COVID-19 local advice for parents
Isolation, working at home, and home schooling, are all additional pressures on parents, and we know being a parent can have its challenges. So, Sheffield's Parenting team have developed and gathered below a range of online materials and useful videos for parents and carers to support them in their parenting role. These are all based on the evidence based parenting programmes that we use in Sheffield.
Information from Sheffield Family Centres about getting a good night's sleep:
A lack of sleep can cause havoc on children’s behaviour and concentration, as well as have a negative impact on their physical and mental wellbeing. If you are concerned about children returning to school tired because sleep routines have done out of the window in lockdown, you might find the latest sleep support from Sheffield Parenting Team useful.
The short videos below give tips and advice on getting sleep back on track.
Getting your teenager’s sleep back on track: https://youtu.be/vNDY6uX2PHk
Getting a good night’s sleep for school – primary and early years: https://youtu.be/uyfVlsES7Uw
In addition, Sleep Seminars are also being offered on Zoom and these are promoted on the Sheffield Family Centres' Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/SheffieldFamilyCentres/
Follow Sheffield's Parenting team's social media channels where they will post regular tips, videos, information for families.
Short clips with parenting tips and techniques will be posted every week, as well as Family Centre information and activities.
Facebook – Sheffield Family Centre - https://www.facebook.com/SheffieldFamilyCentres/
Twitter – SheffFamilyCtrs - https://twitter.com/shefffamilyctrs
Instagram – SheffieldFamilyCentres - https://www.instagram.com/sheffieldfamilycentres/?hl=en
Short videos of the parenting team discussing parenting topics are posted on YouTube here:
Sheffield Family Centres - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGYnErRUpkjQ_GhejRZnzhQ
Topics include:
- Descriptive commenting to develop language in children
- Praising your children and positive attention
- Developing your new baby’s brain
- Sleep
- Messy play activities and other early years topics.
Triple P Short videos:
The parenting team deliver the Triple P Programme which is an internationally evaluated and coordinated programme.
Quick Tips Video blogs by Dr Claire Halsey from triple P – now available on the Triple P You Tube. Follow this link: YouTube
These cover topics such as, helping children feel safe, keeping busy, routines, tolerating uncertainty, taking care of yourself.
Triple P Tips and Blogs
- Parenting During COVID-19 - the Triple P Parenting Guide –Top 10 tips - read or download here
- Blog post – How to manage when you’re all at home (including working from home) - Read the article here
Online Groups and direct support
During COVID, we have moved all our group programmes online, and we now deliver through Zoom. These include weekly programmes for parents of children of all ages and needs. We can offer parents in Sheffield a free Triple P On-Line programme.
If parents wish to access this, they can emails us directly on sheffieldparenting@sheffield.gov.uk
Please let us know what you would like support with, and leave your name and contact details, so someone from the parenting team can contact you.
You can also see more information here: https://www.sheffield.gov.uk/home/social-care/positive-parenting
Some useful help and links for parents and children during the Covid-19 outbreak
CAHMS resource pack for parents
CAHMS - It's OK to worry about coronavirus
A free information book explaining the coronavirus to children, illustrated by Gruffalo illustrator Axel Scheffler - this free book was released on 27th April 2020
Emotional wellbeing daily check in
Mindful Minute breathing breaks
Families at home - support and advice
Healthy Minds - beat the boredom guidance
Healthy Minds - beat the boredom planner
Coronavirus - a guide for parents/carers of children with SEND
A guide to supporting the mental health and wellbeing of pupils and students during periods of disruption - a guide from the Anna Freud Centre.
The Anna Freud Centre has also developed videos for parents and children and young people which you may find useful.
WHO Leaflet - helping children cope with stress during the Covid-19 outbreak
Healthy Minds leaflet - some advice for parents
Autism Team Newsletter - March 2020
NHS website - Coronavirus resources for children and families
Supportive websites and phone contacts:
Sheffield Autism team daily help and advice line - Tel: 2506800. If you can't get through, leave a message and someone from the team will get back to you.
Autism helpline – 0808 800 4104
National Autistic Society website - autism.org.uk
Young Minds - 0808 802 5544
Childline - 0800 1111
www.crisistextline - free contact when typing in 85258
Urgent mental health support 24/7 ring – 226 3636
www.samaritans.org for access to support documents
epicfriends.co.uk – CAMHs (Child Adolescent Mental Health website)
Domestic Abuse Helpline - 0808 808 2241
Sheffield DACT website - Sheffield Drug and Alcohol/Domestic Abuse Coordination Team (DACT)
