SEL Resources


Parenting Resources

Anxiety

The best thing you can do is listen to your child and validate how they are feeling. Hold boundaries and encourage your child to use strategies to reduce the worry thoughts and feelings. Coping strategies may include, breathing techniques, talking to a trusted adult, reading, coloring, drawing, practicing mindfulness, playing outside, listening to music. 


http://www.worrywisekids.org/

Handout (this is from a different school district, has some great resources at the bottom)

Books to help you support your anxious child

Anxiety Resources for Kids and Adults

Article: Apps for Anxiety, Stress Relief, and Relaxation 

Yoga cards

Breathing boards

Relaxation scripts 

Feel good pictures 

Animal strength cards

Calm Kids Sleep Stories

Headspace App

Anxiety and Depression Association of America

Children's Hospital of Colorado

Book: Freeing Your Child From Anxiety by Tamar E. Chansky PhD

Book: Helping Your Anxious Child by Ronald M Rapee PhD,  Ann Wignall D Psych, Susan H Spence PhD, Vanessa Cobham PhD, Heidi Lyneham PhD

Separation Anxiety 

Separation is tough. Here are some strategies taken from Dr. Becky Kennedy’s book Good Inside: A Guide To Becoming the Parent You Want to Be that may help ease you and child in heading back to school.

Notice how you feel about separating from your child. You might feel sad or nervous and that is okay!  Try to put those feelings aside during drop off and exude confidence and assurance in your child’s drop off routine.  It’s important they see a parent who is confident and knows their child is in safe hands. 

Talk to your child about separation before it happens. For school drop off, that might mean that a week before the first day you discuss all aspects of school: how you’ll get there, the teachers’ names, what the classroom will look like, and what drop off might look like. You might say “In a few days you’ll be going to school! School is a place you can play and learn with other kids and where there are adults called teachers who take care of you while you’re there. There are blocks in school…and dolls… and a circle carpet to sit on while you sing songs. One thing about school is that Mommy/Daddy takes you there in the beginning and picks you up at the end. I do not stay in the room with you.  It may feel a bit tricky at first, because saying goodbye to me and being with new adults and kids is a new thing!

Come up with a routine that is easy to practice and repeat - something short and sweet. Maybe you say “When we say goodbye, I’ll give you one hug, say “See you ;later alligator?” and Mommy/Daddy always comes back and then I will turn around and leave. You’ll be with your teachers then, and if any big feelings come up, they’ll know how to help you. Let’s practice!” Then act out the scene of drop-off feel free to be the kid first and have you child be the adult, and then switch roles. Practice will make the whole routine feel more familiar, and eventually lead to mastery, which helps separation feel safer.

Small stuffed animals or blankies can be helpful for kids who struggle with separating, because they literally travel with them between home and school environments, thereby acting as a link between the two. Your child might want to have a laminated picture on the family (Feel free to use clear packing tape!), and you can use this in your separation routine, reminding your child that after you leave they can look at this picture and say over and over, “My family is near. My family is near.” Consider involving your child in a transitional object of choice: “ Is there anything you want to bring to school to remind you of home?” 

We can ease separation anxiety by talking about the separation after we pick up our child at the end of the day or at the moment of reunion. Especially if a child was upset during the goodbye, be sure to tell the story of the day. In a calm, connected moment at home, share this with your child who had a hard time separating at kindergarten drop off: “Saying goodbye felt a bit hard today. That’s okay. Saying goodbye at school is so new and it’s okay to feel sad. Then your teacher told me you took some deep breaths and looked at your family pictures, and then you joined the class on the rug for circle time. Mommy came back - just like I said I would! - and now we are together at home.” Telling the story reminds a child that the moment of separation was a part of a larger story, but it didn’t color their entire experience.

Children's books related to Separation Anxiety

Grief and Loss

Allyship

BPS has started a club called Allyship.  As defined by Harvard Business Review, "Allyship is a lifelong process of building and nurturing supportive relationships with underrepresented, marginalized, or discriminated individuals or groups with the aim of advancing inclusion." Allyship is about creating a safe and inclusive environment for all students, fostering friendships, and embracing acceptance. For more information reach out to kmosher@huusd.org or sschoolcraft@huusd.org. 

Friendship/Social Skills

More information to come


ADHD / Executive Functioning

More information to come