With so much information available about COVID-19, it can overwhelming. And not just for you but your children also.
Below, is a child-friendly breakdown of what COVID-19 is and how your children can do their part to keep both themselves and their siblings safe.
Download this short booklet and print it out for your children to read and interact with.
Does your child need a COVID-19 test?
If you or they are worried watch this short animation to see how it works and how easy it is to get tested:
Off the Record online groups
Off the Record (OTR) based in Old Market offers mental health support for young people aged 11-25 in Bristol and South Glos.
If you’re looking for stuff to do or feeling a bit agitated by the lockdown they’ve adapted loads of their sessions to run online.
You can now sign up to OTR’s digital groups to help support your wellbeing here: https://buff.ly/2xQJr4k
You can also reach them on 0808 808 9120 (Freephone) or hello@otrbristol.org.uk Website: https://www.otrbristol.org.uk
Youth Moves
Youth Moves based at The Park is still making sure young people in the area are being supported. Visit www.youthmoves.org.uk or contact them on Facebook.
Online activities for young people and families
New online hub for children and young people with Bristol-based creative activities, from an exercise video with Bristol Rovers FC and story read by local actor Joe Sims – to making scones with the city’s Great British Bake Off star Briony Williams. Visit: https://www.wearebristol.co.uk/kids/
Jump Studios
Jump Studios based at Knowle West Media Centre is offering free online resources and activities for young people to do at home – from music and coding to design and preparing files for laser-cutting. https://kwmc.org.uk/projects/jumpstudios/
Free online lessons
Worried about helping your children with their lessons at home? Oak National Academy has an online classroom with nearly 10,000 free video lessons, resources and activities for teachers and parents. It covers most subjects from reception to Year 11. Visit: https://classroom.thenational.academy
Free education from the BBC
Starting on Monday 11 January, each week day.
CBBC will see a three-hour block of primary school programming from 9am, including BBC Live Lessons and BBC Bitesize Daily, as well as other educational programming such as Our School and Celebrity Supply Teacher and much loved titles such as Horrible Histories, Art Ninja and Operation Ouch.
BBC Two will cater for secondary students with programming to support the GCSE curriculum, with a least two hours of content each weekday.
You can always record the episodes to view at a later date/time.
Full story here: https://www.bbc.com/…/bbc-launches-biggest-education…
#Working4You
Nature/wildlife
My Wild City COVID 19 Survival Pack
Avon Wildlife Trust has a host of activities in its My Wild City Survival Pack – and for many you don’t have to go outside.
Here are some of the ideas for children and families:
- Hundreds of activities for kids interested in nature from The Wildlife Watch
- Lesson plans and resources from RSPB
- Learning resources from Chester Zoo
- Inspired indoor activity ideas from The Scouts
- High quality video resources made by teachers at Off School
- 10 nature activities for kids if you’re self-isolating at home from the Woodland Trust
- Practical ideas about learning and playing outdoors that have been written and/or curated by Juliet Robertson
- Inspirational resources from Sharing Nature
- Free lesson plan, activity ideas and resources from Forestry England
- Lessons on food, farming and the natural environment with Countryside Classroom
- Geography field work resources from Discover the World Education
- Adventures at home with Girlguiding
- Outdoor Lesson Ideas with Learning Through Landscapes
- Get your kids growing with these activities, projects and lesson plans from RHS
- Educational resources from Trees for Cities
- Watch Avon Wildlife Trust’s My Wild Child videos for inspirationMy Wild Child
Keep up to date with Avon Wildlife Trust on: www.avonwildlifetrust.org.uk/ / https://www.facebook.com/Avonwt/
Steve Backshall has a live wildlife chat on You Tube, Facebook page and Instagram – from identifying bird song to how he set up a trail cam to discover who was raiding his bins…
Exercise
PE, dance and fitness
The Body Coach Joe Wickes is bringing back his PE class workouts from Monday 11 January at 9am for cooped up kids on his Youtube channel.
PE with Joe will take place on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 9am for 20 minutes and be focused on exercise for young children.
Former Strictly Come Dancing judge and professional ballerina, Dame Darcey Bussell, is offering dance workouts through her DDMIX Facebook.
And if families fancy learning the Charleston or Cha Cha Cha, Strictly professional dancer Dianne Buswell has posted dance tutorials on her Instagram which she is doing with her former dance partner Joe Sugg.
Lockdown Yoga
Kelly Sheldrick who has been teaching sessions at Filwood Community Centre has recorded a Lockdown Yoga session for families. She also offers weekly online sessions at www.kellysheldrick.com
Circus Skills
Although the Youth Circus at Filwood Community Centre is on pause – there are some great online activities from Circomedia
https://www.circomedia.com/categ…/youth-circus-home-edition/
Reading
Bristol Libraries
If you’re missing trips to the library with your child, Bristol Libraries have eight free downloadable activity packs for children https://bit.ly/gu-activity-packs
CloudLibrary – Explore and borrow e-books on the go, with a few simple clicks! https://www.bristol.gov.uk/lib…/ebooks-eaudio-from-library
There’s a range of activities on Bristol Libraries Facebook including live streaming of Story Time for under fives at 2pm on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays and you can take part in Baby Bounce and Rhyme on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 11am during term-time: https://www.facebook.com/BristolLibraries/
Audio stories
David Walliams has lots of free activities/resource packs to download: https://www.worldofdavidwalliams.com/elevenses/
Other celebrities are reading stories on a new Instagram account: https://www.instagram.com/SAVEWITHSTORIES/?hl=en
Art/culture
Bristol museums might be closed but you can still get a dose of culture from home…
You can experience some of their most recent exhibitions from the comfort of your own sofa : view online exhibitions or look at collections ranging from archaeology and history to industry and the natural world: search collections online.
For more information visit https://www.bristolmuseums.org.uk/blog/a-dose-of-culture-from-home/?fbclid=IwAR0bwlOgYzDYw2SkVBxbyvFr8LQ9J6tzZ2tToWPHMjZF9fEZrRlnmIPjvpE
Cookery
For children who are happiest in the kitchen, there’s a kids cookalong three times a week with Theo Michaels on his Youtube/Instagram https://www.theocooks.com/kids-cookalong-live/
Maths
Countdown legend and maths whizz Carol Vorderman has an online maths school free for three weeks https://www.themathsfactor.com/ which are aimed at 4-12s but could help parents too…
Music
Former HearSay pop star Myleene Klass is offering free music lessons on her Youtube channel Myleene’s Music Klass includes teaching youngsters to read music and clap rhythms.
Other ideas
