Helpful resources

• BBC Newsround has a fantastic page which explains what the virus is and the impact it is having to people’s lives 
• The Anna Freud Centre for Children and Families has lots of information for young people as well as parents and carers
•  Young Minds has information on how to talk to a young child about coronavirus
  

• Axel Scheffler, illustrator of The Gruffalo, has illustrated a digital book for primary school age children, free for anyone to read on screen or print out, about the coronavirus and the measures taken to control it. It's written in simple language aimed at 5 to 9 year olds and covers the key questions that children may ask about Coronavirus:

Stuck Inside is a lovely illustrated book for small children to help them understand the virus and why it's important to stay at home.

• With school holidays just around the corner and fewer holiday clubs and activities available, many of us will be thinking about how best to carry on working while making sure children are supervised and kept occupied.The NSPCC have published some tips and advice to help parents of young children who are working from home find structure and balance.

• We have produced an information sheet on parenting and relationships within the family, and the challenges that COVID-19 can bring.
• The Lullaby Trust has put together lots of information on caring for your baby during COVID-19.
• The Institute of Health Visiting has produced a really informative site on parenting through COVID-19 including a lot of information on coping with a crying baby

• Homeschooling during COVID-19: How One Family is Doing It: a helpful guide with useful tips and ideas for homeschooling, how to make it fun and also support children's mental wellbeing, written by Emma Bradley, a qualified teacher and mum of three

• There's a free audiobook about going back to school or nursery after COVID-19 from Tales of Me books which you can personalise, to help small children in a transition back to nursery or pre-school.
• There's also some great information by the Anna Freud Centre on how to help children return back to school or nursery.

• The Gov.uk website has some great information on supporting children and young people's mental wellbeing during the coronavirus
• Anxiety UK has lots of advice on how to cope with anxiety surrounding coronavirus
• Mind has lots of information about taking care of yourself and others
• The Children's Commissioner have produced a useful visual guide to coronavirus which gives loads of information about the virus and how to stay safe, as well as to help with their worries:

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• Future Learn and the University of Reading are running a course on 4 May on COVID-19: Helping Young People Manage Low Mood and Depression.  It explores practical ways to help young people manage their mood and maintain healthy habits during the coronavirus pandemic.

• Kooth is a free confidential online counselling and emotional wellbeing platform for children and young people aged 11-19 (11– 25 for children with Special Educational Needs and care leavers): 

• Anna Kennedy Online has information and advice for parents and carers about children with autism and coping with coronavirus.
•  The Mighty has some great information on what to do if your child with autism's routine is disrupted by coronavirus.
• Beyond Words have produced a free download called Beating the Virus for people with learning disabilities and autistic people. It is a story which explains coronavirus and how to keep yourself and others safe, for people who find pictures easier to understand than words. It is not necessary to be able to read any words at all.
• Public Health England has produced an easy-read document explaining why it’s so important for people to keep their distance from others during the coronavirus crisis.
• Photosymbols has produced this poster which explains how people can stay safe during COVID-19. 
• Learning Disability England has produced a series of information on its website designed to explain, provide essential information, and keep people in touch with each other.
• Mencap have some great resources on staying well.

The World Health Organisation has information on pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding during COVID-19

The Make Birth Better site has lots of information on how to cope psychologically as a parent to be during OCVID-19.

It's natural for children to have questions about the effects of the coronavirus and they'll be affected in different ways by its impact on their routine way of life. Children pick up on the emotions of adults around them. Fear and anxiety can be heightened if they've had someone important to them die or there is a member of their family ill. Children will be very worried about who will look after them if they have lost one parent to coronavirus and their surviving parent should fall ill. 

It is not always easy to notice the ways in which children and young people show their distress, and it’s often difficult to know how to raise the issue and to help.

The following websites offer some options of how to get support with helping a child or young person when someone dies.

Winston’s Wish supports bereaved children, young people, their families, and the professionals who support them. There are some very useful resources on here about COVID-19 and child bereavement including how to tell a child someone has died from coronavirus and how to say goodbye when a funeral isn't possible. 

Cruse Bereavement Care has a comprehensive set of resources specifically tailored to helping children and young people through loss, including understanding their different responses to death, how to help children of different ages, and talking to children and young people about coronavirus and loss.

Cruse also offer a national helpline manned by trained volunteers; open Monday-Friday 9.30-5pm (excluding bank holidays), with extended hours until 8pm on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings.

Phone 0808 808 1677 or email helpline@cruse.org.uk