25 August 2021
Guidance for parents, carers and whānau on keeping tamariki safe and reassured.
From: covid19.govt.nz
Be honest about the situation
Help tamariki cope with anxiety by providing accurate information.
Tamariki look to adults for guidance on how to react to stressful events. Parents, caregivers, whānau and teachers have a particularly important part to play in reassuring tamariki at this time.
Tamariki will react to and follow your verbal and non-verbal cues. If you stay informed and realistic, it will be easier for you to reassure tamariki effectively as well.
They also need to feel that any fears they may have can be talked about and addressed. Let your tamariki talk about their feelings and help reframe their concerns into the appropriate perspective.
You know your tamariki best. If they have a lot of questions, consider how much extra information would or wouldn’t be helpful for them to know before replying.
Keep tamariki safe online
During the COVID-19 pandemic many people have spent more time online. While the internet helps us connect with people, there are also risks. Knowing how to stay safe online can help protect you and your whānau.
For more information on how to keep your tamariki and rangatahi safe online visit the following Netsafe websites:
- Stay connected, stay safe
- The best online safety tips for lockdown
- How to create an online safety plan
Parental controls
This is a good time to learn about the use of tools such as filters, parent controls and privacy settings to manage access to appropriate content, screen time and privacy.
- Parental controls guide
- Privacy settings on social networks
- Privacy settings on devices
- Switch on safety
- Online Safety Parent Toolkit
Mental health
See our information and tips for mental health and looking after yourself.