Hundreds of you have sent in your advice for other kinship carers – from doing yoga and staying calm, to going back in time and trying crafts and jigsaws.
Staying healthy – mentally and physically
0Educating our granddaughter at home giving us a purpose rather than worrying too much.Scroll for more >
1All my peer contact, social events and family get togethers are gone. So will continue to de-stress with exercise, cycling and running and walking and getting a dose of Dr Sunshine – all whilst in isolation – and re-learning knitting and yoga.Scroll for more >
2Take time for yourself, even if 5 mins for a cup of tea. Scroll for more >
3I do not listen to the news rather I read what is on Gov.uk for information. I find that the news and other daytime programmes are alarmist and is the main cause of panic.Scroll for more >
4I have been working at home for the last three weeks since my company took the decision to close the offices. I have made a point of calling colleagues every day to ensure they don’t feel isolated. Scroll for more >
5I am talking to people a lot sharing emotional and ideas offering practical help. I am talking to my children. We all need to pull together to get through this.Scroll for more >
6I guess we just have to keep calm and accept that this isn’t going away for a while and thank goodness for social media or keep in contact with our families.Scroll for more >
7We have made a plan to do something positive together each day.Scroll for more >
8Staying positive. Not binging on negative stories and listening to the government guidelines.Scroll for more >
9Exercise and yoga have helped me a lot.Scroll for more >
Family and friends
0Keeping in touch with friends and family through text emails etc. Accepting that this is happening and not moaning about it.Scroll for more >
1Reassure your family that you are doing everything you can to protect them. Show them love. Keep up to date with news and information of the virus.Scroll for more >
2Pick your battles. What really matters. Ask yourself “So What?” What is the worst that will happen if you let that issue go.Scroll for more >
3All I can advise is that as long as you all talk to each other and spend time playing games you can overcome most obstacles, but you must talk.Scroll for more >
4Joining local groups on Facebook and WhatsApp. Phoning friends and neighbours every day. Arranging Skype calls.Scroll for more >
5Set out goals for the kids to do in the house, ie school work and activities in the house.Scroll for more >
6We are planning to use our time at home to paint and draw and send home-made cards to our church family to keep in touch! Scroll for more >
Activities
0We are travelling back in time to memories of all the crafting we did together when she was younger and who knows what we might create but hopefully it will ease the stress of isolation.Scroll for more >
1Just found out Alexa plays games so we’re going to be trying that! Also these seems to be lots of ideas on Facebook for indoor activities and information on useful kids/learning apps and websites.Scroll for more >
2We are teaching new (old) skills to children such as chess and cards (crib is great for maths). Cooking from scratch now there is more time. Knitting and sewing. So that’s the 8 year old taken care of. Now I’ve got to find things for the cool 13 year old!Scroll for more >
3You can find kids yoga on YouTube.Scroll for more >
4We are fortunate enough to have countryside to wander in. It’s early days but pretending the electricity has gone off in order to play games in front of the fire or read to one another.Scroll for more >
Keeping a routine
0I’ve put a work sheet together as school have given us work cases so we do hour in the morning have lunch and hour after then we pick a movie to watch and after we have tea and go in our garden for half hour then bath and bed.Scroll for more >
1I will set a routine/timetable for weekdays to provide security and boundaries. Set times for work, rest and play.Scroll for more >
2At the moment continuing on a daily walk with the children and trying to make life as normal as possible for them.Scroll for more >
3Structure… dividing the day into chunks and getting out in the garden / washing the car/ sweeping up etc.Scroll for more >
Community
0Many are setting up support or community groups via social media, including myself. People are offering support to help with shopping or deliveries in the area. Scroll for more >
1We have received a note to say there are a group of people in the village have come together, who are willing to do any shopping, phone calls to check on the vulnerable and any other way they can help especially those who are living alone. The local pub is going to do take away meals which can be delivered. We have a village shop, who is trying to keep its shelves stocked as well as is possible.Scroll for more >
2Dropped note in elderly neighbours just in case they need support. Added essentials nappies etc to my shopping for families unable to buy in supermarket or get a delivery slot for weeks. Just basically offering support where one can. Teetering on the edge of looking after other people’s children whilst they are working as that is a MASSIVE commitment and I’m not sure I’m up to itScroll for more >
3We have online neighbourhood group. Also our big hearts afterschool club team have a WhatsApp group so we can still chat and help each other. We are in self isolation as we have common cold virus and I have asthma so my online group is a godsend.Scroll for more >
4The Nextdoor website is a popular place for help.Scroll for more >
5Community support board is there as is church for anything we need. A good idea I saw from France, do lots of creative things with children then hang them in the window of home so anyone passing can see them or your neighbours can see them and it is cheery.Scroll for more >
6Younger local people have put cards through all our doors offering help if needed. Our school WhatsApp group is being used to plan keeping the kids in touch by FaceTime. Our Spanish class are keeping in touch and learning remotely.Scroll for more >
7We have started a what’s app group to stay in touch. A local charity Stripey Stork are doing daily video updates to the volunteers to keep us all in touch now we can’t go in to volunteer.Scroll for more >
8I have some older church members I will check on them, in case they need help with house duties I will help them with washing clothes and ironing or collect medication at the pharmacy.Scroll for more >
9Our street have a what’s app group to help each other.Scroll for more >
