Hello Students & Parents,

We miss you and hope you are safe at home, spending quality time with the people you love, maintaining consistent routines, playing, exercising, creating/crafting, practicing regular hand washing and refraining from touching your face. We want all of our Leopards healthy, happy and learning while we are at home during this challenging time. Here are some resources and activities for you and your family to explore while we are away from school. We very much want to keep in touch, so please feel free to reach out to us via email.

Much Love,

Mrs. Dainton and Mrs. Robinson,England Counselors

elizabeth_dainton@roundrockisd.org (K, 2, 4 Counselor), 512-704-1221

martha_robinson@roundrockisd.org (1, 3, 5, Counselor), 512-704-1278

If you or your child is experiencing a mental health emergency, please contact an organization below:

National Suicide Hotline: 800-273-8255/ Crisis Text Line: Text 741741 / Texas HHS COVID-19 Mental Health Support Line: 833-986-1919

For Parents: Mental Health Tips For Working and Learning From Home

1. Find the right balance between routine and flexibility for your family. Depending on your children's needs and your working needs, it may be a good idea to create a schedule with specific times for specific activities. If specific times sound stressful, or it is not possible to be consistent, try a schedule of expected activities throughout the day that kids or adults can check off as they are completed (e.g. outside time, read to self, math practice, art/maker space, etc). Here is an example Kids' Checklist that Mrs. Dainton is using with her 3 children, make a copy of it and update to make it your own.

2. Be consistent and firm with your own time and space boundaries. If you are working or need time to cook, exercise, etc. tell your kids beforehand and let them know their choices of activity while you won't be able to interact with them ("While mom is in a meeting, you can do math practice on the iPad or do an art activity, then afterwards we can read together. If the office door is closed that means I'm still in my meeting".) It may help to have a visual or nonverbal sign as a reminder that you need more time if they come in while you are still busy.

3. Build in time for everyone to MOVE their bodies. Kids need to expend energy and movement is good for everyone's physical and mental health. Getting outside to run/walk/play is ideal, but if that's not possible try sites like Go Noodle , Just Dance , or Kids Yoga Videos .

4. Build in quality time with your kids (reading, playing, drawing together, etc). Anything works as long as you are giving your child your full attention (not on iPhone or laptop), even if it's for a short period of time. Kids most likely feel the increased stress and anxiety our current circumstances are causing, and setting aside time to be attuned to them and be silly and playful will go a long way to reassure them and give them a sense of security. Younger kids still process their emotions and experiences through play, so encouraging and respecting this time is very important for them.

5. Be forgiving of yourself, your kids, and your spouse. Everyone is stressed and most likely not always behaving at their best. Taking breaks when needed for some deep breathing or grounding exercises will help you stay regulated and stay on the "high road" when interacting with spouses and children ("low road"= yelling, insulting, holding grudges, not listening, blaming, etc). Expect that most likely behavioral issues with your kids will increase, as this is a time of great disruption for them. They are doing their best, just as you are doing your best. Accept them and yourself as you are during this time.

6. Model your own emotional regulation strategies, and teach them to your kids! Here are some great ideas for kid friendly breathing exercises, and kid friendly grounding exercises.

7. Limit how much you have the news on and how much you are having conversations about the pandemic around your children. It is important to strike the right balance between giving children just the information they need, but not exposing them to media stories that may be frightening and hard for them to understand. It may be a a good idea for your own mental health to limit how often you are checking the news each day. Here are some articles about how to talk to your children about COVID-19 (Child Mind Institute , CDC , BrainPOP )

8. Point out to children all the amazing ways people are helping and rising to the occasion during this time. Maybe make a plan with your children about things you could do to help or cheer people up during this time. Having a sense of agency and control ("I can make a difference!") is a huge key to well-being during times of stress. This could look like video-chatting or messaging family and friends, making and sharing videos, mailing letters or art to people, making donations (physical or monetary), and making plans for how to help more once we are all more mobile.