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Recursos contra el racismo y la resiliencia

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Recursos contra el racismo y la resiliencia

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Translated copy of Copy of Anti-Racism and Resilience Resources

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Es un momento difícil para ser padre de un adolescente. Después de meses de estar encerrados en casa lejos de sus amigos, sin poder asistir a la escuela o salir, la mayoría de los niños están ansiosos por volver a la vida que tenían antes de la pandemia. Hacer que los adolescentes tomen en serio la seguridad es una lucha constante, y a medida que el país avanza hacia la reapertura, es más importante que nunca asegurarse de que los jóvenes sigan las reglas.

Lea más artículos sobre la crisis del coronavirus aquí.

¿Cómo pueden los padres respetar las necesidades de sus hijos adolescentes mientras ayudan a sus adolescentes (y a todos los demás) a mantenerse seguros? Incluso si la reapertura no ha comenzado en su área, nunca es demasiado temprano para comenzar a hablar sobre cuál será el enfoque de su familia. Discutir lo que viene puede ayudar a los adolescentes a sentirse más preparados y aumentar las probabilidades de un comportamiento inteligente y seguro cuando llegue el momento.

Escuche a su adolescente

"Lo primero es siempre tratar de entender cuál es la postura de su hijo adolescente", dice Lindsey Giller, PsyD, psicóloga clínica del Child Mind Institute. Para los adultos, las preocupaciones de los adolescentes ("¡Me vería ridículo con un tapabocas (cubreboca o mascarilla)!"). O las prioridades ("Necesito ir al parque con mis amigos el sábado") pueden parecer un poco bobas. Pero tomarlos en serio es clave para establecer líneas abiertas de comunicación.

"No descarte las preocupaciones de su hijo, incluso si a usted le parecen triviales", dice la Dra. Giller. "Sus amigos son sus vidas y ahí es donde se supone que debe estar su desarrollo social en este momento. Tener 16 ó 17 años y no poder ver a tus amigos, novio o novia durante dos meses es un gran problema".

En lugar de imponer mandatos (que, seamos realistas, es probable que los adolescentes no sigan), tener una idea clara de lo que quieren y necesitan hará que sea más fácil elaborar reglas que puedan seguir razonablemente.

Empatizar y validar

"¡No es justo!" es un sentimiento con el que todos estamos familiarizados. La mayoría de nosotros lo hemos sentido más de una vez desde que esto comenzó. Pero pocos lo sienten de manera más espléndida que los adolescentes, cuyas vidas se han visto afectadas justo cuando establecer sus propias identidades y presionar por la independencia es lo más importante.

Es probable que los adolescentes sientan la injusticia profundamente, dice Lindsay Macchia, PhD, psicóloga clínica en el Child Mind Institute: es injusto que esto haya sucedido, que todavía ocurra después de meses de cuarentena y que, aunque ellos no estén entre las personas con mayor riesgo, no puedan volver a hacer las cosas como solían hacerlo.

Mientras más valida los sentimientos de su hijo adolescente, dice la Dra.Macchia, más espacio le dará para que puedan ser abiertos y expresarse. En este caso, puede estar explícitamente de acuerdo con ellos. Podría decirle: "Tienes toda la razón. Es injusto. Yo también lo siento. Es aburrido y es un fastidio. Pero es lo que debemos hacer para mantener a todos a salvo".

Esa validación, agrega la Dra. Giller, "puede llevarlos a un lugar donde acepten más lo que usted diga a continuación".

Crear perspectiva

La cuarentena ha sido un largo trabajo. Tanto tiempo, de hecho, que puede ser difícil recordar que en realidad solo han pasado dos meses. "Esos dos meses pueden parecer una eternidad, especialmente en las mentes de los adolescentes", dice la Dra. Giller. "Pero puede recordarles que realmente no es para siempre". Puede que no termine pronto, pero no durará el resto de sus vidas. Ayudar a su hijo adolescente a recordar que las restricciones son realmente temporales puede hacer que sea más fácil seguir las reglas mientras tanto.

Apéguese a los hechos

Habiendo visto el impacto de la pandemia, sabemos lo importante que es tomar precauciones y queremos que nuestros hijos también las tomen en serio. Así que puede ser molesto cuando la respuesta de su hijo a su recomendación de tener cuidado sea un inexpresivo "Ok, mamá" (sin levantar la vista del teléfono) o el temido "Uh-huh". Es tentador querer seguir explicando hasta que parecen entenderlo o "asustarlos" para que cumplan, pero eso puede ser contraproducente.

"No es tanto lo que dice sino cómo lo dice", explica la Dra. Macchia. Es probable que los adolescentes, explica, rechacen los sermones o el comportamiento excesivo. Evite la visión de catástrofe o enfocarse en los peores escenarios para tener un impacto. Decir algo como "Si no te tomas esto en serio, la gente morirá" puede hacer que su hijo adolescente sea más propenso a ignorarlo.

En cambio, concéntrese en ser transparente y estar conectado con ellos, dice la Dra. Macchia. Haga hincapié en que esto afecta a todos, que tienen un papel que desempeñar y que tiene fe en que están a la altura del desafío.

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Use fuentes confiables

Si los adolescentes son escépticos sobre los riesgos que representa el coronavirus, no dude en recurrir a fuentes confiables y basadas en hechos y datos científicos como los CDC, la Organización Mundial de la Salud o NPR. Incluso podría concertar una llamada con su médico o el pediatra de su hijo, si tienen una buena relación. "Incluir a otros para que digan: 'Esto es real, no se trata solo de la preocupación de los padres', puede ayudar", dice la Dra. Macchia.

Los adolescentes también pueden leer o escuchar información que va en contra de lo que dice la comunidad científica. Para evitar la información errónea, pregúntele a su hijo qué está leyendo y ayúdelo a asegurarse de que la información provenga de una fuente confiable.

Personalice la situación

Si su hijo no ha sido afectado personalmente por el virus, puede parecer ajeno, irreal y es poco probable que lo afecte. También saben que menos jóvenes se han enfermado gravemente, lo que puede hacer que parezca aún menos relevante para sus vidas.

Ayude a los adolescentes a establecer la conexión citando el peligro para familiares y amigos mayores. También puede enfatizar que lo que hacemos ahora puede tener un gran impacto en el aspecto de nuestras vidas en el futuro. Si nadie toma precaución cuando los lugares vuelvan a abrir, podríamos terminar con más brotes, lo que significa más bloqueos y más interrupciones en cosas como la escuela, la universidad y poder ver amigos. El objetivo es ayudar a los adolescentes a ver que sus miedos no son exagerados, y que el distanciamiento social es importante en formas que los afectan directamente.

Vincule independencia con seguridad

Tarde o temprano, sus adolescentes saldrán y verán a sus amigos, de una forma u otra. "Los padres realmente quieren poder confiar en sus adolescentes", dice la Dra. Macchia. "Y los adolescentes quieren recuperar algo de su libertad".

Cuando salgan, la Dra. Macchia recomienda vincular la independencia con el cumplimiento de las medidas de seguridad. Cuanto más dispuestos estén a tomar en serio las precauciones de seguridad, como distanciarse, usar una cobreboca o solo socializar al aire libre, más libertad podrán tener. Trabajen juntos para intercambiar ideas sobre las formas en que pueden pasar el rato con amigos de forma segura. Por ejemplo:

Mida 6 pies de distancia y practique mantenerse separado a esa distancia. ("¡Está más lejos de lo que piensa!", Dice la Dra. Giller).

Haga una lista de lugares al aire libre donde su hijo adolescente pueda reunirse de manera segura con amigos, como un parque cercano (si no está demasiado lleno), la playa o incluso el patio trasero para un picnic con distanciamiento social.

Haga o compre tapabocas que sean atractivos para que su adolescente tenga más probabilidades de usar. Incluso podría sugerir que obtengan los mismos para sus amigos.

Prepárese para situaciones difíciles

Incluso con los adolescentes más cooperadores, surgirán desafíos. Es posible que tengan amigos que no toman en serio (o cuyas familias no lo hacen) las prácticas de seguridad. Una forma de preparar a los jóvenes para que se apeguen a su plan es enfatizar los valores de su familia y reconocer que no todos los comparten. "Al igual que lo haría con un niño cuyos amigos están involucrados en otros comportamientos peligrosos, como el uso de sustancias, desea validar lo difícil que es para su hijo sobrellevar la situación", dice la Dra. Macchia.

También puede ser útil darle a su hijo práctica para lidiar con situaciones difíciles antes de que surjan. La Dra. Giller recomienda ser abierto con su hijo adolescente sobre el hecho de que algunos de sus amigos podrían no seguir las reglas y podrían presionarlo para que haga lo mismo. Podría preguntar: ¿Qué harías en esa situación? ¿Cuáles son algunas cosas que podrías decirle a tu amigo? "Pueden comenzar a considerar cómo se mantendrían fieles a sus valores, incluso si existe este nuevo elemento de presión de grupo o de adaptación", dice la Dra. Giller. De lo contrario, también puede ofrecerse como una excusa general para desviar la presión de grupo: "No puedo. Mi madre es muy estricta". Cualquiera que sea la estrategia que utilice, la preparación facilitará que los niños encuentren su voz cuando surja un momento incómodo.

Confronte la mentira de inmediato

Los adolescentes mienten. Es molesto en el mejor de los casos, peligroso en el peor y definitivamente algo que preocupa a los padres, especialmente ahora. Nunca ha sido tan vital para los niños decir la verdad sobre lo que están haciendo y ser honestos si han cometido un error, así todos pueden estar seguros de que el resto de la familia (especialmente los parientes mayores o más vulnerables) se mantengan seguros.

"Cuando los niños mienten, a menudo sólo intentan escapar de las consecuencias", señala la Dra. Macchia. Los padres, sugiere, pueden evitar esto ofreciendo a los jóvenes una salida sin castigo cuando cometan errores.

Hagan un acuerdo de que si son totalmente sinceros, pondrá a un lado cualquier tipo de castigo o sermón. "Lo más importante es que le digan si se han equivocado y si han estado expuestos", dice la Dra. Macchia. Ayude a su adolescente a comprender que estas son circunstancias extraordinarias y que las consecuencias de mentir podrían ser mucho más graves que le vayan a gritar o ser castigado.

Sobre todo, recuérdele a su adolescente (¡y a usted mismo!) que aunque estamos en medio de un momento muy difícil, esta crisis, como tantas otras, pasará. Todos estamos en el mismo equipo y lo que hagamos ahora decidirá qué sucederá después.
¿Sabía que el Child Mind Institute está ofreciendo servicios de telemedicina? Obtenga más información sobre telemedicina.
Lea más artículos sobre la crisis del coronavirus aquí.

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Los adolescentes y la reapertura | Child Mind Institute

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Es un momento difícil para ser padre de un adolescente. Después de meses de estar encerrados en casa lejos de sus amigos, sin poder asistir a la escuela o salir, la mayoría de los niños están ansiosos por volver a la vida que tenían antes de la pandemia.

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It's a trying time to be the parent of a teenager. After months of being cooped up at home away from friends, unable to attend school or go out, most kids are chomping at the bit to get back to the lives they had before the pandemic. Getting teens to take safety seriously is a struggle at the best of times, and as the nation moves towards reopening, it's never been more important to ensure kids are following the rules.

How can parents respect their teens' needs while still helping them (and everyone else) stay safe? Even if reopening hasn't started in your area, it's never too early to start talking about what your family's approach will be. Discussing what's coming can help teenagers feel more prepared and increase the odds of smart, safe behavior when the time comes.

Hear your teenager out

"The first thing is always to try to understand where your teen is coming from," says Lindsey Giller, PsyD, a clinical psychologist at the Child Mind Institute. To adults, teenage worries ("I'd look stupid in a mask!") or priorities ("I need to go to the park with my friends on Saturday.") can seem a little ridiculous. But taking them seriously is key to establishing open lines of communication.

"Don't dismiss their concerns, even if they seem trivial to you," says Dr. Giller. "Their friends are their lives, and that's where their social development is supposed to be right now. Being 16 or 17 and not being able to see your friends or boyfriend or girlfriend for two months is a big deal."

Instead of handing down mandates (which, let's be real, teens aren't likely to follow), having a clear sense of what they want and need will make it easier to come up with rules that they can reasonably follow.

Empathize and validate

"It's not fair!" is a sentiment we're all familiar with. Most of us have felt it more than once since this started. But few feel it more exquisitely than teenagers, whose lives have been disrupted right when establishing their own identities and pushing for independence are most important.

Teenagers are likely to feel the unfairness deeply, says Lindsay Macchia, PhD, a clinical psychologist at the Child Mind Institute: It's unfair that this happened at all, that it's still happening after months of quarantine, and that, even though they're not the people most at risk, they can't just go back to doing things the way they used to.

The more you validate your teen's feelings, Dr. Macchia says, the more you give them space to be open and expressive. In this case, you can explicitly agree with them. You might say: "You're totally right. It is unfair. I feel it too. It's boring and it sucks. But it's what we need to do to keep everyone safe."

That validation, adds Dr. Giller, "can get them to a place where they're more accepting of whatever you say next."

Create perspective

The quarantine has been a long slog. So long, in fact, that it can be hard to remember that it's really only been two months. "Those two months can feel like forever, especially in the minds of teens," says Dr. Giller. "But you can remind them that it really isn't forever." It might not be over soon, but it's not going to last the rest of their lives. Helping your teen remember that the restrictions really are temporary can make it easier for them to follow rules in the meantime.

Stick to the facts

Having seen the impact of the pandemic, we know how important it is to take precautions and we want our children to take them seriously, too. So it can be upsetting when the response to your urging safety is a deadpan "Okay, Mom" (without looking up from the phone) or the dreaded "Uh-huh." It's tempting to want to keep explaining until they seem to get it, or to "scare" them into compliance, but that can backfire.

"It's not so much what you say as how you say it," explains Dr. Macchia. Teenagers, she explains, are likely to push back against lecturing or overanxious behavior. Avoid catastrophizing, or focusing on worst-case scenarios, to make an impact. Saying something like, "If you don't take this seriously people will die " can just make your teen more likely to brush you off.

Instead, focus on being transparent and grounded with them, says Dr. Macchia. Emphasize that this affects everyone, that they have their role to play, and that you have faith that they're up to the challenge.

Use trusted sources

If teens are skeptical about the risks posed by the coronavirus, don't hesitate to turn to trusted, fact-based sources like the CDC, the World Health Organization, or NPR. You could even arrange a call with your doctor or your child's pediatrician, if they have a good relationship. "Enlisting others to say, 'This is real, this isn't just parental worry,' can help," says Dr. Macchia.

Teens may also be reading or hearing information that runs counter to what the scientific community is saying. To head off misinformation, ask your teenager about what they're reading and help them make sure information is coming from a trustworthy source.

Personalize the situation

If your child hasn't been personally impacted by the virus, it may seem abstract, unreal and unlikely to affect them. They also know that fewer young people have gotten seriously ill, which can make it seem even less relevant to their lives.

Click here to see all resources related to the coronavirus crisis.

Help teens make the connection by citing the danger for older family and friends. You can also emphasize that what we do now can have a big impact on what our lives look like down the road. If we don't all use caution as we open up, we might end up with more outbreaks, which means more lockdowns and more disruptions in things like school, college and being able to see friends. The point is to help teens see that your fears aren't far-fetched, and that social distancing is important in ways that do affect them directly.

Link independence with safety

Sooner or later, your teens will be going out and seeing their friends, one way or another. "Parents really want to be able to trust their teens," says Dr. Macchia. "and teens want to get some of their freedom back."

When they do got out, Dr. Macchia recommends tying independence to compliance with safety measures. The more willing they are to take seriously safety precautions like distancing, wearing a mask or socializing only outdoors, the more freedom they'll be able to have. Work together to brainstorm ways they can safely hang out with friends. For example:

Measure 6 feet of distance and practice staying that far apart. ("It's farther than you think!" says Dr. Giller.)

Make a list of outdoor places where your teen could safely meet with friends, like a nearby park (if it's not too crowded), the beach or even the back yard for a socially distant picnic.

Make or buy cool-looking masks your teen is more likely to actually wear. You could even suggest they get matching ones for their friends.

Prepare for tricky situations

For even the most cooperative teens, challenges will come up. They may have friends who aren't (or whose families aren't) taking safety practices seriously. One way to prepare kids to stick to your plan is to emphasize your family's values - and acknowledge that not everyone shares them. "Just like you would with a kid whose friends are engaging in other dangerous behaviors, like substance use, you want to validate how hard this is for your child to navigate," says Dr. Macchia.

It can also be helpful to give your child practice dealing with difficult situations before they come up. Dr. Giller recommends being open with your teen about the fact that some of their friends might not follow the rules - and might pressure your teen to do the same. You might ask: What would you do in that situation? What are a few things you could say to your friend? "They can start to consider how they would stay true to their values even if there's this new element of peer pressure or fitting in," says Dr. Giller. Failing that, you can also offer yourself up as a catch-all excuse to deflect peer pressure: "I can't. My mom is really strict." Whatever strategy you use, preparation will make it easier for kids to find their voice when an awkward moment arises.

Address lying head-on

Teenagers lie. It's annoying at best, dangerous at worst, and definitely something parents are concerned about, especially now. It's never been more vital for kids to tell the truth about what they're doing - and to be honest if they've made a mistake, so that you can be sure the rest of the family (especially older or more vulnerable relatives) stay safe.

"When kids are lying, they're often just trying to escape the consequences," notes Dr. Macchia. Parents, she suggests, can head this off by offering kids a kind of get-out-of-jail-free card for mistakes.

Make an agreement that if they'll be totally truthful, you'll put any kind of punishment or lecturing to the side. "What's most important is that they tell you if they've slipped up and potentially been exposed," Dr. Macchia says. Help your teenager understand that these are extraordinary circumstances, and that the consequences of lying could be much more serious than getting yelled at or grounded.

Above all, remind your teen (and yourself!) that though we're in the middle of a very difficult time, this crisis, like so many others, will pass. We're all on the same team and what we do now will decide what happens next.

You're in the right place for your child's social, emotional and behavioral health. Request a telehealth appointment.

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Teenagers and Reopening | Child Mind Institute

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It's a trying time to be the parent of a teenager. After months of being cooped up at home away from friends, unable to attend school or go out, most kids are chomping at the bit to get back to the lives they had before the pandemic.

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Cómo ayudar a los niños a sobrellevar las emergencias

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Cómo ayudar a los niños a sobrellevar las emergencias

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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

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Ayudando a los niños a sobrellevar la situación durante y después de un huracán: un recurso para padres y cuidadores pdf icon [PDF - 922 KB]
Tenga la edad que tenga, su hijo podría sentirse alterado o tener otras emociones fuertes después de una emergencia. Algunos niños reaccionan de inmediato, mientras que otros podrían mostrar signos de dificultades mucho después. La manera en que un niño reacciona y los signos comunes de sufrimiento emocional pueden variar según la edad del niño, sus experiencias previas y cómo el niño enfrenta normalmente el estrés.

La manera en que los niños reaccionan se debe en parte a lo que observan en los adultos a su alrededor. Cuando los padres y cuidadores enfrentan un desastre con calma y seguridad, pueden darles a los niños el mejor apoyo. Los padres pueden transmitir más tranquilidad a quienes se encuentren a su alrededor, especialmente a los niños, si están mejor preparados.
Las personas pueden angustiarse más si ven en los medios de comunicación las imágenes de un desastre una y otra vez. Desde un principio, considere limitar la cantidad de exposición que usted y sus seres queridos tengan a la cobertura de los medios de comunicación.
Factores que influyen en el impacto emocional de las emergencias en los niños

El impacto emocional de una emergencia en un niño depende de las características y experiencias del niño, las circunstancias sociales y económicas de la familia y la comunidad, y la disponibilidad de recursos a nivel local. No todos los niños reaccionan de la misma manera. Algunos podrían tener reacciones más intensas y de larga duración. Puede que los siguientes factores específicos afecten la reacción emocional de un niño:

Ser afectado directamente en la emergencia

Acontecimientos traumáticos o estresantes previos

Creencia de que el niño o un ser querido podría morir

Muerte de un familiar, amigo cercano o mascota

Estar separado de sus cuidadores

Lesión física

La manera de reaccionar de los padres y cuidadores

Recursos familiares

Relaciones y comunicaciones entre los miembros de la familia

Exposición continua a la cobertura de los medios de comunicación sobre la emergencia y sus consecuencias

Estrés continuo debido al cambio en la rutina familiar y en la situación de vivienda

Diferencias culturales

Resiliencia de la comunidad

Lo que puede hacer para ayudar a los niños a sobrellevar un desastre

Es fundamental que los padres y cuidadores sean un buen ejemplo para los niños al manejar su propio estrés mediante decisiones de estilo de vida saludables (como comer alimentos saludables, hacer ejercicio con regularidad, dormir lo suficiente, y evitar las drogas y el alcohol). Cuando usted está preparado, descansado y relajado puede reaccionar mejor ante acontecimientos inesperados, y puede tomar decisiones que le convendrán más a su familia y a sus seres queridos.

Los siguientes consejos pueden ayudar a reducir el estrés antes, durante y después de un desastre o un acontecimiento traumático.

Antes

Hable con sus hijos para que ellos sepan que usted está preparado para mantenerlos a salvo.

Repasen los planes de seguridad antes de que suceda un desastre o una emergencia. Tener un plan aumentará la confianza de los niños y los ayudará a tener la sensación de estar en control.

Durante

Manténgase calmado y tranquilice a los niños.

Hábleles a los niños sobre lo que está pasando de una manera que puedan entender. Hágalo de una forma simple y adecuada para la edad de cada niño.

Después

Ofrézcales a los niños la oportunidad de hablar sobre lo que les pasó o qué piensan de eso. Anímelos a que digan lo que les preocupa y hagan preguntas.

Usted puede ayudar a sus hijos a tener la sensación de estar en control, y a manejar sus sentimientos, alentándolos a tomar medidas directamente relacionadas con el desastre. Por ejemplo, los niños pueden ayudar a otros después del desastre, incluso ofrecerse como voluntarios para ayudar a la comunidad o a miembros de la familia en un ambiente seguro. Los niños NO deben participar en las tareas de limpieza después de un desastre por razones de salud y seguridad.

Es difícil predecir cómo algunos niños responderán a los desastres y a los acontecimientos traumáticos. Debido a que los padres, maestros y otros adultos ven a los niños en diferentes situaciones, es importante que colaboren y compartan información sobre cómo el niño está sobrellevando la situación después de un acontecimiento traumático.

Reacciones comunes

Las reacciones comunes ante la aflicción desaparecerán con el tiempo en la mayoría de los niños. Los niños que hayan estado directamente expuestos a un desastre pueden volver a sentirse angustiados y volver a mostrar comportamientos relacionados con el acontecimiento si ven o escuchan algo que les haga recordar lo que pasó. Si los niños siguen muy afectados, o si sus reacciones interfieren con sus deberes escolares o sus relaciones con otras personas, los padres podrían hablar con un profesional o hacer que sus hijos conversen con alguien que se especialice en las necesidades emocionales de los niños. Obtenga más información sobre las reacciones comunes ante la aflicción:

En bebés y niños hasta los 2 años

Es posible que los bebés se vuelvan más irritables. También es posible que lloren más de lo habitual o que quieran estar más tiempo cargados y abrazados.

En niños de 3 a 6 años de edad

Puede que los niños en edad prescolar y de kínder vuelvan a tener comportamientos que ya habían superado. Por ejemplo, puede que tengan "accidentes" (mojar o ensuciar la ropa interior), mojar la cama, o sentirse asustados por la posibilidad de ser separados de sus padres o cuidadores. Quizás también les den rabietas o tengan dificultad para dormir.

En niños de 7 a 10 años de edad

Puede que los niños más grandes se sientan tristes, enojados o asustados ante la posible repetición del acontecimiento. Puede que sus compañeros les den información falsa; sin embargo, los padres o cuidadores pueden corregir la información errónea. Es posible que los niños más grandes se concentren en algunos detalles del acontecimiento y quieran hablar sobre ello todo el tiempo, o no quieran hablar de eso para nada. Puede que tengan dificultades para concentrarse.

En preadolescentes y adolescentes

Algunos preadolescentes y adolescentes reaccionan al trauma comportándose mal. Esto podría incluir conducir en forma imprudente, o consumir alcohol o drogas. Otros preadolescentes y adolescentes podrían tener miedo a salir de su casa. También es posible que pasen menos tiempo con sus amigos. Podrían sentirse abrumados por sus intensas emociones y no poder hablar sobre ellas. Sus emociones pueden llevarlos a tener más discusiones e incluso peleas con sus hermanos, padres o cuidadores, o con otros adultos.

En niños con necesidades especiales

Los niños que necesitan usar de manera continua un respirador o aquellos que usan una silla de ruedas o están en cama podrían tener reacciones más fuertes a una amenaza o a un desastre real. Ellos podrían sentir una angustia más intensa, o mayor preocupación o enfado que los niños sin necesidades especiales, porque tienen menos control sobre su bienestar diario que las demás personas. Lo mismo se aplica a los niños con otras limitaciones físicas, emocionales o intelectuales. Puede que los niños con necesidades especiales necesiten más palabras tranquilizadoras, más explicaciones acerca del acontecimiento y más consuelo, y otro tipo de contacto físico positivo, como abrazos de sus seres queridos.

Recursos adicionales en inglés

Para obtener más información sobre cómo sobrellevar un desastre, visite los siguientes sitios:

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centers for disease control and prevention

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Cómo ayudar a los niños | Cómo cuidar a los niños en un desastre | CDC

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Ayudando a los niños a sobrellevar la situación durante y después de un huracán: un recurso para padres y cuidadores pdf icon [PDF - 922 KB] Tenga la edad que tenga, su hijo podría sentirse alterado o tener otras emociones fuertes después de una emergencia.

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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

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Regardless of your child's age, he or she may feel upset or have other strong emotions after an emergency. Some children react right away, while others may show signs of difficulty much later. How a child reacts and the common signs of distress can vary according to the child's age, previous experiences, and how the child typically copes with stress.

Children react, in part, on what they see from the adults around them. When parents and caregivers deal with a disaster calmly and confidently, they can provide the best support for their children. Parents can be more reassuring to others around them, especially children, if they are better prepared.
People can become more distressed if they see repeated images of a disaster in the media. Early on, consider limiting the amount of exposure you and your loved ones get to media coverage.
Factors that Influence the Emotional Impact on Children in Emergencies

The amount of damage caused from a disaster can be overwhelming. The destruction of homes and separation from school, family, and friends can create a great amount of stress and anxiety for children.

The emotional impact of an emergency on a child depends on a child's characteristics and experiences, the social and economic circumstances of the family and community, and the availability of local resources. Not all children respond in the same ways. Some might have more severe, longer-lasting reactions. The following specific factors may affect a child's emotional response:

Direct involvement with the emergency

Previous traumatic or stressful event

Belief that the child or a loved one may die

Loss of a family member, close friend, or pet

Separation from caregivers

Physical injury

How parents and caregivers respond

Family resources

Relationships and communication among family members

Repeated exposure to mass media coverage of the emergency and aftermath

Ongoing stress due to the change in familiar routines and living conditions

Cultural differences

Community resilience

What You Can Do to Help Children Cope with a Disaster

Setting a good example for your children by managing your stress through healthy lifestyle choices, such as eating healthy, exercising regularly, getting plenty of sleep, and avoiding drugs and alcohol, is critical for parents and caregivers. When you are prepared, rested, and relaxed you can respond better to unexpected events and can make decisions in the best interest of your family and loved ones.

The following tips can help reduce stress before, during, and after a disaster or traumatic event.

Before

Talk to your children so that they know you are prepared to keep them safe.

Review safety plans before a disaster or emergency happens. Having a plan will increase your children's confidence and help give them a sense of control.

During

Stay calm and reassure your children.

Talk to children about what is happening in a way that they can understand. Keep it simple and appropriate for each child's age.

After

Provide children with opportunities to talk about what they went through or what they think about it. Encourage them to share concerns and ask questions.

You can help your children feel a sense of control and manage their feelings by encouraging them to take action directly related to the disaster. For example, children can help others after a disaster, including volunteering to help community or family members in a safe environment. Children should NOT participate in disaster cleanup activities for health and safety reasons.

It is difficult to predict how some children will respond to disasters and traumatic events. Because parents, teachers, and other adults see children in different situations, it is important for them to work together to share information about how each child is coping after a traumatic event.

Common Reactions

The common reactions to distress will fade over time for most children. Children who were directly exposed to a disaster can become upset again; behavior related to the event may return if they see or hear reminders of what happened. If children continue to be very upset or if their reactions hurt their schoolwork or relationships then parents may want to talk to a professional or have their children talk to someone who specializes in children's emotional needs. Learn more about common reactions to distress:

For infants to 2 year olds

Infants may become more cranky. They may cry more than usual or want to be held and cuddled more.

For 3 to 6 year olds

Preschool and kindergarten children may return to behaviors they have outgrown. For example, toileting accidents, bed-wetting, or being frightened about being separated from their parents/caregivers. They may also have tantrums or a hard time sleeping.

For 7 to 10 year olds

Older children may feel sad, mad, or afraid that the event will happen again. Peers may share false information; however, parents or caregivers can correct the misinformation. Older children may focus on details of the event and want to talk about it all the time or not want to talk about it at all. They may have trouble concentrating.

For preteens and teenagers

Some preteens and teenagers respond to trauma by acting out. This could include reckless driving, and alcohol or drug use. Others may become afraid to leave the home. They may cut back on how much time they spend with their friends. They can feel overwhelmed by their intense emotions and feel unable to talk about them. Their emotions may lead to increased arguing and even fighting with siblings, parents/caregivers or other adults.

For special needs children

Children who need continuous use of a breathing machine or are confined to a wheelchair or bed, may have stronger reactions to a threatened or actual disaster. They might have more intense distress, worry or anger than children without special needs because they have less control over day-to-day well-being than other people. The same is true for children with other physical, emotional, or intellectual limitations. Children with special needs may need extra words of reassurance, more explanations about the event, and more comfort and other positive physical contact such as hugs from loved ones.

Additional Resources

For more information about how to cope with a disaster, visit the following:

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centers for disease control and prevention

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Helping Children Cope with Emergencies | CDC

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Regardless of your child's age, he or she may feel upset or have other strong emotions after an emergency. Some children react right away, while others may show signs of difficulty much later. How a child reacts and the common signs of distress can vary according to the child's age, previous experiences, and how the child typically copes with stress.

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What is Color Therapy App?

With Color Therapy, people turn their anxieties into beautiful artworks through the colorings templates and tools that we provide, and benefit from the outpouring support from the community.

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#1 Relaxing Social Coloring App | Color therapy app for adults

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What is Color Therapy App? With Color Therapy, people turn their anxieties into beautiful artworks through the colorings templates and tools that we provide, and benefit from the outpouring support from the community.

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‎= = = Coloring is a great way to pass time and reduce stress & anxiety. Just 10 minutes of coloring can provide the same benefits as meditation. It helps you practice mindfulness, live in the moment, enhance concentration, encourage creativity, and is a great alternative to games! So take a break...

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Adult Coloring Books are a fun and addictive way to de-stress and get creative. Ours is 100% Free!

This coloring book has 1000s of high quality pictures and images for you to color, paint, and draw on. Colorfy and recolor them any way you like. Once you're done, share them with others!

FEATURES
- Color Therapy and Stress Relief in your pocket. Color anywhere you go!
- Gorgeous coloring books and pages. Something for everybody.
- Categories like: Mandalas, Animals, Portraits, Flowers, Nature, Enchanted Forest, Secret Garden, Patterns, Art, Designs and many more.
- Suitable for adults, kids, family, girls, teens... everybody can enjoy the joy of coloring!
- 100% Free! We don't hide some images behind paywalls or subscriptions.

Come rediscover the joys of coloring with us and download Colour Me - Colouring Book for Adults!

Crash, Freeze, Bugs, Comments, Feedback?
Feel free to drop us a line at https://www.applabsinc.net/contact-us

Important Message for Purchases:
- By downloading this App you agree to App Labs' s Privacy Policy
- Please consider that this App may include third parties services for limited legally permissible purposes.

Discover more free games with App Labs
- Learn more about us at: https://www.applabsinc.net/

Version 2.7.4

Hi there!
Thanks for the continuous support.

We fixed a few bugs, and added support to more languages.

Regards,
App Labs

AMAZING APP!!!!!!

This is the best app I have ever downloaded!
Everything is completely free. Free app. No in App purchases. Reasonable ads. BEAUTIFUL coloring pages!! Tons of colors to choose from! Not just red orange yellow green and blue, but many shades of colors in between, diverse coloring portraits, animals, plants, and other things. It's really an amazing app.
To color you just tap the color you want and tap the area you want it. For coloring big spaces there's an option to just use your finger to fill it in, this mostly used for many small spaces.
The only suggestion I have for this app is to make sure the outlines are connected. For example, in some eyes and some skin and face drawings in portrait and some in animals, the lines don't connect to the other lines, causing the whole thing to be one color. For example, when I tap the iris of the eye, instead of turning just the iris, say blue, it turns the whole eye blue. But that is a minor issue for such a successful app.

So much better than colorfly!

I love it when colorfly says that the app is completely free when you can only color one or two pages in each section and the rest are locked. The only way to access them is to buy a freaking subscription. Thank you for telling the truth about your app. I love it so much! It's great! But I have some requests: 1: Can you add a feature where you can slide your finger around and color bigger areas faster? 2: Please add a feature where you can use pictures and drawings in your camera roll and color them! 3: Can you add a little bar at the bottom of the screen for selected colors so that you don't have to go back and forth so often?
4: Please make it so that you can zoom in much further for tiny details.
Thank you. :)

I love the app, hate the glitches

I've had this app for about 2 weeks now and I am so happy. It keeps my calm and helps me relax. Even my husband enjoys seeing me color and how at peace I am. The glitches started 2 days ago. At first I could not color one very particular drawing. As soon as I would click on it, the app would immediately kick me back to my home screen. I tried it several times and gave up. Today, I the glitches got worse. I picked up a drawing and it would open and close an add constantly. Best was I can describe the activity is as if a person turns the lights on and off fast several times. I closed the app completely, reopened it hoping for the best. Well my work didn't save and what's worse, it happened several times again. I could never watch an add, of close the app, it would just appear, then go back to my drawing and reappear consecutively. I assumed it was again that (second) specific drawing so I began another one. Same issue. Can someone explain this? My phone and my apps are up to date. I like this thing too much to give it up because of these glitches.

Information

Compatibility

Requires iOS 8.0 or later. Compatible with iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.

Family Sharing

With Family Sharing set up, up to six family members can use this app.

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‎Adult Coloring Books are a fun and addictive way to de-stress and get creative. Ours is 100% Free! This coloring book has 1000s of high quality pictures and images for you to color, paint, and draw on. Colorfy and recolor them any way you like. Once you're done, share them with others!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Hi there, I am Pritesh - maker of the Gratitude app, a great tool to bring more gratitude into your lives.

The Gratitude app was born out of a personal need and I had initially built the app for myself. In June 2017, my family and I were struggling with many problems. We were in a constant state of negativity, frustration, and anxiety. My dad was a victim of politics at his job, my mother was not keeping well, my sister and I were struggling at our jobs and figuring out what to do. It felt as if we were constantly attracting negativity and things felt like they were becoming even worse.

We consulted spiritual healers and therapists. I attended mind power workshops, read a lot of self-help books, and even asked for help from friends and family. I won't deny that reading the book 'The Secret' by Rhonda Byrne had a huge positive impact on me.
While doing all these, I actively started to focus more on the positives, to count my blessings. I understood and absorbed the fact that if I keep complaining about the things that I lack, no matter what I achieve, I'll continue to be anxious or worrying about things that I lack(at that time). More importantly, I realized that the most important reason for staying unhappy was when we spent all the time thinking about "I" or "me" or "myself" - being self-centered.

I started writing and expressing thanks for the little things that happened to me. It wasn't easy. It was difficult at the start. In fact, at the beginning things seem to feel even worse. Because, I was expecting things to change sooner and when that didn't happen early on, I started questioning the whole concept of Gratitude. But I wondered, what is the harm in doing it anyway? There's nothing to lose.
Right now, I'm not exaggerating when I say that I feel magical after expressing, writing, and harboring Grateful thoughts. I eventually succeeded in convincing my family too to try and focus on the positive, and now after quite a hard time, all of us are doing great. Over time, I think we realized that we shouldn't be chasing the wrong things and attach our happiness to them. I built this app because I wanted a private place to write my grateful thoughts, to remind me to focus on the positive, and to give it colors. The app has been my happy place.

Journaling:
The app is a great tool to reminds us about the little things that we can take for granted. You can set multiple reminders for making you consistent at feeling grateful and finding gratitude for new things every day. On difficult days, you can look back and read up your old journal entries. They are great for uplifting your mood. If you are stuck or find it boring, the app gives you ideas on what you could be grateful for. Lots of our users love adding images to their journals. These become cherishable memories for a lifetime. The app also allows you to write a letter of thank you to someone that brought value to you.

Self Affirmations:
Lots of our users asked us for also including affirmations. This is the second tab in the app. These self-affirmations are great for improving your self-talk and self-image. You can customize your affirmations with background images, adding your voice, and background music. You can also discover new affirmations from our handpicked ones.

Daily Zen:
Every day, the app brings to you inspiring quotes, affirmations, and gratitude stories from other users.

Vision Board:
There's a place in the app that you can use to visualize your goals every day. You can add several photos related to your dreams and play these every day with background music.

If you have any questions about the app or getting start with your Gratitude Journaling Journey, please don't hesitate to write to me at priteshsankhe@gratefulness.me

We don't support family sharing of In-App Purchase inside the app.
You can find the Privacy Policy for the app here: https://www.notion.so/Gratitude-App-Privacy-Policy-40195d1e9f51499c82dc8f7d06ab2a1c

Version 3.11.38

Affirmations were disappearing from a folder while organizing affirmations in that folder
Vision Board is all about putting your goals out into the Universe in the form of photographs and words.
Stuck out on ideas of what to put into your board? Sweat not! We've got you covered!

A completely private gratitude journal app with Affirmations and Daily Zen.
Please reach out to me at priteshsankhe@gratefulness.me if you see any issues

Greatness starts by being grateful

I am so thankful for this app. I'm also very grateful to the team who developed it and who constantly updates it to a positive direction. This app's free feature is great in which I started with. But I decided to purchase the membership because I enjoy uploading photos and keeping traceable record of my journey of gratitude.
I started this app when I started reading the book, "The gift," by Rhonda Byrnes.
I recommend this app to go alongside that book because it easily allows you to record your day to day grateful practices. The book had 28 days to practice gratefulness. And both the book and this app has allowed me to transform my life to the better. 2020 has not been a kind year to many , but to practice being grateful even for the small things go a long way. I still practice writing down my daily blessings in this app despite finishing the book weeks ago. I also love the fact that they offer reminders, quotes and challenges to keep you engaged to being grateful. So thank you, Thank You, THANK YOU!!

Hey Nina! Thank you so much for your wonderful and inspiring review 😍 I am glad to see that you have been working on empowering yourself on your life journey. Gratitude app was built out of a personal need. And, with constant practice, gratitude brings happiness around. Thank you for liking the features like reminders, quotes and taking the challenge. I wish you a wonderful journey ahead. Lots of love and be safe ❤️

A diamond in the rough

I was looking for a simple way to be more mindful and grateful when I stumbled upon this app. It's awesome. The free version may be perfect for you to add a bit a positivity. If so, use it, in these troubling times it's hard to remember all the good things in your life. I got the subscription as I love the fact that is synced across devices and you can add more pics. I was just looking for a easy way to journal my thoughts but this little gem has so much more: from reminders, gratitude prompts, daily inspirational quotes, and even ways to make your own affirmations to help you focus on the the positive and your resiliency. Even if you only use the free version, please use it. The positivity and kindness that come from mindfulness, no matter how small, will create a tiny ripple in the sea of chaos. And who knows, maybe that one ripple will be the only thing that another person has in their life. We never truly know just how we affect people. Let's try and make sure it's kindness, empathy and compassion we spread.

Hey, this is so lovely 😍 Thank you so much for your wonderful review 🙏 I shared your review with my friends to inspire them. I am so glad to see you found my app meaningful. This app was built out of a personal need. You are right about the free version of the app. They are perfect to build a habit of practising gratitude. I am glad that you found the features inside the app helpful. I really liked what you have said in the last lines of your review 🙌 I wish you a wonderful journey ahead. Lots of love and be safe ❤️

The App that "fits"

I've tried a number of journaling and gratitude apps and most of them try to be too many things. This app is beautiful in so many ways: it's focused - you will definitely increase your level of gratitude with it because that's what the app is about; it's intuitive - born out of the developer's own needs, the app is beautiful in UI - simple, effective, and the app does not get in your way at all; and it's uplifting - between the Zen Affirmations that are included and my ability to add my own In-CAN-rations (yes, Tony Robbins fan), this app hits the mark. Finally, I really like the widgets for the new iOS 14 home screens - this is the gem of it all. Now I can get these tidbits played back to me without opening the app. I'm grateful that life happened FOR Pratish (the developer) and this app arose from his personal struggles. Without those struggles, we would have never been able to enjoy this app and all it can do to help YOU.

Hey! Thank you so much for your lovely review 😍 I am glad to see that you found our app meaningful and liked the story behind the app. Thank you giving our app a chance and for liking the widgets that we have provided with the iOS 14. These widgets provides you an easy access to positivity. I wish you lots of love and happiness in life. Be safe ❤️

The developer, Hapjoy Technologies Private Limited, indicated that the app's privacy practices may include handling of data as described below. For more information, see the developer's privacy policy.

Data Used to Track You

The following data may be used to track you across apps and websites owned by other companies:

Data Linked to You

The following data may be collected and linked to your identity:

Data Not Linked to You

The following data may be collected but it is not linked to your identity:

Privacy practices may vary, for example, based on the features you use or your age. Learn More

Information

Seller

Hapjoy Technologies Private Limited

Compatibility

iPhone

Requires iOS 9.1 or later.

iPad

Requires iPadOS 9.1 or later.

iPod touch

Requires iOS 9.1 or later.

Mac

Requires macOS 11.0 or later and a Mac with Apple M1 chip.

In-App Purchases

Gratitude Pro $29.99

Monthly pro plan $4.99

Annual pro plan $29.99
more

Family Sharing

With Family Sharing set up, up to six family members can use this app.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
‎Hi there, I am Pritesh - maker of the Gratitude app, a great tool to bring more gratitude into your lives. The Gratitude app was born out of a personal need and I had initially built the app for myself. In June 2017, my family and I were struggling with many problems. We were in a constant state of...

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Grounding Technique When Feeling Anxious

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Grounding Technique When Feeling Anxious

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Gentle Reminders When The World Feels Frightening

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Gentle Reminders When The World Feels Frightening

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Progressive Muscle Relaxation  (WITH Music)

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Cómo hablar con su adolescente ansioso sobre Covid-19

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Cómo hablar con su adolescente ansioso sobre Covid-19

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Fear, uncertainty, and anxiety are bound to be heightened with wide-scale disease outbreaks that are contagious, particularly when they involve a new, previously unknown disease-causing agent, as is the case with the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. This fear and anxiety can especially affect people already suffering from anxiety, and repeated news cycles about the spread of coronavirus do not help this anxiety.

Children and teens may have a particularly hard time making sense of what's happening in such a scenario, given their pending brain maturation, their lack of experience, and their inherent suggestibility and vulnerability. Seemingly endless news cycles may feel overwhelming, confusing and scary to a child or teen. Children typically possess lesser abilities to decipher and understand from the news, the extent of risk that a disease outbreak poses to them or to their loved ones and friends. This can create a sense of panic amongst children. This may be more challenging when a child/teen is already suffering from an anxiety disorder or predisposed to feeling more anxious in unusual or new situations.

How a child responds to news of novel coronavirus may depend on several factors, such as 1) age of the child, 2) language/comprehension abilities and developmental level of the child, 3) presence, severity and type of anxiety disorder(s) or other psychiatric conditions, 4) prior history of trauma or serious illness of loved ones or self, 5) occurrence of other recent stressors or major life events (such as parental divorce, death of loved ones, major move, change of school), etc. Therefore, a parent's response would need to be tailored to the individual situation and context surrounding their child/teen.

Following are a few general tips for communicating with an anxious/child or teen about coronavirus. These may not apply if your child/teen is suffering from a moderate to severe anxiety disorder. In that case, please consult your child's mental health professional/psychiatrist/pediatrician at the earliest, to devise or modify your child/teen's individualized treatment plan so that it weaves in the recommended precautions ( https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-
ncov/about/prevention.html?CDC_AA_refVal=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Fcoronavirus%2F2019-ncov%2Fabout%2Fprevention-treatment.htm l) while addressing the anxiety symptoms that can occur in the context of the novel coronavirus.

Model Calmness:
The most important and impactful form of communication to your child/teen is your own behavior. Children typically tend to be perceptive and sensitive to the behavior of others in their surroundings. If you and other adults in the household are acting and behaving calmly, you are sending a clear message to your child/teen that there is no need to panic or worry. For this, you would need to watch and monitor your own feelings and reactions. Children can sense their parents' anxiety even when parents are not voicing or expressing their anxiety related thoughts or fears. Carving a few minutes for yourself for mindful breathing pauses during the day may help you model calm for your child/teen.

Maintain Normalcy:
Significant changes to daily routines or schedules are stressful for children and convey to the child that you are very concerned or there is a crisis. Try adhering to usual routines and schedules in the household as much as possible. Consistency is key. If your child/teen's school is closed, helping your child/teen have structure during the day, may help anxiety. Sitting around idle without a plan for the day is likely to escalate anxiety, especially for teens already suffering from anxiety. On the other hand, if your child/teen happens to suffer from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) related to maladaptive perfectionism and has a need for excessive structuring, adding more structure would not apply to your child/teen. In this case, you would need to work with your child's therapist/psychiatrist to determine the best strategy to navigate this situation, taking into account the unique circumstances of your child.

Listen Actively:
Listen to your child/teen's feelings, worries, fears and questions about coronavirus. Children may receive their news about coronavirus from school, internet, TV, home or elsewhere. They may worry that the worst may happen to them and/or their friends and loved ones. Ask questions in a non-judgmental and empathetic manner. Show your child/teen that you are present and interested in hearing their thoughts and feelings. This will make it easier for your child/teen to approach you with their thoughts and feelings in future as well. You can find more information on Active Listening at CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)'s 'Essentials for Parenting Toddlers and Preschoolers' here:
https://www.cdc.gov/parents/essentials/communication/activelistening.html

Validate:
Acknowledge your child's feelings. Be careful not to dismiss, invalidate, make fun of or reject their feelings. You may also inform your child that it is common to feel this way; many other people (including children) experience similar feelings. More about Validating Your Child/Teen: Many people worry that validating their child's feelings would mean they are agreeing with those and that this may further increase those feelings. Validating someone's feelings does not mean you agree with the beliefs underlying those feelings, but, it means you acknowledge the presence of those feelings and that you understand that such feelings are a part of the human experience. Validating is very powerful as it helps the person feel understood. This is especially important for children as they rely on and check with parents/teachers to make sense of their emotional experiences, particularly experiences or situations that are new or unusual for them. Validation can help the child feel calmer and enhance the child's ability to process their emotions.Frequent invalidation of a child/teen can lead them to be confused about or doubt their own feelings as they grow up, and may contribute to low self-esteem or sense of self, besides potentially affecting or even rupturing your relationship with them in the long-term.

Help Sit with Anxiety:
Encourage your child to practice sitting with and experiencing the anxiety, rather than doing something to relieve it or distract from it. Sitting with the anxiety may be challenging for your child/teen at first (depending on the severity of anxiety), however, with practice, it will help your child/teen know that even though sitting with anxiety can be challenging and unpleasant especially in the beginning, it is doable, that this is a wave they can ride, and that these are feelings that will pass and these do not define them or their life. Help your child notice and verbalize the experience of anxiety rather than avoiding it. Putting anxiety related feelings in words facilitates faster and optimal processing of those emotions and experiences. Normalizing the experience of anxiety as one that many people around the world feel, can also be helpful.
Know the Facts and Direct towards Facts:
Your child/teen is likely hearing about the novel coronavirus outside home anyway, so, do not shy away from approaching or discussing it. Be proactive in talking to your child/teen about facts regarding the coronavirus. For this, you will need to equip yourself with and read about the facts around coronavirus first. Ensure that you are getting your facts from reliable sources, such as the CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/faq.html.

For an older child/teen, point them in the direction of scientifically authentic and reliable sources of news information about coronavirus. Inform your older child/teen that every new story may not be complete or show the big picture.Educate your older child/teen on distinguishing reliable and scientific sources of information about coronavirus from non-reliable ones. Inform your child/teen about the facts that you know about coronavirus, in a developmentally suitable way (in terms and amounts that they can grasp at their age and comprehension level). For an older child/teen, you may let them know that less than 1000 people (as of March 11, 2020) out of approximately 328 million people in the US currently suffer from the novel coronavirus, and that the chances of getting infected are low for most people, more so if simple precautions are practiced. Your child may ask you why the novel coronavirus is constantly on the news, if the likelihood of getting the infection is that low. Inform your older child/teen that this coronavirus is a new one that the world didn't know about before, and therefore, countries and people want to watch it closely to prevent it from spreading further, and to understand it better. For young children, basic reassurance from parents that they and their loved ones are safe, is important. You may use story-telling and role play with younger kids to illustrate simple facts. Keep any information you give- simple, short and concrete with younger kids.

Children may have heard news about deaths from coronavirus. For older children who are more likely to understand the concept of death and its finality, you can educate them that most people do not die from this disease, rather, most get better. Regardless of the age of your child, if your child asks specific questions about deaths from coronavirus, do not avoid those; ask them what they think and know, and explain facts to your child in a simple way that is digestible for their age and developmental level, and is situationally appropriate. Ask them further about their concerns. Let your child/teen know that you are available if they want to talk further or have any questions.

Limit Excessive Reassurance:
Children or teens, who are feeling anxious or suffering from anxiety disorders, may repeatedly ask their parents for words or gestures of reassurance. Excessive reassurance may be in the form of repeated requests for gestures of comfort, repeated questions to verify safety of self and others, repeated requests for checking or repeating or asking you to repeat facts of the situation to reassure self, etcetera. While you may have an urge to provide such reassurance and such reassurance may give you the impression that it is helping at that moment, excessive reassurance actually serves to reinforce and increase anxiety in the long- term. Therefore, it is advisable to limit excessive reassurance. Also, aim to provide a high ratio of positive to constructive feedback for your child/teen when they engage in appropriate behavior. Parents who are suffering from anxiety disorders, may find it particularly challenging to limit such reassurance and may benefit from professional help for themselves to address these challenges.

Help Practice Relaxation Strategies:
Relaxation strategies that are mindfulness based, such as breathing techniques, may help your child/teen feel calmer. You can find more information about mindful breathing techniques at: https://www.seattlechildrens.org/pdf/PE698.pdf, https://www.seattlechildrens.org/pdf/pe727.pdf and https://www.headspace.com/meditation/kids.
They are more effective if practiced regularly. If your child/teen suffers from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, keep an eye that these exercises do not become compulsive rituals. Most mindfulness exercises, be it mindful breathing, mindful walking or mindful eating, involve non-judgmental noticing and practicing being in the present moment.

Make it Educational and Interesting:
While the novel coronavirus does warrant seriousness, children understand and engage best through stories and play. A creative learning activity about COVID- 19, that is tailored to the age, developmental level and degree of anxiety of your child, may be a useful way to help your child understand the facts. If your child/teen's anxiety is moderate to severe, any activity should be done only after consultation with their healthcare professional.

For instance, if your older child/teen is learning ratios, proportions, or percentages at school, you may ask them to read up about the numbers of people affected in the US at a reliable source, such as CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/cases-in- us.html. When your child/teen calculates the proportion of people affected out of the whole population, etc., this will help them find out for themselves that the likelihood of being affected with coronavirus and especially being afflicted with the severe form of the disease, is low for most people.

For an older child/teen who has an interest in science, you may talk with them about antigens and antibodies. For those interested in history and science, you may give them reading material from authentic sources about how previous disease outbreaks in the world were handled. This may help your child/teen know how diseases were eradicated, how the world got through previous outbreaks, and therefore, can get through this one too.

For a young child, you may talk to them (or draw/paint pictures with them) about our body's own strong warriors which spring forth to fight infections, and how eating healthy foods can make those warriors stronger. You may also talk to them about how many warriors outside, such as scientists, healthcare professionals and others, are working actively to protect people from acquiring this disease.

Watch Closely and Monitor:
If your child/teen suffers from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and tends to fixate or get stuck on certain things, you would need to take that into account while creating an activity or exercise. In that case, monitor so that this activity/exercise itself does not become a repetitive ritual. Children/teens with OCD may also struggle more than usual with handwashing, checking, counting and other compulsive rituals during this time, particularly as they hear recommendations for regular handwashing as part of prevention measures for coronavirus and as they hear about the rising numbers of people affected by the virus. In that case, you may work with your child's therapist/psychiatrist to weave in and integrate the CDC precautions and recommendations into ERP (Exposure and Response Prevention), such that precautions are followed without turning into compulsive rituals. If your child/teen appears to have symptoms of an anxiety disorder or obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), that are impairing or significantly interfering with their daily functioning at school and/or home, please consult a mental health professional at the earliest and work with that mental health professional closely.

Limit and Monitor News/Media Exposure:
The vast majority of children and adolescents in the US (and in large parts of the world) watch hours of TV and other media daily. Limiting and monitoring the exposure of your child/teen to news cycles can be one step towards helping them regulate their anxiety. The younger the child, the greater their need for limiting exposure to news. For older children too, parental monitoring and guidance to help navigate the confusing and often scary news about coronavirus, is needed.

Consult, Collaborate with Healthcare Professionals:
If your child/teen is suffering from an anxiety disorder or other psychiatric condition, talk to your pediatrician and arrange for a consultation with a mental health professional, if you haven't done so already. Most treatments for anxiety in children and teens should involve psychotherapy. There are various modalities of psychotherapy that can be beneficial for anxiety; Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is one form of psychotherapy that has substantial evidence of benefit for treatment of anxiety in children and adolescents. If your child/teen already is under the care of a mental health professional, work closely with that professional to help your child navigate this unusual time.

Practice Compassion:
Widescale infectious disease outbreaks, such as the current one, are bound to be stressful and can be challenging to maneuver, particularly when they start to affect daily life or activities and more so, if your child/teen suffers from anxiety. Practice being kind, gentle and compassionate to yourself and to your child/teen. If you'd like to try compassion based exercises, you can find them here: https://centerformsc.org/practice-msc/guided-meditations-and-exercises/ and here: https://www.compassionatemind.co.uk/resources/exercises.
Note: For the sake of simplicity, the words 'they', 'them', 'their', have been used in this article as pronouns for child/teen. Please substitute these with the appropriate pronoun as it relates to your child/teen. About the Author

Richa Bhatia, MD, FAPA is a Child, Adolescent and Adult psychiatrist, dual Board certified in Child, Adolescent and General Psychiatry. She is the author of 2 books: 'Demystifying Psychiatric Conditions and Treatments' and '65 Answers about Psychiatric Conditions'. Previously, she served as a faculty member in the departments of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth. She serves as an Associate Editor for Current Psychiatry, Section Editor for Current Opinion in Psychiatry and is on the editorial board of several other psychiatry journals. She is an expert contributor for Psychology Today and Thrive Global. Some of her interests are childhood depressive and anxiety disorders, the interface between medical and psychiatric conditions, differential diagnosis, compassion and bullying prevention. She is an active member of the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Section of the World Psychiatric Association (WPA), the American Psychiatric Association and the Anxiety and Depression Association of America.

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How to Talk to Your Anxious Child or Teen About Coronavirus

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Fear, uncertainty, and anxiety are bound to be heightened with wide-scale disease outbreaks that are contagious, particularly when they involve a new, previously unknown disease-causing agent, as is the case with the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. This fear and anxiety can especially affect people already suffering from anxiety, and repeated news cycles about the spread of coronavirus do not help this anxiety.

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Planet Fitness is streaming live in-home workouts

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Planet Fitness is streaming live in-home workouts

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Planet Fitness, Hampton, New Hampshire. 4,596,188 likes · 15,695 talking about this · 24,131,076 were here. We're Planet Fitness - The Judgement Free Zone®.

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30-Minute No Equipment Cardio Kickboxing

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30-Minute No Equipment Cardio Kickboxing

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30-Minute No-Equipment Cardio Kickboxing Workout

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15-Minute Bounce-Back Cardio Dance Workout

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15-Minute Bounce-Back Cardio Dance Workout

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15-Minute Bounce-Back Cardio Dance Workout

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**Add description @jackie**

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Mindfulness is a powerful practice that helps kids and adults alike find focus, balance, and peace! Kids need mindfulness to encourage important life, school, and social skills, and you can practice these skills at home with these fun, hands-on mindfulness crafts! Keep reading to find one your kids will love:

Mindfulness Crafts

Mandala Hands

In this activity, kids trace one hand or both hands. Inside the handprints, they draw their own mandala-style designs. On the fingers, the can write words that describe how they are feeling in the moment. Click here for full instructions.

Painted Rocks

A great introductory book about mindfulness is A Handful of Quiet by mindfulness expert, Thich Nhat Hanh. To accompany the reading and activities, paint rocks to represent each activity! These can serve as an anchoring point or visual focal point for the activity. Read more about this activity here.

Black Glue Mandalas

This mindfulness craft activity is a huge hit every time I do it at home or at school! Kids can create their own mandalas with black glue and then paint their designs with watercolors after the glue dries. This is a great creative, highly-focused activity to try at home or at school! Get full instructions for this activity here.

Lazy 8s Painting

Lazy 8 breathing is easy-to-use strategy for controlled breathing. Instead of tracing an 8 with a finger, try painting the eight instead! Breathe along with the brush strokes to practice slow, controlled, mindful breaths.

Playdough Roll

Play dough is awesome all-around, but it's great for mindfulness too! Use it as a tool to explore texture, describe sensations, and focusing on senses. Click here to get instructions for making this play dough and guiding questions to ask. And find more ways to use playdough for emotional support activities here on Confident Counselors.

Build Mindful Kids

Want more mindfulness activities to try at home? You'll love these!
Mindfulness Activities for Kids
Keep Reading

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Mindfulness Crafts You Can Do at Home - Counselor Keri

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Mindfulness is a powerful practice that helps kids and adults alike find focus, balance, and peace! Kids need mindfulness to encourage important life, school, and social skills, and you can practice these skills at home with these fun, hands-on mindfulness crafts!

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An evidence-based approach to supporting the mental health and wellbeing of children in the classroom, school and home environments. Choose the implementation option to suit your school.

For a limited time, Australian primary schools can apply for a funded place and receive the Primary School Program at no direct cost to the school.

Smiling Mind is Australia's leading digital-led, prevention focussed mental health not-for-profit. Smiling Mind has been helping minds thrive for over 10 years and are the innovators behind Australia's most trusted mental wellbeing app. Our evidence-based tools support people to learn the skills to maintain their mental health in fun and interactive ways.

If you'd like to support our work, you can make a donation. Every contribution, however large or small makes a difference and we're so grateful for your support.

The Australian Mental Wellbeing Index provides a snapshot insight into the everyday mental wellbeing of Australia. It explores the factors that contribute to mental wellbeing and aims to generate a national conversation about how Australians can take a proactive approach to support mental wellbeing.

We've recently released the second annual report exploring the data collected across 2022-2023. The latest report shows young Australians aged 18-24, are experiencing poorer mental wellbeing than older age groups and poorer levels of focus and concentration may be a key driver of this.

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Smiling Mind is a non-for-profit web and app-based meditation program developed by psychologists and educators to help bring mindfulness into your life.

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There are a lot of unknowns in the world right now. But one thing is certain - Headspace is here for you. To help you, we're offering some meditations you can listen to anytime.

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Talking to your Teen about COVID-related Anxiety 

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Talking to your Teen about COVID-related Anxiety 

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Fear, uncertainty, and anxiety are bound to be heightened with wide-scale disease outbreaks that are contagious, particularly when they involve a new, previously unknown disease-causing agent, as is the case with the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. This fear and anxiety can especially affect people already suffering from anxiety, and repeated news cycles about the spread of coronavirus do not help this anxiety.

Children and teens may have a particularly hard time making sense of what's happening in such a scenario, given their pending brain maturation, their lack of experience, and their inherent suggestibility and vulnerability. Seemingly endless news cycles may feel overwhelming, confusing and scary to a child or teen. Children typically possess lesser abilities to decipher and understand from the news, the extent of risk that a disease outbreak poses to them or to their loved ones and friends. This can create a sense of panic amongst children. This may be more challenging when a child/teen is already suffering from an anxiety disorder or predisposed to feeling more anxious in unusual or new situations.

How a child responds to news of novel coronavirus may depend on several factors, such as 1) age of the child, 2) language/comprehension abilities and developmental level of the child, 3) presence, severity and type of anxiety disorder(s) or other psychiatric conditions, 4) prior history of trauma or serious illness of loved ones or self, 5) occurrence of other recent stressors or major life events (such as parental divorce, death of loved ones, major move, change of school), etc. Therefore, a parent's response would need to be tailored to the individual situation and context surrounding their child/teen.

Following are a few general tips for communicating with an anxious/child or teen about coronavirus. These may not apply if your child/teen is suffering from a moderate to severe anxiety disorder. In that case, please consult your child's mental health professional/psychiatrist/pediatrician at the earliest, to devise or modify your child/teen's individualized treatment plan so that it weaves in the recommended precautions ( https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-
ncov/about/prevention.html?CDC_AA_refVal=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Fcoronavirus%2F2019-ncov%2Fabout%2Fprevention-treatment.htm l) while addressing the anxiety symptoms that can occur in the context of the novel coronavirus.

Model Calmness:
The most important and impactful form of communication to your child/teen is your own behavior. Children typically tend to be perceptive and sensitive to the behavior of others in their surroundings. If you and other adults in the household are acting and behaving calmly, you are sending a clear message to your child/teen that there is no need to panic or worry. For this, you would need to watch and monitor your own feelings and reactions. Children can sense their parents' anxiety even when parents are not voicing or expressing their anxiety related thoughts or fears. Carving a few minutes for yourself for mindful breathing pauses during the day may help you model calm for your child/teen.

Maintain Normalcy:
Significant changes to daily routines or schedules are stressful for children and convey to the child that you are very concerned or there is a crisis. Try adhering to usual routines and schedules in the household as much as possible. Consistency is key. If your child/teen's school is closed, helping your child/teen have structure during the day, may help anxiety. Sitting around idle without a plan for the day is likely to escalate anxiety, especially for teens already suffering from anxiety. On the other hand, if your child/teen happens to suffer from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) related to maladaptive perfectionism and has a need for excessive structuring, adding more structure would not apply to your child/teen. In this case, you would need to work with your child's therapist/psychiatrist to determine the best strategy to navigate this situation, taking into account the unique circumstances of your child.

Listen Actively:
Listen to your child/teen's feelings, worries, fears and questions about coronavirus. Children may receive their news about coronavirus from school, internet, TV, home or elsewhere. They may worry that the worst may happen to them and/or their friends and loved ones. Ask questions in a non-judgmental and empathetic manner. Show your child/teen that you are present and interested in hearing their thoughts and feelings. This will make it easier for your child/teen to approach you with their thoughts and feelings in future as well. You can find more information on Active Listening at CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)'s 'Essentials for Parenting Toddlers and Preschoolers' here:
https://www.cdc.gov/parents/essentials/communication/activelistening.html

Validate:
Acknowledge your child's feelings. Be careful not to dismiss, invalidate, make fun of or reject their feelings. You may also inform your child that it is common to feel this way; many other people (including children) experience similar feelings. More about Validating Your Child/Teen: Many people worry that validating their child's feelings would mean they are agreeing with those and that this may further increase those feelings. Validating someone's feelings does not mean you agree with the beliefs underlying those feelings, but, it means you acknowledge the presence of those feelings and that you understand that such feelings are a part of the human experience. Validating is very powerful as it helps the person feel understood. This is especially important for children as they rely on and check with parents/teachers to make sense of their emotional experiences, particularly experiences or situations that are new or unusual for them. Validation can help the child feel calmer and enhance the child's ability to process their emotions.Frequent invalidation of a child/teen can lead them to be confused about or doubt their own feelings as they grow up, and may contribute to low self-esteem or sense of self, besides potentially affecting or even rupturing your relationship with them in the long-term.

Help Sit with Anxiety:
Encourage your child to practice sitting with and experiencing the anxiety, rather than doing something to relieve it or distract from it. Sitting with the anxiety may be challenging for your child/teen at first (depending on the severity of anxiety), however, with practice, it will help your child/teen know that even though sitting with anxiety can be challenging and unpleasant especially in the beginning, it is doable, that this is a wave they can ride, and that these are feelings that will pass and these do not define them or their life. Help your child notice and verbalize the experience of anxiety rather than avoiding it. Putting anxiety related feelings in words facilitates faster and optimal processing of those emotions and experiences. Normalizing the experience of anxiety as one that many people around the world feel, can also be helpful.
Know the Facts and Direct towards Facts:
Your child/teen is likely hearing about the novel coronavirus outside home anyway, so, do not shy away from approaching or discussing it. Be proactive in talking to your child/teen about facts regarding the coronavirus. For this, you will need to equip yourself with and read about the facts around coronavirus first. Ensure that you are getting your facts from reliable sources, such as the CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/faq.html.

For an older child/teen, point them in the direction of scientifically authentic and reliable sources of news information about coronavirus. Inform your older child/teen that every new story may not be complete or show the big picture.Educate your older child/teen on distinguishing reliable and scientific sources of information about coronavirus from non-reliable ones. Inform your child/teen about the facts that you know about coronavirus, in a developmentally suitable way (in terms and amounts that they can grasp at their age and comprehension level). For an older child/teen, you may let them know that less than 1000 people (as of March 11, 2020) out of approximately 328 million people in the US currently suffer from the novel coronavirus, and that the chances of getting infected are low for most people, more so if simple precautions are practiced. Your child may ask you why the novel coronavirus is constantly on the news, if the likelihood of getting the infection is that low. Inform your older child/teen that this coronavirus is a new one that the world didn't know about before, and therefore, countries and people want to watch it closely to prevent it from spreading further, and to understand it better. For young children, basic reassurance from parents that they and their loved ones are safe, is important. You may use story-telling and role play with younger kids to illustrate simple facts. Keep any information you give- simple, short and concrete with younger kids.

Children may have heard news about deaths from coronavirus. For older children who are more likely to understand the concept of death and its finality, you can educate them that most people do not die from this disease, rather, most get better. Regardless of the age of your child, if your child asks specific questions about deaths from coronavirus, do not avoid those; ask them what they think and know, and explain facts to your child in a simple way that is digestible for their age and developmental level, and is situationally appropriate. Ask them further about their concerns. Let your child/teen know that you are available if they want to talk further or have any questions.

Limit Excessive Reassurance:
Children or teens, who are feeling anxious or suffering from anxiety disorders, may repeatedly ask their parents for words or gestures of reassurance. Excessive reassurance may be in the form of repeated requests for gestures of comfort, repeated questions to verify safety of self and others, repeated requests for checking or repeating or asking you to repeat facts of the situation to reassure self, etcetera. While you may have an urge to provide such reassurance and such reassurance may give you the impression that it is helping at that moment, excessive reassurance actually serves to reinforce and increase anxiety in the long- term. Therefore, it is advisable to limit excessive reassurance. Also, aim to provide a high ratio of positive to constructive feedback for your child/teen when they engage in appropriate behavior. Parents who are suffering from anxiety disorders, may find it particularly challenging to limit such reassurance and may benefit from professional help for themselves to address these challenges.

Help Practice Relaxation Strategies:
Relaxation strategies that are mindfulness based, such as breathing techniques, may help your child/teen feel calmer. You can find more information about mindful breathing techniques at: https://www.seattlechildrens.org/pdf/PE698.pdf, https://www.seattlechildrens.org/pdf/pe727.pdf and https://www.headspace.com/meditation/kids.
They are more effective if practiced regularly. If your child/teen suffers from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, keep an eye that these exercises do not become compulsive rituals. Most mindfulness exercises, be it mindful breathing, mindful walking or mindful eating, involve non-judgmental noticing and practicing being in the present moment.

Make it Educational and Interesting:
While the novel coronavirus does warrant seriousness, children understand and engage best through stories and play. A creative learning activity about COVID- 19, that is tailored to the age, developmental level and degree of anxiety of your child, may be a useful way to help your child understand the facts. If your child/teen's anxiety is moderate to severe, any activity should be done only after consultation with their healthcare professional.

For instance, if your older child/teen is learning ratios, proportions, or percentages at school, you may ask them to read up about the numbers of people affected in the US at a reliable source, such as CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/cases-in- us.html. When your child/teen calculates the proportion of people affected out of the whole population, etc., this will help them find out for themselves that the likelihood of being affected with coronavirus and especially being afflicted with the severe form of the disease, is low for most people.

For an older child/teen who has an interest in science, you may talk with them about antigens and antibodies. For those interested in history and science, you may give them reading material from authentic sources about how previous disease outbreaks in the world were handled. This may help your child/teen know how diseases were eradicated, how the world got through previous outbreaks, and therefore, can get through this one too.

For a young child, you may talk to them (or draw/paint pictures with them) about our body's own strong warriors which spring forth to fight infections, and how eating healthy foods can make those warriors stronger. You may also talk to them about how many warriors outside, such as scientists, healthcare professionals and others, are working actively to protect people from acquiring this disease.

Watch Closely and Monitor:
If your child/teen suffers from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and tends to fixate or get stuck on certain things, you would need to take that into account while creating an activity or exercise. In that case, monitor so that this activity/exercise itself does not become a repetitive ritual. Children/teens with OCD may also struggle more than usual with handwashing, checking, counting and other compulsive rituals during this time, particularly as they hear recommendations for regular handwashing as part of prevention measures for coronavirus and as they hear about the rising numbers of people affected by the virus. In that case, you may work with your child's therapist/psychiatrist to weave in and integrate the CDC precautions and recommendations into ERP (Exposure and Response Prevention), such that precautions are followed without turning into compulsive rituals. If your child/teen appears to have symptoms of an anxiety disorder or obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), that are impairing or significantly interfering with their daily functioning at school and/or home, please consult a mental health professional at the earliest and work with that mental health professional closely.

Limit and Monitor News/Media Exposure:
The vast majority of children and adolescents in the US (and in large parts of the world) watch hours of TV and other media daily. Limiting and monitoring the exposure of your child/teen to news cycles can be one step towards helping them regulate their anxiety. The younger the child, the greater their need for limiting exposure to news. For older children too, parental monitoring and guidance to help navigate the confusing and often scary news about coronavirus, is needed.

Consult, Collaborate with Healthcare Professionals:
If your child/teen is suffering from an anxiety disorder or other psychiatric condition, talk to your pediatrician and arrange for a consultation with a mental health professional, if you haven't done so already. Most treatments for anxiety in children and teens should involve psychotherapy. There are various modalities of psychotherapy that can be beneficial for anxiety; Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is one form of psychotherapy that has substantial evidence of benefit for treatment of anxiety in children and adolescents. If your child/teen already is under the care of a mental health professional, work closely with that professional to help your child navigate this unusual time.

Practice Compassion:
Widescale infectious disease outbreaks, such as the current one, are bound to be stressful and can be challenging to maneuver, particularly when they start to affect daily life or activities and more so, if your child/teen suffers from anxiety. Practice being kind, gentle and compassionate to yourself and to your child/teen. If you'd like to try compassion based exercises, you can find them here: https://centerformsc.org/practice-msc/guided-meditations-and-exercises/ and here: https://www.compassionatemind.co.uk/resources/exercises.
Note: For the sake of simplicity, the words 'they', 'them', 'their', have been used in this article as pronouns for child/teen. Please substitute these with the appropriate pronoun as it relates to your child/teen. About the Author

Richa Bhatia, MD, FAPA is a Child, Adolescent and Adult psychiatrist, dual Board certified in Child, Adolescent and General Psychiatry. She is the author of 2 books: 'Demystifying Psychiatric Conditions and Treatments' and '65 Answers about Psychiatric Conditions'. Previously, she served as a faculty member in the departments of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth. She serves as an Associate Editor for Current Psychiatry, Section Editor for Current Opinion in Psychiatry and is on the editorial board of several other psychiatry journals. She is an expert contributor for Psychology Today and Thrive Global. Some of her interests are childhood depressive and anxiety disorders, the interface between medical and psychiatric conditions, differential diagnosis, compassion and bullying prevention. She is an active member of the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Section of the World Psychiatric Association (WPA), the American Psychiatric Association and the Anxiety and Depression Association of America.

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How to Talk to Your Anxious Child or Teen About Coronavirus

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Fear, uncertainty, and anxiety are bound to be heightened with wide-scale disease outbreaks that are contagious, particularly when they involve a new, previously unknown disease-causing agent, as is the case with the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. This fear and anxiety can especially affect people already suffering from anxiety, and repeated news cycles about the spread of coronavirus do not help this anxiety.

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Follow the directions for this Blue Dot breathing exercise.

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Staying Present and Managing Worried Thoughts 

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Staying Present and Managing Worried Thoughts 

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Cómo combatir el estigma y el racismo en torno al COVID-19 

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Cómo combatir el estigma y el racismo en torno al COVID-19 

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Countering Coronavirus Stigma and Racism_Parents_ESUS (1)

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Countering Coronavirus Stigma and Racism_Parents

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Common Sense Media editors help you choose Apps to Help with Mental Health. Though not a replacement for professional help, these apps might help with common mental health issues.