Supporting Children’s Mental Health during the Lockdown

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One thing’s for sure, the changes to our lives, routines and freedom over the last few weeks have come as a bit of a shock to us all. One day we were going about our normal every day lives, and the next we have been thrust into social lockdown – a complete change in lifestyle, being separated from our loved ones, working remotely or being furloughed, having to juggle childcare and our sources of income as our children’s schools and nurseries closed for an undefined period of time. As someone who suffers from health anxiety, I have had strong concerns not only for he physical health of our friends and family, but also the impact that social isolation and loneliness will have on our nation’s, children’s in particular, mental health.

It’s not only us adults who are struggling with this new version of normal. Its’ easy to forget whilst we manage our own stresses and challenges, that for children, their understanding of why they suddenly can’t see friends any more or do many of things we love can be pretty basic. They may feel upset or confused. They may have also seen or heard reports on the news about death and viruses and  may be feeling very anxious and unsettled themselves.

Wherever possible I have been trying to maintain some kind of normal with the girls, but I would be lying if tensions haven’t been slightly fraught at times.

In order to help our children’s mental health during unprecedented times, here’s my list of some helpful books and online resources for children that can help cover the topic of mindfulness, meditation, relaxation and anxiety.

Don’t think about Purple Elephants

Don’t think about Purple Elephants tells the story of Sophie, a little girl who worries. She is fine during the day when she is having fun with family and friends, but when night time arrives and everything goes quiet, her mind starts racing and she struggles to sleep.

With the help of a purple elephant or two, Sophie and her family find a way to ease her worries and help her drift off for a good night’s sleep. With beautiful illustrations throughout that encourage dialogue and discussion, and short enough for a bedtime story, this one has become a firm favourite with the girls!

Don’t think about Purple Elephants is available on Kindle, Paperback and Hardcover at Amazon.

50 Ways to feel Happy

50 Ways to feel Happy is a beautiful book packed full of activities and ideas to try with friends and family (or on their own) including happiness inspiring crafts, mindfulness, relaxation, positivity and ways to get active and boost happiness levels both indoors and outside.

Each of the 50 activities relates to one of Action for Happiness’s 10 key evidence-based ways to increase happiness and wellbeing:

1. Giving – doing things for others
2. Relating – connecting with people
3. Exercising – taking care of your body
4. Awareness – living life mindfully
5. Trying out – keep learning new things
6. Direction – have goals to look forward to
7. Resilience – find ways to bounce back
8. Emotions – look for what’s good
9. Acceptance – be comfortable with who you are
10. Meaning – be part of something bigger

There are LOADS of really helpful happiness tips on the Action for Happiness website, including an app which gives you a daily nudge of ideas to see happiness in every day!

50 Ways to Feel Happy is available in paperback or hardcover at Amazon.

Your Mind is Like The Sky

Your mind is like the sky, sometimes it is clear and blue, but sometimes rainclouds appear and can make your thoughts go dark. Your Mind is Like the Sky is a great first introduction to mindfulness for children, this beautifully illustrated book helps children understand and manage worries and negative thoughts and introduce helpful thinking habits.

Your Mind is Like the Sky is available in Hardcover or on the Kindle at Amazon

There are also some extra resources and mindfulness tips for parents at the rear of the book.

Stars Before Bedtime: A mindful fall asleep book

Now more than ever, encouraging children to switch off and relax before bed can be harder than ever, and Stars Before Bedtime is a great way to help instil calm by introducing concepts of mindfulness, muscle relaxation, gentle yoga and visualisation as a way to help reduce stress and anxiety, boost happiness and clear their minds before bed.

With a rhythmic melodic text and beautiful gentle artwork throughout the book guides children through the different constellations in the sky, and creates a variety of exercises for them to complete based on their mythical stories.

The book is long, so you can pick and choose which exercises you want to do and mix it up a little each night. A really unique read.

Stars Before Bedtime is available in hardback only at Amazon.

ABC Mindful Me

For younger children, ABC Mindful Me is a beautiful board book that can not only help children and young children become more familiar with their ABC’s but introduce them to some key elements of mindfulness that promote physical and emotional wellbeing, compassion, gratitude and kindness.

With brightly colourful and child friendly illustrations, and beautiful rhyming texts, reading this book with your children can help them to manage their emotions, stress and anxiety, and cope better with some of the unknown and unpredictable experiences they be having at present.

ABC Mindful Me is available as a board book only at Amazon.

There’s a Tiger in my Garden

This book is just lovely, and the illustrations themselves make this book a beautiful reading experience for you and your child. There’s a Tiger in my Garden follows the tale of Nora who doesn’t believe Grandma when she says there is a tiger in her garden. She is too old to play Grandma’s silly games.

But then imagination is a powerful thing, and if you believe in something enough, it really can be real too!

There’s a Tiger in my Garden is available in Hardback, Paperback or on the kindle store at Amazon.

I love you Little Monster

With so many of us struggling to balance our work and childcare at the moment, it can be easy to feel guilty at bedtime when we haven’t spent as much time with our children as we would like. We may have raised our voices, told them off or not told them how much we love them. I Love You Little Monster is an emotional read (makes me cry every time) but with its gorgeous illustrations and its heart felt messages of love, this is a beautiful bedtime story with some really poignant messages at the moment.

Other resources for supporting children’s mental health in relation to coronavirus specifically:

• Mentalhealth.org.uk – Talking to your children 
• Mind UK – A handy guide for young people – this resource is great for young people to read themselves as it explains in simple and age appropriate terms about coronavirus and what they can do to help.
• Coronavirus animation for children
• Coronavirus video for children
• Governments official guidance for parents on how to support children’s mental health.
• Children’s Society advice and support for parents and young people
• Young Minds – a guide to Supporting your child during the coronavirus pandemic.
• NSPCC Coronavirus advice and support for parents and carers.

For more information on the coronavirus and how it is affecting mental health, check out BetterHelp.com

Want to win a book to help your child during the lockdown?

Thanks to the team at Quarto Knows we have one book to giveaway to a lucky reader. The winner will be able to choose their preference from the following – Don’t think about Purple Elephants, 50 ways to feel Happy, Stars Before Bedtime or ABC Mindful Me.  To enter please use the gleam app below.

Mental Health Book for Children

PLEASE NOTE – With the current unprecedented situation across the globe at the point of writing, things are changing rapidly from one day to the next. For that reason I have updated my Terms and Conditions to include longer lead times. You can read the full terms of entry here. By entering this give-away you are deemed to have accepted these revised terms.

Giveaway opens on 5th April 2020 and closes at 11.59pm on Sunday 3rd May 2020, UK entries only. GOOD LUCK!