Useful websites

Menu of Optional Resources and Activities for Children During School Closure

Parents, on this page you will find some very useful, educational websites and videos to use with your child during the Covid-19 school closure.  For ease of use they are arranged into categories. We hope you find them fun and helpful during these exceptional times

Literacy Activities:

These are some useful websites to help with phonics, reading and writing at home:

 

Numeracy Activities:

These are some useful websites to help with teaching numeracy at home.

 

Gaeilge Resources:

Padlet with lots of resources for supporting pupils with Gaeilge. Very useful for both parents and teachers.

 

Mindfulness and Wellbeing Activities:

These are some websites to help with practising mindfulness and meditation at home.

Meditation for Kids 2 week free trial offer 

Dreamy Kid - The #1 Kids Meditation App

  • Used by over 250K families & schools! Download Dreamy Kid App to your phone (iPhone & iPad / Android). They have created a new category that is FREE for everyone called“Coronavirus – Programs For Kids At Home” 

Fablefy - Making Mindfulness Easy Website 

Walk in My Shoes Mindfulness and wellness resources 

 

Exercise and Fitness Activities:

These are some videos that show you fun exercise breaks to have with your children.

GoNoodle Fresh Start Fitness

The Body Coach TV

Cosmic Kids

Whip Nae Nae

Operation Transformation 10@10

 

Authors and Book Series (Junior Infants to 6th Class):

These are some websites to help with making reading enjoyable and fun at home.

 

Arts and Crafts Activities:

These are some websites to help with making fun art and craft projects at home.

Google these for more activities:

  • Art projects for kids
  • Arty Crafty kids
  • I Heart Crafty Things
  • Krokotak
  • Red Ted Art
  • The Craft Train
  • Paper Magic
  • A Dab of Glue will do

 

Cookery Activities With Children:

These are some websites that you might like to browse for ideas for cooking/baking with your kids.

 

Educational Companies Offering Free Subscriptions and Free Access to Textbooks:

Click Register, Select Teacher, Fill in username/email/password

For Roll Number Use the Code: Prim20

               Click on student resources 

Choose level: Primary        Username: primaryedcobooks         Password: edco2020

Parents must put in the following code - CVDTWINKL.ie/offer

 

Other Free Educational Websites for Children:

These are some websites offering free subscriptions during the Covid-19 school closures.

 

Tips and Tricks for Parents with Home Learning - INTO:

https://www.into.ie/2020/03/18/tips-and-tricks-home-learning/

 

Mental Health Supports and Services:

The spread of coronavirus is a new and challenging event. Some people might find it more worrying than others and may need some extra support. There are many things you can do to mind your mental health during times like this. Read more about minding your mental health during the coronavirus outbreak.

While it may not be possible to get face to face appointments there are a number of service providers that offer online and phone mental health supports and services. These include online counselling, phone and text services as well as online supports which can be found on www.yourmentalhealth.ie.

 

Online counselling and supports:

Turn2Me

  • Free online counselling and online support groups for people over 18
  • Visit www.turn2me.org

MyMind

Jigsaw

  • Mental health information and a Q&A service for young people, their parents and guardians, and those who work with young people.  Jigsaw also offer an online group chat service.
  • Visit www.jigsawonline.ie

Shine

  • Support for people with mental ill health. Shine also are currently providing remote support and an outreach service to people who use Shine services by phone and email.
  • Visit www.shine.ie or email phil@shine.ie

Bodywhys Online Support

  • Support for people who are affected by eating disorders including for friends and families. Online support groups are continuing as normal.
  • Visit www.bodywhys.ie or email alex@bodywhys.ie

 

Phone, email and text supports:

Alone

  • Alone provide a COVID-19 support line for older people
  • Telephone 0818 222 024 (from 8am to 8pm Monday to Friday)
  • Visit www.alone.ie

Samaritans

  • Emotional support to anyone in distress or struggling to cope
  • Freephone 116 123 (any time, day or night)
  • Email jo@samaritans.ie

Pieta House

  • Pieta House provides telephone and text-based support counselling for people who are suicidal or engaging is self-harm
  • Freephone 1800 247 247 (any time, day or night)
  • Text HELP to 51444 (standard message rates apply)
  • Telephone appointments will be provided to replace face to face appointments - contact your local Pieta House for details

Childline (ISPCC)

  • Ireland's 24-hour national listening service for young people up to the age of 18
  • Freephone 1800 666 666 (any time, day or night)
  • Text 50101 (from 10am to 4pm every day)
  • Chat online at www.childline.ie (from 10am to 4pm every day)

Aware Support Line

  • Information and support to anyone over 18 about issues relating to their own mood or the mood of a friend or family member, or who experiences depression or bipolar.
  • Freephone Support Line 1800 80 48 48 (from 10am to 10pm every day)
  • Support and self-care groups nationwide, are cancelled until further notice
  • Life Skills Online Programme continuing as normal
  • Email supportmail@aware.ie for services information and support

Crisis Text Line Ireland

  • A confidential messaging support service
  • Text TALK to 086 1800 280 (any time day or night, standard SMS rates may apply)

LGBT Ireland

  • Online support and through the helpline for LGBT+ people across Ireland
  • LGBT Helpline 1890 929 539 (every day)
  • Gender Identity Family Support Line 01 907 3707
  • Email info@lgbt.ie for support or information while face to face services are closed
  • An instant messaging service is available 7 days a week, from 6:30pm to 10pm Mon – Thur, from 4pm to 10pm Fridays and from 4pm to 6pm on Sat & Sun

Mental Health Ireland 

GROW Mental Health Recovery

  • Information line 1890 474 474
  • Visit www.grow.ie or email info@grow.ie for more information, or while peer support groups are postponed

Exchange House Ireland National Traveller Mental Health Service

  • Telephone and online services and supports are available while face to face and group services have stopped
  • Call 01 8721094 (then press 1) for support, help or advice (from 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday)
  • Visit www.exchangehouse.ie for more information

 

Mobile apps to support your mental health:

These mobile apps can help you manage anxiety. They have been reviewed and approved for listing here, by a group in the HSE (Mental Health Apps Review Sub Group). The app developers are solely responsible for their app's advertisement, compliance and fitness for purpose. Unless stated otherwise, apps are not supplied by the HSE, and the HSE is not liable for their use.

Headspace

  • Headspace is a well-known mobile app that teaches meditation and easy to use mindfulness skills. Map your journey, track your progress, and reap rewards in your overall health and wellbeing. You can even ‘buddy up’ with friends and motivate each other along the way.
  • Get it in the App Store or on Google Play

 

More online supports

 

  • The YourMentalHealth.ie website provides information and signposting on all mental health supports and services that are available nationally & locally provided by the HSE and its funded partners. You can also call the freephone YourMentalHealth
  • Information Line to find supports and services 1800 111 888 (any time, day or night).