May

Additional Resources for May: Mental Health Awareness Month

Parents, Guardians and Caretakers; 

Often, it is a very difficult decision to determine if and when to get help for your child. And, then there's the question of where, and how to get professional help for my child? This can already be an extremely stressful time for you and your family but making these important decisions only add to this burden of stress. A great national mental health resource that can provide options and guide you through the process until you are ready to connect with local professionals in your area is The Child Mind Institute. Their webpage here is dedicated to mental health awareness month. It offers recommendations and suggestions for; accessing care, providing a mental health toolkit to determine the risk and when it is important to seek help, as well as helping families understand what their child may be experiencing and the best ways to support them. Another great resource is The National Institute of Mental Health. Here, you will find informative videos and information regarding mental health and its challenges. Additionally, they offer FREE resources for you and your child; such as free, printable activity/coloring pages related to learning about the parts of our brains or managing stress, for example.  Check this out! As always, in an urgent and/or emergency situation, it is imperative not to wait and you should always respond immediately by visiting the nearest emergency room or calling 9-1-1. 

May can be a hectic month filled with sports, holidays, concerts, end-of-year events, and celebrations. Helping children learn time management now can reduce stress and build confidence. Simple strategies like using a family calendar, creating daily routines, breaking tasks into smaller steps, and planning ahead for busy days can make a big difference. Encouraging children to prioritize responsibilities before activities—and allowing time for rest—helps them stay balanced during this exciting (and often busy!) time of year. 

Additional resources for building Time Mangement Skills:

• Age-by-Age Guide to Teaching Kids Time Management Skills (scholastic.com) 

• 15 Essential Tips for Effective Time Management, Every Busy Parent Should Know (child-focus.org) 

• 5 Time Management Tips for Parents (body-brain alliance, video) 

In classroom SEL lessons, students are learning about personal safety and how to use their voice in respectful, confident ways. Topics include

• Identifying trusted adults,

• Using assertive (not accusatory) language

• Practicing self-advocacy

• Making safe choices online through digital citizenship

You can support your child at home by talking about who they can go to for help, encouraging them to speak up for their needs, and reinforcing safe and responsible technology use.