Wellbeing in Isolation
Maintaining Wellbeing in Isolation
This page is for supporting the wellbeing of children and families/whānau during school closures. Information on this page all comes from Ministry of Health approved sources.
We know that normal routines support a sense of calm. We encourage you to try to maintain routines for bedtimes and mealtimes, and create new ones for home learning.
Home learning is new for many in our community and it’s not uncommon to feel out of your depth.
Some helpful tips to remember when supporting your children during isolation:
- The parent’s/caregiver’s most important job is first and foremost supporting family/whānau wellbeing
- Remember that playing with siblings, helping with jobs around the home, and having regular online contact with peers count as home learning
- Create times during the day for home learning when children have:
– uninterrupted access to a device or learning activities provided by the school
– a quiet place to learn
– support from an adult
- Focus on the learning goal, not the task
- Be flexible and manage home learning time according to your individual situation and your children’s willingness to engage
- Connect with your children and spend time together – check out this help sheet of ideas: Connect and Upskill your Tamariki
Guidance and Advice
Parents, caregivers and whānau who would like to request guidance or advice during self-isolation can fill in this form and you will be contacted directly by a member of staff who can link you with the support you need.
Alternatively, 1737 is a free, confidential helpline for anyone who is feeling anxious, depressed, overwhelmed, or would just like to talk to someone. Trained counsellors are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Phone or text 1737.
Links
- Whānau Request for Support
- Real-time Resilience: Coping During COVID-19 (video 30:03)
- Real-time Resilience: Supporting Young People (video 27:03)
- Coronavirus – A book for children
- Cut me some slack – Advice for parents of young children.
- Talking to Children About COVID-19
- Sparklers
- COVID-19: Looking After Your Mental Wellbeing
- Top Tips to Get Through
- Top Tips for Parents/Caregivers in Uncertain Times
- Attitude – Stress & Anxiety – Response to Covid-19
- Real-time Resilience: Staying Sane & Kind (video 9:54)
- Not Killing Nigel: Staying Sane & Kind in Your Bubble
- Mana Ake – Stronger for Tomorrow – Mental Health and Well-being Support
- Tips for Parents & Caregivers – Supporting young people (Ministry of Education)
- Family Harm
- Caring for a vulnerable person during lockdown
- Welfare support factsheet
