Here are some tips that you can use to assist your child/children in dealing with anxiety about the coronavirus.

1. Listen to your child’s fears and do not dismiss them.  Also, keep your own anxiety in check.
2. Help your child understand the facts rather than rumours about the virus.
3. Focus on what we can control, practice social distancing, washing hands etc.
4. Respond with empathy, you may say, “I know you are worried. The good news is there are ways we can help make things better”.
5. Find out how your child is feeling and process such feelings.
6. Give your child skills to help them cope: exercise together, drink plenty of water regularly, watch movies, play games, talk with friends and family members using video calls and text messages.

Useful resources and websites to support you keeping your children safe online:

• Thinkuknow provides advice from the National Crime Agency (NCA) on staying safe online
• Parent info is a collaboration between Parentzone and the NCA providing support and guidance for parents from leading experts and organisations
• Childnet offers a toolkit to support parents and carers of children of any age to start discussions about their online life, to set boundaries around online behaviour and technology use, and to find out where to get more help and support
• Internet matters provides age-specific online safety checklists, guides on how to set parental controls on a range of devices, and a host of practical tips to help children get the most out of their digital world
• London Grid for Learning has support for parents and carers to keep their children safe online, including tips to keep primary aged children safe online
• Net-aware has support for parents and carers from the NSPCC, including a guide to social networks, apps and games
• Let’s Talk About It has advice for parents and carers to keep children safe from online radicalisation
• UK Safer Internet Centre has tips, advice, guides and other resources to help keep children safe online, including parental controls offered by home internet providers and safety tools on social networks and other online services

Oak National Academy

The Oak National Academy has launched its online classroom and resource hub. The Academy offers 180 video lessons each week for schools to use, across a broad range of subjects. The lessons cover children in Reception through to Year 10 and are free to use by both teachers and young people.

The Oak National Academy can be accessed here:  https://www.thenational.academy/

Launch of BBC Bitesize

The BBC has launched an education package across TV and online, featuring celebrities and teachers, helping to keep children learning at home and supporting parents.

BBC Bitesize can be accessed here:   https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize

NSPCC

The NSPCC has created a number of resources to support parents and carers during this difficult time. Topics include:

• Talking to a child worried about coronavirus
• Parents working from home
• Children staying home alone
• Lockdown and separated parents
• How to cope with tantrums and other difficult behaviour

The advice can be found on the NSPCC website here: https://www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/coronavirus-advice-suppport-children-families-parents/

Rev. Andrew online assembly - 'Stillness'
An online assembly with some thoughts on stillness from Reverend Andrew Lightbown
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9FhN3wdYtOE&fbclid=IwAR2kjCYlH07J1mOsIUHX5E91iu5neVNw4rn9bkBCVzwgznDa57ag18uDfvM&safe=true