Tri County Elementary students receive social-emotional lessons through the Second Step program within their classrooms. There are resources and content available for families on the Second Step website. If you have not already created an account on Second Step and utilized a Program Activation Key below are instructions so that you may access these resources and content.

1. Go to www.secondstep.org

2. Under New Users, click "Create Account"

3. Complete the Required Fields

4. Add the Program Activation Key for the grade level of your student: 

   1. • Kindergarten: SSPK FAMI LY70 

      • 1st Grade: SSP1 FAMI LY71 

      • 2nd Grade: SSP2 FAMI LY72

      • 3rd Grade: SSP3 FAMI LY73 

      • 4th Grade: SSP4 FAMI LY74 

      • 5th Grade: SSP5 FAMI LY75

Coping skills and mindfulness are important tools to have in our toolbox. Mindfulness is the ability to slow down and focus on the present. Coping skills are strategies that we can utilize to help ourselves de-stress and manage our emotions. Below are resources that will hopefully help you to build up your toolbox.

• Belly Breathing with Elmo

• WonderGrove Kids: Breathe & Relax

• Cool Down & Work Through Anger Read Aloud

• Mindfulness Crafts for Kids

• BrainPop: Mindfulness

• 25 Fun Mindfulness Activities for Children and Teens

• Class Dojo Big Ideas Videos

• GoZen Videos

• Family GoNoodle Flow Channel

• Deep Breathing Exercises for Kids

• MindYeti

• How Parents Can Help with Kids' Coping Skills

• 100 Free Coping Strategies

• Practice Mindfulness with Belly Breathing

• Apps:

  • • Mindful Powers

    • Smiling Mind

    • Wellbeyond 

    • Meditation for Kids

    • Stop, Breathe, & Think Kids

    • GoNoodle Kids

Our mindset shapes how we view our lives and abilities. A growth mindset is the belief that we can improve upon our abilities versus a fixed mindset which is a belief that we are unable to change our abilities or make improvements. This can be a difficult concept for kids especially when they are frustrated or feeling stuck. 

• Class Dojo-Growth Mindset

• Khan Academy Growth Mindset Activities

• Growth Mindset Coloring Pages

• Miss Maggie Growth Mindset Worksheet

• Growth Mindset: What You Need to Know

• Sesame Street in Communities: Resilience

• How to Teach Kids Perseverance

• How to Teach Growth Mindset to Kids

• Big Life Kids Podcast: Discover Growth Mindset & How to Believe in Yourself

• Rosie Revere, Engineer Read Aloud

Our emotions play a big part in our lives and, in turn, influence how we think about situations and our behavior. It's important that we are able to identify our emotions. Remember all emotions are normal even when they are uncomfortable.

• Helping Kids Manage Anger

• Teaching Your Child to Identify & Express Emotions

• Why Do We Lose Control of Our Emotions? (video)

• Fight, Flight or Freeze-A Guide to Anxiety for Kids (video)

• Class Dojo-Moods & Attitude (videos): Part 1, Part 2, Part 3

• Activities that Teach Kids Emotions

• Sesame Street in Communities: Emotions

• Worry Warriors with Counselor Keri (video series)

• Free Kids Books about Emotions

• Bookends: Reading with Julia Cook

• Monstrous Emotions Activity

• The Imagine Neighborhood Podcasts

Please remember that when at school, children are protected by internet safety walls and filters, which may not be in place in your home.  Make sure to monitor your child when using the internet.  

• Internet Safety Videos

• Internet Safety Games

• Internet Safety Activity Printables

• Common Sense Media

• Internet Safety 101

Where would we be without something fun to do?!? This may be a difficult time but that does not mean we shouldn't take the time to have fun together as well. Doing things that we enjoy helps to improve our mental health. Below are lots of fun activities you can try at home.

• Cheap & Easy Crafts for Kids

• Lunch Doodles with Mo Willems

• Lego Challenge Calendar

• Virtual Field Trips

• Virtual Rides of Disney World &Disneyland

• Giant List of Ideas for Being Home with Kids 

Parenting during uncertain times may seem even more stressful and overwhelming than usual. That is completely normal! Below are some extra resources that may help to generate ideas about ways to hopefully relieve some of that added stress in the household regarding parenting and behavior.

• Focus on What You CAN Control

• Center for Effective Parenting

• Articles & Tips from Love and Logic

• PBS Kids for Parents

• The Power of Listening

• Managing Your Own Anger

• Top 10 De-Escalation Tips

• Teaching Self-Control

• National Parent Helpline

• Center for Effective Parenting

• Articles & Tips from Love and Logic

• PBS Kids for Parents

Let's face it, a lot of times, as parents, taking care of oneself is put on the back-burner. It's important to remember that in order to maintain our ability to help and take care of others we also have to take care of ourselves.

• Self-Care Apps

• Make Time for Yourself

• Feeling Anxious or Worried? Listen to These 8 Podcasts