Today marks the end of Children's Mental Health Week 2021. There have been some amazing resources shared online - such as tips and toolkits; books you can read with your children; and workshops.
I've summarised FIVE of the most useful themes below and included links to additional resources that you might find helpful.
1. Understanding mental health is necessary to mange it in the best way you can.
2. Self care for parents is critical
As they say on all the airplane safety videos - fit your own mask first. We can't help our kids if we are feeling wobbly ourselves.
I found this resource from the Anna Freud Foundation really comprehensive and very useful with practical advice you can implement easily. It covers key topics such as:
why self care in important
putting yourself first - being kind to yourself and giving yourself permission to care for yourself
practical steps to get things done
physical self care
staying connected
time for yourself - away from devices and children
Read the full article here: https://www.annafreud.org/scpc/
Check out the self care video below:
Net Mindfulness (@net_wellbeing) shared these useful resources:
3. Practical tips for helping kids when they are struggling
4. Books to help kids deal with 'Big Feelings'
This blog from Children's writer Kate Thompson (@writes_kate) has lot of suggestions for books to read with your kids to help them understand and process new and challenging feelings.
5. Online workshops to support parents
Understanding Toddler Brain Development & Behaviour
These workshops are filling fast, but if you like planning ahead your can still find places available.
Learn about toddler brain development and what they can or can't do
Find out what drives those typical toddler behaviours.
Learn how to reframe and rethink tantrums
Explore whether toddlers have a sense of right and wrong
Explore overscheduling and why toddlers need a simplified environment to thrive
Under stand the impact of sensory input on your toddlers behaviour and how to better understand and manage their sensory environment
Learn about behaviour management, with a particular focus on compassionate discipline
Anxiety and Oppositional Behaviour in Children Live Event
The 2 hour webinar is tomorrow - 9 February - and is aimed at parents and professionals (cost GBP £13)
Learn about:
why children become anxious,
what can keep anxiety going.
How the brain and body respond to anxiety.
How anxiety can impact behaviour.