What’s the news?

During lockdown, we’re running a reduced activity program which is updated weekly on our website. Thanks Eugenia, for keeping it fun and interesting, even with such a limited audience.

We love getting outdoors on these beautiful sunny days - and the colourful handball courts have become a favourite spot for all sorts of things: yoga, drawing and of course… handball!

Here are a couple more links for some activity and experiment inspo…! This week, why not try Science Fun or National Geographic

🤔 Your suggestions… 🤔

Whilst most of our families are away from The Hive, it might be a good chance to think about how we can do better. What could we change, start doing or do more of? We would love to hear from you, so please take a minute to fill in the form and have your say!

✅ Please mark AWAY until 27th August ✅

A reminder to mark your bookings AWAY through to 27th August, in line with the current lockdown end date. No charge to you, but we’ll still get the CCS payments as a form of support from the government. Thank you all for helping us out with this.

💞 Look after each other 💞

These are trying times and it’s important to look after our own mental health and that of our children, especially as many of the usual social connections just aren’t available during lockdown. The Raising Children website give good tips on nurturing the mental health of younger school-age and pre-teen children (as well as loads of other great info).

Some tips to support your children during COVID-19 outbreak:

• Dedicate some time to have a conversation about it all, to ask them gently what they already know and understand, so that you can get a sense of what they have been exposed to, answer any questions and correct any misunderstandings

• Listen, and validate your child’s feelings. Anxiety is real for many people right now, but with understanding and reassurance from you, any anxiety will lessen

• Suggest they have regular contact via Zoom/Skype/phone with the people they’re missing, such as grandparents, school friends etc

• Remind them there are things they can do that are in their control to help keep them safe, eg: hand washing and physical distancing. Remind them that by staying at home you are keeping yourselves safe as well as others

• Use this opportunity to focus on kindness; share with your children some of the ways that you can together look out for vulnerable family members, neighbours and friends

• Look out for the ‘helpers’: show your children some examples of those in the community who are stepping up and helping others when they need it most

• Let your children know that you are their safe space, they can approach you any time with any questions, and that you will always answer them as honestly as you can.

• An app or mindfulness practice at night can help children who are feeling anxious. Or try this Pokemon cosmic yoga experience!

• Check in with yourself often: the way that you are carrying your own anxiety and worries about the pandemic can be felt by your children too. Look after each other.