
Education and fun
For when children are isolating and unable to attend school, we’ve put together this handy guide full of useful resources. You can find everything from revision websites, exercise for children, helpful videos, mental health and wellbeing tips and more in this section.
Show your little ones how to wash their hands with this great video from CBeebies’ very own Evie!
Key Stage 1 & 2
1. Twinkl
- EYFS – https://www.twinkl.co.uk/l/xrh0w
- KS1 – https://www.twinkl.co.uk/l/qznc0
- KS2 – https://www.twinkl.co.uk/l/1bm381
- SEND – https://www.twinkl.co.uk/l/z2mha
2. CBeebies
- CBeebies storytime – https://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/watch/watch-presenters-cbeebies-storytime
- Hair Letters app – https://www.nessy.com/uk/apps/hairy-letters/
- Hairy Phonics 1 – https://www.nessy.com/us/apps/hairy-phonics-1/
- Hairy Phonics 2 – https://www.nessy.com/uk/apps/hairy-phonics-2-2/
- CBeebies Radio – https://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/radio
- Red Ted Art – https://www.redtedart.com
- The Imagination Tree – https://theimaginationtree.com
- BBC Bitesize – www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize
3. Other educational resources
- Oxford Owl for Home – https://www.oxfordowl.co.uk/for-home/
- Topmarks – www.topmarks.co.uk
- Dave the Dog is worried about coronavirus (online book) – https://nursedottybooks.files.wordpress.com/2020/03/dave-the-dog-coronavirus-1-1.pdf
- Scratch – https://scratch.mit.edu/explore/projects/games/
- National Geographic Kids – https://www.natgeokids.com/uk/
- Crash Course Kids – https://m.youtube.com/user/crashcoursekids
- BBC online resources – https://www.bbc.co.uk/teach
Secondary School
- Big History Project – https://www.bighistoryproject.com/home
- Seneca – https://www.senecalearning.com
- Twinkl (GCSE) – https://www.twinkl.co.uk/l/f5o2n
Mental health and wellbeing
Activities
- DOWNLOAD: Mindfulness activities for kids
- DOWNLOAD: Helping children cope with stress
- https://www.understood.org/en/learning-thinking-differences/child-learning-disabilities/sensory-processing-issues/heavy-work-activities
- https://lemonlimeadventures.com/100-sensory-activities/
- https://www.andnextcomesl.com/2015/06/heavy-work-activities-for-kids.html
- https://www.nhs.uk/oneyou/every-mind-matters/your-mind-plan-quiz
- https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/stress-anxiety-depression/moodzone-mental-wellbeing-audio-guides/#overcoming-sleep-problems-audio-guide
Find out more about handy tips and additional resources to help with mental health and wellbeing.
Websites
https://www.liverpoolcamhs.com/parents-carers/returning-back-to-school-support-for-families/
https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/coronavirus-and-your-wellbeing/
Advice for parents from getting babies to sleep, to managing stress, and how to look after parents’ own mental health – https://www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/support-for-parents/baby-parenting/
https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/low-mood-during-covid-19
http://wecantalk.online/fundamentals/
Physical wellbeing tips
- Free online exercise resources on YouTube including many different workouts and guided yoga practices
- Eat a healthy balanced diet
- Be aware of and avoid increasing habits to manage anxiety or boredom that may not be helpful in the long term (e.g. smoking, alcohol)
- Maintain good sleep hygiene and daily routines
- Tips on staying health during Ramadan can be found here
Emotional wellbeing tips
- Create a daily routine that includes physical activity, cognitive stimulation, good sleep hygiene & healthy lifestyle choices (puzzles/reading/brain games apps/educational apps e.g. learning a new language)
- Stay connected to others using the phones, video calls and social media platforms
- Use mindfulness and relaxation practices (You Tube or apps – see below)
- Do things you enjoy doing at home
Safeguarding
- Coronavirus (COVID-19) and keeping children safe from abuse
Advice about keeping children safe and what to do: https://www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/reporting-abuse/coronavirus-abuse-neglect-vulnerable-children/
- Helpline
If you’re worried about a child, even if you’re unsure, call 0808 800 5000.
- Coronavirus (COVID-19) advice and support for parents and carers
https://www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/coronavirus-advice-suppport-children-families-parents
- Information, resources and elearning discounts for professionals
https://learning.nspcc.org.uk/safeguarding-child-protection/coronavirus
- Childline
https://www.childline.org.uk/get-support/contacting-childline/message-from-childline/
Apps and other resources
Mindfulness apps
- NHS list of recommended apps (https://www.nhs.uk/apps-library/category/mental-health/)
- Liverpool CAMHS (list of helpful apps here https://www.liverpoolcamhs.com/websites-apps/)
- Headspace
- Smiling Mind
- Calm
- Clear Fear
- Calm Harm
- Combined Minds
- Chillpanda
- SAM
- Hospichill
- Health Young Minds (list of helpful apps here https://healthyyoungmindspennine.nhs.uk/resource-centre/apps/)
- Sesame Street Breathe, Think, Do (younger children)
Websites
- Childline website has lots of activities, breathing exercises, advice and free yoga videos (www.childline.org.uk)
- The Blurt Foundation is a charity promoting positive mental health and has useful advice and tools for managing anxiety & depression and promoting self-care. (www.blurtitout.org/resource/mental-health-toolkit)
- Mind website has useful tips & advice for promoting positive mental health (www.mind.org.uk)
- Kooth provides free, safe and anonymous online support for young people (www.kooth.com)
- 7cups (https://www.7cups.com/)
- Anxiety UK (www.anxietyuk.org.uk)
- NHS – sleep tips for children (https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/sleep-and-tiredness/healthy-sleep-tips-for-children/)
- NHS – sleep tips for teenagers (https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/sleep-and-tiredness/sleep-tips-for-teenagers/)
- NHS – how to get to sleep (https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/sleep-and-tiredness/how-to-get-to-sleep)
- NHS – tips to beat insomnia (https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/sleep-and-tiredness/10-tips-to-beat-insomnia/)
- Stem4 – extensive information relating to a wide range of mental health issue seen in children and young people (https://stem4.org.uk/)
- CNTW NHS – self help (https://web.ntw.nhs.uk/selfhelp/)
- Act Mindfully – resource on acceptance and commitment therapy (www.actmindfully.co.au)
- Time to Change – multiple resources to help parents begin conversations with children about mental health (https://www.time-to-change.org.uk/get-involved/get-involved-schools/school-resources)
- MindEd – free education resource on children and young people’s mental health for adults (www.minded.org.uk)
Contact numbers if you need further mental health support for yourself or your children
- Mind is a British mental health charity. You can contact them for support Monday-Friday 9am-6pm on their Infoline: 0300 123 3393
- Samaritans are a UK based mental health helpline open day and night 365 days a year. You can call them on: 116 123
- The Mix is a UK based support service for young people. You can access 1-2-1 chat support via their website (www.themix.org.uk) or telephone support (4pm-11pm) every day on: 0808 808 4994 or if you are in a crisis you can text ‘THEMIX’ to 85258 for support in a crisis 24 hours a day.
- Childline is a free private and confidential charity offering support to children. You can call them on 0800 1111. They also have a chat messaging service on their website (www.childline.org.uk)
- Young MindsProvides free, 24/7 crisis support across the UK if you are experiencing a mental health crisis. If you need urgent help text YM to 85258. All texts are answered by trained volunteers, with support from experienced clinical supervisors.Texts are free from EE, O2, Vodafone, 3, Virgin Mobile, BT Mobile, GiffGaff, Tesco Mobile and Telecom Plus.
- The Mix – If you’re under 25, you can talk to The Mix for free on the phone, by email or on their webchat. You can also use their phone counselling service, or get more information on support services you might need. Freephone: 0808 808 4994 (13:00-23:00 daily) or go online www.themix.org.uk
General resources
- BBC Learning – http://www.bbc.co.uk/learning/coursesearch/
- Change4life – https://www.nhs.uk/change4life/activities/sports-and-activities
- Ted Ed – https://ed.ted.com
- Duolingo – https://www.duolingo.com
- Mystery Science – https://mysteryscience.com
- Crash Course – https://thecrashcourse.com
- The Artful Parent – https://www.facebook.com/artfulparent/