Sharing our worries by leaving a note for someone when we might not have the words to express our feelings.
Name a feeling to tame a feeling when we can talk with someone about how we are feeling and name our feelings (eg ‘scared’, ‘worried’, ‘sad’), we can process them better.
Opening conversations to allow children to communicate how they are feeling and help them deal with any challenging emotions by talking about them.
Guess how I’m feeling (helping to build emotional literacy). Ask your child to make a face and you will guess how they are feeling. Swap around and let them guess how you are feeling.
Leave a note (helping children to express feelings when they may not have the words). Agree to draw a picture, or write a note about how you are feeling and leave it somewhere for them to find (e.g. under their pillow, in their bag, in a bedtime book). Ask them to do the same for you.
Make a photo or picture wall (bridging the gap between work and home). Talk about the people you work with, reassuring your children that there is a strong team around you and them to help keep them safe. Talk about the people you work with. Print off photos of everyone or draw them as you talk and describe them. Gather a collection of them for the wall. If your children show specific concern for your safety, you could explain how everyone looks out for one another, that you are always in a team and that you have special equipment and clothing to keep you safe.
Police Care UK is the charity for serving and veteran police officers and staff, volunteers, and their families who have suffered any physical or psychological harm as a result of policing.
We are independent of the police service and are funded entirely by donations and fundraising – we receive no money from government or forces for our vital work.
If this book raises any issues, or you (or someone you know) are struggling with your mental health, please seek help and support. For all those who are serving, we recommend accessing your Force Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) in the first instance. You should also consider talking to your GP, who will be able to discuss the options available within your local NHS area. You can also contact Police Care UK for advice on 0300 012 0030.
If you found this resource a useful tool and would like to continue to support the great work we do, why not consider making a donation to Police Care UK today.
All money we raise goes towards our continuing support of police and their families, to ensure that they have someone to turn to when things get tough.
You can make a single donation, or set up a regular donation, at an amount that suits you. In return, we will keep you updated with how your support is making a crucial difference.
If you found this resource a useful tool and would like to continue to support the great work we do, why not consider making a donation to Police Care UK today.
All money we raise goes towards our continuing support of police and their families, to ensure that they have someone to turn to when things get tough.
You can make a single donation, or set up a regular donation, at an amount that suits you. In return, we will keep you updated with how your support is making a crucial difference.
If this book raises any issues, or you (or someone you know) are struggling with your mental health, please seek help and support. For all those who are serving, we recommend accessing your Force Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) in the first instance. You should also consider talking to your GP, who will be able to discuss the options available within your local NHS area. You can also contact Police Care UK for advice on 0300 012 0030.
