Well-being

Well-being is about children being confident, happy and healthy.

Handwashing

Get in the habit of everyone in the family washing their hands when you come home or in from the garden/backyard. Break it down into steps and pretend you can’t remember the next steps.

Pedicures

This is a nice one for a wet or cold day. Fill a bowl full of warm water and shower gel. Spread a towel on the floor and stick your feet and your child’s feet in the bowl. Relax. Talk about relaxing. Dry your feet and give each other foot rubs with a tiny bit of cream or oil.

Fun tooth brushing

Draw a big toothy smile on paper. Put some toothpaste on a toothbrush and brush all the teeth. Talk about reaching all the areas of each tooth. Play a favourite song in the bathroom for the duration of the brushing. Brush your teeth at the same time as the child is brushing their teeth and talk about how you love the feeling of clean teeth.

Getting out of the house

Children should spend some daily time outside. Use your garden if you have one. Digging, planting and weeding are activities enjoyed by all age groups.

Feelings

With your child draw different faces with different emotions onto paper plates i.e. a big smiley face for happy. Talk about how each one looks and feels. Use them when someone wants to talk about their feelings. Saying something like ‘I wonder which feeling you are feeling right now’? If a young child is feeling very big feelings like anger or sadness for an extended period it might be useful to have a feelings meter drawn on a wall or piece of paper. It might have a zero to 10 scale on it. Acknowledge the feeling by marking the extent of the feeling and talking about where in their body the feeling is felt. Talk about whether they want help moving the feeling to lower on the scale and what might make that happen. Suggestions might include a hug, some quiet time, a story or a walk outside. Sometimes it’s hard to talk about feelings. The double distance of a doll, teddy or puppet can help. You can wonder how the dolly is feeling. You can then wonder what might make the dolly feel better. Set up a quiet space where children can go to chill and be by themselves. This might be a play tent or behind the sofa. A blanket over 2 chairs works well as a blanket fort.

Water

Dance & Movement

Breakfast with the Galapagos tortoises

Belle – the baby bonobo

Emperor tamarins and pygmy marmosets

Baby two-toed sloth

A series of tipsheets under the banner Playing at Home have been designed to engage, inspire and support children and their families to play and learn together.

Playing at home - Water play

Playing at home - Music and movement

Playing at home - Movement breaks

Playing at home - Bowling at home

Playing at home - Obstacle course

Playing at home - Painting stones

Playing at home - Bird watching

Here's a link to the NCN Play Hubon Facebook for daily ideas on play and activities.

Here's a link to the Supporting Children website which provides information about services for children, young people and families, including those with additional needs.