Pandemic Parenting: New videos and links!
You're not alone. We are living through a period of uncertainty and anxiety. Here are some sites to help you understand your anxious feelings and steps you can take to feel more at ease.
Square Breathing is an easily accessible coping skill that individuals of all ages and abilities can take with them wherever they go.
Begin by slowly exhaling all of your air out.
Then, gently inhale through your nose to a slow count of 4.
Hold at the top of the breath for a count of 4.
Then gently exhale through your mouth for a count of 4.
At the bottom of the breath, pause and hold for the count of 4.
Mindful Breathing for Teens
Mindfulness encourages us to use our breath to anchor us in the
here and now… anywhere, anytime.
Elevator Breathing: Good for use children of all ages
Lay down flat on your back
Fold your hands on your abdomen, or, for younger children, place a stuffed animal.
Take a deep breath in and imagine bringing your hands/animal up to floor 1.
Exhale and slowly bring the elevator down to the lobby.
Take a deep breath in and imagine bringing your hands/animal up to floor 2.
For each floor, the breath gets deeper and longer.
Exhale and slowly bring the elevator down to the lobby.
Repeat for floors 3 through 10 and then take a break.
Cookie Monster Meditation Good for preschool and elementary students.
Dr. Brene Brown: We all have patterned ways of managing our day-to-day anxiety, and these patterns often reflect the roles and expectations of our first families. In this episode, we’ll talk about over and under-functioning in anxious times, why anxiety is contagious, and how we can cultivate a calm practice.