Dawn Until Dusk Covid-19

Support for parents and colleagues

We want to be able to do all we can to help parents, children and colleagues during this difficult time. Below we have put some helpful information guides and links that we hope you find useful.

Support for Parents and Children

What is the Coronavirus and why is everybody talking about it? This great YouTube video answers questions that children may have about the Coronavirus and has clear explanations about the impact it has had on so many.

Children’s Books To Help Kids Navigate Life During A Pandemic

These stories cover handwashing, germs, anxiety, separation and more

Paula and the pandemic – Dorothea Lawrence
I don’t want to wash my hands – Tony Ross
Thank you Helpers – Patricia Hegarty
If you can’t bear hug air hug – Katie Sedmark
Germs are not for sharing – Elizabeth Verdick
When the world stayed inside – Mikey Woz

Identifying Early Anxiety Symptoms in Children

When young children feel anxious, they cannot always understand or express what they are feeling. You may notice that they:

become irritable, tearful or clingy
have difficulty sleeping
wake in the night
start wetting the bed
have bad dreams

In older children, you may notice that they:

lack confidence to try new things or seem unable to face simple, everyday challenges
find it hard to concentrate
have problems with sleeping or eating
have angry outbursts
have a lot of negative thoughts, or keep thinking that bad things are going to happen
start avoiding everyday activities, such as seeing friends, going out in public or going to school

Physical symptoms of anxiety may include:

shaking
shortness of breath
butterflies in the stomach
a hot face
clammy hands
dry mouth
a fast heartbeat

Younger children also:

stop playing with the toys they usually enjoy
become withdrawn
are more tired
eat more or eat less
seem to put in less effort or give up more easily in usual activities that they would show enthusiasm for
become over-excited or they may change their behaviour to get attention
start talking louder to be heard

It is important to reach out and seek help if you think your child may be struggling, take a look at the NHS website for more information.

Support for Colleagues

The mental health and wellbeing of all our colleagues is very important to us. We continue to keep in touch with all our staff during these difficult times and have an open door policy to ensure they keep us up to date with how they are feeling and getting on whilst not in work.

The websites below highlight some fantastic information and tips for keeping ourselves happy and healthy throughout difficult periods.

Tips for taking care of your mental wellbeing

Some ideas to help you take care of your wellbeing during the Coronavirus pandemic.

These tips may work for different people at different times. The important thing to remember is not to put pressure on yourself.

Connect with others
Get some fresh air – go for a walk or cycle
Take up a hobby to pass the time
Try not to watch too much news
Try Mindfulness if you are feeling anxious or low
Eat regularly and stay hydrated

Websites that may be of interest

Guidance for the public on the mental health and wellbeing aspects of coronavirus – Gov.uk website

Mental wellbeing for all adults

Mind org

Wellness Action Plan

Wellness Actions Plans (WAPs) are an easy, practical way of helping you to support your own mental health at work and, if you are a manager, helping you to support the mental health of your team members. This is a great resource from Mind. Downloads are available on their website here.

Activities that can be enjoyed at home with your children

We want to support our families through these difficult times, especially as we understand the effect these lifestyle changes can have on children. We have put together some resources that may help during lockdown periods.

BBC Tiny Happy People – website is filled with information and activity ideas. It is updated regularly with new items.

Place2Be – a children’s mental health charity, has some ideas to help conversations aswell as activities for you and your children to enjoy.