Navigating Stress
Navigating Stress
Parents/carers often try to shield their children from their challenges, particularly those related to finances, work, and racism. In this process of trying to protect their children, parents might struggle to navigate stresses due to their own experiences and trauma. Some young people are often exposed to these challenges, and their parent's realities impact them, influencing their emotions and perception of the world.
Recommendation:
Parents/carers and children should be supported in effectively navigating stressful situations to reduce the negative long-term emotional impacts. Through this support, parents/carers and teachers should model how to respond effectively to stress for young people.
Real World Examples:
A Department for Education research report (2013) evidences that stressful events such as family breakdown, parental mental health challenges, poverty, and poor living conditions are linked to poorer emotional wellbeing among young people.
EASY
Mindful Moves:
Feelings Journal
GOAL: Help you understand and express your emotions, fostering open communication with people in your life including parents/carers.
To empower young people with the tools and confidence to communicate openly with their parents/carers, fostering trust, understanding and supportive relationships.
Keep a journal where you write about your daily emotions and experiences. Share parts of it with your parents/carers if you feel comfortable.
Choose your journal: Decide if you prefer a physical journal or a digital app - iphones have a new journaling app that has prompts and can be locked with face ID!
Find your writing style: You can either write whatever comes to mind without overthinking (free flow) or use prompts or questions to guide your writing.
Let your thoughts flow: Be honest, journalling is a safe space to express your true feelings. Don’t overthink it, just write whatever comes to mind! There is no right or wrong way to do this.
Don't be afraid to skip a day, it's okay to take breaks.
Keep it private - your journal is a personal space!
EASY
Mindful Moves:
Accessing Support Groups
GOAL: Provide a safe space to share experiences, gain support, and build a sense of community.
Join support groups or therapy groups for Black parents /carers. These can be found through local community organisations or online platforms.
To provide parents/carers with a community of support and practical strategies to foster open, trusting, and supportive relationships with their children.
We’ve listed a few active parent groups here:
National Black Parents Association UK
Greenwich Parent Carer Participation Forum
Lewisham Parent & Carer's Forum
You can also speak to your school about joining or starting a parent support group.
Joining a new group can be daunting on your own. Try bringing a friend.
If you would like participate but may find it difficult to join these session in person, look for online options to get started.
This list above was last updated in July 2024.
MEDIUM
Mindful Moves:
Leading Parental Engagement Workshops
GOAL: Equip parents/carers with skills to create a sense of trust and connection with their children, school and wider community.
To equip teachers with strategies to support and facilitate open communication between children and their parents/carers, promoting a collaborative and nurturing environment that enhances student well-being and family relationships.
Organise a session for parents and/or carers on the importance of vulnerability and authenticity in building trust with their children.
- Find a warm and inviting space to host the session. A coffee morning, an after school session or online could be ideal depending on parents/carers availability.
- Create engaging posters/copy to advertise to parents and/or carers - canva.com has great templates and is user-friendly.
- Include activities that foster vulnerable conversations and that can be done as a group.
- Build in time to reflect on how attendees felt about the activity and how they can practise this with children.
This is a great opportunity to highlight how engagement with the school and teachers can support the child’s development.
Make room for uncomfortable feelings as this is part of the process.