Parents: This page provides a variety of resources for you to help you and your child. Your child's school counselor or student advocacy coordinator are available to support you. Please contact them if you need assistance.

Parenting

Harvard University: Center on the Developing Child

Finding What Works for Your Family:

All children are different. Choose to use this opportunity to spend time as a family while doing what works best for your child! Hear what Dr. Kate Cook has to say about it: watch the video!

Resources for Parenting in a Pandemic:

Finding small ways to say “yes”:

As parents we usually always feel stretched for time. While we have this extra time on our hands, challenge yourself to say “yes” as much as possible. Kids have the most creative ideas when we allow them to flow!

Mindfulness:

Uncertainty can bring about anxiety for all of us. One of the best ways to combat anxiousness is being mindful. Mindfulness simply means paying attention and acknowledging our thoughts and feelings without judgement, and noticing where we are feeling it in our bodies. Acknowledging the present helps us to move through the feelings. Here are some resources to help guide you!

Making Memories with Virtual Field Trips:

Student Support_Talking to Children about COVID-19.pdf

How Children May Experience This Time

This is an adult problem. Our hope is that children do not feel our stress. When children ask questions, we want to provide them with enough information to answer their questions but not overload them with scary content. Kids feed off of our energy. Let’s try to filter our stress so that our children can make positive memories that last a lifetime.

What Adults Will Remember

Life was shut down

We quarantined for days, weeks

We struggled to find groceries and basic necessities

People hoarded supplies

Many people lost their jobs

Our economy was at risk

We couldn’t visit our families or hug grandparents

All sports and special events were cancelled

Friends and family were hospitalized

Many people died

We didn’t know when it would end



What Children Will Remember

Eating together as a family

Playing games with my parents

Doing scavenger hunts outside

Learning to ride my bike

Staying in my pjs all day

Baking with my parent

Learning to cook

Taking family walks

Reading with my parents

Family movie nights

Family baseball games in the yard

Working a puzzle with my family

A happy time in my childhood

Resources

NPS Family Support Contacts

How to Contact School Counselors

We know this time is stressful on students and their families. We are here for you! You can contact your child's school counselor and they will be happy to get you some resources. Please let us know how we can help your child, too! We miss them and are here for them. On the Norman Public Schools website, use the drop down menu to select your school, then go to the About Us menu on the top left of the page and select Faculty and Staff to find your school's counselor.

How to Contact Student Advocacy Coordinators

Student Advocacy Coordinators are available to advocate for students and respond to sexual misconduct, bullying, gender discrimination and other traumas. A coordinator does not investigate, rather, they assist the student with reporting the incident and help with safety planning, academic arrangements and community resources.

Student Advocacy Coordinators will be available to students and families via email and phone, and will continue collaboration with partner agencies in our community. Advocates also remain available for faculty consultation. Contact information and Office Hours here.

Public Service Announcement Parents: What we are being asked to do is not humanly possible. There is a reason we are either a working parent, a stay-at-home parent, or a part-time working parent. Working, parenting, and teaching are three different jobs that cannot be done at the same time. It’s not hard because you are doing it wrong. It’s hard because it’s too much. Do the best you can. When you have to pick, because at some point you will, choose connection. Pick playing a game over arguing about an academic assignment. Pick teaching your child to do laundry rather that feeling frustrated that they aren’t helping. Pick laughing, and snuggling, and reminding them that they are safe. If you are stressed, lower your expectations where you can and virtually reach out for social connection. We are in this together to stay well. That means mentally well, too. Used with permission. March 23, 2020. Parenting On Your Won Path with Dr. Emily W. King.

Used with permission. March 23, 2020. Parenting On Your Own Path with Dr. Emily W. King