For Children
Look below for some activities and links that can give you some helpful information and support during tough times. Check out all the different things that are here, or ask an adult to help. Which ones could be useful for your own situation?
An activity book especially for children who experienced the Canterbury earthquake - click here
Awesome Pages for Children Coping with Changes after the Earthquake - ideas when you have to cope with lots of changes (written by Skylight for NZ's Upstart Magazine)
Great Tips for Children and Families - some stress busters when things are hard! - Post these on your wall or fridge at home! (written by Skylight for NZ's Upstart Magazine)
Activities for young children 3 - 5 years old
Feelings - Everyone Has Them (Skylight)
If Feelings Could Be Colours (Skylight)
Something Small - a story about remembering
(Sesame Street USA)
Seeds of Hope Activity Pack (developed in UK Seeds of Hope Project - a wide range of nature based activities/downloads exploring loss feelings and coping strategies)
Activities for children 6 - 12 years old
The Maze (Skylight)
Feeling Faces (Skylight)
Break the Code (Skylight)
A Feelings Journal (Sesame Street USA)
Draw your Feelings (by Stories from the Web.Org)
The Feelings Game (by do2learn)
About Face - how do the different friends feel? (Arthur Games by Marc Brown)
Feelings Matching Games - scroll down to explore different feelings activities (by Anglomaniacy)
Dealing with Feelings (by Kid Vision)
Design Your Own Feelings Face - plug in needed for this one (by do2learn)
Something Small - a story about remembering
(Sesame Street USA)
A Skyscape of Memories (by Winston's Wish, UK) Register on this website for children and use stars to help you remember someone special
A Graffiti Wall to write your thoughts and feelings (by Winston's Wish, UK)
Seeds of Hope Activity Pack (developed in UK Seeds of Hope Project - a wide range of nature based activities/downloads exploring loss feelings and coping strategies)
When You're really Stressed
Relax - here's how! (Skylight)
When Someone has Died
After Someone Has Died - a booklet to read or download about death and grief, for 11 year olds + (by Cruse Bereavement Care, UK - the contact numbers in it won't work in New Zealand)
When Someone isn't Well
Bandaids and Blackboards (Joan Fleitas, USA) for children with a serious or chronic illness
If Someone in Your Family is Mentally Unwell
It's Allright (SANE, Australia) a site with fun stuff and facts for children who know that dealing with mental illness in your family can be hard.
'It's About You Too!' (UK) for children aged 8-10, who have a parent with a mental illness
The Blue Polar Bear - a picture book to read online. For children 3 - 6 years old whose parents have mental illness. (by NSW Department of Community Services (DoCS), Australia)
The Flying Dream - a picture book to read online. For children 3 - 6 years old whose parents have mental illness. (by NSW Department of Community Services (DoCS), Australia)
If you have a parent in prison
Just Us (NZ) interactive pages to help and support you
About Bullying
No Bully (by Telecom and NZ Police, NZ) - info for kids and parents about bullying
Bullying! (Childline UK) - lots of useful tips about bullying
Keeping Yourself Safe from Violence
Bursting the Bubble - a site for older children and teenagers that talks about keeping yourself safe from violence and abuse. (by , Australia) (The contact details in it, aren't New Zealand ones.)
Feel Safe at Home - What to do if Violence is Happening Around You - by the NSPCC UK) This is an online book to read, so wait for it to download properly. (The contact details in it, aren't New Zealand ones.)
Keeping Well and Happy
Kids' Health USA - lots of child friendly information about you, your body and your life. (Australia)
Kids Health - a website where you can search for helpful information about feelings and about any health issue you'd like to know about.
Getting Across - how to keep safe on the roads - all sorts of great ideas! (Department of Transport, UK)
Telephone Help Lines for New Zealand Kids
Kidsline (NZ) - info and telephone counselling for children age 9 to 13 years old
Whatsup (NZ)- counselling phone line for children and young people 5 - 18 yrs, available 7 days a week between 1pm and 11pm, staffed by trained counsellors.
