NEPS advice & resources for keeping children and young people well during Covid-19

NEPS advice & resources for keeping children and young people well during Covid-19

The Department of Education and Skills’ NEPS psychologists have developed advice and some resources for young people to manage and stay well when schools are closed.

NEPS psychologists have developed guidance for parents supporting children to create new routines at home.  Having a Plan for the Day is key for children/young people to manage and stay well at this time.

NEPS psychologists have developed advice for parents and schools on talking to children and young people about Covid-19 here.

The NCSE is providing online resources for children and young people with Special Educational Needs who are at home as a result of the schools’ closure. The resources are designed to assist parents, teachers and students in special schools, special class placements and mainstream classes. please  click on this link to view the resources for parents.

The following materials have been developed by Occupational Therapists and Speech and Language Therapists.

TOP TIPS! for Primary School Age Children

ClassDescriptionView/Download
Supporting Students with AutismAn overview of web resources to support students with Autism during Covid 19.English
Taking Care of Assistive Technology in the HomeThis sheet provides helpful tips to parents of students who are using their assistive technology at home to access learning.English
Junior and Senior InfantsA resource covering ideas for Play, Literacy, Attention and ListeningEnglish
Irish
1st and 2nd ClassA resource covering ideas for Play, Literacy, Attention and ListeningEnglish
Irish
3rd and 4th ClassA resource covering ideas for Play, Literacy, Attention and ListeningEnglish
Irish
5th and 6th ClassA resource covering ideas for Play, Literacy, Attention and ListeningEnglish
Irish

Occupational Therapy Resources

TitleDescription
Let’s Get Regulated !
– Information for Teenagers
This resource pack aims to share some information and activities to support teenagers to self-regulate during this challenging time. These ideas can help teens to focus on the tasks they need to do and want to do; look after their mind and body; manage their emotions; regulate their energy levels and relax.View/Download
Let’s Get Regulated !
– Information for Parents
This resource pack aims to share some information and ideas for parents on supporting self-regulation. Some of these activities could be integrated into your child’s play at home to support their self- regulation.View/Download
Sensory Processing – Information for ParentsSpending more time indoors due to social distancing measures can be challenging for all children, especially those who find processing sensory information difficult. This information booklet explains the importance of the sensory systems to learning and behaviour. It also provides advice on creating a sensory friendly space at home that can help children stay calm and regulated during these testing times.View/Download
Developing Gross Motor Skills – Activity Ideas for HomeThis resource aims to provide parents with activity ideas for integration into children’s play at home to continue to support their gross motor skills development. The recourse contains activities to support core strength, balance, bilateral integration and ball skills.View/Download
Home Motor Skills Programme – Fine and Gross Motor SkillsIn this series of advice sheets from the Occupational Therapy Team, we first focus on the gross motor elements that are the foundation for all fine motor tasks that children complete at home and at school. The focus of the programme then changes to educationally relevant fine motor activities such as colouring, handwriting and scissor use. Each area can be followed through week by week. Links to great websites for further information and activity ideas are included in each section.View/Download

Speech & Language Therapy Resources

TitleDescription
Modelling and RecastingA resource for parents giving information on strategies to help you support your child’s speech, language and communication skills. This document gives examples of how to model, expand and recast speech, language and/or communication for your child. Modelling and recasting are highly effective, evidence based strategies used by speech and language therapists. These strategies are suitable for young children, older children and those with significant additional needs. This resource can be used to support targets identified by your child’s Speech and Language Therapist.View/Download
Developing Language During Everyday Routines – An Information Guide for ParentsA resource for parents of young children and those with significant additional learning needs. The resource details different ways to promote and support language and communication skill development through everyday tasks such as mealtimes and bedtime.View/Download
Word Learning Strategies & ResourcesA resource for parents and post-primary students providing information, strategies and ideas for supporting vocabulary learning.View/Download
Student Vocabulary Journal – post primary studentsA workbook for post primary students to support vocabulary learning and revision. The workbook can be printed or used electronically.View/Download
Social Story on attending a Covid-19 test centre – HSE Dublin North City Speech and Language Therapy (DNC) teamA social story created by the DNC SLT team to support children and young people to understand what will happen if you need to attend a test centre to be tested for COVID-19.View/Download
Supporting children and young people with ASD during the Covid-19 pandemic:
Visuals to Support Understanding
A resource for parents of children and young people with ASD providing information on how different visuals can support understanding of routines, schedules, specific events (e.g. going to a test centre) and time.View/Download
Stammering – An information leaflet for parents of young childrenAn information leaflet for parents of young children giving strategies and advice on supporting your child at home.View/Download
Stammering – An information leaflet for parents of older children and young peopleAn information leaflet for parents of young children giving strategies and advice on supporting your child at home.View/Download
Emotional Literacy – An Information Resources for ParentsA resource for parents to support your child/young person in naming, understanding and discussing his/her emotions. Advice and tips can be tailored for a younger child as well as adolescents.View/Download
Screen Time – Advice for ParentsA resource for parents of young children and primary school age children giving advice on positive screen time. This includes strategies for developing language and communication skills through screen time. Online Parent and Teacher Resources Speech and Language Therapy section Online Resources for ParentsView/Download
Supporting children and young people with ASD during the COVID -19 pandemic: Social StoriesA resource for parents of children and young people with ASD detailing how Social Stories™ may help with understanding the pandemic. It also includes advice and tips on how to write a social story.View/Download
Reading Comprehension Strategies & Resources – Post PrimaryA resource for parents and post primary students providing information on strategies to support reading comprehension. These include; using textbook features; summarising information and using visual supports. It provides links to free NCSE with worksheets and templates for supporting these strategies.View/Download
Developing Vocabulary Skills – Activity ideas for homeA resource for parents of primary school children to support development of your child’s vocabulary skills. It gives details on how to use opportunities at home to identify, teach and reinforce vocabulary knowledge and use.View/Download
Book Talk – Supporting Interactive ReadingA resource for parents to use when reading with young children. It includes advice and tips to support language and communication development using book reading.View/Download
Helping your Child Express Themselves – An oral and Written Storytelling ResourceA resource for parents to support your child to develop their skills in expressing themselves orally and in writing – advice, strategies and visual resources on structuring, expanding and sequencing stories and explanations.View/Download
Useful websitesView/Download

Other Useful Websites

Oxford Owl – general learning topics
ABC Ya – learning games/activities
Math Salamanders – maths topic-specific games
Typing Club – online typing practice
Science Bob – science experiments
National Geographic Kids (Ireland) – SESE learning
National Geographic Kids (World) – SESE learning
Safe Kid Games – various online board games

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