Books to help child mental health - Part 2
Welcome back to this week’s blog where I will be sharing with you some books to help child Mental Health. If you missed Part 1 of the blog then head over to my blog posts and it’s listed before this one.
Before I provide you with a list of books that might be helpful, I’d like to carry on from where I left off in the last blog and elaborate further on some of the things that can have a negative impact on child mental health.
The negative impact of Social Media
In Blog one, I briefly touched upon some of the negative content found on platforms such as TikTok. I have to admit, it wasn’t until I started my business that I realised just how toxic it is. Below I’ll be expanding on some of the areas of social media that are particularly concerning.
Internet trolls
A sad reality of social media is the amount of trolling that continues to grow on numerous platforms. These days, anyone can create a free email address that they can then use solely to create a profile and interact with anyone’s personal account. The harsh reality is that you never really know who you are talking to. Internet trolls are people who create social media accounts with the intention of posting deliberately harmful provocative messages or comments, Intending to cause upset. They are commonly found on platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. They often deliberately befriend others to form a network of followers before targeting innocent posts. Trolls have been known to bully and cause harassment, even more worryingly, trolls have been found to encourage acts of self harm and suicide.
Grooming
With anyone being able to create a false account on social media, it can be seriously concerning that we don’t know who our children may be speaking to. We should be aware that there are harmful people that use social media platforms to talk to children. In the eyes of a child, a simple ‘friend request’ could be harmless. But the sad reality is that the 15 year old boy or girl they think they are talking to, could be a grown adult with an ulterior motive.
The affect of Internet trolling on child mental health
With trolls taking to social media to purposely target others, children can often fall victim to their bullying and harmful behaviour. Many children turn to social media to seek ‘acceptance’ from others. They often post photographs actively seeking approval or reassuring comments from others, however when trolls take hold and make deliberately harmful comments, this can understandably result in children feeling unworthy, body shamed, insecure and rejected. When these feelings begin to manifest, they can lead to anxiety, depression and self-loathing.
TikTok shop
With anyone now being able to seek ‘approved seller status’ on TikTok, it comes as no surprise that products are being sold worldwide from millions of sellers. Whilst I only use TikTok to network with other authors, the other day I was alarmed to find a video from a seller from Europe selling ‘Self Defence items’ in my ‘recommended’ section. Within the items being sold were the following;
A taser which was disguised as a crystal-covered handbag torch (Classed as a prohibited Firearm in the UK)
A crystal-covered hair comb with a hidden knife in the handle,
A ‘Hello Kitty’ knuckle-duster - to name but a few.
All of the items were available for shipping to the UK - All of them are banned in the UK and if they made it through customs then anyone caught in possession of these items would face criminal prosecution.
Internet and Social media safety
With social media and internet use a growing trend amongst youngsters, as a parent I have accepted that this will likely play a part in my child’s future development. Given the choice, social media would not exist, however I have accepted that for many of us, we rely on social media to keep in touch with long distance relatives, expand our knowledge of certain subjects and network with others. Safe use of the internet and awareness of the above is paramount. Reassuringly, a growing number of schools and education settings now hold parent and child workshops that focus on restricted and safe use of the internet as well as social media platforms.
Education is the key
As adults, it is crucial that we educate ourselves. It is important that we have a good awareness of what and who our children are engaging with online and how that engagement is impacting them. Checking phones and tablets regularly and having restrictions on times that devices are used and certain access is highly recommended. There are certain applications now that can support us with monitoring Internet use.
Parental control by kids 360 is a parent’s app available for download from the Apple Store. It allows parents to limit time spent on certain applications and also allows the blocking of certain apps. Another nice feature is the fact that you can add other ‘tasks’ to complete such as walking the dog or completing homework.
Recommended Book list as rated on Amazon:
‘Staying Safe Online’- Usbourne books
‘Being Safe Online’- Olimena J.M. Rovanesi
‘The epic book of Kid life skills’ -Audrey Coffie
Shipwrecked SOS
Shipwrecked SOS is my new book launching this summer.
Shipwrecked S.O.S - Sink or Swim - You Decide," - a groundbreaking toolkit designed to guide children and young people through the turbulent waters of mental health challenges. Imagine being stranded on a desolate island, lost and adrift amidst life's tempest. Within this crisis lies an opportunity for transformation, where empowerment and resilience become your compass.
Through engaging and interactive exercises, this toolkit empowers readers to navigate anxiety and depression with creativity and courage. From identifying personal strengths to establishing emotional boundaries, each page offers a lifeline towards self-discovery and healing. "Shipwrecked S.O.S" fills a crucial gap in the market for accessible and engaging mental health resources. With a focus on adventure and empowerment, this toolkit is a valuable resource for schools, counsellors, and support groups seeking to guide young adventurers towards brighter horizons.
Join us on this transformative journey as we navigate towards blue skies and brighter futures together. This book is currently in production - Download the accompanying slide deck to learn more about how "Shipwrecked S.O.S" can make a difference in the lives of children and young people.
To pre order your copy, please email sabrinahonors@gmail.com
Revisit the blog for more informative blog posts coming soon.
Thank you so much for reading.