Hello,
Whatever your circumstance, it is inevitable that both you and your children will go through periods when you feel unsettled, worried or even mithered. Our children not only can hear everything that is going on around them, but they feel our tension and anxiety.
What children need is to feel comforted and loved. To feel like it’s all going to be ok. The most important thing is that you let them know how loved they are. If you can, play outside or go on a walk. Bake cookies and paint pictures. Play board games and watch movies. Start a book and read together as a family. To help, below you will find lots of great ideas from a wide range of experts that hopefully you will enjoy as much as we have when we have tried them!
Finally, please remember if you have any concerns about not just your child's mental health but anyone you know, please feel free to contact Mrs Riley on ariley@theatlasfederation.co.uk or contact their class teacher.
There is not anything we can do do together!!
The Team at Moorcroft Wood
30 days of messy activities- also go to the SENSORY STAR for lots more sensory activities Here you will find lots of ideas for outdoor, art and ‘make it‘ activities. Each day gives links to other great websites too.
Baking cakes Cooking together Create a scrapbook Treasure hunt Flip book animation Create your own story Make a fairy doorway Stage a family play Create a den Chalk art in the garden Plant sunflowers Plant tomatoes
Parent and child pampering sessions Family choir Make a bird feeder Create a time capsule Find a pen pal Our homes’ got talent Create a nature collage Finger painting Design your own board game Family sports day
Macaroni crafts Junk modelling Baking soda volcano Messy play Noughts and crosses Play pirates Family bake off Family quiz Positive affirmations artwork Decorate a room
Design your own birthday card Nerf gun garden battle Hangman Write a song/poem Play the sun always shines on me Play hide and seek Create your own bead necklace Tie and dye art Cartwheels Set a skipping record Create a memory box Hop!
Play snap Help in the garden Put on finger puppet show Dance performance Smile! Make a paper fortune teller (chatterbox) Family movie and popcorn night Help wash dishes Design a car Re-lace trainers in a new style Create home art rubbings Water fight
Paint garden stones Decorate plant pots Make a dreamcatcher Help with washing dishes Decorate a hairband Family picnic in garden Make your own obstacle course Create origami bunnies Hopscotch Easter bonnet Chalk garden games Become a news broadcaster Laugh!
Garden gymnastics Penalty shootout competition Fancy dress day Create a bug hotel Jump about Pyjama day Digital detox day Paper aeroplane competition Musical statues Bake your own cookies Make your own gloop Learn sign language Learn Makaton
Paint a parent’s nails Make a family member breakfast in bed Adopt an animal (charity) Plait your hair in a new style each day Make indoor restaurant for your family Paper mache balloon Tidy your room Have a tea party Make yogurt pot telephones
Useful fun, websites with highly visual games for using with your children to learn and consolidate early skills.
https://www.ictgames.com/
Managing a Meltdown
Every child at one point or another will struggling either with a new routine or changes in the world as they see it. Resources in the social, emotional star will help. However it is likely that the stresses your child feel, will impact on their behaviour.
You know your child better than anyone but here are some useful coping strategies which may help
Stay calm and don't shout
if your child has triggers which have caused the meltdown remove them
remove other children and things from the situation - reduce stimulations
talk in a calm soothing voice
give clear short instructions
remove anything that can cause them harm
don't tell them off
Stay close and watch them without over crowding them
Use breathing exercises https://theinspiredtreehouse.com/calming-breathing-techniques-kids/
When they are calming down give them a cuddle - big squeezes help to calm
when they have calmed down - let them relax, give them a drink or snack, chewing will help to calm them further
retreat to a quiet space
when they are ready talk to them about what happened so that you can avoid it again in the future
Remember a meltdown is not bad behaviour, it is when your child is so overwhelmed and overloaded that they cannot communicate this - they have lost their words. They are having a fight or flight response and they have lost control, they really need you not to