MOTHERS’S DAY GIFT
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Woodlands would also like to thank all of their supporters for the support they have continued to show through these unusual times and hope that everyone stays safe.
MOTHER’S day is rolling around rapidly and with everything that is going on with Covid-19 life seems rather surreal at the moment. Balancing trying to keep your life as normal as possible without putting yourself or others at risk is a difficult balance to achieve.
Now more than ever, we are wanting THE British Psychological Society to look after our loved ones, and says it is vital to talk openly to children work as a society, country and world and reassure them about the to combat this virus. changes they are seeing around them
There are many people whose job due to Coronavirus. provides an essential lifeline to people Some of the changes, like people and animals and will indeed continue wearing face masks or empty supermarket to provide that service for as shelves, can be scary for children long as they possibly can. and they are likely to need to talk
Woodlands Animal Sanctuary are to someone they trust about some of very aware of protecting their team of the imaginative misinformation they staff and volunteers, whilst also supporting might have heard from friends at the animals in their care. school.
Fundraising activities will be The advice stresses that it is important severely compromised at this time to be truthful, but remember and therefore their income also. your child’s age.
If you are looking for an alternative An honest and accurate approach Mother’s Day gift, that still shows your is best, giving them factual information, mum how loved and special she is, but adjusting the amount and continues to give, long after flowers detail to fit their age. have wilted and died or smellies have For example, you might say ‘we been used and is without any social don’t yet have a vaccination for Coronavirus, contact then take a look at the various but doctors are working very sponsorship packages available hard on it’ or ‘a lot of people might get through Woodlands. sick, but for most people it is like a
Sponsoring one of their mums, will cold or flu and they get better’. make the world of difference to that Other advice from the BPS’s Division mum and your mum will receive of Educational and Child Psychology updates for a whole year. includes:
Visit their website www.woodlandsanimalsanctuary.org.uk/sponsorship/ Younger children might understand a cartoon or picture better than an explanation.
We also recommend that adults watch news programmes and then filter this information to their child in a way that’s right for their development.
Allow children to ask questions: It is natural that children will have questions and worries about Coronavirus.
Giving them the space to ask these questions and have answers is a good way to alleviate anxiety.
It is ok to say you don’t know - at the moment, there are questions we don’t have answers to about Coronavirus. You can explain this to your child and add in information about what people are doing to try to answer these questions.
Maybe your child has an idea too – let them tell you or draw them.
Try to manage your own worries: Uncertainty can make all of us feel anxious or worried.
Identify other adults you can talk to about your own worries and questions.
What things usually help to make you feel a bit calmer?
If you are at home, music, breathing and relaxation techniques, distraction (such as watching something funny), and time with family members or pets can all help.
Talk to your children when you feel calm to reassure them.
Give practical guidance: Remind your child of the most important things they can do to stay healthy – washing their hands and the ‘catch it, bin it, kill it’ advice for coughs and sneezes.
Help your child practise and increase their motivation for keeping going (maybe thinking of a song they want to sing while washing their hands).
The BPS will continue to post advice on its website on ways to cope with the Coronavirus pandemic in the coming days and weeks.