You may have noticed that your child or young person may be experiencing increased levels of anxiety during these times. A global health pandemic not easy for anyone to comprehend or accept.
Understandably, many children and young people may feel confused, upset, and anxious. Parents, teachers, and caring adults can help by listening and responding in an honest, consistent, and supportive manner.
Most children, even those exposed to trauma, are quite resilient. Like most adults, they can and do get through difficult times and go on with their lives. By creating an open environment where they feel free to ask questions, parents can help them cope and reduce the possibility of emotional difficulties.
If your child is feeling anxious, especially if they are having to self-isolate at home, please contact your advisory teacher or Lian Badcock, Lead for Sensory and Physical Team – lian.badcock@devon.gov.uk.
You can download below some of the resources that we use in settings to support your child or young person. Feel free to contact us if there is a particular resource you are looking for.
Additionally, our Social, Emotional and Mental Health and Educational Psychology teams have created a wealth of resources that you might find helpful to use. You can access them via the Devon Education Services site.
Alternatively, we have found these resources, from external agencies, helpful in resolving worries when we listened to the children and young people during our regular visits. These include:
- Making a worry box
- Young Minds – blog about returning to school
- Mental Health Foundation – a guide to returning to school after COVID-19
- Childline – talking through worries
- Royal Society For Blind Children – mental health and mindfulness
Resources
- Safe Places – hand resource
A resource to identify the place and the people with whom you feel safe. - Aspirations sheet
Looking ahead – supporting aspirations and how to plan to achieve them. - Steps to success resource
A resource to help outline the steps needed to achieve your goals. - Positives sheet
A resource to support positive thinking about your unique skill set and abilities. - Superhero resource
A resource to support being brave. If you had superpowers what would they be?
Improving outcomes guidance
- Improving outcomes: Importance of physical activity and exercise for children and young people with visual impairment
Guidance to support maintaining physical activity with a visual impairment. - Improving outcomes: Anxiety and phobias
How to support a young person who may be experiencing anxiety and phobias. - Improving outcomes: The parent perspective
Guidance to help parents get the support they want for their child or young person.