Parent Resources
Parent Resources
Be gentle with yourself. You are doing the best you can.
Be gentle with yourself. You are doing the best you can.
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Bright Futures - Ma’lak na Ha’ani
Bright Futures - Ma’lak na Ha’ani
We are grateful for our partnership with WestCare Pacific Islands, Bright Futures - Ma’lak na Ha’ani. If you are interested in seeking behavioral health services for your child please contact one of our school counselors.
We are grateful for our partnership with WestCare Pacific Islands, Bright Futures - Ma’lak na Ha’ani. If you are interested in seeking behavioral health services for your child please contact one of our school counselors.
· Encourages positive student connections with peers, family, school, and community to facilitate student development.
· Encourages positive student connections with peers, family, school, and community to facilitate student development.
· Facilitates the ability to cope with problems, crises, or traumatic experiences
· Facilitates the ability to cope with problems, crises, or traumatic experiences
· Provides support for students with anger, anxiety, depression/sadness, stress, and difficulty concentrating.
· Provides support for students with anger, anxiety, depression/sadness, stress, and difficulty concentrating.
· Provides support for students struggling with social, emotional, behavioral, and/or academic challenges.
· Provides support for students struggling with social, emotional, behavioral, and/or academic challenges.
If you are interested in viewing the parent webinar - Trauma Talk: Tips for Mental Wellness for the Whole Family in the Face of Trauma - click this link
If you are interested in viewing the parent webinar - Trauma Talk: Tips for Mental Wellness for the Whole Family in the Face of Trauma - click this link
Please note that the link is to a Google Survey which is required to gain access to the webinar recording and material. WestCare require completion of the survey to help Bright Futures record data of those accessing the material. Upon completion of the survey, you will receive an email of the recorded session of the parent webinar, resources relative to the topic, and a pdf of the PowerPoint presentation.
Please note that the link is to a Google Survey which is required to gain access to the webinar recording and material. WestCare require completion of the survey to help Bright Futures record data of those accessing the material. Upon completion of the survey, you will receive an email of the recorded session of the parent webinar, resources relative to the topic, and a pdf of the PowerPoint presentation.
Hawks Night
Hawks Night
Join the CHamoru and Counseling Departments in this month's HAWK NIGHT on Friday, 20 November from 5:30 PM to 6:30 PM.
See you there!
Join the CHamoru and Counseling Departments in this month's HAWK NIGHT on Friday, 20 November from 5:30 PM to 6:30 PM.
See you there!
How to Talk to Kids About Coronavirus
How to Talk to Kids About Coronavirus
General principles for talking to children
General principles for talking to children
Remain calm and reassuring.
Remember that children will react to both what you say and how you say it. They will pick up cues from the conversations you have with them and with others.
Make yourself available to listen and to talk.
Make time to talk. Be sure children know they can come to you when they have questions.
Avoid language that might blame others and lead to stigma.
Remember that viruses can make anyone sick, regardless of a person’s race or ethnicity. Avoid making assumptions about who might have COVID-19.
Pay attention to what children see or hear on television, radio, or online.
Consider reducing the amount of screen time focused on COVID-19. Too much information on one topic can lead to anxiety.
Provide information that is honest and accurate.
Give children information that is truthful and appropriate for the age and developmental level of the child.
Talk to children about how some stories on COVID-19 on the Internet and social media may be based on rumors and inaccurate information.
Teach children everyday actions to reduce the spread of germs.
Remind children to stay away from people who are coughing or sneezing or sick.
Remind them to cough or sneeze into a tissue or their elbow, then throw the tissue into the trash.
Discuss any new actions that may be taken at school to help protect children and school staff.
(e.g., increased handwashing, cancellation of events or activities)Get children into a handwashing habit.
Teach them to wash their hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after blowing their nose, coughing, or sneezing; going to the bathroom; and before eating or preparing food.
If soap and water are not available, teach them to use hand sanitizer. Hand sanitizer should contain at least 60% alcohol. Supervise young children when they use hand sanitizer to prevent swallowing alcohol, especially in schools and child care facilities.
Facts about COVID-19 for discussions with children
Facts about COVID-19 for discussions with children
Try to keep information simple and remind them that health and school officials are working hard to keep everyone safe and healthy.
What is COVID-19?
COVID-19 is the short name for “coronavirus disease 2019.” It is a new virus. Doctors and scientists are still learning about it.
Recently, this virus has made a lot of people sick. Scientists and doctors think that most people will be ok, especially kids, but some people might get pretty sick.
Doctors and health experts are working hard to help people stay healthy.
What can I do so that I don’t get COVID-19?
You can practice healthy habits at home, school, and play to help protect against the spread of COVID-19:
Cough or sneeze into a tissue or your elbow. If you sneeze or cough into a tissue, throw it in the trash right away.
Keep your hands out of your mouth, nose, and eyes. This will help keep germs out of your body.
Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Follow these five steps—wet, lather (make bubbles), scrub (rub together), rinse and dry. You can sing the “Happy Birthday” song twice.
If you don’t have soap and water, have an adult help you use a special hand cleaner.
Keep things clean. Older children can help adults at home and school clean the things we touch the most, like desks, doorknobs, light switches, and remote controls. (Note for adults: you can find more information about cleaning and disinfecting on CDC’s website.)
If you feel sick, stay home. Just like you don’t want to get other people’s germs in your body, other people don’t want to get your germs either.
What happens if you get sick with COVID-19?
COVID-19 can look different in different people. For many people, being sick with COVID-19 would be a little bit like having the flu. People can get a fever, cough, or have a hard time taking deep breaths. Most people who have gotten COVID-19 have not gotten very sick. Only a small group of people who get it have had more serious problems. From what doctors have seen so far, most children don’t seem to get very sick. While a lot of adults get sick, most adults get better.
If you do get sick, it doesn’t mean you have COVID-19. People can get sick from all kinds of germs. What’s important to remember is that if you do get sick, the adults at home and school will help get you any help that you need.
If you suspect your child may have COVID-19, call the healthcare facility to let them know before you bring your child in to see them.
Managing stress during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak
Managing stress during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak
Social distancing because of Coronavirus (COVID-19) is the best thing we can do right now to decrease the risk of spreading the virus in our communities. But social distancing and self-isolation can be really stressful. The CDC says the following people may respond more strongly to the stress of a crisis such as this:
Older people and people with chronic diseases that put them at higher risk
Children and teens
People who are helping with the response to COVID-19, like doctors and other health care providers or first responders
People who have mental health conditions, including substance abuse
Even if you don’t fall into one of those categories, being cooped up in your house isn’t always easy. We have some recommendations for lowering your stress during this time of uncertainty.
Do virtual meetups or playdates.
Do virtual meetups or playdates.
Use whatever technology you have available (Skype, Zoom, FaceTime, etc.) to virtually meet up with those you love. If your kids are missing their friends from school or best friend from down the block, work with parents to arrange virtual playdates.
If communicating this way isn’t your thing, become pen pals with people. Most people love getting letters in the mail and the anticipation of the return letter will help pass the time.
Make “me” time.
Make “me” time.
“Me” time is important for everyone in your home to practice. Set aside time every day for your kids to do something for themselves or have quiet time in their rooms, and during this time, treat yourself to something that will help you relax.
Do 30 minutes of yoga, eat your favorite snack without having to share with your kids, or watch a new episode of a TV show—whatever it is that will help you unwind.
Cut yourself (and your kids) some slack.
Cut yourself (and your kids) some slack.
When schedules and routines are turned upside down, everyone is off their game. You and your kids may feel cranky or frustrated, and there might be more crying than usual.
Remind yourself that some days are going to be harder than others, and don’t dwell on the things you could have gotten done or should have done differently. Instead, try to focus on the more positive moments throughout your day.
Go outside when possible.
Go outside when possible.
Social distancing doesn’t require you to stay in your home 24 hours per day. If the weather is nice, get outside and play! Or just read a book on your porch while your kids play. Either way, your whole family will benefit from busting out of your home and burning some energy.
Limit your time on social media and watching the news.
Limit your time on social media and watching the news.
This can be tough for some people because scrolling through social media is often seen as a way of relaxing. But the constant exposure to the worries over COVID-19 can be harmful.
Put a limit on how long you will spend on social media and how much of the news you’ll watch each day. Consider doing the same thing for your children. Their exposure to the news of COVID-19 can cause fear, worry, and stress, which can lead to irritability or acting out, unhealthy eating and sleep habits, excessive sadness, and difficulty with attention and concentration.
Check in with yourself and your partner about how you’re handling the stress as a parent.
Check in with yourself and your partner about how you’re handling the stress as a parent.
It can be helpful to take a step back and evaluate how you’re handling the stress of COVID-19 and social distancing. Getting your partner’s feedback about whether you’re losing your cool often, raising your voice more than normal, or generally not acting like yourself is also helpful. Keeping open and honest communication is vital during this time.
If you find that the stress and worry of the situation is causing more irritation or anger with your child than usual, remind yourself of the following:
Everyone in your family is experiencing some level of stress right now. No one is behaving as they would normally. If your child is acting up more than normal, try to figure out if there’s an underlying reason.
Recognize that feelings of loneliness, boredom, fear, and anxiety are normal reactions to a stressful situation like this. You may need a time out yourself. Leave the room your kids are in for a few minutes, give yourself quiet time, or reach out to friends, family, or mental health professionals when you need a little extra help.
Make sure any discipline tactics you’re using are fair and consistent. Discipline is more effective when parents know how to set and enforce limits, and when expected behaviors and punishments are based on their child’s age and level of development. Ultimately, you should teach your child how you would like them to act in the future.
Communicate with your child about how you’re feeling. If you react in a way you wouldn’t normally, explain to them that you are struggling with sadness, frustration, or stress, and talk about how this situation is making you both feel.
Keep your routine (as much as possible).
Keep your routine (as much as possible).
With kids being out of school, and parents being out of work or working from home, routines are basically thrown out the window. But you can keep your family’s morning, mealtime, and bedtime routines consistent. This will give your kids a sense of consistency, and it will help you too.
Plan activities to pass the time.
Plan activities to pass the time.
Doing puzzles, taking classes online, or playing outside are all great ways to spend time during isolation. This is a great time to review old “Bill Nye the Science Guy” videos with your kids and recreate some of his experiments together!
If you usually get together with other families to play board games, cards, or watch movies, plan to still do those activities virtually. It might feel a bit odd at first, but it will help keep vital connections with others and help keep your mind busy.
SOURCE: https://uichildrens.org/health-library/managing-stress-during-coronavirus-covid-19-outbreak
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