Guidance Guidance for parents and carers on supporting children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic
Helping children and young people cope with stress
There are some key points you can consider about how to support your child or
young person, including:
Listen and acknowledge: Children and young people may respond to stress in
different ways. Signs may be emotional (for example, they may be upset,
distressed, anxious, angry or agitated), behavioural (for example, they may
become more clingy or more withdrawn, or they may wet the bed), or physical
(for example, they may experience stomach aches).
Look out for any changes in their behaviour. Children and young people may
feel less anxious if they are able to express and communicate their feelings
in a safe and supportive environment. Children and young people who
communicate differently to their peers may rely on you to interpret their
feelings. Listen to them, acknowledge their concern and give them extra love
and attention if they need it.
MindEd is a free online educational resource on
children and young people’s mental health for all adults, which can support
parents and carers through these exceptional circumstances.
Provide clear information about the situation: Children and young people
want to feel assured that their parents and carers can keep them safe. One of
the best ways to achieve this is by talking openly about what is happening and
providing honest answers to any questions they have. Explain what is being
done to keep them and their loved ones safe, including any actions they can
take to help, such as washing their hands more often than usual. Use words and
explanations that they can understand. There are resources available to help
you do this, including the Children’s Commissioner’s Children’s Guide to
Coronavirus, or the Inter-
Agency Standing Committee (IASC) have produced a storybook developed by and
for children around the world affected by coronavirus
(COVID-19).
Make sure you use reliable sources of information such as
GOV.UK or the NHS
website – there is a lot
of misleading information from other sources that can create stress for you
and your family. It will not always be possible to provide answers to all the
questions that children and young people may ask, or to address all their
concerns, so focus on listening and acknowledging their feelings to help them
feel supported.
Be aware of your own reactions: Remember that children and young people
often take their emotional cues from the important adults in their lives, so
how you respond to the situation is very important. It is important to manage
your own emotions and remain calm, listen to and acknowledge children and
young people’s concerns, speak kindly to them, and answer any questions they
have honestly. For further information on how to look after your own mental
wellbeing during the pandemic, see the guidance on how to look after your own
mental health and
wellbeing or visit Every
Mind Matters.
Connect regularly: If it is necessary for you and your children to be in
different locations to normal (for example, due to staying at home in
different locations or hospitalisation) make sure you still have regular and
frequent contact via the phone or video calls with them. Try to help your
child understand what arrangements are being made for them and why in simple
terms. Support safe ways for children and young people to maintain social
interaction with their friends, for example via phone or video calls.
Create a new routine: Life is changing for all of us for a while. Routine
gives children and young people an increased feeling of safety in the context
of uncertainty, so think about how to develop a new routine, especially if
they are not at school:

make a plan for the day or week that includes time for learning, playing and relaxing
if they have to stay home from school, ask teachers what you can do to support continued learning at home. The Department for Education have published a list of recommended online educational resources for home schooling
encourage maintaining a balance between being on and offline and discover new ideas for activities to do from home. The Children’s Commissioner guide signposts to some ideas to help fight boredom
children and young people ideally need to be active for 60 minutes a day, which can be more difficult when spending longer periods of time indoors. Plan time outside if you can do so safely or see Change4Life for ideas for indoor games and activities
don’t forget that sleep is important for mental and physical health, so try to keep to existing bedtime routines
it may be tempting to give children and young people treats such as sweets or chocolate but this is not good for their health, especially as they may not be as physically active as normal. See Change4Life for ideas for healthy treats

Limit exposure to media and talk more about what they have seen and heard:
Like adults, children and young people may become more distressed if they see
repeated coverage about the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in the media. A
complete news blackout is also rarely helpful as they are likely to find out
from other sources, such as online or through friends. Try to avoid turning
the television off or closing web pages when children or young people come
into the room. This can peak their interest to find out what is happening and
their imagination can take over. Instead, consider limiting the amount of
exposure you and your family have to media coverage.
Young people will also hear things from friends and get information from
social media. Talk to them about what is happening and ask them what they have
heard. Try to answer their questions honestly and reassure them appropriately.