Advice and tools for children and young people
Resources designed for children and young people growing up with a visible difference, for you to share with your child.
Here, you can find a list of resources designed especially for children and young people living with a visible difference or disfigurement. They complement the resources we have created for parents and carers.
How to use these resources
There are a few ways you could use these resources, depending on the age, personality and independence of your child. Here are some suggestions:
- Send your child a link to the children and young people section of our site so they can browse themselves (recommended for older teenagers).
- Send specific links to your child which you think would be useful, for them to browse and read as they choose (recommended for more independent younger teens).
- Share specific links, then talk to your child afterwards (recommended for less independent younger teens).
- Go through specific pages with your child and discuss as you read (recommended for younger children).
You know your own child! Feel free to adopt whatever approach you think is most appropriate.
If your child is doing independent reading, you could set aside some time to chat to them informally, whatever age they are. We suggest that, however old or independent they are, you let them know that they can ask you any questions they have.
You could casually ask them about their reading at an appropriate time – for example, you could say, “How did you get on with those links I sent you from the Changing Faces site?”
Resources by category
Building confidence and knowledge
- Appearance and confidence as a young person who looks different.
- Confidence tools for young people who look different.
- Finding out about your visible difference as a young person.
- Having treatment for your visible difference.
Coping with other people’s reactions
- What to do if people stare because you look different.
- What to do if people ask questions about how you look.
- What to do if people say hurtful things about the way you look.
- Tools to help young people cope with others’ reactions.
- How to stop bullying because of the way you look.
Worries and anxiety
- Coping with anxiety as a young person who looks different.
- How to relax: A guide for young people who look different.
Social life, friends and school
- A guide to body image for young people who look different.
- Meeting new people when you are a young person who looks different.
- Starting a new school if you look different.
- How to talk to people: Tools for young people with visible difference.
- A social media guide for young people who look different.
Butterfly activity pack
The butterfly activity pack was first created for Face Equality Week 2020, to keep children busy and engaged during the first national lockdown, whilst helping them learn to value difference. It can also be used in schools and nurseries.
It contains activities such as colouring in, making 3D butterflies and even some baking – although you shouldn’t eat the results! It proved to be one of our most popular resources that year, with over 12,000 views.