Self-care isn’t something most kids think about. But just like the adults in their lives, kids can get stressed. In fact, with the pandemic, some kids are more anxious than ever. They don’t always have strategies to help them self-regulate.
Self-regulation is about having ways to calm down in the face of stress and anxiety. It’s a skill that develops over time and with practice. And being able to soothe yourself is an important step to being more resilient.
Read MoreBy this point in the pandemic, setting rules around screen time may feel impossible. How much is too much? Does remote learning count? What about gaming with friends? And what if you (like many parents right now!) are just too exhausted to fight about it? There’s no one right answer when it comes to managing screen time during this ongoing crisis.
Read MoreThe first thing we have to do to manage tantrums is to understand them. That is not always as easy as it sounds, since tantrums and meltdowns are generated by a lot of different things: fear, frustration, anger, sensory overload, to name a few. And since a tantrum isn’t a very clear way to communicate (even though it may be a powerful way to get attention), parents are often in the dark about what’s driving the behavior.
Read MoreSome kids (and adults) have trouble accepting other people’s point of view. They think they’re always right, and everyone else is wrong. That’s especially true for kids who struggle with flexible thinking.
Flexible thinking lets people see things from different angles. Kids who struggle with it have trouble understanding that people don’t all think alike. And that can cause problems during election season, when they hear people at home, at school, on the news, or on social media disagreeing and arguing.
Read MoreWe know we’re not supposed to yell at our children. But parents are very stressed at the moment, and frustration and anger are inevitable. Overwhelmed with everything you’ve been asked to do, you find yourself losing your temper at kids who aren’t on their best behavior either. But when your circumstances aren’t normal, your parenting won’t be normal.
Read MoreSocial distancing at school will be hard for many kids. But for kids who learn and think differently, following those rules may be even more difficult. Here are some reasons why, plus tips for helping.
Read MoreAs the pandemic pushes kids' lives even more online, their mental health depends on parental support -- and a lot less anti-tech talk.
Read MoreThe COVID-19 pandemic is disorienting and scary for all of us. It has been a marvel for me as an occupational therapist to see how well so many of my clients —children, teens, and adults alike — have coped with this surreal disruption of daily routines. As we adjust to the “new normal” many are still learning to take the proactive steps needed to protect the safety of themselves and others: washing hands frequently, physically distancing, and wearing a mask.
Read MoreOne of the biggest challenges of being socially isolated is the inability to socialize in person. For adults, we have our coffee chats or our virtual cocktail parties but what can children do who are missing interactions with friends?
Read MoreSocial-emotional learning is how one processes life skills which include relationships, working with others, recognizing our emotions and managing our feelings. These social-emotional skills are extremely important in how one copes with school, work and life experiences.
Read MoreBoredom is something today’s children have rarely experienced—because they’ve never had the chance to get bored. Today’s children have had their lives filled with “schooling” and endless activities, all due to the mistaken notion that if they don’t excel in early childhood, they will never reach their potential. That their “resumés” will look inadequate in comparison to those of their peers. Boredom can be a powerful incentive.
Read MoreWhen elementary students compare the relative importance of a range of problems, they learn to take charge of their reactions. Teachers at Lister Elementary School, in Tacoma, Washington, help students compare and contrast the sizes of problems by having them fill out a Big vs. Little Problems worksheet with actual examples.
Read MoreThere are many ways to make sure your child has the chance to get in reading time. Here are a few ideas for busy families.
Read MoreOccupational therapists and trauma-informed teachers weigh in on how to create sensory tools and spaces with what you have at home. The coronavirus pandemic has upended all students’ day-to-day routines, but has created particular disruption for students with special needs, sensory processing disorders, and kids who have experienced trauma who rely on the structure of school to stay grounded. Creating an at-home sensory space and sensory tools that resemble the supports students received in school can help kids during this transition, easing them out of a meltdown or giving them a much-needed break before one starts.
Read MoreAnxiety thrives on uncertainty. These are uncertain times. We can expect our children to feel more than the usual amount of anxiety during the COVID 19 pandemic. For kids with anxiety disorders, fears and unknowns may become overwhelming. Parents, educators, and other caring adults can help guide children into successful anxiety management strategies.
Read MoreThe Child Mind Institute is publishing daily tips to help support families through the coronavirus crisis. Today’s tip is all about limiting access.
Read MoreThe Child Mind Institute is publishing daily tips to help support families through the coronavirus crisis. Today’s tip is all about staying active!
Read MoreEvery day, the Child Mind Institute publishes a video and social tile with a tip for supporting families through the coronavirus crisis.
Read MoreAs parents and educators, we receive a huge amount of information each day, so we know there can be some confusion about which advice to follow. This article by Asaf Bitton, MD, MPH, executive director of Ariadne Labs in Boston, MA, provides an honest, straightforward assessment of what to do next in the midst of this unprecedented time of a pandemic, school closures, and widespread social disruption.
Read More
