Top parenting Tips Easy Read - mindedforfamilies.org.uk · When someone is feeling bad about something they have done, you could help them think about what they did well. This will

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Top Parenting Tips

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Easy Read

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Contents Page

Some ways to support your child when all is not well

Be creative

Talking with your child

Facebook

Regular exercise

What to do when things keep going from bad to worse

Low self esteem

Anxiety

Anorexia 10

Self harm 11

Runaways

Overthinking

Family meetings

More help 16

For more information

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Helping your child to understand their feelings

Top Parenting Tips

EasyRead

This leaflet gives some ideas for parents whose children are having problems with their feelings.

Leave useful leaflets around for your young person to read.

Get your child to write a diary about what they think and feel.

For a young child use angry and smiley faces for them to tell you how they feel.

Tell them that you like something they did. You could say “I really liked the way you did ……..” This works better than a general comment like ‘Well done”.

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Be creative

Think of ways you can help your child cope with their worries.

Here’s an example a parent gave us.

“Our child got really worried that the wind would blow him away.

We gave him a stone to carry in his pocket.

When it was windy, we told him to put it down on the ground and if it didn’t blow away, he wouldn’t either. We called it the windy stone!”

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Talking with your child Talk with your kids all the time - but don’t forget to listen to them.

Make them feel that they can tell you anything without you getting cross.

Don’t over-react. Think about your words before you speak.

Facebook If your child or young person can’t talk to you face-to-face, you could use Facebook, email or text. They may be able to tell you more this way.

Try to watch what they are doing on Facebook and any other social media. Tell them that you are watching this because you want to make sure they are safe online.

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Talk with them about what is happening on Facebook.

Regular exercise Children usually do better if they have a regular routine.

A Regular routine is when things are done at the same time every day. Regular times to get up and go to bed are good.

Exercise really helps too. Do the exercise with your child. It can be fun and healthy.

Exercise can help you feel better and have better mental health.

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What to do when thingskeep getting worse

With Mental Health problems it sometimes feels that things go from bad to worse.

If your child is feeling low and worried - they might do badly at school and this will make them feel worse.

If this is happening:-

• Tell the teacher. They could give your child some extra help.

• Give them some praise when they do something well. It can help to stop them worrying and feeling bad about themselves.

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Doing simple things together can help too - like watching a TV show, washing up or cooking together.

It’s being together that helps.

Low self-esteem Low self-esteem is when people feel very bad about themselves.

Praise them when they have worked hard - not just when they have good marks.

Some children find it hard to accept praise. Say nice things about them to other people when they are listening, e.g. ‘Johnny has done really well getting to school every day this week.’

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When someone is feeling bad about something they have done, you could help them think about what they did well. This will help them feel more positive.

Anxiety Anxiety is when people are worried all the time.

A heavy blanket can help make an anxious child feel safe.

This can work for an older child as well.

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Anorexia Anorexia is where someone hardly eats anything because they feel they are too fat.

• Don’t say well done when they eat a meal.

• Don’t keep scales in the house.

• Don’t have low calorie food in the house.

• Get rid of small plates and bowls.

• Encourage your child to watch TV, or listen to music while eating meals.

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• Don’t allow your child to go shopping or cook for you or others.

• Cut labels out of clothes in case they are wanting to wear smaller sized clothes.

Self-harm Self-harm is where a child or young person gets a strong feeling to cut themselves.

They may be feeling upset inside. They may be thinking that self harm will help them cope with their feelings. But it can be dangerous.

Ask your child to text you if they feel they want to self-harm.

Try not to criticise your child for thinking about harming themselves even if it upsetting. Try to be understanding.

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Have a first aid kit in the house.

Learn how to stop the cuts getting infected and teach your child how to do it.

Help your child to learn how to put off the feelings that make them harm themselves.

Help your child think of something else to do instead of self harm - like flicking a plastic object or loose elastic bands on their skin instead.

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Runaways These are tips to help people find your child if they are likely to run away from home.

Make sure you have a photo of what they look like now to show people.

Keep a list of their friends and their phone numbers.

Remember what your child is wearing when they go out.

Phone the police if you think there is a chance that your child might run away. If they know beforehand they will take it more seriously.

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Overthinking

Overthinking is when someone thinks about something and worries too much. This can happen in depression, anxiety and other conditions.

Try to understand what is happening but then try to help your child move on.

Try to distract them by getting them to do something else - like come for a walk, or do something together.

Going over things again and again makes things worse for your child.

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Family Meetings Children's difficulties can affect the whole family and family meetings can be helpful.

You can talk about what is going well and what is not going so well.

Keep the meeting positive and focus on good ideas.

Have a regular meeting to look at how everything is going.

Own up when you have got something wrong as a parent. Say sorry to your child! It is an important example to set.

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More help The American Academy of Child andAdolescent Psychiatry has useful information.

Web: www.aacap.org/App_Themes/ AACAP/Docs/resource_centers/adhd/

Bite back is an Australian website that has fun ways to help people who need some help Web: www.biteback.org.au/

For more information This resource is part of the MindEd online learning site. For more information please contact:­

Web: www.minded.org.uk

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: @MindEdUK

Easy read by easy-read-online.co.uk with help from Mencap Liverpool

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