The Courier

Dear Parents and Children

We are many weeks into lockdown now and we're all having times of negativity worry and anxiety mixed in with stories of hope and family moments of happiness.

Many children will be dipping in and out of a mixture of feelings in a range of contexts and situations.  I found a really useful guide to this earlier in the week which I'll happily share here - much of it replicates language used in school

• Talk to your child about what is going on. You could start by asking them what they currently know/think about coronavirus and lockdown issues. 

• Try to answer their questions and reassure them. You do not need to know all the answers, but talking and openness can help them feel calm. 

• Explain to your child that it is natural to worry sometimes and everyone does it. This feeling, like all feelings, will come and go. 

• Don’t try to shield your child from all news, it’s likely they will find out somehow from other sources. 

• Reassure your child that it is unlikely they will get seriously ill, and if they do feel ill you will look after them. Your child might be concerned about who will look after you if you catch the virus. Let them know the kind of support you have as an adult so that they don’t feel they need to worry about you. 

• Keep going with the practical tips to your child about how they can look after themselves. For example insisting on washing their hands properly, and remind them when they should be doing it. 

• Children thrive on regular routines, it makes them feel safe and that things are stable. We've worked really hard alongside you as parents to create this as much as is possible.

• Spend time away from school work, perhaps at weekends or future holiday times if going away remains difficult, doing a fun activity with your child. Some good ideas here https://www.scouts.org.uk/the-great-indoors/.  This is also a great way of providing a space for them to talk through their concerns, without having a ‘big chat’. 

• Encourage your child to think about other things that make themselves feel safer and less worried. Help them find things that distract or relax them. 

• Be aware that your child may want more close contact with you at this time and feel anxious about separation. This may be normal behaviour for many as we begin to return to more normal routines.

• Remember to look after yourself too.

We're putting into place additional pastoral access for all children from next week - please do encourage them to use it if you think it could help. None of us have all of the answers but working together and supporting each other can only help.

With best wishes as always,

Listening to Mr Thackway’s assembly this morning has highlighted to me how grateful I have been for the sunny skies and warmth of the sun whilst we have been staying at home and staying safe. This week was a bit of a shock when those April showers came and the coolness has prompted many of us to put the heating back on!  But the desire to stay in and snuggle down with a good book is just as replenishing as a walk around the block and a chance to rest and watch a movie with my family.

Hope you’ve been able to be mindful of looking after your emotional and mental wellbeing as well as your physical health this week by keeping the 5 Ways to Wellbeing in mind.

Here’s my CLANG of the week: