The restrictions issued to curb the spread of Covid-19 have led to a lot of larger and smaller events being cancelled. It also means schools and college will now not open again until the autumn. Cancellations and confirmations of such, have been delivered in stages, meaning each few weeks we have received new information.
Young people in their final year of primary or secondary school or college have lost out on the opportunity to see their classmates again within those structures. Holidays, festivals, summer jobs, weddings, exams (!) have been taken off the cards, bringing disappointment in different ways. Dealing with these unmet expectations can be a challenge, that we all could do with a bit of guidance around.

The Department of Children and Youth Affairs has today launched an animated media clip to support children and their parents/guardian with returning to or starting crèche, pre-school and childminding settings.
You will find more information on:
http://www.gov.ie/letsgetready/

Due to Covid-19 the National Parents Council are unable to continue with the delivery of the parent programme supporting transitions from pre-school to primary school around the country as they had planned.  However, they still feel that it is important to support parents to prepare themselves and their children for this transition so they have developed a short video with some of the key information from the programme which is available here. 

There is no need to register just hit the play button below and if you have any questions please contact one of the helpline officers at [email protected] who will be happy to assist you.

You can access a range of advice and supports from the National Parents Council website
​http://www.npc.ie/
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HEY SIGMUND is a  website containing the latest research and news in psychology. It attempts to bring psychology into the mainstream for everyone and especially parents. Karen Young explains what it all means and why it matters.
Karen has worked as a psychologist in private practice and in educational and organisational settings. She has lectured and has extensive experience in the facilitation of personal growth groups.  Karen is a regular contributor to Parenting Magazine in New Zealand. She can often be heard on Australian radio, and is and a sought-after speaker. Recently, she published ‘Hey Warrior’, a book for kids to help them understand anxiety and find their ‘brave’.

Follow this link: 
​https://www.heysigmund.com/
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Follow Hey Sigmund on YouTube: 
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0NT2UTGbTiaj3BeW_WnMJA

Just in case you want to skip a bit …
01:10   The ‘fight’ part of anxiety – tantrums, aggression, big feelings – why it happens and what to do.

04:20  Big feelings are a call for us to come closer (even when they don’t feel that way).

06:00  Why ‘little’ things can tip them over the edge, and how to respond.

09:25  When their anxiety triggers ours – when we fight with them instead of for them – why, and what to do.

10:50  The good news about self-regulation.

16:05  How to manage transitions.

18:10  Squabbling with your teen? This might help.

18:50  The opportunities that sit inside anxiety/anger/big feelings.

20:04  Adolescents, big feelings, regulation – what they need from us.

22:50  When big anxiety looks like big fight.

24:54  How it helps to ‘meet the energy with similar energy, but not similar anger’.

29:10  How mindfulness supports a long term strengthening of the brain against anxiety.

32:00  Dealing with other stressors on top of social isolation.

33:35  How to expand the capacity to cope with anxiety and stress.

35:15  When kids won’t talk about it.

35:25  Why some kids might be regressing at the moment (clinginess, asking for help when they haven’t needed it before).

40:00  Routines – how they help (and it’s okay if some slip).

42:17  Why does my teen hear me as ‘angry’ when I’m not?

46:37  How do we role model strength and calm when we’re feeling anxious ourselves?

49:50  Sleep – strategies to help with peaceful pillow time.

1:03:02  ‘Only children’ in social isolation.

1:05:31  Dealing with sibling squabbles

1:08:28  Social media and screen time.

An informative article outlining some approaches parents can use to help their children deal with their worries and anxieties.

Follow this link: 
https://www.heysigmund.com/anxiety-in-kids/

 Sean shares some of the questions that parents have been asking with David Coleman. They discuss worries or anxieties an 8 year old has developed since the schools have closed; an 8 year old having trouble sleeping on her own; a two and half year old who is having difficulty coping with being apart from grandparents; a 5 year old who's behaviour has changed over the past few weeks and more. 

Please see below and attached our Online Triple P Seminars for the months of April and May 2020.

We are hosting the Seminars via Zoom.

All Triple P workshops are Free, however registration is essential.

Parents that are interested in registering and would like more information regarding logging into zoom can contact via email - [email protected]  or text Linda on 0871432889

Yesterday's Irish Times had this article:

Written by Marie O'Halloran
"The effects of the Covid-19 restrictions on children, domestic finances and difficulties living in a confined space are among the main concerns of callers to Accord counselling support phone lines.
A “pressure cooker” environment is also leading to family tensions and callers also highlight mental health problems, inability to grieve properly when a loved one dies, and the pressure of work and study at home as major issues.
Callers highlighted pressure on students from changes in exam timetables, and the challenges of having a home turned into an office and school as well as the stress around lack of security of employment and clashes with family members because of poor communications.

The Accord phone line services (01) 531 3331, (01) 905 9555 and in Northern Ireland (028) 9568 0151 are open from 9am to 8pm Monday to Friday.
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Counsellors noted regret at being unable to grieve properly for a loved one who has died because of the severe restrictions on funerals, and callers spoke of the constant negative news reporting and the frustration of not being able to socialise outside."

Facebook: ​https://www.facebook.com/aoibhneasdomesticabusesupport

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