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Children, young people and caregivers
Resources for children, young people and caregivers during COVID-19
The national response to COVID-19 has meant major changes to routines for children, young people and caregivers. The following resources can help.
Useful websites
Sparklers
The sparklers website is usually a wellbeing tool for classrooms, but during the pandemic they've made lots of resources available to help families thrive at home.
Orange Tamariki Ministry for Children
The Ministry for Children has brought together information and resources for caregivers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Visit the Orange Tamariki website 
Aroha ChatBot
The Aroha ChatBot is a mental wellbeing chatbot for young people that helps support wellness.
Helpful articles
The following articles give helpful tips and advice for helping children and young people cope during the pandemic:
How teenagers can protect their mental health during COVID-19
Childmind.org Talking to kids about the coronavirus
Coping skills for kids article
Kidshealth.org coping with worry and anxiety about COVID-19
Download a list of helpful RNZ articles about kids at home (PDF, 176 KB, 1 pages)
Tools to help with talking to your children about COVID-19
Download the following resources to support conversations with children about COVID-19:
- Tips for parents and caregivers on media coverage of major events (PDF, 219 KB, 2 pages)
- Talking to children and youth about COVID-19, from the British Psychological Society (PDF, 113 KB, 1 pages)
- Talking to children about coronavirus, from the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychology (PDF, 92 KB, 2 pages)
- A children's book about coronavirus (PDF, 16 MB, 15 pages)
Helping children manage stress and anxiety
Download the following resources to help children manage stress and anxiety:
- Coping skills checklist (PDF, 5.1 MB, 4 pages)
- Advice for parents, carers and people that work with young people from the University of Oxford (PDF, 5.1 MB, 11 pages)
- Anger toolbox (PDF, 192 KB, 5 pages)
- 12 Bitesize mindfulness activities (PDF, 1.5 MB, 7 pages)
Supporting mental wellbeing during the COVID-19 response
Discover organisations that have resources to help support the mental health of you and your whānau during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand
The Mental Health Foundation has gathered together important information to help people living with mental illness through this difficult time.
Victim Support
Victim Support is committed to minimising the impact of COVID-19 on their services for anyone affected by crime, trauma, or suicide. They're an essential service and their contact service is providing services as usual.
Find out more about contacting Victim Support during the COVID-19 restrictions
MidCentral Mental Health and Addiction services
Find out more information about MidCentral DHB's mental health and addiction services via the link below.
Ministry of Health resources
The Ministry of Health has a directory of information and tools to support your mental wellbeing during the COVID-19 response.
View the Ministry of Health's mental health and wellbeing resources
Websites for mental distress or addiction issues
Blueprint for Learning has compiled a list of websites to provide support for anyone experiencing mental distress or addiction issues.
View Blueprint for Learning's list of helpful websites
World Health Organisation
The World Health Organization (WHO) provides international guidelines for mental health and psychosocial considerations. They share messages for the general public, healthcare workers, people caring for others, managers, people in isolation and those with underlying health conditions.