Local social service Jigsaw Whanganui is continuing to operate right through the Covid-19 lockdown period, and executive officer Tim Metcalfe said the team was available for phone calls and advice.
"Our team is here to support families through the challenges of the lockdown," Metcalfe said.
"It's a privilege to beable to help people out there in the community, and we're there for people who might need someone to talk to."
"You don't have to be an established client of the Jigsaw network to get in touch.
"Lots of people ring up for advice on simple things like how to put the kids to bed."
Jigsaw had found sibling rivalry and fighting had increased during the lockdown, Metcalfe said, and one of the ways to combat that was to "find a space" in the house for each child to have as their own.
"Kids are carrying anxieties, just like the rest of us, and their world is very different to adults'.
"We're encouraging folks out there to be aware of our kids and our babies, and be aware of any stress they might be feeling."
Allowing children to have a parent's "undivided attention" for a short time each day was also a good way of reducing disruptive or attention-seeking behaviour, Metcalfe said.
"Having specific, one on one time with each of your children is really important."
Metcalfe said parents who were part of the Zoom groups had found that talking to other adults was a great way of "de-escalating" situations, and allowed them to get things off their chests.
"Having people to reach out to on the phone, or even over the garden fence, is critical, and we have people here at Jigsaw available for a chat.
