Resources for Parents & Carers

Below is a list of useful resources for parents and carers on supporting children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing

Action For Children: Mental Health and Wellbeing
Advice and activities to support children and parents with their mental health and emotional wellbeing.

Parenting for a Digital Future
A blog looking at: How do parents seek to bring up their children in the digital age? What risks and opportunities shape children’s digital lives now and in the future? What does the research say, and how do the findings vary in different parts of the world?

UNICEF Coronavirus (COVID-19) parenting tips
UNICEF has teamed up with the Parenting for Lifelong Health initiative to bring parents and caregivers a set of handy tips to help deal with COVID-19 parenting challenges.

Webwise Parents Hub: False Information – Advice for Parents
False information can spread rapidly on social media, online platforms or in messaging apps, often taking advantage of times of uncertainty. Read this guide for parents on how talking to their children about false information can help them be better able to judge what they can trust online.

COVID-19: Screen Time and the Developing Brain
With children spend more time on electronic devices than ever before, parents are concerned about the impact excessive screen time might have on the developing brain. In this e-Briefing experts, including eNurture Deputy Director Prof Sonia Livingstone, discuss the pros and cons of screen time as well as its effects on the developing brain, and give practical tips for parents navigating the digital world with their children during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Helping parents and their children to thrive in our digital present and our digital future
Many families are currently juggling many competing demands during the pandemic, from home schooling to money concerns. They are also grappling with the challenges their children face in the digital world, as we live through changes not seen since the industrial revolution. World expert on digital parenting and eNurture Deputy Director Prof Sonia Livingstone provides insights and advice about parenting in the digital present and future.

BBC Radio 4 You & Yours
What is it like for the children you know, being taught at home?
eNurture Director Prof Gordon Harold provides advice on how to cope with the challenges of home schooling and its impact on the mental health of children and parents. The phone-in programme generated a lot of positive responses from listeners, such as:
"I felt reassured after hearing the programme that I wasn't doing a bad job with my children."
"It was a relief to hear an expert call this lockdown situation out for what it is, really hard!"

BBC Radio 4: Bringing Up Britain - Should I Home Educate My Kids
eNurture Director Prof Gordon Harold is on the panel of this episode of Bringing Up Britain which focuses on home schooling. The panel discusses the pros and cons of home versus school-based teaching and learning, particularly in light of Covid-19 impacts, with a large range of topics reviewed including the role of the digital world for young people's education and learning experiences.

Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families
Resources offering advice and guidance to help support children and young people who may be struggling with poor mental health.  Including section on Covid-19 support.

Parent Zone: Lockdown advice and resources 2021
New lockdown advice area on the Parent Zone website, full of guidance and resources to help parents navigate the use of technology for work, homeschooling, socialisation and entertainment.

Game Safe: Helping children and young people game safely
Tips and advice for parents and carers to help young people get the best out of their gaming experience during lockdown.

NSPCC NetAware
Tips and advice to help parents and carers keep their children safe online during lockdown and beyond, including during Pride month in June – a month dedicated to celebrating the LGBTQ+ communities all around the world.

Young Minds: Resources for parents
Resources include survival guide for parents, parents helpline, and where to get support for your child's mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Twinkl
Free activities taster packs for parents and carers including ready-made timetables of age-appropriate content that you can use at home. 

The Child Mind Institute
US based website includes a section for families which explores the issues and challenges parents are most concerned about (including media and technology) and provides expert guidance on how to respond in the most effective way.

ACAMH: Bedtime social media use, sleep, and affective wellbeing in young adults: an experience sampling study – video abstract
This study found that bedtime social media use is not detrimental to the sleep and affective wellbeing of healthy young adults. However, it is possible that bedtime social media use may be harmful to the sleep of vulnerable individuals.