1) List:- What would you like to do once the pandemic is over (big and small things – when we can meet friends / family / visit places together? Can you create a list for what you want to do as both an individual and with your family and friends?

2) Good news stories:- With all of the news about Coronavirus and the changes in our lives, it is sometimes really hard to realise all of the good things that are also happening! Click here to read the BBC’s Positive News Stories, or click here to read other Positive News Stories!

3) Turn-off:- Think about what is making you feel anxious, under pressure, worried or unhappy.

– If it is the news (but you still want to hear what is going on): watch it once a day – the 6pm news on BBC or ITV (or 7pm on Channel 4) will often show stories and use language that is less scary than the lunchtime or 10pm news shows. Newsround is also a great place to view the news.

– Social Media: Delete or snooze feeds that are making you feel unhappy; agree a cut-off time with your friends so that they won’t contact you (or you them!) after a point in the evening or part of the day.

4) Finding ways to reduce conflict:- Instead of waiting for the argument to surface, choose a time when everyone is calm and reasonably rested.

– Find a quiet, comfortable spot and deliberately call the argument to mind.

-You must now change places – that is, each must imagine the other person’s point of view.

– Argue from the other side, say for 10 minutes, or until you feel you have covered all angles.

– Finally, tell them what you have learned. Now that you understand their point of view more clearly, offer new and better ways to respond the next time the argument resurfaces.

– Ask the question “If you weren’t arguing about X, what would you enjoy doing instead?”

5) How do you feel? Think about how you feel just before an argument takes place; does this feeling happen most times?

– These are your warning signs.

– If you feel this way, talk to someone that you trust about what you could do before you get angry so that you don’t. It could be one of the activities above or moving to another room or space in the house.

6) When A Disagreement Has Happened:- Use Restorative Conversations to try and unpick what has happened to stop it happening again.

– Sharing is caring: remember to tell someone that you live with about how you feel. These questions can help you to do this safely:- What happened? What were you thinking at the time? What have you thought about since? Who do you think has been affected by what you did? In what way? What do we need to do to make things right? How can we make sure this doesn’t happen again? What can we do to help?

7) Write a letter, poem or rap to a friend or a family member telling them why they are a good friend/relative to you and what you miss most about not been able to spend time with them. You could also share your favourite memories of times you spent together. Parents can post letters when they do the essential shop.

8) Create a collage of photos of your friends and families; if you don’t have any photos draw them instead!

9) Arrange to watch things on TV or on line with your friends and then call them to chat about what you thought of it on phone or gaming device

10) Set up a weekly challenge (remember to stay safe online!):- Create a list of activities between your friends and yourselves. Share the photos and vote for the best response. Some examples could include:-

– A weekly bake-off challenge and then post pictures of your efforts.

– A garden / home treasure hunt. Have a start stop time and post pictures of the things you have found.

– Have an online karaoke party

– Hold a book club and choose one book to read each week. Think of one question each about the book and have an online discussion.

– Choose a time to all visit an online zoo and then talk to one another about your experience.

11) Make a list of your family members and all come up with a positive thing about them and write it next to their name or draw it. You can do this with your friends on social media too.

12) Create a timeline scrap book physical or virtual showing the friendship journey of you and your friend(s)

13) Choose a day to have a family picnic in the garden or a carpet picnic in the house and ask your other family members to do the same and share the fun on your video phones.

14) Put your hand in a fist. Lift each finger as you identify a worry; using your other hand and waving goodbye.

15) Put your hand in a fist. List each finger as you think about 5 different people in your life that you can talk to about your worries and then wave hello to start the conversation with them!

16) Find out what your families favourite tv programme / book / piece of music, etc was a child; could you watch this together

17) Watch some TED Talks and learn some new things about different topics. Click here to find our recommendations of the best TED Talks!

18) Detox your email box / phone / social media – Remind yourself of different people who you haven’t spoken to in a long time!

19) Teach a family member something new (for example a poem, nursery rhyme, a song, a dance, an activity.)

20) Become a whizz at random facts! Click here to find some fab random facts!