For Mental Health Awareness Week we reached out to children and young people who use our Home Learning Kits to see how they were doing during the lockdown; here are some of their responses…

It is #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek 2020, a year that will go down in history as quite a year… The pandemic has impacted our society on absolutely every level, with no one managing to avoid the effects of the pandemic in one way or another.

It is more important now than ever before to make sure we are looking after our own and our loved ones mental health. It is our mission at Book of Beasties to encourage good mental health and help people find the courage to talk openly about how they are feeling.

Because a problem shared is a problem halved.

Which is exactly what we wanted to do with this blog; share a problem, a concern or maybe just some nice words that might brighten someone else's day.

No matter how difficult things seem they will come to an end. It may be tough, it may be longer than we had hoped for, it can be really scary, you may feel really low sometimes and that is ok.

Everyone feels that way sometimes but as long as we stick together, we talk and listen and remember how strong we really are then when this comes to an end, and it will we step back into the world with the knowledge that we are never alone.

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As a follow up to our last Housebound Heroes blog where we heard from some amazing Mums and how they were coping during the lockdown, here is a collection of some of the slightly smaller but just as heroic Housebound Heroes sharing with us how they are feel at the moment, to let everyone else know it is ok to speak up and good to talk.

"I feel like it is going to be hard but in a way I am looking forward to getting used to it and being able to get on with life."
Chrissie - 12

‍The Children of the Lockdown:

Daniel - 9
How does the lockdown make me feel?
‍It makes me feel like I miss my friends a lot. Talking to them on the computer isn’t the same.
What am I most looking forward to when the lockdown ends...
‍I am looking forward to playing football with my friends.

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Aaron - 11

How does the lockdown make me feel?

‍I think I feel more lazy than I did before, but maybe because I am really bored.‍

What am I most looking forward to when the lockdown ends...

‍Probably going to see my friends and going to McDonalds or something. I really miss McDonalds.

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Laura - 8

How does the lockdown make me feel

I feel sad that I can’t go out a lot, or go to school.

What am I most looking forward to when the lockdown ends...

Going to school and seeing my Nan.

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Jodie - 11

How does the lockdown make me feel?

I am actually really nervous to do anything. I really want to go see people but I am afraid that I will get the virus and bring it home to my family.

What am I most looking forward to when the lockdown ends...

Mainly just people being well again and not having to be two metres apart because now I feel like everyone is so scared of each other.

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Max - 7

How does the lockdown make me feel?

I really miss my Nana and Grandad.

What am I most looking forward to when the lockdown ends...

Hugging my Nana and Grandad.

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Lucy - 9

How does the lockdown make me feel?

I feel pretty lonely, but I do really like spending more time with my Mum and sister.

What am I most looking forward to when the lockdown ends...

Seeing my Dad properly and going to the Zoo. Or any kind of day out instead of just a walk or sitting in a park, because that is getting really boring now.

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Aaliyah - 10

How does the lockdown make me feel?

I am pleased to be able to relax as I was really nervous about exams. I enjoy learning from home as it is a much more quiet environment and it helps me concentrate.

‍What am I most looking forward to when the lockdown ends...

Going on holiday to see my family abroad. We were meant to go over the Easter Holidays but couldn’t.

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Jamal - 10

How does the lockdown make me feel?

I think the lockdown is good for the environment. Every time I go out there is no cars and it is making the air so much cleaner.

What am I most looking forward to when the lockdown ends...

Going to see my friends, I have seen them in the park but we can’t play together or hug or anything because of coronavirus.

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Chrissie - 12

How does the lockdown make me feel?

I know it is quite scary at the moment and I understand that people find it hard but we can spend so much time with our families, and not be as stressed as we were before. It has made me so proud of the NHS and other people who are working through the lockdown.

What am I most looking forward to when the lockdown ends...

It is going to be different to how things were before, and I feel like it is going to be hard but in a way I am looking forward to getting used to it and being able to get on with life.

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Dylan - 10

How does the lockdown make me feel?

I don’t really feel different, but I am sad that people have died and getting sick. It makes my Mum nervous to go out to the shops and we can’t go to see my cousins incase we get coronavirus.

What am I most looking forward to when the lockdown ends...

I am just looking forward to things going back to normal because I want to play with my friends and see my cousins and not be stuck inside and much as we are now.