Health and Wellbeing During the Coronavirus Outbreak
During this difficult time, it is important we take care of our health. This includes your mental and physical wellbeing. This is a key part of staying healthy during this ongoing period of uncertainty.
As part of this we need to think not only about ourselves but others too, check in on those around you, whether you are sharing a house or living miles apart, a quick call could make the difference. We also need to consider the fact that this is an uncertain time for adults, but this is also the same for children and vulnerable adults, who may not fully understand what is going on, or may be confused by the sudden change in their daily routines.
We have compiled a range of different articles and sources to help you maintain your physical and mental well being whilst also supporting those around you to ensure you can lessen the impact on those in need of support.
Staying Active
There are many ways you can stay active, whether that is making use of your trip outside for the day or whilst staying home.
Make sure you do make use of this and go for a walk, a run, a cycle just to get out of the house and to stop you felling stuck inside. Obviously before leaving the house do consider the guidance provided by the Government if you are showing any symptoms of the coronavirus.
With schools being shut some of you may need ways to keep your children active and we have compiled a few of these at the bottom of this page. We have also included some ideas for older readers.
Looking after your mental health
During this ongoing period of change, your Mental Health is vitally important. Keeping on top of it will be key in helping you get through this difficult time. The Mental Health Foundation have provided a wide range of tips to help you get through this troubling time. Here are some of the areas they touch on:
- Looking after your mental health while you have to stay at home
- Try to avoid speculation and look up reputable sources on the outbreak
- Try to stay connected
- Talk to your children (this may be applicable to some vulnerable adults too)
- Try to anticipate distress
- Try not to make assumptions
- Try to manage how you follow the outbreak in the media
Information on school closures
This is a page created by the Government and has some key information around your children’s school and the impact of their closures. This page is important as it can answer questions that you or your children may have. The page covers the following:
- Closures of schools, childcare and other educational settings
- Exams
- Free school meals
- Vulnerable children
- Critical workers
- Resources and support
Children, young people and vulnerable adults
Childline have created a page of key information that will be of use to parents and carers of children and vulnerable adults. This may help you as a parent, guardian or carer to find the best way to answer questions those in your care may have.
It also will offer a lifeline to vulnerable children who may need extra support during this troubling time.
If you as a parent/carer, child or vulnerable adult have any questions or concerns, our Safeguarding Team continue to work and are available should you require them. They can be reached by email.
LGfL
Children are inevitably going to be spending a lot more time online and on their devices over the coming months, so be sure to make the most of the resources from LGfL's DigiSafe team and many other great organisations around the UK which help keep children safe.
Back to staying active!
As promised we have a number of ways that you, your children and your friends can remain active. They’ll be listed below:
Want to keep the kids active:
The FA created The FA SuperKicks app to keep children active outside of conventional football, with 100s of challenges and a new task launched every weekday at 2pm, why not test yourself and give it a go?
Joe Wicks is offering free live streamed morning PE Classes for children at 9am Mon – Fri. They’re not just for kids why not join in too?
On YouTube there are a number of useful videos that have been produced by Soccer Training and Development, that are available to inspire your child for some home football sessions.
The Football Development Academy have come up with some weekly challenges that are being posted to their Facebook page, they are also running daily ‘Family Football Fitness’ sessions every weekday at 12.15pm that you can do together at home.
For everyone:
Joe Wicks has a number of exercise classes that can easily be done at home on his YouTube Channel. They are all as hard or as easy as you make them, you don’t need any equipment for most of them!
Sport England have just launched their new Stay in, work out campaign. Giving you “tips, advice and guidance on how to keep or get active in and around your home. Join the Movement and use #StayInWorkOut to share how you're getting active during this time.”
