Welcome to our Wellbeing page
As parents itโs our job to care for all of our childโs needs, both physical, developmental and emotional. But, along with the many rewarding joys of parenting, comes lots of hard work, such as sleepless nights, challenging behaviour and tantrums to name but a few.
Parenting takes energy, patience and resilience and when you are running around after children, it can leave you feeling tired and sometimes stressed.
Wellbeing for Adults
- Find out more in our blog postย on why it’s important to look after yourself.
- Join one of the Mindful Mums groups that run in the centres – there are also Diversity Matters, Dads and LGBTQ+ groups.
- Lewisham Health Visitors can support you with your mental health, talk to your Health Visitor. There is also information on their website.
- NHS has 5 Steps to Mental Wellbeing you can try.
- If you are registered with a Lewisham GP you can make a self referral to Lewisham NHS Talking Therapies.ย
Wellbeing for Children
- Find out What does well-being mean for our young children?
- Learning to calm our breathe is a skill that can be useful for all of us – this activity to make a ‘Dragons Breathe’ blower activity is fun to make and can help small children focus on their breathing.
- Try this very simple but fun activity that will encourage and support children to show and manage their own feelings and emotions.ย
Organisations and Websites
- Visit the excellent Families Under Pressure Website and watch some short videos about Keeping Positive to Limiting Conflict.
- Find out more about services available in Lewisham by searching Lewisham Councils Health & Wellbeing Directory.
- Professional Referral Form to Perinatal Mental Health Team.
Check out our online videos to help families with their wellbeing.
Breathing Exercises
Mindfulness Sessions
Silvery Moon Lulliby
Below you will find blog posts about Wellbeing & Mental Health
Talking to children about the UK Race and Islamophobic riots
Things to think about when talking to children about the UK Race and Islamophobic riots Current events happening over the country are being played out
Rise in Whooping Cough cases – what you need to know
New data published today by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) shows cases of whooping cough continue to increase withย 1,319 cases confirmed in March. This
Mental Health Awareness Week 2024
Mental Health Awareness Week 2024 will take place from 13 to 19 May, on the theme of โMovement: Moving more for our mental healthโ.
Bumps to babies: supporting learning through pregnancy and beyond – FREE one hour online sessions
Pregnancy can be an exciting time, but did you know it is also a great time to start supporting your baby’s learning and development? During
Bumps to babies: supporting learning through pregnancy and beyond
Pregnancy can be an exciting time, but did you know it is also a great time to start supporting your baby’s learning and development? During
Could you save money on your prescriptions with an exemption certificate?
Find out if you’re entitled to free NHS prescriptions, NHS dental treatment and help with other NHS costs using theย NHS eligibility checker. If you
An update on measles from our Director of Public Health
An update on measles from our Director of Public Health With measles cases rising in London,ย Dr Catherine Mbema, our Director of Public Health, has recorded
Children’s Mental Health Week 5th February 2024
This yearโs Childrenโs Mental Health Week 2024 (5-11 February 2024) theme is My Voice Matters. Developed with the help of children and young people in
Warm Welcomes in Lewisham 2023
ABOUT THE WARM WELCOMES To support individuals affected by increased living costs in Winter, Lewisham Local are coordinating a network of local establishments to
Enjoy a FREE hot meal on Wednesday and Saturday lunchtimes
FoodCycle Lewisham Wednesdays and FoodCycle Lewisham Saturdays welcomes anyone to attend as a guest and enjoy a FREE hot meal. No need to book. Just
It’s Dry January 2024
Just 31 days without alcohol gives amazing obvious benefits, like more energy, a chance to save some money, improved concentration, boosted mood and so much
Lewisham Warm Welcomes – 1st December 2023 – 31st March 2024
ABOUT THE WARM WELCOMES To support individuals affected by increased living costs in Winter, Lewisham Local are coordinating a network of local establishments to set
Being Dad groups and drop-in sessions
Becoming a dad isnโt without its challenges. Whether itโs your first child or your third, a new baby is a major life transition, bringing different
Food Growing Workshops for families in October including October Half-Term 2023
Thanks toย AFRIL,ย 4in10 Charity,ย London Challenge Poverty Weekย with match funding fromย Lewisham Local, you can find free activities related to food-growing across the borough during October Half-term and
Lewisham Safeguarding Children Partnership – Keeping Babies Safe Campaign
Statistically, children are most at risk of fatality or significant harm in the first few years of life.ย Lewisham Safeguarding Children Partnershipย aim to raise
It’s Black Maternal Health Week
Black Maternal Mental Health Week UKย is an annual event dedicated to raising awareness about the mental health challenges faced by Black mothers. Recognised nationally,
Healthy Family Recipes from HENRY
Planning and cooking healthy family meals can seem like a big task. As the nights are drawing in and we move into Autumn,ย these simple
Insightful Families – a whole family approach to working with everyone in the family impacted by alcohol.
Insightful Families, takes a whole family approach to working with everyone in the family impacted by alcohol. Insightful Families offer a free confidential friendly service
Alcohol Awareness Week 2023
This Alcohol Awareness Week Alcohol Change will be focusing on the true cost of alcohol to highlight the personal costs of drinking too much and
It’s Plastic Free July – tips for families
Over the last few years many of us have been much more aware of the role plastics play in our affecting our environment. This July
Common Housing Issues
We often receive enquires to support families with housing issues, as a result we have put together a new Housing Advice section on the website
Keeping your baby cool in the heatwave
Babies are not as good at regulating their body temperature so it’s important to keep them cool as possible. Hopefully these tips from Tommy’s will
Baby Check App
Baby Check features 19 simple checks that parents can do if their baby is showing signs of illness. Each check tests for a different symptom
Men’s Mental Health Week 12th June 2023
MEN’S HEALTH AND THE INTERNET The iPhone was born in 2007. Those born in the same year will turn 16 this year. They’ve grown
It’s Infant Mental Health Week
Every day in the UK we will welcome about 2,000 babies to the world. Many of these babies will have happy, stable childhoods, but not
Oral Health Q&A with Kings College Hospital – June 2023
The Kings College Hospital Oral Health Promotion team will be hosting a Q and A session via Zoom for parents and carers on: Wednesday 14th
Get involved with 30 days wild
Getting outside with your baby or young child is a great way to get a bit of exercise and help their brain development.ย Every June The
It’s Mental Health Awareness Week 2023
The theme for this year’s Mental Awareness Week is anxiety. The Mental Health Foundation says: “Anxiety is something we can all experience from time-to time.
NEW Outdoor Explorers Session at Evelyn Children & Family Centres
Even on gloomy days getting outside and exposed toย sunlight helps our bodies to make vitamin D, which keeps bones, teeth and muscles healthy. It
Single Parents Day 2023
March 21st marked Single Parents Day 2023. Gingerbread, the UK Single Parent’s Charity have carried out research to produce an up-to-date picture ofย what it means
Home is where the start is: an online family festival of fun and learning
During this fun family event, which will take place via Zoom, we will share information and advice about how parents and carers of under-fives can
NEW Mindful Mums Young Mums Wellbeing Groups
Having a baby isnโt easy at the best of times, and having a baby when youโre also a young mum can bring additional difficulties to
Eat Them to Defeat Them is back on 20th February!!!!
Eat Them to Defeat Them is the award-winning campaign to get kids eating more vegetables. 80% of kids donโt eat enough vegetables. If you are
It’s Children’s Mental Health Week
Childrenโs Mental Health Week 2023 will take place from 6-12 February 2023. This yearโs theme isย Letโs Connect. What’s it all about? Letโs Connect is
27th January is Lewisham Great Mental Health Day 2023
Great Mental Health Day 2023 is celebrating the power of community kindness and telling the story of how weโve come together for one another across
A big welcome to all our Dads and male carers
It’s been great to see so many male parents and carers visiting our centres and website so we wanted to welcome you all. Our
Kaleisoscope Drop-in Schedule JANUARY โ MARCH 2023
If your child has a special educational need or disability (SEND) there are some great drop-in sessions at Kaleidoscope which you can find at: 32
Christmas Coping Tips from Mind
Tips for coping during Christmas If you find Christmas a difficult time of year, this page has some tips to help you cope. Different things
Keeping warm this winter – Lewisham Warm Welcomes Scheme
What are Warm Welcomes? Community groups are coming together to offer spaces where people can pop in free of charge. All welcomes are YOu currently
Veg Power
80% of our kids are not eating enough vegetables. Veg Power is on a mission to inspire kids from early years through primary school and
Nature ideas while out walking with kids
Autumn is a fantastic time to get out and about and explore with your little ones. Crunchy leaves, acorns and squirrels out collecting for Winter,
It’s Stress Awareness Day – 2nd November 2023
If you are struggling to cope with life pressures, you might be stressed. After the last 18 months all of us would have felt stressed
Food Growing Workshops for families on a low income during October including Half-Term
Thanks toย AFRIL,ย 4in10 Charity,ย London Challenge Poverty Weekย with match funding fromย Lewisham Local, you can find free activities related to food-growing across the borough during October Half-term and
Professionals Winter Tool Kit from The Alliance
The Early Years Alliance hasย launched aย free Winter Toolkit for early years providers containing a series of useful resources to help them โย and their families โย to
It’s World Mental Health Day 2022
Protecting our mental health is easier than you might think. We can all do it every day, and with simple activities that help us feel
All about Five to Thrive
At Early Years Alliance Lewisham Children and Family Centres we have actively shaped our universal offer around the 1001 days Manifesto for many years, to
Teaching Children about Water
Young children love water. Whether itโs splashing around in the bathtub, showering friends with water pistols or building sandcastles on the beach, there is something
Play and nature
Friederich Froebel was a pioneering educator who invented kindergarten. He emphasised that children should experience all aspects of nature, not just plants and animals. One
Hot weather and high body temperature during pregnancy from the NCT
Being pregnant during hot weatherย can be challenging. We discuss the risks of hot weather and high body temperature during pregnancy, and how to beat the
Keeping kids cool in hot weather: eight tips from the NCT
Read on for tips and tricks from the NCT on how to make sure your children stay comfortable when the weather heats up. Theย warm weather
Keeping cool during a heatwave or Heat-Health Alert
Weather like this is something many people look forward to and go out and enjoy. But itโs worth remembering that sunny spells can pose health
Free online workshops for parents throughout July!
Parenting young children can be tough at the best of times and during this strange period in our history it can feel even more bewildering
National Week of Play: How nature nurtures our mental health
โOur relationship with nature โ how much we notice, think about and appreciate our natural surroundings โ is a critical factor in supporting good
National Week of Play 2022: Protecting the planet through play
At a time when there is โ rightly โ a growing focus on the need to take urgent action to safeguard the future of our
It’s Men’s Mental Health Week
Time for your MOT Men’s Health Weekย isย 13-19 June 2022.ย We’ve been through a lot these past couple of years. Covid has not gone away but
It’s National Children’s Gardening Week 25th May โ 2nd June 2024
Children love growing plants and being involved in the garden but theyโre often impatient, wanting to see instant results. National Childrenโs Gardening Week aims to
June and July Mindful Mums, Diversity Matters and Being Dads Courses and drop-ins
Lewisham Mindful Mums helps pregnant women and new mums in Lewisham look after themselves during what can be a challenging period of their lives. Since
Drop-in Vitamin D is back!
You can now drop-in to our centres to register or collect your Vitamin D Monday to Friday at 10am – 3pmย What is vitamin D
Walk to School Week 2024!
The number of children walking to school has dropped significantly in a generation when 70% of children walked to school, now it is just over
It’s National Children’s Day
National Children’s Day UK (NCDUK)ย is all about the importance of a healthy childhood, and how we need to protect the rights and freedoms of children
Mental Health Awareness Week May 2023 – Anxiety
Being a parent can make all of us feel a little anxious at times. There’s so much to think about and sometimes it can feel
Loneliness
We can all be affected by loneliness at different points during our life and being a parent can often make us feel lonely or isolated.
Help save the bees with ‘No Mow May’
Here at Lewisham Children & Family Centres we love our bees! A great way to encourage bees into your garden is to get involved with
April is Stress Awareness Month
If you have found our stress levels rising over the last few years, you’re not alone. Stress can have a huge impact on
20th March is World Oral Health Day – Looking after your Childโs Teeth
Although oral health is improving in England, the oral health survey of 5 year olds in 2019 showed thatย just under a quarter have tooth decay
Help with the cost of living crisis
Millions of people across the UK have have noticed our food, energy and petrol costs rising and talk of further rises can be really worrying.ย
How to talk to your child about the hostilities in Ukraine
Many children may be worried about things that they are hearing on the news and on the radio about what’s happening in Ukraine. It can
Download the free food scanner app
Just scan the barcode, swipe to see the healthierย options available, and make the swap the next time youโre out shopping. Grab your phone and start
Give yourself and your family a Fruit & Veg Boost
Sign up for a Fruit & Veg Boost with NHS Better Health – Healthier Families By boosting the fruit and veg in your daily diet
HALF TERM VACCINATION DRIVE LAUNCHED IN LEWISHAM
HALF TERM VACCINATION DRIVE LAUNCHED IN LEWISHAM TO KEEP YOUNG PEOPLE IN SCHOOL AND COLLEGE AND PROTECT EDUCATIONย The Department for Education and the NHS
It’s Children’s Mental Health Week
The theme of this yearโs Childrenโs Mental Health Week isโฏ Growing Together. Growing Together is about growing emotionally and finding ways to help each
Are your child’s immunisations up to date?
Over the pandemic it has often been difficult to make and keep appointments but vaccinations are the best way to protect your baby against many
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Bแดษชษดษข Tแดษขแดแดสแดส Mส Bแดสส แดษดแด Mแด – ๐ป๐ฒ๐ ๐ FREE ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ด๐ฟ๐ฎ๐บ๐บ๐ฒ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ฒ๐๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐ ๐๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐๐ ๐ถ๐ป ๐๐ฒ๐ฏ๐ฟ๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ ย – ๐ฑ๐ผ๐ป’๐ ๐บ๐ถ๐๐ ๐ผ๐๐ FREE virtual 5 week post-natal support
Outdoor Explorers
Would you like to foster a love of nature in your child, and have fun outdoors in all weathers and seasons? Come and join us
It’s Cervical Cancer Prevention Week
This week is Cervical Cancer Prevention Week and here at Lewisham Children & Family Centres alongside Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trustย we wanted you to have
Wild Winter Activities
The Wildlife Trust has some fantastic activities for you and your family this Winter. Take a look at their 12 Days Wild Activities to keep
Mental Health Support over the Festive Period
The festive period can be a difficult time for families but Qwell can help. Qwell is a safe and confidential space to share experiences and
Half Term & Family Learning Festival Oct 2021
Family Learning Festival is a national celebration to mark and inspire a love of learning in family life! With events taking place across the U.K.
World Mental Health Day – How Five to Thrive can help
Sunday the 10th October was World Mental Health Day which helps us to focus on the importance of positive mental health and wellbeing, especially as
It’s World Mental Health Day
Today marks World Mental Health Day which encourages us all to focus on our mental or emotional health. All of us have faced different challenges
12 Outdoor Activities for Pre-school Children
Autumn offers a rich bounty of inspiration for exploring and imaginations. Chances are if your children are in an early years setting, they’ll be doing
Be Breast Aware
The tragic death of former Girls Aloud singer Sarah Harding at just 39 reminds us all that itโs important to be aware of the symptoms
Are you drinking more?
This year has been difficult for all of us. Routines have changed, we’ve felt isolated from friends and family and many of us have been
Wellbeing pack for new dads and non-birthing partners
BLG Mind delivers new wellbeing parenting pack BLG Mind is delighted to announce the successful delivery of a wellbeing pack designed to support new dads,
What if peek-a-boo could change the world?
From the TEDTALK website: “What if I was to tell you that a game of peek-a-boo could change the world?” asks seven-year-old Molly Wright, one
Roots of Empathy Programme
Roots of Empathy supports positive mental health and wellbeing in children, creating a safe space for them to learn and talk about their feelings. Roots
It’s Men’s Mental Health Week
This week is Menโs Mental Health week and itโs never been more important to take care of ourselves and check in with mates and relatives.
#30 Days Wild with the Wildlife Trust
June is this year’s 30 Days Wild month. This year we have all learnt about the physical and mental health benefits of being outside. The
It’s National Children’s Gardening Week
Children love growing plants and love being in the outdoors but theyโre often impatient, wanitng to see instant results so all the activities can
Mental Health Awareness Week – Connecting with Nature
This week is Mental Health Awareness Week. During the COVID-19 pandemic there’s been much more talk about looking after our Mental Health but it
Mental Health Awareness Week 2021
This year the theme is Nature and how connecting with the natural world can support good mental health. This year, the theme for the week
Maternal Mental Health Week 1st – 7th May 2023
This week is Maternal Mental Health Week. Looking after yourself and recognising that you might need a little support are signs that you are doing
Stress Awareness Month April 2021
Stress Awareness Month Thereโs no doubt that the last 12 months have increased our stress levels.ย Changing work patterns,ย family relationships,ย redundancyย (or the threat of it), financial pressures,
Family Time Tips – a round up of free children’s activities to try
The Early Years Alliance Family Time Tips offer fun, practical tips and advice to promote childrenโs learning and development. Activities have been chosenย to ensure they
Taking your baby outside
How does being outside help my baby? Benefits of being outside – There are so many benefits to being outdoors for example, walking outside gives
Childrenโs Mental Health Week 1-7 February 2021
Wellbeing is a term we have been hearing a lot lately and the situation we are all experiencing during the current lockdown has probably had
Mindfulness Online Sessions for Families start soon
Hello my name is Cordelle Parkinson.ย I am a Community Outreach Worker, and my role is to support families to access activities delivered by Lewisham
Back to School 2020
Preparing to go back to school is a stressful time for everyone, even without having to navigate the ‘New Normal’ of Covid 19 and coming
Looking after our Wellbeing
There are ways you and your family can improve your wellbeing from look after your fitness and diet to talking to professionals who can support
Why do I need to take of myself?
Hello Parents and Carers, Iโm Donna an Early Years Practitioner and part of my role is facilitating some of the parent and children groups at
Routines Week
Hello Iโm Donna one of the Early Years Practitioners at our Children and Family Centreโs and I would like to say to all our families
Talking to a child worried about coronavirus.
The NSPCC has created a new webpage with information and advice for parents or carers who are worried a child or young person may be
