The current pandemic is a worrying time for everyone and particularly some young children may be finding it hard to cope with what is going on in the world around them.
Faced with worrying news, being locked away from their usual routine of school and friends and also picking up on their parent's worries, some children are finding it hard to explain how they feel.
But thanks to a new website, developed by Derry based organisation Verbal, parents have been giving a helping hand through storytelling.
The free website is aimed at supporting parents of children aged 8- 11 years to nurture a child’s emotional health and wellbeing through stories. Alongside the many 100s of stories already on the website, Wellread now features stories that will help children to explore the possibilities of looking at the lockdown from a curious and hopeful perspective.
The WellRead website features a collection of carefully curated, new and classic, short stories by authors from all over the world. Engaging plotlines, language and characters are used to explore current issues including: climate change, bullying, isolation, courage, anxiety and hope. The website features a special section dedicated to the present lockdown.
The lockdown story themes include: adjusting to change, battling boredom, connecting with people, helping each other out and staying positive and hopeful. Accompanied by a series of questions using state-of-the-art chatbot technology parents, are guided through a story to help them spark a conversation with their child.
Encouraging parents to use WellRead James Kerr, from Verbal, said: “During this time of uncertainty, stress and great anxiety the art of storytelling can play an important and vital role. Parents everywhere need as much help as they can get at this time. We know that, at the best of times, talking to your children about their emotional wellbeing can seem daunting, but stories can help.
"Stories contain new situations and points of view from which you and your child can learn. Stories help us learn because we naturally relate them to our own lives and WellRead uses this to teach us about emotional wellbeing. WellRead is a trusted source during these difficult times that helps you build your child’s emotional wellbeing & resilience in a fun way by reading great stories together which create interesting conversations.”
James added:“ Our team of literary curators have been working to curate relevant stories that resonates with parents and children during the lockdown period. We hope that parents and children benefit from the resource and that it helps them to connect more closely with each other and talk about their emotional well-being during this time.”
WellRead is supported by BBC Children In Need Million & Me, Arts Council of Northern Ireland and Innovate UK.
To get started with WellRead visit the website, select sign up and enter a few details.
