Resources to support your child’s Mental Health!

In my research for product development, I have come across many useful apps and books that might help you support your child’s mental health which I would love to share with you.

Useful apps

‘The Happy Child – Parenting App’ – This app grants you access to cutting-edge research and tips that will help you to raise a happy child. The daily lessons, which are short and easy to understand, give you science-based ways to increase long-term happiness in your child.

‘What’s Up? – A Mental Health App’ – This is a superb app which uses the best Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) methods to help you cope with depression, anxiety, anger and stress. It also helps identify and manage the twelve common negative thinking patterns and gives simple methods to overcome them. It helps your child to manage and feel in control of their thoughts.

‘Think Ninja’ – This is designed for children and young people, who are 10 to 18 years old.  It helps to educate them on their mental health and emotional wellbeing. It can also help them to develop a range of skills that they might experience on a day-to-day basis especially if they are feeling stressed, anxious or their mood is low. All of the features of this app are usually only available as part of a special school programme or the NHS but due to the current exceptional circumstances, any 10-18-year-old in the UK can get full free access to ThinkNijna right away.

BOOKS

‘My Anxiety Handbook: Getting back on Track – by Sue Knowles’ – This book helps young people with anxiety learn to recognise and manage their symptoms and teaches young people aged 10+ how they can overcome their biggest worries. 

‘Don’t Worry, Be Happy: A Child’s Guide to Overcoming Anxiety –  by Poppy O’Neil’ – This practical guide combines proven cognitive-behavioural therapy methods used by child psychologists in schools with simple activities to help your child overcome anxiety. It is aimed at children aged 7-11 years.

‘The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens – by Sean Covey’ – This book provides a simple approach to helping teens improve their self-image, friendships, resist peer pressure, achieve their goals, and appreciate their parents, as well as tackle the new challenges of our time, like cyberbullying and social media. In addition, this book is stuffed with cartoons, clever ideas, great quotes, and incredible stories about real teens from all over the world.

I hope these app and book suggestions might help you and your child.  I think the important thing to remember is that we can’t just plonk our children down in front of an app or book and expect change to happen.  We must hold their hand and walk the journey with them so please use and read through the apps and books together.

Remember change doesn’t happen all at once either!  It takes time.  Use these apps and books in bite-size chunks and remember to always be patient but persevere.  Creating new habits will happen and change will come.

Katie x