Mental Health and Well-Being
Wellbeing and Mental Health Support:
For Children and Young People:
A new text messaging service has been launched:
- Young people can text reflect to 85258 if they need advice or help
- Reflect is free and does not show up on phone bills
- The service is confidential and available 24/7
Reflect is specifically for young people across Bedford Borough, Central Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes. The service is delivered in partnership with Shout.
Childline.
It isn’t just for emergencies when a child is distressed, Childline also have some fantastic online resources in their ‘toolbox’ section on the website, including Games, the Art Box and the Calm Zone to help children feel calmer when stressed online.
To access some of the site you will need to register www.childline.org.uk/toolbox/
For Adults and Children:
Samaritans
The Samaritans is traditionally as service for adults, but children can call too – they’re open 24/7 and you will talk to a trained volunteer if you call, it will however take 24 hours+ via email contact – you just need to bear in mind they won’t advise, only listen.
Email; jo@samaritans.org
Phone; 116 123
Shout and Young Minds
Shout is a texting service for adults and young people who are experiencing a mental health crisis, Young Minds is the branch of the same organisation that supports young people. https://youngminds.org.uk/
Text; Text the word SHOUT to 85258 (for Adults) or YM to 85258 (for Young People) and a trained volunteer will text you back (usually within 5 minutes, but it can be longer at times).
Call the Young Minds Parents Helpline 0808 802 5544 (Monday to Friday 9.30am – 4pm)
Mental Health and Well-Being
With a view on what is happening around the world, it is even more important now to look after our mental health and wellbeing. We are, unfortunately, restricted to a certain extent with what we can and cannot do. However, along with exercise and mindfulness, another way to look after our mental health and wellbeing is to get creative. Yes, that may include getting mucky too! Art can be created with a wide range of materials; you do not need to have a treasure chest of materials to get creative.
Year 3 and 4 are already familiar with Zentangle and we would encourage them to learn a new tangle each week and to continue tangling (https://tanglepatterns.com/). Perhaps they can look around the house or explore the garden for inspiration to create a brand new tangle of their own.
Below, we have added some links to websites with a variety of ideas. You could also use Pinterest to get specific ideas for using certain materials that you have available.
Children can add any artwork (or photos of artwork) created to their topic books, try one of the 30 challenges (there are many more online) or even start their very own scrapbook / art journal.
https://leftbraincraftbrain.com/40-best-art-projects-for-kids/
https://babbledabbledo.com/80-easy-creative-projects-for-kids/
https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/home/craft-ideas/how-to/g1389/diy-kids-activities/
https://www.artbarblog.com/40-summer-art-ideas-for-kids/
https://www.artycraftykids.com/craft/50-nature-crafts-kids/
https://www.redtedart.com/nature-crafts-101-20-stunning-crafts-using-items-found-in-nature/
