves. Click here to read.

Childhood anxiety guide

If you’re a parent who is looking for a guide to childhood anxiety, then please click here.  

Friday 17 April:

A helpful storybook dedicated to explaining the coronavirus to a child can be downloaded by Clicking here. Its been illustrated by Axel Sheffler with 5-9-year-olds in mind.

A simple self-care exercise can be found by clicking here.

How Lockdown Affects the Brain

We each face confinement in different ways. However, our brain can suffer very specific problems in these difficult days.  Click here to read an interesting article about the brain and a series of strategies for better care of our mental health.

From Caterpillar to Butterfly

‘Healer and speaker’ Vince Gowmon has offered an alternative way to look at this period of lockdown. Click to read here.

Mental health wellness tips for lockdown: 

Something new that has been shared with us recently in a bid to offer up to date wellness and emotional wellbeing learning and advice is these 25 tips for mental wellness while in lockdown.

Self-Isolation – looking after your mental health

We’ve seen lots of information and guidance on looking after your mental health while self-isolating, and we’ve found this has some top tips. Plus, this guide to anxiety reminds readers not to ignore their anxious feelings and offers tips to manage it.

We’ve found this a great read for 20 tips guarding against depression and anxiety.

Be good to your body too!

As we move a lot (more) of our work online, many are noticing the toll this can take on our physical bodies.  If you’re wondering about a few simple ways to look after your body please click here.

The 5 Step Self-holding Exercise is an exercise to help with anxiety, stress and symptoms related to PTSD click here

Family-friendly calm!

The Squiggle Game has come recommended to encourage children to express. Our team will be using it virtually but there’s no reason you couldn’t use it with your children click here

One of our clinical team shared this (click here) resource from a fellow Dramatherapist. A useful piece to encourage ‘creative calm throughout coronavirus’.

Strange feelings:

Here’s an easy read book for young children, to help them understand the changes going on right now. Written by Corale Betterfly

The large plates were at the bottom of the pile with the smaller ones sat on top. This was very normal and just the way it had always been. The dishes and bowls were on the same shelf in the same cupboard as the plates. Everything in the cupboard felt safe and all okay… click to continue 

Activities for kids

We hope you’ll find these links to activities for children useful:

• This really handy website lists plenty of ideas to keep you and your child busy

• This Facebook group has plenty of ideas too!

• Click here for some suggestions from the emotional literacy support assistants.

Stress relief fun for families!

Or if you’re looking for some simple stress-relieving fun, why not make and create.  click here… to find out how to make playdough in four easy steps.