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It is hard to believe that summer break is almost here. We wish all of our learning families a safe and fun summer! We look forward to seeing students back in September full of summer adventure stories. Take good care, Shannon and Mara

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About

Juan de Fuca Electoral Area Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission acquires, develops, operates and maintains a network of community parks and trails within the JDF electoral area. Read more >>

Juan de Fuca Parks and Trails

Juan de Fuca Parks & Recreation Strategic Plan

The CRD is developing a strategic plan for community parks and recreation in the Juan de Fuca Electoral Area (JdFEA). Learn more>>

Help Steward Our Community Treasures

Community parks and trails are yours to enjoy, and a legacy for future generations. While visiting, please respect the private property next to the parks, trails, viewpoints, and ocean accesses and leave no trace of your visit or the visit of your dog. Leave the treasures that you find, including wildflowers, for others to enjoy.

Community Parks Volunteer Opportunities

The Juan de Fuca Community Parks program provides opportunities for you to be involved in the preservation and enjoyment of community parks and trails. For more information, please contact 250.642.8103 or email.

Community Parks Memorial Bench or Table

As a memory for a loved one or community member, the Juan de Fuca Community Parks program will support your donation of a memorial bench or picnic table at selected sites within a park or along park trails. For more information on location, design and cost options, please contact 250.642.8103 or email.

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Juan de Fuca Electoral Area Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission acquires, develops, operates and maintains a network of community parks and trails within the JDF electoral area. Read more >> The CRD is developing a strategic plan for community parks and recreation in the Juan de Fuca Electoral Area (JdFEA).

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Updated May12, 2021

Sooke’s Marine Boardwalk connects the rainforest and sea, in the heart of the town centre. Parks Services maintains the space including gardens at Ed Mcgregor Park, which connects to the park.

With over 80 parks and greenspaces covering 287 acres of land, including over 40 kilometres of trails – Sooke is where the rainforest meets the sea and is framed by spectacular natural landscapes. Sooke’s parks and greenspaces range from neighbourhood areas to forested sites to waterfront access like Whiffin Spit and the Sooke Marine Boardwalk, there are always opportunities to get out and enjoy the outdoors.

District parks spaces are complimented by CRD Parks, like the Galloping Goose Trail and the Sooke Potholes (accessed via lots 1, 2 and 3 – as of April 2020, the District is now responsible for the lower lot of the Sooke Potholes). Use the Sooke Parks Finder to discover a new space to explore, using the DISTRICT OF SOOKE PARKS FINDER >>.

VIEW THE DISTRICT OF SOOKE PARKS & TRAILS MASTER PLAN IMPLEMENTATION SITE >>

VIEW THE DISTRICT OF SOOKE COMMUNITY PARKS REGULATION BYLAW >>

Learn more about District Parks

Parks Management

The District of Sooke Parks department is responsible for the general operation and maintenance of District parks, trails, boulevards, transit stops and the hazardous tree program.

Parks and trails owned and operated by the District of Sooke are established to provide local, publicly accessible green spaces for the people of Sooke. These sites often have a variety of purposes: sports or passive recreation, environmental protection, access to shorelines, or preservation of unique landscapes and historical features.

CRD Parks and Trails, Provincial Parks, TLC lands, Community Association Parks and other recreation areas are part of Sooke’s larger recreation fabric but are not operated by the District.

Learn more about District park planning through THE DISTRICT OF SOOKE PARKS & TRAILS MASTER PLAN IMPLEMENTATION SITE >>.

To view the Community Parks Regulation Bylaw, please click here.

To contact Parks, email parks@sooke.ca or call 250.642.1634.

Recent Park News

May 4, 2021: Public Input on Fenced-dog Park Coming to Ponds Park Corridor: Provide feedback May 4-June 4

March 31, 2021: District receives BC Hydro Community Regreening Grant

January 20, 2021: Parks Notice: Environmental Sampling at Whiffin Spit January 25-29

January 20, 2021: Whiffin Spit Clean up, see before and after of work completed

January 15, 2021: Clean up from windstorm continues throughout the community: Access to Sooke Potholes via Sooke River Road now open

January 13, 2021: Sooke Potholes Closed due to adverse weather conditions, downed trees throughout the community: Be cautious as winter storm hits region

January 8, 2021: Staff tend to Whiffin Spit as winter weather makes a mark

December 21, 2020: Community Story: Whiffin Spit Elves

December 18, 2020: Site preparation for new Sooke community recreation facility begins

December 7, 2020: Progress being made on Sun Run Trail, which aims to connect Sunriver to town core

October 15, 2020: Stickleback Urban Trail officially opens (article), see trail map here.

Sooke Potholes

Sooke Potholes Regional Park is located on the banks of the spectacular Sooke River. Enjoy the views, explore the trails, camp under the stars, or take a refreshing dip on a hot summer day! Access via the lower parking lot is operated by the District of Sooke, access from lots 1, 2 and 3, and the campground are operated by the Capital Regional District.

Features

Spring Salmon Place (KWL-UCHUN) Campground

Spectacular views of the Sooke River

Freshwater swimming

Access to the Galloping Goose Regional Trail

Hiking on forest trails

Trail Rating: Easy to Moderate

Size: 63.5ha
Location: Sooke
Established: 2005
Hours: Sunrise to Sunset

Parking

Pay parking at Sooke Potholes is in effect for the summer season from May 1 to September 30. The cost of parking is $2.25 per day, or $20 for a season’s pass. A seasonal parking pass is also valid at Thetis Lake Regional Park in View Royal. The ticket dispensers accept loonies, toonies, quarters and credit cards. You may also purchase a ticket or seasonal pass using the Honk Mobile system. You can pay online or download the app. The parking pass uses a pay-by-plate system whereby the parking pass is associated with a specific vehicle. You do not need to display a pass in your vehicle. Pay parking is operated by Robbins Parking. Parking is free during the off-season (October 1 to April 30).

Campground

The Spring Salmon Place (KWL-UCHUN) Campground opens May 14 to Sept 13, 2021. It operates seasonally each summer, from mid-May to mid-September, on a first-come, first-served basis. No online or phone reservations.

Dog in Parks

Use your Petiquette…

1. pick up after your dog

2. obey leash regulations

3. be mindful of the environment

We appreciate the efforts of all the responsible dog owners visiting our parks!

FENCED DOG PARK COMMUNITY CONSULTATION, MAY 4-JUNE 4, 2021, PARTICIPATE HERE >>

General guidance

Under Control

Please keep dogs in any public place on a leash or under effective control at all times. Not all park guests are comfortable around dogs. Please do not allow your pets to jump on or run up to other park users.

Dog Waste

Please be prepared to pick up after your dog and bring your own supplies.

Dispose of your doggy bags properly. This means follow a pack it in, pack it out process. You may need to bring filled waste bags home with you. Please, do not throw these bags along road or trail sides.

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With over 80 parks and greenspaces covering 287 acres of land, including over 40 kilometres of trails - Sooke is where the rainforest meets the sea and is framed by spectacular natural landscapes. Sooke's parks and greenspaces range from neighbourhood areas to forested sites to waterfront access like Whiffin Spit and the Sooke Marine Boardwalk, there are always opportunities to get out and enjoy the outdoors.

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Leisure / Parks & Outdoor Recreation

Get outside and enjoy nature’s playground in Langford. Visit the lush temperate rainforest at Goldstream Provincial Park or check out Veteran’s Memorial Park’s urban features in the heart of downtown. From accessible playgrounds and facilities to natural open areas, there is something for everyone in Langford’s parks.

CLICK ACTIVITY BELOW FOR MORE INFORMATION

Playgrounds & Spray Parks

Get outside and enjoy nature’s playground in Langford. Visit the lush temperate rainforest at Goldstream Provincial Park or check out Veteran’s Memorial Park’s urban features in the heart of downtown.

From accessible playgrounds and facilities to natural open areas, there is something for everyone in Langford’s parks.

Parks & Lakes

Get outside and enjoy one of Langford’s many parks, lakes, and beaches.

Langford is home to three lakes – Langford Lake, Glen Lake and Florence Lake. Whether you are looking to go for a swim, catch a fish or go for a walk with a view, Langford’s lakes provide a relaxing opportunity to connect with nature.

Hiking & Walking Trails

Langford is home to a variety of walking and hiking trails. With everything from easy, stroller-friendly walks to intense hikes, Langford has something for everyone.

Biking

Langford is a hub for outdoor recreation enthusiasts, especially mountain biking.

With facilities such as the Jordie Lunn Bike Park and the trails at Bear Mountain, mountain bikers don’t have to travel far to get their adrenaline fix.

Fishing

Two of Langford’s fresh-water lakes (Langford Lake and Lake Ida Anne) are stocked with Rainbow Trout for fishing enthusiasts to enjoy. Although not stocked, many also enjoy fishing at Glen and Florence Lakes.

Before you head out to fish, make sure you have your provincial freshwater Fishing License.

For information on freshwater fishing regulations in BC, please visit the Government of BC’s website

Sports Fields & Court Surfaces

Golf Courses

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Parks & Outdoor Recreation - City of Langford

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Important Property Tax Information: If Eligible, Claim Your Homeowner Grant By July 4, 2022. Click Here For More Information

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We offer recreation, arts, heritage, culture, social programming and services to the local community through parks and trails, a golf course, four recreation centres, archives and an arts centre.

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Saanich Parks, Recreation and Community Services offers recreation, arts, heritage, culture and social programs and services to the local community through parks and trails, four recreation centres, archives and an arts centre.

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NEW Summer Rec Pass Promo

Purchase your summer rec pass today and enjoy drop-in activities in the pool, arena, weight room and fitness studio.  Passes valid July 1 to September 5th, 2022. Passes will not be prorated.
Youth (6-18yrs) - $25
Adult (19 yrs+)  - $70

Upgrade your summer rec pass between September 1st and 15th to an annual pass or annual pass plus and just pay the difference! Pass term July 1, 2022 - June 30, 2023
Youth Annual - $44 ($69-$25)
Adult  Annual - $302 ($372-$70)
Adult Annual Pass Plus ($420-$70)

Click here to log into your account or create an account to purchase your Summer Rec Pass today!
Note:  Summer skating sessions Aug19-Sep 5.  Annual pool maintenance Aug 22-Sep 9

Play in the Park is back!

Every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings through July & August, join Panorama staff from 5:30-8:30pm for some FREE summer fun for the whole family that includes interactive play, group games, and of course, inflatable fun on our giant 50’ obstacle course!

Join us for our Launch Party on Thursday, July 7th, 5:30-8:30pm at Centennial Park.  The Kiwanis Club of Sidney and Saanich Peninsula are providing BBQ hot dogs by donation. Read more >>

Program Registration

Registration is available online and by phone for the line of up of great programs we are offering this spring and summer.

For phone-in registrations please call 250.656.7271 ext. 0, Monday to Friday, 6am – 9:30pm. Saturday & Sunday, 7am - 9:30pm.

We Are Hiring!

Panorama Recreation is looking for creative and energetic people to join our team. We offer a fun and dynamic workplace with great wages and employee benefits.

A variety of positions are available including Summer Camps, Play in the Park, Facility Maintenance, Lifeguards, Swim instructors, Waterslide Attendants, Fun Leaders and Out of School Care and more! Read more >>

Jumpstart Multi Sport Court

With support and funding from Greater Victoria Canadian Tire Dealers, Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities gifted the Peninsula Recreation Commission a 13,200 square foot Jumpstart Multi Sport Court through its Inclusive Play Project.

Construction is complete and the NEW Jumpstart Multi Sport Court is open at Panorama Recreation Centre. Learn more about this inclusive and accessible facility available for public use here.

Inclusion and Accessibility

We believe that everyone should have an opportunity to participate in recreation activities, and with that, are committed to providing supports and services for community members that work to minimize barriers and encourage participation. We look forward to continuing to support the needs of our ever changing community. Saanich Peninsula residents may apply for a Leisure Assistant Pass with Panorama Recreation. Read more >>

Safe Spaces

A safe space is a space where the LGBTQI+ community can freely express themselves without fear. It is a space that does not tolerate violence, bullying, or hate speech towards the LGBTQI+ community. Read more >>

COVID-19 Information

Proof of vaccination is not required and masks are optional. Please respect people's choices and comfort levels.

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, CRD Recreation Centres have followed the guidelines and orders set out by the Provincial Health Officer (PHO) and other governing bodies, including WorkSafeBC, Island Health, British Columbia Recreation and Parks Association (BCRPA), and the Lifesaving Society.

More information on the PHO orders

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Purchase your summer rec pass today and enjoy drop-in activities in the pool, arena, weight room and fitness studio. Passes valid July 1 to September 5th, 2022. Passes will not be prorated.
Youth (6-18yrs) - $25
Adult (19 yrs+) - $70

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Jun13-17/22  South Island Parks and Recreation

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Jun13-17/22  South Island Parks and Recreation

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Need urgent help?

If you, your child, or someone you care about is having a mental health or substance use crisis:

Call 911 or go to your local hospital’s emergency room if you are in need of immediate help

Call 1-800- SUICIDE (1-800-784-2433) anytime if you are concerned about someone who may be considering suicide

These are a few examples of situations when you should seek immediate help:

The child or youth is thinking about or trying to end their life

The child or youth is experiencing sensations that aren’t real and/or beliefs that can’t possibly be true

The child or youth is unable to care for themselves, and it’s putting them at risk of serious harm

The child or youth is experiencing an alcohol or drug overdose

The child or youth is taking a dangerous combination of substances (like medications and alcohol)

For non-urgent support options, explore our Ask Kelty Mental Health tool. You’ll find answers to common questions families have about accessing mental health supports and services in BC for their child or youth.

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Lorrie Chow, Registered Dietitian, BC Children’s Mental Health Metabolic Program |

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Preparing your Child for Summer Camp | Kelty Mental Health

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It’s that time of year that parents and families start to plan for the summer. For many families, this includes looking into day camps or overnight summer camps for their children. While this can be an exciting time, it’s also a time a lot of parents and children can start to feel apprehensive or ne…

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IMAGEQUEST: Martin Shields / Photo Researchers / Universal Images Group

For kids, summer is a time for play, warm weather, and relaxation, but it can also be the perfect time for engaging in new learning opportunities!

While kids are relaxing over the summer (and we know that's important too) they also lose a portion of the learning they gained during the school year. Summer learning loss-a.k.a. the "summer slide"-is cumulative from year to year, resulting in an ever-widening gap over time.

More than half the achievement disparity between lower- and higher-income youth can be explained by unequal access to summer learning opportunities. However, daily reading has been shown to combat this slide and provide students with the practice needed to keep skills sharp.

To help bridge the gap, here are some helpful tips to share with parents and students to get them excited about their summer learning and keep reading fun and exciting every day of the week!

Make Something Monday

Take A Trip Tuesday

Wonder Something Wednesday

Thinking Thursday

Fact AND Fiction Friday

Reading nonfiction during the summer is just as important as reading fiction. Keep up your comprehension skills and vocabulary by incorporating informational text into your summer learning routine. Find an encyclopedia or journal article that provides additional information about the topics on your fiction reading list.

Don't have access to Britannica School? Try it for two weeks free! Or CHECK HERE to see if your region is one of our state-wide subscribers. Try this with your class? How did it go? Tweet us feedback to @BritannicaLearn. Become a Britannica expert in less than an hour! Join us for our live webinars to discover ways to support Common Core and State Standards, locate STEM resources, and find new and exciting ways to promote inquiry in your classroom or library.

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Ward off summer slide with these daily activities

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IMAGEQUEST: Martin Shields / Photo Researchers / Universal Images Group For kids, summer is a time for play, warm weather, and relaxation, but it can also be the perfect time for engaging in new learning opportunities! While kids are relaxing over the summer (and we know that's important too) they also lose a portion of the learning they gained during the school year.

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While many students view summer as a time to forget about school, it remains an important part of their educational journey. If students don't stay sharp on what they learned over the past year, research and statistics show they can lose up to one month of learning in the short summer vacation period.

But summer break and learning can coexist in a fun, productive manner that keeps kids engaged! Here are five ways to prevent summer learning loss and help your student retain information to help them succeed when the new school year begins.

1. Create a routine to stay on track.

Most students receive summer work from their teachers, and procrastinating until the last moment can feel overwhelming to both students and parents. Additionally, it is easy for students to forget technical material like mathematics and writing mechanics without routine practice. Help your students schedule regular time throughout the summer to learn and complete work; even just 15-30 minutes a day will allow students to keep their skills sharp and knock out that summer work so they can enjoy their break worry-free.

How can you take this from a good idea to actually happening at home?

Empower your child by working with them to create a schedule that balances both schoolwork and play.

Decide on a duration and frequency, such as 15 minutes daily on weekdays, and give your child some choices regarding when they can complete their work.

Post the schedule in a place where your children will see it, and consider adding boxes to log their time and track their progress-perhaps even consider some rewards for going above and beyond.

2. Do the math.

Math skills are particularly susceptible to the "summer slide," so it's critical that parents help their children build in time to exercise these technical skills regularly. Fortunately, there are many ways beyond the traditional math packet for your child to practice and avoid summer math loss.

Cook and bake together, which will require your child to calculate measurements.

Play card games or board games that encourage math skills for fun.

Encourage your children to pursue "math in the wild" by asking them to calculate the tip, tax, or change required when paying for items.

3. Be creative.

While creating an academic project or presentation over the summer may not pique your child's interest at first, engaging in other activities may stimulate imagination, reawaken latent interests, and ultimately motivate your student to tackle summer work with a renewed sense of creativity.

Whether students are doing artwork, exploring the world around them, or performing something they made, there are an abundance of activities children and parents can do to find inspiration.

Provide access to art supplies or collaborate with your child on projects around the house to get their creativity flowing.

Facilitate day trips to local museums, parks, zoos, and aquariums, and find ways to make them interactive (for example, create a scavenger hunt with a reward for finding the answers).

Encourage students to play music, sing, or perform, which activates and strengthens various areas of the brain.

4. Read books.

Incentivizing your child to read over the summer is an efficient way to prevent education loss in the summer. Your student will likely have required summer reading, but reading for pleasure also has many inherent academic benefits. When selecting books with your students, encourage them to choose works that are germane to their interests and challenging enough to keep their skills fresh.

Start a family book club, or help your child start a book club with friends.

Keep track of the books your child reads, and help them celebrate their progress.

Talk with your local librarian about your child's needs and interests-they can help collate a list of suggestions.

Whether you are shopping online, visiting a book shop, or checking books out at the library, empower your child to select a few titles that grab their attention.

Help your child keep a reading log and reward them periodically when they reach their goals.

5. Write often.

Keeping students engaged in the practice of writing is one of the most effective ways to keep young brains active. Research shows that writing with a pen and paper activates a part of the brain that allows students to understand concepts and material better. Furthermore, writing mechanics and grammatical concepts are often difficult to retain without practice, so students should frequently practice all forms of writing.

Encourage your child to stay on top of assigned summer book reports as well as keeping a journal, writing poetry, or creating a comic book. In addition to enhancing writing skills and decreasing stress, these activities also promote mental well-being.

Play games with your child where you co-write a short story, make a combined collection of poetry, develop activities for younger siblings, or create a script for a play.

Incorporate small and manageable grammar practice activities into weekly work to stay on top of technical skills that may quickly diminish.

Overall, providing a regular schedule, plenty of opportunities for creativity, and a variety of stimulating learning choices will help prevent summer learning loss, so your child is ready to go back to school in the fall.

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While many students view summer as a time to forget about school, it remains an important part of their educational journey. If students don't stay sharp on what they learned over the past year, research and statistics show they can lose up to one month of learning in the short summer vacation period.

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1. Make Time for Learning

Set aside time for your student to read each day during the summer break -- 15 to 30 minutes per day is all it takes! During the summer, students have more time to read for enjoyment, which also offers a great opportunity to preserve and strengthen their reading skills. Your summer activities should include taking your children or teenagers to the public library to check out books of interest and/or any summer reading groups they'd like to join.

A great way to track how much reading your child is doing during the summer months is a tally on your regular activities calendar. This will help keep the daily reading time from being overlooked because of other summer activities -- and we know there are many!

Parents of students reading below grade level should read with their children in order to assist with sounding out words they might not be able to decode themselves. In addition, keep a dictionary or online source close by to help students figure out those words by using the phonetic spelling provided.

2. Learn and Practice Affixes

Children and teens of all grade levels can improve their reading and spelling skills by learning affixes. Most multi-syllable words include prefixes and suffixes added to a base word. You can find a list of affixes and their meanings in a dictionary or in many online sources. To make this practice appealing, turn it into a game! Students can create flashcards of prefixes and suffixes. On the reverse side of each affix flash card, they should write the meaning. All children love guessing games and can point out what they think the affix means. You can also use this game to help them learn new vocabulary words.

3. Develop Math Skills

Though it may not seem fun to them at the time, working on just three to four math problems per day during the summer can prevent students' mathematical skills from getting rusty. They can look at it as a daily challenge that they must complete, or a daily "to-do" to proudly check off their calendar. Parents can purchase a math workbook for their child's academic level at most bookstores. Working on just a few problems daily (or more, if your child enjoys math) can help students of all ages close the gaps in their math skills, preserve what they learned during the previous school year, and prepare for the next.

4. Improve Reading Comprehension

To help your children better understand what they're reading, consider offering them a reading comprehension workbook to work on several minutes daily. These can be found at teacher supply stores or many online outlets. Students of all grades and ability levels can benefit scholastically by working with material that offers self-quizzes and high-interest stories. This practice helps develop their fact-retaining and inference-making skills.

5. Review and Build Grammar Skills

Review the past grade level's grammar concepts, and begin to work on the next school year's concepts. During the summer, students benefit from weekly reviews or pre-learning two to four lessons. Find workbooks geared to their grade or skill level, and encourage them to check their work using the answer key provided. Even if they make mistakes on their answers (and who doesn't make mistakes?), finally filling in the correct answers will reinforce their grammar skills.

6. Encourage Creative Writing

Creative writing is a great way to improve your children's written language skills while giving them a fun and imaginative activity during the summer! Have your student write a creative paragraph each week. As a parent, you can help by assisting him or her with choosing a "topic" (such as a family vacation, special outing or holiday memory) to write a paragraph about. Students can also benefit from using a thesaurus and changing several common words to more interesting words. This will make their writing more interesting while learning great new words at the same time.

7. Focus on Specific Skills

Pinpoint the subjects your child had the most trouble learning the previous school year, and make sure to fit in some practice in these areas. Summer is an ideal time to set aside just 15 to 30 minutes a day for helping your student on areas of difficulty. Again, use every resource available to you! Parents are not helpless when it comes to their child's education. Online resources and teacher supply stores offer a wide variety of learning materials, workbooks, computer games, and other types of games to reinforce and strengthen scholastic skills. Students may wish to play learning games with their friends to help make the time fly by and make learning more fun.

Over the summer, students and parents who practice the above tips can see great strengthening and improvement in scholastic skills, and avoid digressing two to three months in learning. Summer learning can be fun and challenging at the same time. Students may find learning to be more fun as they become more capable of meeting scholastic challenges and overcoming any learning weaknesses. By implementing a summer plan and igniting your child's passion for learning, he or she can enjoy a renewed sense of academic self-esteem and dignity -- wonderful benefits of learning not to be "counted out."

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Seven Ways to Prevent Summer Learning Loss

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Set aside time for your student to read each day during the summer break -- 15 to 30 minutes per day is all it takes! During the summer, students have more time to read for enjoyment, which also offers a great opportunity to preserve and strengthen their reading skills.

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Often referred to as the summer slide or brain drain, it is a topic that continues to concern educators, researchers, and parents alike. Everyone can agree that children are ready for a break from school when the summer rolls around.

However, this much-needed break does not need to be a break from learning. Although all students are susceptible to some regression during the summer months, we have cause to be concerned about those students who are considered at-risk for learning loss.

The reality of the summer reading loss is well-documented for those who are at-risk and already facing learning struggles.

Why should we worry about it?

Most sources related to the topic of the summer slide indicate that students may experience anywhere from one to three months of learning loss in one summer.

What is more concerning than the loss that is possible during one summer, is the cumulative losses for all summers during the elementary school years. The American Education Research Journal published a study in 2020 that documented learning growth in a group of students from grades 1 through 6.

The study sample was large, including 18 million students in 7,500 school districts. Results showed that 52% of these students lost an average of 39% of their total learning gains across the summer months.

When we total the losses for multiple summers, the impact may have greater consequences. Several sources, including John Hopkins, report that this stacking effect accounts for 2/3 of the 9th-grade achievement gap between students from middle to low-income homes.

Who is at-risk?

General reviews on the subject of summer learning loss tend to identify two primary groups of students who are most at-risk: those who have reading difficulties or disabilities and those from income-disadvantaged homes.

It may be worth adding students who are English language learners to this risk group, as studies have shown that these children may have fewer opportunities to practice speaking and reading English in their homes when school is not in session.

Students who fall into any of these at-risk categories are particularly disinclined to engage in independent reading activities during the summer. Students with learning disabilities spend 10 months struggling with the daily challenges of learning and tackling tasks that leave them exhausted and defeated.

The summer months offer these students time to focus on activities that highlight their abilities and rebuild their confidence. However, this population is especially at-risk. The learning that occurs during the school year requires explicit instruction, guided practice, and multiple opportunities for the application of learned skills.

Many of their targeted skills are left in a critical state of emergence on the last day of school. Words may still be transient and not permanently anchored into their automatic reading system.

If the learning process for reading is interrupted, it may put the student in a position to need to begin the learning all over again. If nothing else, careful attention should be given to maintain these vulnerable skills.

Making a commitment to assess students tri-annually can assist with identifying regression in student learning. Researchers have taken a closer look at student achievement gains from fall to spring and noticed that those students who gained the most stand to lose the most after the summer.

In short, the summer reading loss has the greatest impact on the students who can least afford it. If we are careful to monitor student progress and look for those who make significant and marked learning gains from fall to spring, we will be able to target students who are vulnerable to learning loss in the summer.

Evidence of an upward learning trajectory indicates that the student is responding to direct, explicit instruction and guided opportunities to engage with the appropriate materials-the type of learning that is provided daily in the classroom.

What can we do about it?

It is not enough to just say "read over the summer" to at-risk students. In addition, students do not need access to any materials over the summer to promote learning, they need access to the right materials. The obvious recommendation to prevent the summer slide for at-risk students is participation in a high-quality summer literacy program.

However, there are a variety of obstacles for families to navigate when thinking about summer learning support for their children. Program cost, location, frequency, quality, and convenience are issues that can increase or decrease the probability of student access.

Although some school districts may offer free extended school year programs, not all students are eligible or able to access them. If the minimal goal is to help at-risk students to maintain vulnerable skills during the summer months, what advice can we offer to families to support their child at home and prevent summer loss?

Teachers can provide input and recommendations to help families weave critical skills into their days at home. Though it will not be possible to recreate the rigor of the school day, there are some simple strategies to promote skill maintenance in reading, writing, and technology.

Provide a book list and be sure to include information for accessing the local library or check out books on loan from the school library. Mark books that are selected for the student's independent reading level vs. books that should be read with or by an adult. There is value in both.

Provide the student with a folder of words, sentences, and passages that reflect a mixed review of concepts that were previously taught and are emerging into the student's automatic reading system. Offer a chart that students can mark for points for participating in fluency reading each day. Include pre-stamped postcards to the school that the student can place in the mail each time s/he reaches a reading goal.

Ensure that students have access to audiobooks for the summer in a program that is accessible to them.

Help students access reading and writing in fun, practical ways during the summer. Students who enjoy building, baking, or science projects can read to follow instructions. Those who enjoy fishing, Legos, or animals can take to a hobby-themed magazine.

Students can relate writing or typing to their personal interests. They might keep a travel journal, connect with an out-of-state family member as a pen pal, or take up cartooning.

Provide families with ideas or lists for appropriately challenging vocabulary words. This can help guide parents to integrate words into conversation, experiences, or a game of charades.

Give parents ideas to make review and practice of concepts interactive in a game format. Games like Memory, Go Fish, Tic Tac Toe, and Hide-n-Seek can all facilitate reading and spelling practice (math facts, too).

Older students who have access to WiFi can find interesting content in ReadWorks Article-a-Day or challenge a family member to a typing fluency match with MonkeyType.

For those who are seeking summer support programs, it will be helpful to consider the following:

Use the student's tri-annual assessments as a guide to learned content. IMSE's assessments are a great way to provide evidence of mastered concepts and identify concepts for maintenance.

Look for reading programs that follow evidence-based instruction backed by the Science of Reading.

Access resources that are provided by the student's school.

Be honest in discussing the student's needs and specific goals for summer support. Some families may only be able to commit to a minimum amount of support, so considering a maintenance program may be best.

Consider accessing a tutor online. Most students have developed remote learning skills during the past year and this option may combat problems with convenience or transportation.

Summer Learning Loss and COVID-19

During the coronavirus pandemic, summer learning programs will be especially important for students who are considered to be at-risk. Experts are planning for evident learning shortfalls when students return to their classes in the fall.

In regards to a year of remote learning, NWEA suggests that without summer reading, students will only retain about 70% of their progress compared to a typical school year. Our at-risk student group and those who were without internet access or home computers are expected to face the greatest impact.

As parents and professionals, it is our responsibility to work to help at-risk students to find a balance to enable them to have a well-deserved break from school, while maintaining the learning gains that were established during the school year.

Thankfully, teachers are creative individuals by nature. Once we have recognized a problem, we are already working towards a solution. Communication and collaboration with parents and students can establish a support system that bridges the gap from spring to fall and helps in the prevention of summer learning loss.

Resources

AER Journal, July 9, 2020

NWEA, July 6, 2019
https://www.readworks.org/rw/new-readworks-article-day-sets https://monkeytype.com/ https://www.audible.com/ep/audiobooks https://www.magazineline.com/kids-magazines
About the Author

Dr. Kirstina Ordetx is a Level 4 Master Instructor with The Institute for Multi-Sensory Education (IMSE). She holds a doctorate in Counseling Psychology with a concentration in pediatric neurology. Dr. Ordetx is an educational specialist with over 25 years of clinical experience, research, and consultation. She is a certified Structured Literacy Dyslexia Interventionist through the Center for Effective Reading Instruction, a Certified Nutrition and Wellness Consultant, Executive Functions Coach, and a registered Licensed Mental Health Intern. Dr. Ordetx has published two books that compile her research and practice in Theory of Mind. She has served on accreditation committees for the Florida Council of Independent Schools, is a university adjunct professor in developmental and child psychology, and presents at various national and international conferences. Dr. Ordetx is head of school for a private academy in Lakewood Ranch, Florida specializing in the multi-sensory education of students who have language and learning-based differences. She is the Executive Director of the Pinnacle Pediatric Therapy Group, a multi-disciplinary, pediatric therapy clinic.
Sign up for our LIVE virtual Orton-Gillingham training! We are now offering half-day, evening, and weekend options to best fit your schedule. The IMSE approach allows teachers to incorporate the five components essential to an effective reading program into their daily lessons: phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary, fluency, and comprehension. The approach is based on the Orton-Gillingham methodology and focuses on explicit, direct instruction that is sequential, structured, and multi-sensory. It is IMSE's mission that all children must have the ability to read to fully realize their potential. We are committed to providing teachers with the knowledge and tools to prepare future minds. Please connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest to get tips and tricks from your peers and us. Read the IMSE Journal to hear success stories from other schools and districts, and be sure to read the OG Weekly email series for refreshers and tips.

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Summer Learning Loss | What Is It and What We Can Do | IMSE

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Often referred to as the summer slide or brain drain, it is a topic that continues to concern educators, researchers, and parents alike. Everyone can agree that children are ready for a break from school when the summer rolls around. However, this much-needed break does not need to be a break from learning.

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As students return to school this fall, many of them - perhaps especially those from historically disadvantaged student groups - will be starting the academic year with achievement levels lower than where they were at the beginning of summer break. This phenomenon - sometimes referred to as summer learning loss, summer setback, or summer slide - has been of interest to education researchers going back as far as 1906. ¹ We review what is known about summer loss and offer suggestions for districts and states looking to combat the problem.

An early comprehensive review of the literature summarized several findings regarding summer loss. ² The authors concluded that: (1) on average, students' achievement scores declined over summer vacation by one month's worth of school-year learning, (2) declines were sharper for math than for reading, and (3) the extent of loss was larger at higher grade levels. Importantly, they also concluded that income-based reading gaps grew over the summer, given that middle class students tended to show improvement in reading skills while lower-income students tended to experience loss. However, they did not find differential summer learning in math, or by gender or race in either subject.

The recent literature on summer loss has been mixed. One study using data from over half a million students in grades 2-9 from a southern state (from 2008-2012) found that students, on average, lost between 25 - 30 percent of their school-year learning over the summer; additionally, black and Latino students tended to gain less over the school year and lose more over the summer compared to white students. ³ However, an analysis of the nationally-representative Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Kindergarten Class of 2010 - 11 (ECLS-K:2011) found little evidence of overall loss over the summers after grades K and 1, and the summer socioeconomic status gaps widened in some subjects and grades but not others. ⁴ Von Hippel and Hamrock re-analyzed two earlier data sets and concluded that gaps "do not necessarily...grow fastest over the summer" (p.41). ⁵ Thus, it seems summer loss and summer gap-growth occur, though not universally across geography, grade level, or subject.

Entwisle, Alexander, and Olson's "faucet theory" offers an explanation as to why lower-income students might learn less over the summer compared to higher-income students. ⁶ According to the theory, the "resource faucet" is on for all students during the school year, enabling all students to make learning gains. Over the summer, however, the flow of resources slows for students from disadvantaged backgrounds but not for students from advantaged backgrounds. Higher-income students tend to continue to have access to financial and human capital resources (such as parental education) over the summer, thereby facilitating learning. ⁷

Students' achievement scores declined over summer vacation by one month's worth of school-year learning.

Traditionally, educators and policymakers have relied on conventional summer school programs to combat summer loss and summer gap-growth. In 2000, Cooper and colleagues published a comprehensive meta-analysis of classroom-based summer programs finding positive effects on average. ⁸ However, they also concluded that middle-income students benefited more from summer programming than did lower-income students. They speculated that this could be because programs serving more advantaged students were of higher quality, or because of an interactive effect between programming and the home resources available to students. The result raised the concern that attempts to stem summer learning loss may actually exacerbate summer gap-growth if they are not well targeted.

Kim and Quinn conducted a meta-analysis of 41 summer reading programs from 35 studies published after the Cooper et al. review. ⁹ Like Cooper and colleagues, Kim and Quinn found summer reading programs to be effective at raising test scores, on average. Unlike Cooper, however, Kim and Quinn found that it was low-income students who benefited most from summer reading programs (even when restricting the comparison to higher- and lower-income students attending the same program). Furthermore, they concluded that the reason lower-income students benefited more was that lower-income students in these studies were more likely than higher-income students to experience summer loss when not participating in the summer programs. The authors noted several differences between their review and Cooper et al.'s that could explain the contrasting results: 1) Kim and Quinn analyzed only reading programs, while Cooper and colleagues combined math and reading programs, 2) Kim and Quinn included only two-group experimental and quasi-experimental studies, while Cooper and colleagues included single-group pre/post-test designs, and 3) Kim and Quinn included home-based programs in their review.

Naturally, school-based summer school programs vary in their effectiveness. Many of the recommendations for creating high-quality programs come in the form of expert opinion. Common suggestions include blending academic learning with hands-on or recreational activities, professionalizing summer school staff, and forming partnerships with community organizations to leverage resources. ¹⁰ We can also draw some lessons from research. For instance, the recent meta-analysis found that programs were more effective when they used research-based literacy instruction; specifically, programs using instructional strategies identified by the National Reading Panel as best practices had the largest impact on students' reading comprehension scores (equivalent to moving from the 50 th to the 65 th percentile of a normal distribution). Program effectiveness also differed by literacy domain-programs were effective at raising students' reading comprehension and fluency/decoding scores but not their vocabulary scores. Not surprisingly, research also suggests that programs are more effective when students attend consistently and spend more time on task academically. ¹¹

While school-based summer learning programs hold promise when they fit the above criteria, they often fail to live up to these expectations. Two important reasons why school-based summer programs can be ineffective are that organizers often struggle to attract high quality teachers and struggle to appeal to students and families for whom the opportunity costs of attending summer school can be high. 12, 13 School-based programs can also be quite costly. Researchers have therefore experimented, with some success, with lower-cost home-based summer programming.

One example of a home-based summer reading program that has been shown to be effective for low-income upper elementary school students is READS for Summer Learning. ¹⁴ In READS, which has been iteratively modified over several randomized trials, students receive eight books in the mail over the summer that are matched to their reading level and interests. Along with each book, students receive a tri-fold paper that leads them through a pre-reading activity and a post-reading comprehension check. Students are asked to mail the postage-prepaid tri-fold back; families receive reminders when tri-folds are not returned. Additionally, teachers deliver scripted lessons at the end of the school year to prepare students to productively read independently over the summer with the trifold scaffold. A recent study found that READS had an effect on low-income students' reading comprehension the spring following their participation in the intervention (ES=.05 SD on the state reading test), ¹⁵ and other work suggests that the tri-fold acts as a mediator of the program effect. ¹⁶

Another recent randomized trial showed that something as simple as sending text messages over the summer to families of elementary school students at risk of summer loss was effective at improving the reading scores of third- and fourth-graders (but not first or second graders), with effect sizes of .21 to .29. ¹⁷ The text messages included tips on resources available to students over the summer, ideas for activities to do with children, and information about the value of particular summer learning activities.

Home-based programs such as these can be more cost-effective than school-based interventions. For example, the cost of READS per student is estimated to be between $250-$480, compared to other programs providing supplementary education services that can cost as much as $1,700 per student and have similar or less favorable cost effectiveness ratios.

Kim and Quinn included home-based programs in their meta-analysis, and encouragingly, they found that the effects of home-based programs were not significantly different from their more expensive classroom-based alternatives. At the same time, the effects from these programs might not be as large as the effects of the highest-quality school-based programs that use research-based instructional strategies.

Schools and districts should want to address the issue of summer learning loss not only because it may exacerbate achievement gaps, but also because it "wastes" so much of the knowledge students have gained during the school year. Summer loss also undoubtedly increases the amount of time teachers have to spend "re-teaching" last year's content, likely contributing to the repetitiveness of the typical U.S. curriculum. ¹⁸ While investing in extensive school-based summer options may be infeasible, it may be cost-effective and strategic for districts to begin to offer targeted out-of-school interventions to the students most at risk of backsliding. In designing such programs, policymakers should keep in mind the recommendations from the research described above:

Center the program around evidence-based curriculum.

In addition to academic content, include hands-on or recreational activities to attract students.

Ensure that program structure enables sufficient time on task, and have policies or incentives that encourage consistent attendance.

Invest in hiring the most effective teachers.

Regardless of the design, these policies should offer engaging options for students over the summer so that summer learning programs do not feel like punishment for students who would rather be enjoying summer vacation. Doing so would set more students up for success as the school year gets underway.
The authors did not receive any financial support from any firm or person for this article or from any firm or person with a financial or political interest in this article. They are currently not an officer, director, or board member of any organization with an interest in this article.

Footnotes

1. Cooper H., Nye B., Charlton K., Lindsay J., Greathouse S. (1996). The effects of summer vacation on achievement test scores: A narrative and meta-analytic review. Review of Educational Research, 66(3), 227-268. http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.3102/00346543066003227

2. ibid

3. Atteberry, A., & McEachin, A. (2016). School's out: Summer learning loss across grade levels and school contexts in the United States today. In Alexander, K., Pitcock, S., & Boulay, M. (Eds). Summer learning and summer learning loss, pp35-54. New York: Teachers College Press.

4. Quinn, D.M., Cooc, N., McIntyre, J., & Gomez, C.J. (2016). Seasonal dynamics of academic achievement inequality by socioeconomic status and race/ethnicity: Updating and extending past research with new national data. Educational Researcher, 45(8), 443-453. http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.3102/0013189X16677965?journalCode=edra

5. Von Hippel, P.T., & Hamrock, C. (2016). Do test score gaps grow before, during, or between the school years? Measurement artifacts and what we can know in spite of them. (Social Science Research Network working paper). Retrieved from http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2745527

6. Entwisle D. R., Alexander K. L., Olson L. S. (2000). Summer learning and home environment. In Kahlenberg R. D. (Ed.), A notion at risk: Preserving public education as an engine for social mobility (pp. 9-30). New York, NY: Century Foundation Press

7. Borman G. D., Benson J., Overman L. T. (2005). Families, schools, and summer learning. The Elementary School Journal, 106(2), 131-150. http://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/abs/10.1086/499195

8. Cooper, H., Charlton, K., Valentine, J. C., & Muhlenbruck, L. (2000). Making the most of summer school: A meta-analytic and narrative review. Monographs of the society for research in child development, 65, i-127. https://www.jstor.org/stable/3181549

9. Kim J. S., Quinn D. M. (2013). The effects of summer reading on low-income children's literacy achievement from kindergarten to grade 8 a meta-analysis of classroom and home interventions. Review of Educational Research, 83(3), 386-431. http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.3102/0034654313483906

10. McLaughlin B., Pitcock S. (2009). Building quality in summer learning programs: Approaches and recommendations (White Paper Commissioned by the Wallace Foundation). Retrieved from: http://www.wallacefoundation.org/knowledge-center/documents/building-quality-in-summer-learning-programs.pdf

11. Augustine, CH, Sloan McCombs, J., Pane, JF, Schwartz, HL, Schweig, J., McEachin, A. and Siler-Evans, K. (2016). Learning from Summer: Effects of Voluntary Summer Learning Programs on Low-Income Urban Youth. Santa Monica, CA: RAND Corporation. Retrieved from: https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RR1557.html

12. Denton D. R. (2002). Summer school: Unfulfilled promise. Atlanta, GA: Summer Regional Education Board. Retrieved from: http://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED467662.pdf

13. McLaughlin & Pitcock (2009)

14. e.g., Kim, J.S., Guryan, J., White, T.G., Quinn, D.M., Capotosto, L., & Kingston, H.C. (2016). Delayed effects of a low-cost and large-scale summer reading intervention on elementary school children's reading comprehension. Journal of Research on Educational Effectiveness, 9 sup1, 1-22. http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/19345747.2016.1164780?journalCode=uree20

15. ibid

16. Guryan, J., Kim, J.S., & Quinn, D.M. (2014). Does reading during the summer build reading skills? Evidence from a randomized experiment in 463 classrooms. NBER Working Paper No. 20689. http://www.nber.org/papers/w20689

17. Kraft, M.A., & Monti-Nussbaum, M. (in press). Can schools empower parents to prevent summer learning loss? A text messaging field experiment to promote literacy skills. The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science. https://scholar.harvard.edu/files/mkraft/files/kraft_monti-nussbaum_2017_can_schools_empower_parents_to_prevent_summer_learning_loss_annals.pdf

18. Polikoff, M.S. (2012). The redundancy of mathematics instruction in US elementary and middle schools. The Elementary School Journal , 113(2), 230-251. http://web-app.usc.edu/web/rossier/publications/66/The%20Redundancy%20of%20Math%20Instruction.pdf

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Summer learning loss: What is it, and what can we do about it?

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As students return to school this fall, many of them - perhaps especially those from historically disadvantaged student groups - will be starting the academic year with achievement levels lower than where they were at the beginning of summer break.

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Improve your heart and brain health by eating a healthy balanced diet. Get tips on healthy eating basics like a healthy diet and foods to avoid.

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More and more research is showing that the key to lifelong good health is what experts call “lifestyle medicine” — making simple changes in diet, exercise, and stress management. To help you turn that knowledge into results, we’ve put together this manageable list of health and wellness suggestions.

We asked three experts — a naturopathic physician, a dietitian, and a personal trainer — to tell us the top five simple-but-significant lifestyle-medicine changes they recommend.

Besides giving you three different takes on how to pick your health battles, this list gives you choices you can make without being whisked off to a reality-show fat farm — or buying a second freezer for those calorie-controlled, pre-portioned frozen meals.

JAMES ROUSE, N.D.

NATUROPATHIC PHYSICIAN, TRIATHLETE, CHEF, AUTHOR AND HOST OF TV’S “OPTIMUM WELLNESS,” HEALTH-TIP SEGMENTS FEATURED ON NBC AFFILIATES IN SEVERAL MAJOR CITIES.

1. THINK POSITIVE AND FOCUS ON GRATITUDE

Research shows a healthy positive attitude helps build a healthier immune system and boosts overall health. Your body believes what you think, so focus on the positive.

2. EAT YOUR VEGETABLES

Shoot for five servings of vegetables a day — raw, steamed, or stir-fried. A diet high in vegetables is associated with a reduced risk of developing cancers of the lung, colon, breast, cervix, esophagus, stomach, bladder, pancreas, and ovaries. And many of the most powerful phytonutrients are the ones with the boldest colors — such as broccoli, cabbage, carrots, tomatoes, grapes, and leafy greens.

3. SET A “5-MEAL IDEAL”

What, when, and how much you eat can keep both your metabolism and your energy levels steadily elevated, so you’ll have more all-day energy. A "5 meal ideal" will help you manage your weight, keep your cool, maintain your focus, and avoid cravings.

4. EXERCISE DAILY

Did you know that daily exercise can reduce all of the biomarkers of aging? This includes improving eyesight, normalizing blood pressure, improving lean muscle, lowering cholesterol, and improving bone density. If you want to live well and live longer, you must exercise! Studies show that even ten minutes of exercise makes a difference — so do something! Crank the stereo and dance in your living room. Sign up for swing dancing or ballroom dancing lessons. Walk to the park with your kids or a neighbor you’d like to catch up with. Jump rope or play hopscotch. Spin a hula hoop. Play water volleyball. Bike to work. Jump on a trampoline. Go for a hike.

5. GET A GOOD NIGHT'S SLEEP

If you have trouble sleeping, try relaxation techniques such as meditation and yoga. Or eat a small bedtime snack of foods shown to help shift the body and mind into sleep mode: whole grain cereal with milk, oatmeal, cherries, or chamomile tea. Darken your room more and turn your clock away from you. Write down worries or stressful thoughts to get them out of your head and onto the page. This will help you put them into perspective so you can quit worrying about them.

CHRISTINA REITER, M.S., R.D.

RESIDENT CONSULTING DIETITIAN AT THE UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO–BOULDER WARDENBURG HEALTH CENTER FOR NUTRITION EDUCATION AND THERAPIES AND FORMER DIRECTOR OF THE NUTRITION PROGRAM AT METROPOLITAN STATE COLLEGE OF DENVER.

1. CHECK YOUR FOOD ’TUDE

What we eat and how we feel are linked in very complex ways. A healthy approach to eating is centered on savoring flavor, eating to satisfaction, and increasing energy, rather than focusing on weight. Check your balance of low-calorie foods, nutrient-dense foods (providing many nutrients per calorie), and foods that are calorie dense but nutrient poor. Most Americans need to eat more fresh whole foods (in contrast to processed, highly refined foods). Try to add more whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables, and legumes into your meals. Pair these carbohydrate-rich foods with a healthy fat or lean protein to extend satisfaction.

2. EAT LIKE A KID

If adding more fruits and vegetables sounds ominous, look to “finger food” versions that preschool kids love — carrot and celery sticks, cherry tomatoes, broccoli florets, grapes, berries, and dried fruits. All are nutritional powerhouses packed with antioxidants.

3. BE A PICKY EATER

Limit saturated fats and trans fats, and aim to eat more foods rich in anti-inflammatory omega-3 fatty acids to cut your risk of cardiovascular disease and maybe even improve depressed moods. The equivalent of just one gram of EPA/DHA (eicosapentaenoic acid/docosahexaenoic acid) daily is recommended. Eating cold-water oily fish (wild salmon, herring, sardines, trout) two to three times per week will provide both EPA and DHA. Adding up to two tablespoons of ground flaxseed and eating meat, milk, and cheese from grass-fed animals will provide you with a healthy dose of omega-3s.

4. USE FOODS OVER SUPPLEMENTS

Supplements are not a substitute for a good diet. Although many health experts recommend taking a multivitamin and mineral supplement that provides 100 to 200 percent of your recommended daily value, each and every supplement should be carefully evaluated for purity and safety. Specific supplements have been associated with toxicity, reactions with medications, competition with other nutrients, and even increased risk of diseases such as cancer, heart disease, and diabetes.

5. GET SATISFACTION

Both eating and physical activity are fun, sensory experiences! In both, aim for pleasure — not pain. Pay attention to the nutritional value of the foods you choose to eat, as well as your sense of satisfaction, relaxation, tension, exhilaration, and fatigue when you sit down to eat. Check in with yourself as you eat, rekindling your recognition of hunger, fullness, and satisfaction when considering when and how much to eat.

RICK OLDERMAN, M.S., P.T.

A PHYSICAL THERAPIST AND OWNER OF Z-LINE TRAINING IN DENVER, COLORADO, OFFERING REHABILITATION, PERSONAL TRAINING, PILATES INSTRUCTION, MOTIVATIONAL INJURY-PREVENTION SEMINARS, EMPLOYEE FITNESS PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT, AND CUSTOM FOOT ORTHOTICS CASTING.

1. GIVE YOURSELF A BREAK

“I spend countless hours doing cardio and never seem to lose that last ten pounds!” is a common complaint I hear from clients. Give yourself permission to shorten your workout. Believe it or not, overtraining could be the problem. Your body can plateau if not given adequate rest to restore itself, ultimately leading to a decline in performance. Fatigue, moodiness, lack of enthusiasm, depression, and increased cortisol (the “stress” hormone) are some hallmarks of overtraining syndrome. Creating a periodization program — breaking up your routine into various training modes — can help prevent overtraining by building rest phases into your regimen. For example, you might weight train on Monday and Wednesday, cycle on Tuesday and Thursday, run on Friday and rest on Saturday and Sunday. You can also help balance your program by simply incorporating more variety.

2. THINK SMALL

Often the biggest deterrent to improving health is feeling overwhelmed by all the available advice and research. Try to focus first on one small, seemingly inconsequential, unhealthy habit and turn it into a healthy, positive habit. If you’re in the habit of eating as soon as you get home at night, instead, keep walking shoes in the garage or entryway and take a quick spin around the block before going inside. If you have a can of soda at lunchtime every day, have a glass of water two days a week instead. Starting with small, painless changes helps establish the mentality that healthy change is not necessarily painful change. It’s easy to build from here by adding more healthy substitutions.

3. KEEP GOOD COMPANY

You can do all the right things — but if you have personal relationships with people who have unhealthy habits, it is often an uphill battle. The healthiest people are those who have relationships with other healthy people. Get your family or friends involved with you when you walk or plan healthier meals. Making healthy changes with a loved one can bring you closer together as well as motivate you.

4. MAKE A LIST…AND CHECK IT TWICE

Take a few minutes and write down all the reasons you can’t begin an exercise program. Then look at the basis of each reason. For instance, if you wrote, “No time” as one of your reasons, then perhaps that’s based on a belief that an exercise program takes a lot of time. Starting with even five minutes a day will have a positive effect because you will have created a healthy habit where one didn’t exist before, and that’s a powerful mental adjustment. A closer look at your list will expose those false beliefs hiding behind each excuse.

5. SIGN UP FOR AN EVENT

Let’s face it, exercising just for the sake of exercising or losing weight can get boring. Spice things up by signing up for an event like a run/walk race or a cycling ride where you can be part of a team. Doing so gives your workouts a new purpose, and it’s fun to be around others who are exercising just like you — not to mention that most events benefit nonprofit organizations, which doubles your feel-good high.

See Full Article Here: https://www.gaiam.com/blogs/discover/15-easy-ways-to-be-healthier

#lifestyle #healthtips

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More and more research is showing that the key to lifelong good health is what experts call “lifestyle medicine” — making simple changes in diet, exercise, and stress management. To help you turn that knowledge into results, we’ve put together this manageable list of health and wellness suggestions.…

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The benefits of a healthy lifestyle are numerous. The best part? You don’t have to change your entire life overnight to get them.

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Little Steps Therapy Services-Summer Programs

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Little Steps Therapy Services-Summer Programs

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We will be opening registration for our Summer Camp program starting April 1st for current clients of Little Steps and April 15th for general registration. Registration will be closing on April 30th. Emails will be sent out by May 14th informing what weeks your child has gotten into and what weeks your child has been waitlisted for.
Current Little Steps clients have been receiving services from January 2022 onward. We will be offering FULL DAY 9am-4pm or HALF DAY MORNING ONLY 9am-12:30pm, we will not be offering half-day afternoon.

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Summer Programs * Little Steps Therapy Services

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We will be opening registration for our Summer Camp program starting April 1st for current clients of Little Steps and April 15th for general registration. Registration will be closing on April 30th. Emails will be sent out by May 14th informing what weeks your child has gotten into and what weeks your child has been waitlisted for.

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Victoria Conservatory of Music-Music Therapy

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Victoria Conservatory of Music-Music Therapy

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Department of Music Therapy

Musi c Therapy is the skillful use of music as a therapeutic tool to restore, maintain, and improve mental, physical, and emotional health.

The non-verbal, creative, and affective nature of music facilitates contact, learning, self-expression, communication and growth. The VCM's Music Therapy sessions meet the needs of children as young as 18 months old, to the elderly; those of all ages with exceptionalities, conditions, or illnesses, and to improve the quality of life for all.

Children, adolescents, adults and elderly people with the following may benefit from Music Therapy:

Cognitive Impairment

Physical challenges

Autism Spectrum Disorders

Learning difficulties

Brain injuries

Conduct and/or behavioural disorders

Recovery of Mental Health from troubling life events, substance abuse, and other illness

Strokes/Alzheimer's/Dementia

Palliative care and

Sensory impairments

Musical activities are carefully designed to meet individuals' needs and achieve therapeutic outcomes. Following are examples of how Music Therapy can help:

Singing improves communication, speech and language skills, articulation, breath control, expression and reception

Playing instruments increases gross and fine motor skills such as dexterity, coordination, balance, range of motion and strength, and social skills such as active participation and interaction, self-esteem and cooperation

Rhythmic movements and dancing facilitate mobility, agility, balance, respiration patterns, muscular relaxation, spatial relationships and endurance

Improvising offers a creative and nonverbal means of expressing feelings. Through vocal, instrumental and/or movement improvisation, one has the opportunity to make choices and deal with structure in a creative way

Composing develops cooperation, the meaningful exchange of ideas and experiences, and increases social skills

Active listening activities provide a stimulating way to develop cognitive skills such as attention, memory, and auditory perception skills

My foster son has literally woken up and smiles every week when I tell him "it is your music lesson today". Some of his songs have been so passionate, we have cried over them.
- Parent of Music Therapy Student

We tailor what we do to meet your needs. Sessions are offered in private or group settings depending on condition and individual needs. Music therapists are trained to use signing, picture exchange, and other communication models if requested.

The Music Therapy studios are equipped with hundreds of instruments including grand pianos, large percussion instruments, hand-held desk bells, parachute, balls, therapeutic and electronic equipment including keyboards and computers, and a full recording studio.
Music Therapy is now offered at our three locations: Downtown Victoria, Westhills in Langford and in Nanaimo at the Nanaimo Conservatory of Music.
See ourMusic Therapy brochure.
Music Therapy in Nanaimo

The Victoria Conservatory of Music is very pleased to be offering Music Therapy in Nanaimo and surrounding areas. In partnership with the Nanaimo Conservatory of Music, highly trained, experienced, and fully accredited VCM Music Therapists will be offering services directly at the Nanaimo Conservatory, as well as in the surrounding community. For more information, please contact:
Department Head: Dr. Johanne Brodeur
250.386.5311 ext 2030
brodeur@vcm.bc.ca

Click here for more information on Johanne Brodeur, Music Therapy and Early Childhood Department Head from Inspired Senior Living Magazine.

Our sincere thanks to the companies who have supported our Music Therapy Programs.
Music Therapy Summer Camp 2018 is now over. Thank you to all who participated!
Stay tuned - registration for next year's Summer Camp will open May 2019.
Presented through the generous support of the Children's Health Foundation and in partnership with PISE.

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Department of Music Therapy - Victoria Conservatory of Music

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Music Therapy is the skillful use of music as a therapeutic tool to restore, maintain, and improve mental, physical, and emotional health. The non-verbal, creative, and affective nature of music facilitates contact, learning, self-expression, communication and growth. The VCM's Music Therapy sessions meet the needs of children as young as 18 months old, to the ...

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Child and Youth Programs | The Learning Curve

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The Learning Curve offers various programs for children and youth that are available throughout the year for reading, writing, and more.

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The KidSport concept was launched in 1993 by board and staff at Sport BC as a way to help address the challenges faced by many families when registering their children in organized sport. From a modest start in that first year, issuing $35,000 in grants, KidSport has grown exponentially across the country and has become a truly national entity with 11 provincial/territorial chapters and over 180 community chapters.

Because the KidSport program starts at a local, provincial or territorial chapter, the impact of funding directly shapes sport in local communities. Each chapter-most of which are completely volunteer-run-raises funds, accepts applications, and distributes grants in its own community.

From humble beginnings, KidSport BC, inclusive of our 40 community chapters, has issued more than $17 million in grants to over 70,400 kids since 1993, including $1.3 million in grants to 4164 kids in 2021.

Today, our mission remains the same...to remove the financial barriers that prevent some children from playing organized sport #SoALLKidsCanPlay!

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The KidSport concept was launched in 1993 by board and staff at Sport BC as a way to help address the challenges faced by many families when registering their children in organized sport.

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The vast array of extracurricular activities offered to school-age children can be a headache for kids and parents both. They can help kids develop talents and passions and learn how to push themselves. And, of course, we want them to look like well-rounded, accomplished kids to college admissions committees. But we don't want to run them ragged or turn them into stressed-out automatons. Even parents of young children, who aren't thinking about college yet, are feeling the pressure.

After school activities have also stepped in to supplant the unsupervised "free time" we're no longer comfortable allowing our children to have, says Rachel Cortese, a speech-language pathologist and former New York City schoolteacher. And there is a consensus that children should have the opportunity to experiment with a variety of activities in well-delineated blocks-"structured free time," as it is called.

But how much should parents push their kids to engage -and how much is too much?

In general, says Cortese, "kids tend to do really well when they have structure, and part of that structure is having an afterschool schedule." Educational and learning specialist Ruth Lee also extols some well-known benefits of getting kids together outside of the classroom for more activities-especially the physical kind. "It gives kids social interactions," she says, at the same time helping them "get out some of their energy so they can settle and go back to their work" after school. This is particularly important, she notes, as schools are cutting back on recess more and more.

For older kids, after-school activities can be very important as protection against more dangerous activities, says clinical psychologist Mary Rooney, PhD -particularly if parents are busy at work or with other children. "Once kids get into middle school and high school," she says, "the hour or two after school is the highest risk time for dangerous behaviors like substance abuse, because it's the largest chunk of time when kids are unmonitored."

And of course, more recreational activities outside of school, whether its sports, dance, theater, science, give kids another arena to demonstrate competence and mastery, which is important for their self-esteem and identity development-especially for kids who might be struggling in school.

But what about overscheduling? It is not to be taken lightly, says Susan Newman, PhD, a social psychologist and author of, among many others, The Case for the Only Child.

For one thing, Newman warns that mastery might suffer. "If you are spreading yourself too thin you're not going to be able to focus and get really good at one thing."

"A lot of people see a list of all the great things that are being offered," says Lee "and they sign up for everything and then they realize it's so unrealistic with their time constraints and all the schoolwork that they have." That's not good-as Newman notes, it's no fun for kids "to have so many things that they have to drop out."

An overload of extracurricular activities also doesn't bring the perceived benefit a lot of parents and kids are looking for: a good-looking college application. "What they're really looking for is applicants who are well rounded and have focus. You can see they are pursuing a goal and they really like what they are doing," Newman says. "And not just dipping their hand in this and that and the next thing so they can fill out more lines on the application."

How many activities are too many? "Seven," jokes Jerry Bubrick, PhD, a clinical psychologist at the Child Mind Institute. But really, it's too much when afterschool activities start interfering with a child's life. Dr. Bubrick notes that in the case of intensive commitments like sports or theater, even one activity can be too much.

Dr. Bubrick has a pretty simple calculus for how much is too much. "Can you still do your homework? Can you still get 8+ hours of sleep each night? Can you still be a part of your family? Can you still hang out with your friends? If the answer is 'no' to one or more of these, then it's too much."

Know your child: "Kids come to us with different predispositions," Cortese says, and the best activity "depends on the individual child." And when it comes to scheduling, kids respond better to different kinds of structure. "One kid who is highly scheduled might do very well and another might need to dial it back," says Cortese.

Consider other types of activities: Parents shouldn't forget that children can also benefit from self-directed activities, albeit in structured blocks of time. "Sometimes there's not enough emphasis put on the importance of independent work time," Cortese says, "and giving kids the time and the place to think for themselves, be creative, and access their own internal resources."

Step back: "Most children find their level and their interest if they have the time to do it," Newman says. "My advice to parents is always to understand your child and see what limits they have or don't have."

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Finding the Balance With After-School Activities - Child Mind Institute

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The vast array of extracurricular activities offered to school-age children can be a headache for kids and parents both. They can help kids develop talents and passions and learn how to push themselves. And, of course, we want them to look like well-rounded, accomplished kids to college admissions committees.

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BC Special Olympics Child/Youth Programs

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BC Special Olympics Child/Youth Programs

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Special Olympics BC offers three low-cost programs designed to help children with intellectual disabilities to develop motor and sport skills through fun and positive experiences in supportive environments:

Many children with intellectual disabilities feel left behind or isolated in traditional sport and activity programs. Special Olympics is the place where they belong and thrive. In the SOBC Active Start, FUNdamentals, and Sport Start programs running in communities around the province, children and youth with intellectual disabilities ages two to 18 learn vital motor, sport, and social skills in a fun and welcoming environment.

In addition to our core youth programs, Special Olympics BC has begun working with schools to support in-school Special Olympics programs for children and youth with intellectual disabilities. Some schools elect to host the core youth programs described above; others are choosing to offer SOBC's school sport competition programs in order to create opportunities for student-athletes with intellectual disabilities to experience the joy of participating in sports and being cheered on by their schools. By getting off the sidelines and into the thick of the action with these Special Olympics school sport competitions, the students feel pride, build skills, and experience tons of fun and friendships. Not only is there value in participating in these programs during school, it also opens eyes to the many fun and empowering and fun opportunities with traditional Special Olympics programs in their community beyond school.
Read stories from SOBC youth programs Read stories from SOBC school sport programs Contact your SOBC community program to find your local opportunities Check out resources for families to continue the fun Special Olympics activities at home
Benefits for participants

Substantial and improved development of physical, cognitive, and social abilities

Positive social experiences through fun play activities alongside peers

Development of self-esteem and a sense of belonging

Opportunities to transition into other year-round SOBC sport programs offered in 55 communities around the province and continue a lifelong love of sport

Benefits for families

Education in nutrition, motor skills, and the Special Olympics organization

Opportunities for parents and caregivers to expand their networks and support systems

Education for parents/caregivers about the value of sport in the lives of their children

Testimonials

"The program challenges her, but in a really good way. We've seen a lot of benefits that we didn't anticipate, and we love seeing her grow so much. ... I'm always so excited at the end of the night because I do see something new every night."
-Active Start parent Sandra

"Kids are kids regardless of disabilities, intellectual or other. Kids love to play, love to laugh, love to interact, love to hug, love encouragement, and love to succeed. SOBC gives them a place to build their self-image with victories."
-SOBC youth program facilitator Davin

"This past winter was our first time in the Active Start program. When we arrived in the gym on the first day, Nick (4) dropped his jacket and ran right in to join the kids and volunteers who were enjoying some free play with balls before the session started. I loved watching Nick interact with the volunteers; it was great to see him so engaged in activities and with other people. The Active Start program provided both of us with a comfortable environment: no big deal if Nick wanted to sit out part of an activity or do his own thing, and I got to meet some other parents of kids with special needs. We're looking forward to the fall session... I just need to show Nick his yellow T-shirt and he gets excited for 'ball.' He even took his shirt for show-and-tell to preschool, and apparently, pulled the shirt right on and tossed a balloon around."
-Active Start parent Sheryl

"Special Olympics gives Katie the opportunity to train and compete as an athlete, just as she has watched her brother in his own activities; with Special Olympics, she feels like the star of her own show."
-The Oliver family

"Special Olympics BC's Active Start program fills a void in our son's life. He loves playing with the equipment, and it is gratifying to see the confidence he is gaining both physically and mentally as he achieves goals and does things he couldn't do before. We look forward to sharing future accomplishments with Active Start."
-Youth program parent James
Read about Nanaimo athlete Veda's experience
Watch Active Start athlete Levi and family:

Meet SOBC youth program facilitators Angela and Mannan:

To find out more

Please contact Amy Gibb, SOBC Youth Development Coordinator
Email: agibb@specialolympics.bc.ca
Phone: 250-252-0515
Or contact the SOBC Local in your community

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Youth Programs | Special Olympics Canada

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Special Olympics BC offers three low-cost programs designed to help children with intellectual disabilities to develop motor and sport skills through fun and positive experiences in supportive environments: Many children with intellectual disabilities feel left behind or isolated in traditional sport and activity programs. Special Olympics is the place where they belong and thrive.

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Worried About Your Child's IEP?

We all are.

Go from stressed out to calm and confident with our IEP Advocacy Mini Courses.

Pick the mini course that's right for you-from behavior and IEP data collection, to IEP transition and understanding your parental rights.

Be on your way to better outcomes for your child.

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Welcome to the Don't IEP Alone | A Day in our Shoes community. We have everything you need to navigate school and life with your disabled child.

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Between school struggles, therapies, and the challenges of "play dates," it can be hard to imagine your child with special needs taking part in after-school activities. The reality, though, is that the right after-school programs may be terrific opportunities for your child to show his strengths, build confidence, make friends, and discover new interests.

Why After-School Activities Matter

Often, parents undervalue after-school activities for their special needs children. They may be more focused on their child's academics or therapies or feel that there just isn't time or money to bother with extracurriculars. While this attitude is understandable, there's a good chance you'll be robbing your child of opportunities that could make a major positive difference in her life. Here's why:

After-school successes build confidence and respect.1 When your child hits a home run, plays piano at a recital, or earns a higher level belt in martial arts, both you and he get to see that he can succeed and even excel.

Extracurricular activities can increase your child's opportunities to make friends and find a social niche.2 Many kids with special needs have social communication challenges. And let's face it: it's hard to make friends while you're in class, on the bus, or navigating the cafeteria. After-school activities are an opportunity to connect with other kids in a completely different way. Choose the right organization, and your child will suddenly have a built-in set of social connections.

Many kids with special needs also have impressive talents, regardless of learning disabilities, social issues, or speech delays they may be dealing with. But that doesn't mean they can't run like the wind, draw like Picasso, or be a successful Girl Scout. It's important to recognize and build these talents, especially when your child's challenges are so often the focus of discussion.

Some after-school activities can become lifelong interests. If your child gets interested in music, art, sports, dance, chess, or any other cultural activity while in school, that interest can provide an outlet throughout her life.

The skills your child learns after school can be as important (or more important) than the skills he learns in school. In school, your child is working on handwriting, standing in line, academic skills, appropriate classroom behavior. After school, your child may be learning to be part of a team, to support and encourage others, or to try new things. He may also be learning the rules of well-known games, earning respect, and building friendships. These are skills that will last a lifetime.

How to Choose Activities

Many parents tend to push their kids into doing either what they loved when they were kids or what their friends' kids are doing. Often, for typically developing children, this works out just fine. For kids with special needs, however, it's important to choose carefully with several factors in mind:

Be realistic: The fact that your child can kick a ball does not mean they are ready for a full-fledged soccer team. He may, however, be ready for something a little less challenging. Think carefully about what your child can really understand, do well, and focus on for a prolonged period. Both you and your child will suffer if you start something he can't finish.

Choose an activity in which your child is already interested: Kids with special needs may already cope with unpleasant therapies, challenging school expectations, school bullies, and worse. After-school activities should be something they actively enjoy.

Choose programs that have simple rules and little competition: Complex team sports (for example) demand high levels of physical, social, motor planning, and cognitive skills. The same is true of many competitive activities, from musical theater (auditions required) to dance team.

Consider becoming your child's shadow or aide for a while: In many cases, special needs children need help as they get started in an activity, but once they know the ropes they're just fine. If you have the time and ability, consider offering to be on the spot for your child for the first few weeks. Alternatively, hire a helpful "shadow" who can support your child and step in if a problem arises. This will lower everyone's anxiety and may make it possible for your child to become a full-fledged part of the organization.

Consider special needs after-school programs: Some children with special needs thrive in "special" programs such as Challenger Club, while others would find such programs babyish or frustrating. If you're not sure, check out both the typical and the "special" versions of activities your child is likely to find interesting.

Consider structured programs as opposed to open-ended programs: Many children with special needs do much better in highly structured programs like Boy or Girl Scouts than in open-ended "exploration" experiences. Though the lack of structure appears more accepting, it can actually be extremely challenging to any child who doesn't already have solid physical, emotional, and organizational skills.

Don't neglect gender-bending or gender-free options: Sure, "most" boys are supposed to like sports and "most" girls enjoy dance. But kids with special needs may not know about, care about, or meet those stereotypes. If your son loves to dance or your daughter likes baseball, consider those possibilities.

Include your child in the decision, but be realistic: Your daughter may want to take a dance class, but she may not have the skills or discipline for the full-scale ballet program she knows about. Consider finding a lower key, more accepting dance program where she can be fully included even if her grande jete needs work.

Keep sensory concerns in mind: Many special needs children are unusually sensitive to loud noise, heat, strong smells, and bright lights.3 If that describes your child, steer clear of activities that involve sensory "assaults."

Remember that "after-school" can mean "in school" or community-based: Sometimes the options available in the community (rec sports versus school sports, for example) are a better match for kids with special needs.

Select an activity your child is good at: Once your child leaves school, they deserve the chance to shine. Is she great at swimming? Is he terrific at drawing? Find your child an opportunity to show off what he can do well.

Talk to the person or people running the program: Explain your child's strengths and challenges. How would the coach or instructor handle it if your child had difficulties or even had a meltdown? You'll probably walk away knowing if it's a good match.

Understand what your child is getting into: What is really expected of a child who joins the Boy Scouts or the recreational soccer league? If your child needs support, are they available? If your child runs into problems, how will the instructor or coach respond? Be sure your child is capable of doing what's expected (or has the necessary support if needed).

Extracurricular Activity Options

Bearing in mind the tips above, consider options that are most likely to meet your child's needs. These activities are all mainstream options that tend to celebrate individual strengths while lowering the need for advanced social communication skills. As you'll see, some of these activities may require your parental involvement at the start or throughout:

Individual Sports

If your child enjoys sports, consider teams in which your child is performing on his own and competing with his own best outcomes. Options including swimming, martial arts, bowling, track and field, golf, archery, and many more.

Structured Adult-led Clubs and Programs

Many children with special needs strive in programs such as Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts and 4H. That's because the programs are highly organized, children progress at their own rate, activities are hands-on, and the organizations themselves are dedicated to including children regardless of ability or background.

Singing and Instrumental Programs

Instead of or in addition to music therapy, consider enrolling your child in a singing or instrumental program that actually teaches and celebrates skills. If your child can learn to sing, he will always be welcome in a chorus. If she can play an instrument, she can join the band. These are not only entries into school-based programs, but also hobbies to enjoy throughout life.

Volunteer Activities

Most communities are loaded with opportunities for children (sometimes with parents) to volunteer their time. Kids can help clean up trash at the park, help foster kittens, visit nursing homes, or help raise money for school events by washing cars or selling treats. With parental involvement, they can become valued members of the community or school organizations.

Theater

Many kids who have a tough time picking the right words and actions do very well when acting from a script. Acting clubs and camps require no audition and can be a great way to get started. Some kids with special needs discover they have a real talent for acting.

Visual Arts

Many children with special needs are really quite talented in the visual arts. Schools and community art centers often offer after-school programs in drawing, painting, clay, and even multi-media art.

Video and A/V

Quite a number of tweens and teens with special needs have great interest and skills in video and a/v. Many middle and high schools have video and A/V clubs, and many towns have local TV stations where kids can get involved. Even if your child isn't a creative videographer, she can find opportunities to be confident and valued behind the camera or managing microphones.

Cosplay and Fantasy Games

Cosplay is short for "costume play," and it's becoming more and more popular. Both kids and adults make and wear elaborate costumes based on comic book or fantasy characters from TV or movies and attend "cons" (conventions) where they show off what they've created, get signatures from their favorite actors, compete in costume parades, and generally enjoy being geeks together.

Fantasy games such as Dungeons and Dragons are also great ways for "geeky" kids to find like-minded friends who are eager to build and engage in fantasy world-building.

Special Interest Clubs

Children with special needs are often fascinated by a particular area of interest and have a hard time getting interested in anything else. If this describes your child, consider helping her get involved with special interest clubs in areas ranging from mathematics and video gaming to animal welfare, Quidditch, or chess.

Horseback Riding

Horseback riding can be expensive, but it combines a number of wonderful elements that may be perfect for your child. Equestrians learn to communicate effectively, build strength and balance, and gain skills in an exciting sport that can be individual, team-based, competitive or non-competitive. Ask about scholarships or special programs for kids with special needs.

A Word From Verywell

If you're the parent of a child with special needs you may feel "it's tough enough to get my child through the grocery store; why would I want to add another layer of difficulty to our lives?" If this describes you, remember that outside interests can change the course of your child's life—and, by extension, your life as well.

The child who has an area of real strength, a group of friends and a sense of belonging can do great things. Now is your chance to get your child started on an interest that can last a lifetime.

Thanks for your feedback!

Verywell Family uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

1. Kort-Butler LA, Hagewen KJ. School-based extracurricular activity involvement and adolescent self-esteem: a growth-curve analysis. J Youth Adolesc. 2011;40(5):568‐581. doi:10.1007/s10964-010-9551-4

2. Brooks BA, Floyd F, Robins DL, Chan WY. Extracurricular activities and the development of social skills in children with intellectual and specific learning disabilities. J Intellect Disabil Res. 2015;59(7):678‐687. doi:10.1111/jir.12171

3. Critz C, Blake K, Nogueira E. Sensory processing challenges in children. J Nurse Prac. 2015;11(7):710-716. doi:10.1016/j.nurpra.2015.04.016

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How After-School Activities Can Help Your Special Needs Child

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Children with special needs can and should get involved in after-school activities. Learn how to choose the right activity for your special child.

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May30-Jun3/22            Supporting our Kids in Extracurricular Activities

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May30-Jun3/22            Supporting our Kids in Extracurricular Activities

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How much screen time should you let your kids have? How do you talk to your tweens and teens about sex and consent? How do you keep your cool when your child throws a tantrum?

Maggie Dent, one of Australia's favourite parenting authors and educators gives you practical tips and answers to your real-world parenting dilemmas.

Maggie talks to parenting experts from around the world to find practical solutions to the challenges every parent is facing today.

She'll help you be the parent you really want to be and give you ideas on how you can raise healthy kids who thrive.
Listen for free from the ABC listen app, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts or your favourite podcast app.

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Parental As Anything with Maggie Dent - ABC listen

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Maggie Dent, one of Australia's favourite parenting authors and educators gives you practical tips and answers to your real-world parenting dilemmas.

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Hi, I’m Dr Becky Kennedy.

I’m a clinical psychologist, mom of three, and founder of Good Inside.

When I was first starting out, I practiced a popular behavior-first, reward-and-punishment model of parent coaching. But after a while, something struck me: those methods feel awful — for kids and parents. So I got to work, taking everything I know about attachment, mindfulness, emotion regulation, and internal family systems theory, and translated those ideas into a new method for working with parents.

We give millions of parents a better way to see and solve challenges in their homes.

In 2020, I joined forces with my friend and colleague, Erica Belsky, also a clinical psychologist and mom of three, to grow Good Inside. Fast forward, we are now a team of more than a dozen on a mission to break down big parenting topics into simple, actionable strategies parents can actually use.

By focusing on the parent behind the parenting and the child behind the behavior, we help families heal — bringing out the good inside everyone.

The Foundations of Good Inside

Sturdy Leadership

We help you develop clarity and confidence, so you can show up as the parent you want to be.

Parent-Child Connection

We strengthen relationships — because your bond is the ultimate parenting tool.

Deep Thoughts, Practical Strategies

We help you understand your child’s behavior and tell you exactly what to do in tricky moments.

Bite-Sized Learning

We break down our method into easy-to-follow, doable strategies that fit into your busy life.

Community

We empower each other through learning, conversation, and connection.

Apple Podcasts Best of 2021

“Good Inside with Dr. Becky,” for Becky Kennedy’s calming, validating voice to parents everywhere, acknowledging that if this time (and parenting generally) feels hard, that’s because it is.”

How Dr. Becky Became the Millennial Parenting Whisperer

“If you are a parent of a child under the age of, say, 10, it’s unlikely that you made it through the pandemic without coming across Dr. Becky.”

Dr. Becky Doesn’t Think the Goal of Parenting Is to Make Your Kid Happy

“Every generation, sometimes building on and sometimes rejecting what came before, develops its own ideas about parenting. For many millennials, the clinical psychologist Becky Kennedy, a.k.a. Dr. Becky, is the person whom they trust to deliver those ideas.”

The Frenetic, Fraught Appeal of Instagram’s Parenting Whisperer

“. . .the way she spoke — with her easy smile and empathic eyebrows — made her feel like a parent who was in the trenches with me, like she had actually tried these tips on her own kids. Her role-playing of the whole scenario from start to finish felt real and worth giving a go.”

Apple Podcasts Best of 2021

“Good Inside with Dr. Becky,” for Becky Kennedy’s calming, validating voice to parents everywhere, acknowledging that if this time (and parenting generally) feels hard, that’s because it is.”

How Dr. Becky Became the Millennial Parenting Whisperer

“If you are a parent of a child under the age of, say, 10, it’s unlikely that you made it through the pandemic without coming across Dr. Becky.”

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Dr. Becky Kennedy, PhD is a clinical psychologist, mother of three, and founder of the breakthrough global parenting community, Good Inside.

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Bryn Askwith, MSc, is a Project Manager with the BC Children's Kelty Mental Health Resource Centre, is our lead producer on this very Where You Are Podcast, manages Mental Health Literacy & Health Promotion initiatives tailored to children and youth across B.C., and is a loving mom of 2 energetic kids who continue to be her greatest teachers.

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Bryn Askwith, MSc, is a Project Manager with the BC Children's Kelty Mental Health Resource Centre, is our lead producer on this very Where You Are Podcast, manages Mental Health Literacy & Health Promotion initiatives tailored to children and youth across B.C., and is a loving mom of 2 energetic kids who continue to be her greatest teachers.

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With more than 250 episodes and 3 million downloads, the Tilt Parenting Podcast is a top podcast about learning disabilities, special education, ADHD, autism, giftedness, twice-exceptionality, and more. The weekly show features transformational interviews and conversations with authors, parenting experts, educators, and other parents, as well as insightful conversations between Debbie and her differently wired child, all aimed at supporting parents raising differently wired kids.

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A podcast about parenting children with learning disabilities and more

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With more than 250 episodes and 3 million downloads, the Tilt Parenting Podcast is a top podcast about learning disabilities, special education, ADHD, autism, giftedness, twice-exceptionality, and more. The weekly show features transformational interviews and conversations with authors, parenting experts, educators, and other parents, as well as insightful conversations between Debbie and her differently wired child, all aimed at supporting parents raising differently wired kids.

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We are forging a new, province-wide culture of care through the development of a network of centres and e-health services.

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It is common for children to be fearful or anxious about needles, whether getting a vaccine, medication or having blood drawn. As a parent or caregiver, you may be wondering how you can best support your child through a needle procedure. Luckily, there are many evidence-based strategies to help manage needle anxiety that your child may experience.

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There are a lot of spring activities to do, but spring break camps happen to be the most amusing for children. From arts and crafts to gymnastics, literature and more, we've come up with a guide to numerous spring break camps in Victoria, BC (not ranked in order).

The St. Michaels University Spring Break Camp has various activities for your children to enjoy this spring break. Your children will be immersed in activities including learning about the french language, theatre experience, fashion design, and illustration. Don't worry, St. Micheals University did not forget about those sport-savvy children! At this camp, children will get their daily physical activity by playing all sorts of different sports such as basketball and volleyball!

Students will also learn to storyboard and use advanced animation skills to make their characters come alive on screen. The camp welcomes children aged 5 -18 years.

Note: Some programs are categorized based on the campers' age group.

Camp Canon is back for its spring break classes for children ages 10-16 and has many different courses available for any skill level at this virtual spring break camp. This 5-day program includes children in photographic techniques, nature photography, composition techniques, lighting, and more. The virtual classes take place for around 60 minutes, where instructors will give 1-on-1 feedback, and share tips and tricks, plus students will then need to complete a photo assignment!

Never used a camera before? Well, no problem, Camp Canon has experienced instructors who will teach your children the foundations of photography, including operating a mirrorless or DSLR camera. Plus, children can register for a course that introduces them to starting their own YouTube channel!

The Christ Cathedral School hosts the Lux Mundi Spring Break Camp that provides fun activities to make sure that kids are occupied during their break. Children will learn, explore, have fun, and make new friends.

The camp welcomes children of grade 1 - up and also kindergarten. Children can register for drop in programs or monthly rate programs and registration is already going on.

Ballet Victoria inspires tomorrow's ballet dancers. Join the Ballet Victoria Conservatory for a week full of different types of dance, arts and crafts, story time and a whole lot of imagination. This will be an exciting week for aspiring future dancers and the perfect camp for students to learn and sample all different styles of dance during the spring break. Students will also participate in daily crafts, and play games.

This camp is for kids aged 4-6 and is located at 643 Broughton St, Victoria, BC V8W 2C1.

Although Spotlight Academy camp is located in Langford (and Nanaimo), the drive will be well worth it. This camp is offered to children ages eight to 16 and is great for children who want to discover the magic of film making. During the camp, kids will stoke their imaginations, develop a storyline, take on the roles of actors and camera crew and gain new skills and a firm understanding of filmmaking.

The movie will be edited by an experienced editor and then premiered at the Spotlight Academy red carpet screening. Camp participants will also receive a link to view and copy of their film to share with their friends and family.

Instructors will foster your child's creativity and imagination in a fun and welcoming environment. This interactive camp will guide children through a variety of activities like arts and crafts, yoga, dance, theatre, creative writing/reading, nature adventure and more.

There are different activities planned and if you are joining for multiple weeks it will be a new and creative experience. The camps will be limited to 14 with two lead instructors plus floating support to ensure we provide an engaging and personalized camp experience.

Children will have the opportunity to experience a variety of creating mediums using paints, crafts, clay, nature art, printmaking and more.

The Paint Box School of Art offers a camps that is great for young children aged 4 to 12 who have a passion for painting, drawing, and making prints. All camps are limited to 8 students and are half-day, daily or week long. Students will be making lots of different kinds of art, such as painting, drawing, printmaking, collaging and sculptures. Students also make portfolios to hold their art and create new friendships.

Be sure to pack some snacks for the campers because there will be time for snacking.

Send your kiddos to Crafty School of Art during spring break to unleash their creative side. This camp is most suitable for children from ages 5-10. Kids will enjoy amazing Spring-themed art projects, lots of games and plenty of time outside to enjoy the new season. There will be making of felted bumblebees, clay flower pots and bird nests, GIANT flowers, cardboard bugs and so much more. This camp is offered to children ages 5-10.

Create a masterpiece with professional art supplies, have fun and get messy. Each day is a new adventure which includes painting, drawing, printmaking, and sculpting. 4Cats Spring Camps offers week-long camps for children ages 6-12. Young artists will have the opportunity to create a masterpiece with professional art supplies and learn impressive techniques from experienced art instructors.

Camps run from 9 am - 4pm daily during spring break.

Falcon Gymnastics ensures that children of all ages and levels have fun while participating in their gymnastics classes. Activities include foam pit, trampoline, air track, tumble track, and LOTS of gymnastics. Under the guidance of highly trained and experienced teachers, your children will be doing all kinds of cool tricks!

Falcon offers full-and half-day Spring Break camps for kids aged 5-12 from Monday to Friday starting at 9:00am to 4:00 pm.

Send your kiddos to Pacific Institute for Sport Excellence (PISE) for an active and fun spring break experience. Kids from ages 5-10 are welcome to join. PISE focuses on developing physical literacy, and believes that acquiring fundamental skills and confidence promotes healthy kids to become healthy adults. During their spring break camps, kids will practice running, jumping, catching, and kicking! Register in advance for early bird pricing.

Keep your kids active during spring break at Victoria Gymnastics camp. This camp is offered for 5 days for children and teens from ages 3-17.Children will gain a foundation of gymnastics in a non-competitive, fun, and safe environment with experienced coaches. Plus, this camp will provide an excellent opportunity for your child to advance their current skill repertoire.

Students are encouraged to bring a small snack and drink to each day of camp

Panorama Recreation Centre provides a variety of programs for all types of interests during Spring Break. There is no shortage of activities to choose from such as arts, science, sports, pottery, painting, tours, or just about anything else.

This camp is offered to children and teens from ages 6 to 14 and have half-day and full day camp options.

Note: Mask requirement applies to those of 5 and above regardless of vaccination status!

Recreation Oak Bay offers an incredible variety of camps for children during spring break. Choose from half-day and full day camps. Camp themes include aquatics, fine arts, sports, golf, tennis, soccer, ice hockey, and more! Programs are most suitable for children from ages 5-17. Coaches are eager to help each young player improve their soccer skills while having fun at the same time!

Kaleidoscope Theatre is pleased to offer 6 different camps at 3 locations around Greater Victoria for young people ages 6-18 for spring break 2022. Their spring break camps are structured to engage your kid's imagination and creativity through classes in music, acting, and more. Students will learn musical theatre, playmaking, movement, acting, singing, games, improvisation, character building, and choreography. Choose from a variety of camp specializations. Children and teens from ages 6-17 are welcome to join!

Rogers Society Spring Break camps allow children to connect, explore, and play together in a FUN and creative environment with sports, games, crafts, outdoor activities, bus getaways and more. Sign up for a one-week or two-week camp! Activities include local bus trips, outdoor adventures, arts & crafts, and more! Children of K - grade 5 only are welcome to join. Be sure to register soon, space is limited.

For great outdoor activities during the break from school, City of Victoria camp is the right place to send your kids. The camp offers a variety of spring programs for children aged 5 to 12 at the Crystal Pool and Fitness Centre located at 2275 Quadra St, Victoria, BC V8T 4C4, Canada.

During the camp, children will be grouped according to their age brackets so that the young ones don't feel intimidated by the energetic older children and all sessions will always be guided by a camp leader. This will create an opportunity for everyone to enjoy and have a great experience at the camp.

This camp is great for kids that have interest in nature, crafts and love indoor and outdoor play activities. The camp runs for two weeks with each having a different theme. The first week called the Mash-up week is about laughter, dancing, team building games and activities, and exploring the surrounding.

The second week with its theme Wild in Nature is about exploring nature, being imaginative, experiencing indoor and outdoor adventures. Kids will explore the forest, play games, practice their creativity skills by doing crafts, and more. The camp is open to both students and non-students to St. Margaret's School. There are prizes to be won!

Saanich Commonwealth Place provides a safe, high quality, and affordable day camp program with exciting outdoor activities delivered in the community park and playground setting. Let your child's spring days be active, imaginative, and adventurous.

Hopefully, the list above was helpful, and by now, you have already chosen which camp to sign up for based on your child's interests. Let us know in the comments below which spring break camp you will be registering your children.

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Guide: Spring Break Camps in Victoria (2022)

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Spring is just around the corner, which means it is time to start planning spring break activities. Attending a camp is an excellent way for children to have fun outside of school. Whether your children are into art, sports, robots, or outdoor activities, we are sure they'll find something that fits their interests at one of these camps.

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Heart-Mind Online | Dalai Lama Center for Peace and Education

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Children today face an increase in poverty, stress and bullying have resulted in mental health problems, lower happiness and decreased empathy in children. People who use resources on Heart-Mind Online want children to feel safe, to be happy, and to flourish.

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Why internet safety matters for children

School-age children like going online to look at videos, play games and connect with friends and family. They might also be using the internet for schoolwork, homework or hobbies. School-age children can go online using computers, mobile phones, tablets, smart watches, TVs and other internet-connected devices, including toys.

Because school-age children are starting to be independent online and might go online unsupervised, there are more internet safety risks for them than there are for younger children. There are particular risks if your child uses the internet to communicate with others - for example, on messaging apps, on social media or in games.

When you take some practical internet safety precautions, you protect your child from potentially harmful or inappropriate content and activities. You also teach your child skills for using the internet safely on their own. And your child gets to make the most of their online experience, with its potential for learning, exploring, being creative and connecting with others.

As your child gets older and more confident and starts using the internet independently, you'll need to review risks and strategies for handling them. Our article on internet safety for children aged 9-11 years has ideas.

Internet safety risks for school-age children

There are 4 main kinds of internet safety risks for children.

Content risks
For school-age children these risks include things that they might find upsetting, disgusting or otherwise uncomfortable. This might include sexual content in games or movies, pornography, images of cruelty to animals, and real or simulated violence.

Contact risks
These risks include children coming into contact with people they don't know or with adults posing as children online. For example, a child might be persuaded to share personal information with strangers, provide contact details after clicking on pop-up messages, or meet in person with someone they've met online.

Conduct risks
These risks include children acting in ways that might hurt others or being the victim of this kind of behaviour. For example, a child might destroy a game that a friend or sibling has created. Another conduct risk is accidentally making in-app purchases.

Contract risks
These risks include children signing up to contracts, membership agreements, or terms and conditions that they aren't aware of or don't understand. For example, children might click a button that allows a business to send them inappropriate marketing messages or collect their personal or family data. Or children might use a toy, app or device with weak internet security, which leaves them open to identity theft or fraud.

Practical precautions to protect children from internet safety risks

Family relationships
These tips use family relationships to keep your child safe and build their safety skills:

Create a family media plan, and involve your child. Your plan could cover things like screen-free areas in your house, internet safety rules like not giving out personal information, and programs and apps that are OK for your child to use.

Use the internet with your child or make sure you're close by and aware of what your child is doing online. This way you can act quickly and reassure your child if they're upset by something they've seen online.

Check other parents' internet safety rules before deciding whether your child can go to a friend's house. For example, is your child's friend allowed to use the internet independently?

Child-friendly choices
These tips involve choosing child-friendly and age-appropriate technology and content to keep your child safe:

Set up profiles for different household members on streaming services, so your child can't choose inappropriate programs.

Use child-friendly search engines like Kiddle or Kidtopia, or content providers like ABC Kids, CBeebies, YouTube Kids and KIDOZ, or messaging apps like Messenger Kids.

Check that games, YouTube channels, TV series and websites are appropriate for your child. You can do this by looking at reviews on Common Sense Media.

Be aware that even though a site or app is appropriate for young children, the advertising it shows might not be.

Boundaries and limits
These ideas involve using technological restrictions to keep your child safe:

Check privacy settings and location services, use parental controls, use safe search settings on browsers, apps, search engines and YouTube, and limit camera and video functions.

Block in-app purchases and disable one-click payment options on your devices.

Avoid reviewing your child's browser history or using surveillance apps to monitor your child's online activity. This can send the message that you don't trust your child. If you choose to do this, it's best to let your child know.

Internet safety precautions are important. But it's also important to help your child learn how to use the internet safely and responsibly and respond positively to online risks. Good ways to do this include going online together, being a role model, talking about appropriate content and behaviour, talking about privacy, and showing your child how to handle privacy and online purchases.

Going online with children

Going online with your child is one of the best ways to help them learn about using the internet safely. That's because it gives you the opportunity to see the apps, games or videos your child enjoys. It also helps you understand how your child uses technology.

You can share your child's experience while also checking that the content is appropriate and good quality. One way to do this is by encouraging your child to tell you about the games and sites they enjoy. Or you can ask questions that show genuine interest in what your child is doing. For example, 'That looks like an interesting game. Can you teach me to play too?'

You can also show your child apps and sites that are fun, interesting or educational and explain how to save these for later. You could help your child find information they need for homework by using the right kind of search words. For example, for information on a school project about how people lived in the past, your child might use a phrase like 'life Australia 1900s', rather than 'past life'.

If you come across pop-up advertisements while you're online together, it's a good opportunity to talk with your child about not clicking them. You can explain that pop-up ads are trying to sell you things. Or they might lead to sites with unpleasant pictures or sites that want your personal or financial information.

Talking about online content with children

It's a good idea to explain to your child that the internet has all sorts of content and that some of it isn't for children.

You could explain that there are parental controls, safe browsing settings and internet filters set up on most devices to protect children from inappropriate content. But these aren't a guarantee, and your child could still come across inappropriate content.

So it's also a good idea to encourage your child to talk to you or another trusted adult if they see something that worries them. For example, 'Sometimes people put horrible things on the internet. Some of it's made up and some of it's real. If you see anything that upsets you, let me know'.

If you name things to look out for, it can help your child identify inappropriate material. For example, 'If you see a site with upsetting, scary or rude pictures, swearing or angry words, let me know. It's not a good site for you to look at'.

You could also explain that not all information on the internet is true or helpful. For example, some news is made up. If you encourage your child to think critically about internet content, this helps them learn to spot good-quality information online.

Calm, open and regular conversations about internet use can help your child feel that you trust them to be responsible online. And if your child feels trusted, they're more likely to talk with you about what they do online and tell you about online experiences that worry them.

Talking about appropriate online behaviour

Talking with your child about appropriate and inappropriate online behaviour will help your child learn how to stay safe.

Here are things you can do:

Tell your child not to do or say anything online that they wouldn't do or say face to face with someone.

Encourage your child to think before posting photos or comments.

Help your child to walk away from online arguments. You could say, 'Friends can say things they don't mean. It's good to let people get over their moods and not talk to them online for a little while'.

Being a good role model

Your child learns from you. This means you can model safe and healthy internet use by using digital media in the way you want your child to use it, now and in the future. For example, you might keep internet-connected devices out of bedrooms, and use technology for positive purposes like sending supportive messages to friends.

Taking care with privacy and personal information

It's a good idea to make sure your child knows not to communicate online with people they don't know in person. This is particularly important if your child is using in-game social networks. For example, gaming sites like Roblox and Minecraft are targeted at children but have messaging features that might allow strangers to communicate with your child.

Here are things you can do:

Ask your child to tell you if someone they don't know contacts them online.

Explain that your child should never give out personal information. You could say, 'Some people online are fakers. Never tell anyone online your name, address, phone number or birthday. Never send or post images of yourself'.

Ask your child to check with you before filling out membership forms on gaming sites, entering online competition entry forms and so on.

Check any new apps before your child uses them. In particular, check the terms and conditions about data collection and use.

Show your child how to check the privacy settings on apps, to keep their personal information safe.

Avoiding online purchases

You can help to stop any accidental in-app purchases by switching off in-app purchases and one-click payments on your devices.

It's also a good idea for you and your child to agree on clear rules about not accepting in-app purchases. You might say, 'It's important that we don't waste our money on things we don't need. If you want to buy a new game or something in a game, please ask me'.

It's OK if your rules are different from those of other families. If you've thought them through and you're happy with the way they're working, you're helping to keep your child safe online.

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Children can come across dangerous things online. Internet safety includes going online with children, role-modelling, and talking about online behaviour.

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Building Social Skills through Activity Based Experiences

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Building Social Skills through Activity Based Experiences

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Evidence-based social skills activities for children and teens (with teaching tips)

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© 2009-2021 Gwen Dewar, Ph.D., all rights reserved These social skills activities can help kids forge positive relationships - and better understand what other people are feeling and thinking. How can we help children develop social competence - the ability to read emotions, cooperate, make friends, and negotiate conflicts?

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The COVID-19 pandemic has caused stress and uncertainty for so many of us. Whatever you're going through, we're here to provide mental health and substance use support. Get started by finding resources below, or create an account to track your progress.
About Wellness Together Canada Not sure where to start? Contact a program navigator
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The COVID-19 pandemic has caused stress and uncertainty for so many of us. Whatever you're going through, we're here to provide mental health and substance use support. Get started by finding resources below, or create an account to track your progress. About Wellness Together Canada Not sure where to start?

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Social, Emotional, and Mental Well-being of Young Children during COVID-19

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) can affect young children, birth to 5 years, directly and indirectly. Beyond getting sick, many young children's social, emotional, or mental well-being has been impacted by the pandemic. Trauma faced at this developmental stage may have long-term consequences across their lifespan. CDC's COVID-19 Parental Resource Kit: Ensuring Children and Young People's Social, Emotional, and Mental Well-being can help support parents, caregivers, and other adults serving children and young people in recognizing children and young people's social, emotional, and mental challenges and helping to ensure their well-being.

Change in routines

In addition to everyday steps to prevent COVID-19, physical or social distancing is one of the best tools we have to avoid being exposed to the virus and to slow its spread. When children are very young, their parents and caregivers-including extended family members, a worship community, and childcare workers-provide them with daily caretaking routines that support their development and well-being (i.e., diaper changes, feeding, hair combing). Disruptions in these routines and the sudden loss of usual caregivers due to the need to physically distance can be traumatic for young children. It is important for parents to support young children by ensuring their own social, emotional, and mental health. Establishing routines and structure for young children with other trusted caregiver(s) (e.g., babysitters) who also practice social distancing and hygiene measures can provide support to parents with caretaking responsibilities, giving parents time to take healthy steps to cope with their own stress.

Break in continuity of care or learning

Intermittent daycare and school closures may mean that young children have to stay at home while parents and caregiver juggle caretaking, supervision of play and learning, and potential telework responsibilities. Keeping young children at home is one way to help stop the spread of COVID-19. Depending on your child's age and ability, supervision of play may require more hands-on engagement. Unfortunately, some parents do not have jobs that offer telework. It is important for parents to determine how their family's composition and access to social supports (i.e., individual and work policies) could make caretaking of young children less challenging. For families with children who have special needs, extra social supports may be required.

Break in continuity of health care

Parents may have felt pressured to avoid seeking health care due to earlier stay-at-home orders and may continue to do so because they are afraid of getting sick with COVID-19. However, well-child visits and immunizations are important to maintain the health of your child. Similarly, social services closures may have impacted many young children's ability to receive other therapeutic services, like speech and occupational health. It is important to ensure children receive continuity of health care, including checking on their development at well-child visits, continuing speech, mental health, and occupational health therapies (e.g. via telehealth), and receiving vaccines for illnesses such as measles, influenza, whooping cough, and others. Developmental milestones matter.

Missed significant life events

Physical distancing can make you feel as if your family's life is on hold. The truth is that the clock keeps ticking. Birthdays, vacation plans, births, and funerals are just a few of the many significant life events that families may miss experiencing during the COVID-19 pandemic. Social distancing, stay-at-home orders, and limited gatherings have affected the ability of friends and family to come together in-person to celebrate and/or grieve in typical ways. When parents or caregivers experience grief, young children may also experience emotional challenges. It is important to have honest conversations with young children about grief as a normal response to losing someone or something important to you. For pre-verbal children, reading books about emotions can help them begin to understand expression of emotions. Also, be creative in ways to celebrate life events differently-birthday parades and virtual celebrations with family and friends can help.

Loss of security and safety

Being safe and feeling safe are essential for young children. The household income of many families with young children has been affected during the COVID-19 pandemic due to job loss and lost wages. Economic insecurity is linked to adverse childhood experiences that can negatively impact their social-emotional development, learning, and health. Young children living in families that are experiencing economic difficulties may feel unsafe. They may have inconsistent access to healthy foods, safe transportation, and housing. Parents' mounting economic stress can increase children's risk for exposure to violence. With increased time spent at home during COVID-19, some children may have been increasingly exposed to child abuse and neglect, intimate partner violence at home, and sexual violence. It is important for parents to access social supports and services-including mental health services. Telemental health and national helplines may provide emergency options for emotional and mental health support during a crisis. Moreover, being attentive and responsive to a young child's behaviors or questions can help support feelings of safety.

Steps to Help Provide Stability and Support to Young Children

Maintain a normal routine

Talk, listen, and encourage expression

Under supervision, allow them to crawl and explore, returning to a trusted caregiver

Give honest and accurate information

Teach simple steps to stay healthy

Be alert for any change in

Recognize and address fear and stress

When adults in the household are worried or stressed, even very young children (birth-2 years) may experience emotional distress. Children ages 3-5 years might worry about getting sick with COVID-19 or about their loved ones getting sick. Excessive worry or sadness, unhealthy eating or sleeping habits, and difficulty with attention and concentration are some signs of stress in young children. These are also signs of stress in adults, as well as worsening of chronic health problems or mental health conditions, and increased use of tobacco or alcohol and other substances. Adults should seek mental health services or spiritual guidance if they are experiencing worry and stress that interferes with caretaking, household duties, or their ability to work. Adults can also take steps to provide stability and support to help children cope. Parents can support positive coping through play and talk about emotions. For instance, choosing a comfortable space on the floor, at the child's level, to talk about things that they are seeing adults do differently can provide the opportunity for children to express their fears in a safe place. To help young children have some sense of control and safety in these circumstances, parents can encourage conversations about being part of a community, such as protecting their family and their neighbors by standing 6 feet apart and wearing a mask. Have these changes become part of a fun and new family routine.

Teach and reinforce everyday preventive actions

There are actions we can take to limit the spread of COVID-19. Be a good role model-if adults wash their hands often, stay at least 6 feet apart from others, and wear their mask in public spaces to help protect themselves and others, then children are more likely to do the same. CDC recommends that children age 2 years and older wear a mask.

Help keep children healthy

Schedule well child and immunizations visits for children. Seek continuity in mental health and occupational health care. Help children eat healthy and drink water - instead of sugar sweetened beverages - for strong teeth. Encourage children to play outdoors-it's great for physical and mental health, and can help children stay healthy and focused.

Help children stay socially connected

Reach out to friends and family via phone or video chats. Write cards or letters to family members they may not be able to visit. Schools may have tips and guidelines to help support social and emotional needs of children.

Explore different types of resources available to help you support young people's social, emotional, and mental wellbeing across the lifespan.

STEM and Other Activity Ideas

Let's get creative! Here are a few ideas on how to have fun while learning how to protect ourselves and others from COVID-19.

DIY masks: Wearing a mask is a very important step that we can take to stop the spread of COVID-19. Make it a family project to create masks. Be creative and stylish. Here's a video on how to make your own mask.

DIY soap: Handwashing is an easy, inexpensive, and effective way to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and other germs and keep kids and adults healthy. You can help your kids make their own soap! This resource from PBS Kids for Parentsexternal icon tells you how.

Handwashing song: Handwashing can become a lifelong healthy habit if you start teaching it at an early age. Teach kids the five easy steps for handwashing-wet, lather, scrub, rinse and dry-and the key times to wash hands, such as after using the bathroom or before eating. Make it fun! Make up your own handwashing song, or pick a song your child likes, and sing it for 20 seconds to help teach the length of time to wash your hands.

At-home scavenger hunt: Children, adolescents, and adults can join this fun At-Home Scavenger Hunt. Assist your child in safely searching for items! After finding each item, talk about its importance in keeping children and families safe and healthy.

Children Preparedness

CDC has different resources for families to help their children be ready for emergencies. These resources may be useful for children and adolescents ages 6-17 years.

Other Information Resources

CDC and its federal partners have diverse web resources that can help parents and other caregivers, teachers and other adults support children and young people's social, emotional, mental, and physical well-being:

Page last reviewed:

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COVID-19 Parental Resources Kit - Early Childhood

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Social, Emotional, and Mental Well-being of Young Children during COVID-19 Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) can affect young children, birth to 5 years, directly and indirectly. Beyond getting sick, many young children's social, emotional, or mental well-being has been impacted by the pandemic. Trauma faced at this developmental stage may have long-term consequences across their lifespan.

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Teaching Kids CBT Coping Tools During COVID-19 - Cincinnati Children's Blog

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Taking care of your family's mental health is just as important as taking care of their physical health. During this time of stress and uncertainty related to COVID-19, now is a great time to teach children how to do this! What is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)?

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Most educators know that supporting students' social and emotional wellness is critical to their overall success. We can't expect students to process information when they're distracted, hungry, tired or feel unsafe.

Now that parents and caregivers are overseeing learning at home, we need to ensure that students continue to build and practice social and emotional skills in meaningful ways, especially when distractions and anxieties from current events and in their personal communities are at an all-time high.

Social emotional learning (SEL) strengthens us as individuals and as communities, especially during uncertain times. When we practice and build our skills in self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship building and decision making, we are better equipped to navigate stressors, anxieties, and challenges. We can solve problems and work together to function at a higher level-in the classroom, at work and at home.

Regular practice is key, just as it is for any other skill like reading, math or shooting a basketball. The same ways we exercise our bodies or practice dribbling a ball, we have to practice identifying, expressing and managing our emotions. Empathy is a muscle we have to flex. By consistently doing so, when we encounter stressful situations, we have a toolkit that we can readily draw upon to help us navigate that stressor or de-escalate the conflict.

So how can we practice SEL at home? Here are ten tips that families can follow.

1. Take care of yourself, even when it feels like the last thing you can do right now.

In order to cultivate the social and emotional skills of young people, you must take care of your own mental, social and emotional wellness. Young children are sensitive to the stress of their caretakers.

We must stay calm and realistic. They sense when we are worried and anxious, and our emotions directly affect the emotions of our children. We must build in time, even if only 10 minutes a day, for our own wellness practices-journaling, going for a walk, meditating, exercising, for example. Much like putting on our own oxygen mask first before putting on a child's, we must take care of ourselves during this stressful time so that we're able to show up for others.

2. Establish routines and intentionality.

Routines ground us and provide a sense of safety and security. They are especially important for young children and children who have experienced trauma. Right now, amid the uncertainty of COVID-19, all of us are experiencing trauma. Disasters, forced isolation and other situations associated with the virus break students' usual routines.

Craft a daily routine for you and your children to stick to. Create intentional time and structure for social emotional learning. This would ideally be 5 to 10 minutes of dedicated practice every day. Use an evidence-based curriculum that provides a thoughtful scope and sequence, allowing students to build upon skills over time. At Move This World, we have opened up access to a library of free videos and activities to help you integrate this work into your home more easily.

3. Presence is not the same as being present.

Many parents may be more physically present than they ever have because they are now home. But that does not mean they are truly present due to increased work demands while supporting learning at home. Many of us are also stressed ourselves, making us less emotionally available.

It is important to dedicate structured time to connection and not assume that it will happen organically because we are more "present" now than ever before. Be intentional about when you're connecting with children and when you are working. Set daily times for playing together, reading books or singing songs.

4. Commit acts of service or kindness for others.

Practicing kindness for others helps us build an appreciation for our own lives and situations, in addition to improve our physical and mental health. Phone or write people you know who live alone or are on the frontlines to help them feel less isolated. Write a letter outlining the highlights of your day, or draw a picture of a joyful moment you've experienced or something you wish for someone else. Demonstrating kindness gives a more powerful message than just talking about it, and helps build gratitude during difficult times.

5. Engage in creativity together.

Being creative is an inherently vulnerable process, especially for older students and adults. By flexing our creative muscles, we can crack open pieces of ourselves that may otherwise be closed off, find opportunities to learn new things about ourselves and others, or learn new modalities to communicate.

Examples of creativity in action include cooking or baking together, doing puzzles, coloring or art projects, playing board games, or writing a poem or a song together. Moving together is doubly powerful in getting our blood flowing and activating kinesthetic empathy, or the ability to experience empathy through the movement of another human being. Try taking turns mirroring each other's movements or just having a dance party where you each create a new move and teach it to one another.

6. Celebrate what you can.

The days can seem long and hard to separate when they are often spent stuck inside. Try to find something small (or two or three things if you can!) to celebrate each day. Celebrate health, a new day, the sun shining. Journal three daily highlights or share them with each other. Research has indicated that when we stop to "savor the good stuff," we develop resilience to the negative events that may be happening in our lives.

7. Practice active listening.

Do not assume that you know exactly what your child is feeling or is afraid of. Ask questions, listen actively and model eye contact, and then explain what you can in response to their questions. Validate that you see and acknowledge their feelings, fears and concerns.

Research tells us to be careful in how we respond to fear and to be mindful not to redirect or diminish the feeling by saying things like, "there's nothing to be afraid of." By validating our child's emotions we help them better accept and understand their feelings, develop self compassion, and empathize with others.

8. Help your child express and name emotions.

This helps young people understand what it is that they're feeling. If children are struggling to identify their feelings, ask them to express it through drawing, a facial expression, or through a movement in their body. Older students can try journal prompts like: "If I were a weather reporter and my feelings were the weather, it would be _____ today." They may be able to describe a cloudy, gloomy day but not have the emotional vocabulary to specify their feelings.

9. Practice social emotional learning daily.

Building important habits takes practice, and just as you brush your teeth every day, students and adults need daily opportunities to identify, express and manage their emotions. Our emotions and stressors change hour to hour and day to day, and it's important that we check in with ourselves and those around us in order to understand what we all need in order to work through those feelings and move through them together.

10. Transition mindfully.

During times of stress and anxiety, it's easy to get pulled in by negative thoughts and emotions, and it is difficult to remain in the present moment. Transitions are already challenging for young children, so introduce mindful breathing as you transition between learning time, lunch time and play time. This could mean breathing in for a count of 4 and exhaling for a count of 4.

You could also quietly stretch your bodies and follow the leader, de-escalating and bringing down your "emotional temperature" so that we can quiet our bodies and minds and move on to the next thing with more focus. Identifying a color, and asking children to name everything in the room that's of that color, is another quick exercise that helps us focus and takes us away from a swirling stream of worry and confusion.

These are times filled with worry, fear and uncertainty. It is a challenge we didn't expect, and the obstacles are shifting each and every day. We need social and emotional skills more than ever, and we can lean into this event as a learning opportunity in how we react to stressful, overwhelming circumstances while juggling multiple responsibilities.

We will certainly not be perfect each moment of every day. But by opening an honest dialogue about our emotions and incorporating SEL into our days with intentionality, we are helping ourselves and our children now and for the future.

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10 Ways Parents Can Bring Social-Emotional Learning Home - EdSurge News

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Most educators know that supporting students' social and emotional wellness is critical to their overall success. We can't expect students to process information when they're distracted, hungry, tired or feel unsafe.

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Emotional wellness, social skills, and life skills are important tools for children to develop. Learning what a positive relationship is - including supportive and nurturing interactions with parents, caregivers, teachers, and peers - starts at infancy. How to integrate feelings and deal with difficult situations will form an essential part of your child's overall emotional development. Self-control is another vital skill for your child to learn, in order to appropriately express, communicate, and manage emotions and behaviors.

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Emotional Wellness Tips for Families - Growing Up Healthy | Nemours

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Emotional wellness, social skills, and life skills are important tools for children to develop. Learning what a positive relationship is - including supportive and nurturing interactions with parents, caregivers, teachers, and peers - starts at infancy. How to integrate feelings and deal with difficult situations will form an essential part of your child's overall emotional development.

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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

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Transitioning back to early childhood programs or school- or starting them for the first time-can create extra challenges during a pandemic. Learn what parents and teachers can do to help children make a successful transition to in-person learning and care.

Reopening means many new starts

Many early care and education programs stayed open during the COVID-19 pandemic to provide needed care. But for many families, the pandemic meant keeping their children at home. With more programs and schools opening up for in-person learning, this means more children will be away from home again after a long break. And many babies who were born just before or during the COVID-19 pandemic may have stayed home rather than starting an early care and education program. For these children and their parents- including caregivers who have the role of parent-an early care and education program will be a brand new experience.

Transitions can be hard for children and families

Young children are often wary of strangers and want to stay close to their parents and other familiar and trusted caregivers. Until they are old enough to talk clearly about their feelings, it's hard to explain to them that a new caregiver is going to protect them, which means it takes time for children to get used to new people. School-aged children who are sensitive or easily worried, or those who have developmental delays, may need extra time to adjust. It's often easier for young children to make the transition if they have spent some time with their parents and the new person together. Parents also often worry about their child making the transition, and it's easier for parents to keep calm and be reassuring if they know their child's teacher and feel comfortable with them.

Transition in a time of physical distancing, masks, and extra stress is extra hard

During the COVID-19 pandemic, it has been very important to keep physical distance between people who don't live together. Early care and education programs and schools have had to limit visitors and changed drop-off and pick-up procedures to limit contact; teachers and children older than age 2 years have had to wear masks. Facial expressions are used to help communicate feelings and provide reassurance, so being around masked faces can add to feelings of uncertainty. For children who return to in-person care, changes to the space and to routines might make everything look and feel different. Further, children may be aware that COVID-19 risk has to do with being around other people and may worry about getting sick. Children are generally flexible and can adapt, but strategies to protect children's health may make transitions to new situations and new people harder. Parents may feel less comfortable with letting their child start an early care and education program because they can't easily visit and may know less about the program and the teacher than they normally would.

In addition, the COVID-19 pandemic has increased stress, fear, and worry for many families. Worries about sickness, finances, and isolation, coping with grief from loss, and having less outside help has made parenting more stressful. Many families report increased behavior problems in their children, including anxiety and acting out. Schools and early care and education programs can help children and families by promoting social and emotional learning. Making the transition from home to school may be harder for children with developmental, behavioral, or emotional problems. Teachers, parents, and programs can help children by planning the transition, making strong connections, and establishing new routines. With the right support, children can adjust to their new program, make new friends, learn new things, and thrive.

What parents and teachers can do to support children's transition

Skilled early care and education providers know how to help children adjust. But in a pandemic, and after long periods without being in care, it may be good to put a little extra support into the transitions. Here are some tips to help families with the transition.

Teachers and administrators can:

Provide virtual connections with parents, such as video calls and phone meetings. Consider connecting parents to other parents to learn about the program and share experiences.

Create virtual tours so that parents can see the facility and classrooms and imagine what it would be like for their child to attend. Programs can allow visitors who are fully vaccinated. Fully vaccinated staff can also hold in-person meetings indoors with members of a single household if not everyone is fully vaccinated.

Consider in-person meetings outside on the playground to let children meet the teacher and other children before starting the program.

Create a daily structure and routines to help children learn what to expect.

Share information with parents of returning children about how daily routines might be different because of the COVID-19 pandemic, and how to help prepare their child for any changes.

Provide frequent communication to parents about their children's time in the program.

Learn more about what teachers can do.pdf icon external icon
Parents can:

Connect with other parents who have children in the same program who can provide information and make them more comfortable with the program.

Talk with teachers about the best way to separate from their child at the start of the day-brief goodbyes are often best.

Try to stay calm and reassuring during transition-using a calm voice, with a relaxed face and body to let their child know that they wouldn't leave them if the child were not safe and protected.

Take care of themselves during stressful times so they can be better equipped to take care of others.

Remember that this is a phase-building new relationships is a skill, and with support, children can be resilient. Even if it's hard to separate, they will gain a new trusted relationship with their new teacher and feel more secure.

Parents with concerns can:

Schools and ECE Programs can:

Provide staff development and support for teachers if there are more children than usual who have difficulty with transition.

Make sure that teachers have access to mental health support if they are dealing with their own stress, loss, or trauma related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

More information and resources

Partner resources

References

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Helping children transition back to school

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Transitioning back to early childhood programs or school- or starting them for the first time-can create extra challenges during a pandemic. Learn what parents and teachers can do to help children make a successful transition to in-person learning and care. Many early care and education programs stayed open during the COVID-19 pandemic to provide needed care.

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As we start the new year, our province finds itself in a very stressful phase of the pandemic. For many of us, it's been overwhelming trying to keep up with rapidly changing news and policies that directly impact us, particularly when it comes to information about schools.

For the last 20 months, children and their families have repeatedly tried to make the best of these difficult situations.

We keep trying to find the balance between giving our children opportunities for connections - essential to their mental health and development - and keeping our families safe and well.

There is a lot to worry about. And so many of us are totally exhausted.
Parenting in a pandemic puts extreme demands on parents, caregivers and kids.
The periods of intense stress that families have faced persistently through the pandemic can lead to new mental health issues. It can also exacerbate mental illness that children and parents were already facing back in pre-pandemic times.

Even before the pandemic began, there were 28,000 kids in Ontario stuck on wait lists for mental health treatment. As the pandemic presses on, even more children and families have sought mental health care.
The stress families are all feeling right now is that much harder for families whose children have mental health issues.
But just when they feel like they are hitting the bottoms of their reserves, parents somehow manage to find a way to keep going. It shouldn't be this way. It shouldn't be this hard. We see you and we want you to know that you are not alone.
Children's Mental Health Ontario is here for you.
Our child and youth mental health centres across Ontario have been providing front-line mental health supports throughout the pandemic. Our caring and committed mental health care workers have found new and creative ways to be there for children and youth - and we know we can count on them to do so again. Our goal is to keep everyone safe during the challenging weeks ahead. That may require centres to make some difficult decisions with regard to operations as they contend with staffing challenges and changing rules about in-person visits during this current wave. We know our centres, and CMHO, will work hard to keep you informed about what is happening. Thank you for your support.
Find Help

If you don't feel like you are coping well, or if you or your child's mental health is suffering, please reach out for help. If you're seeing behaviours in your child or teen that you're unsure about, reach out. There is no issue or question too big or too small.

Through our network of child and youth mental health centres in communities across Ontario, we offer a range of services from in-person/ virtual supports to crisis lines.

In many parts of Ontario, one call will connect you with a virtual walk-in clinic that can help steer you in the right direction to get further supports or help you with the issues you are facing that day.

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As we start the new year, our province finds itself in a very stressful phase of the pandemic. For many of us, it's been overwhelming trying to keep up with rapidly changing news and policies that directly impact us, particularly when it comes to information about schools.

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You've been here before. The flurry of headlines declare a "variant of concern." The talking heads urge you not to panic as chyrons below them repeat the words mutation and breakthrough. And, no, you shouldn't emotionally unravel because this isn't a repeat of March 2020 when there were no effective vaccines and little understanding of how COVID-19 spread. The fear of the unknown, however, still has the power to knock you down.

You thought you were done with this uncertainty, even if secretly you knew that was unlikely. You hoped the Delta variant of COVID-19 would be the prelude to the end of our pandemic nightmare. But now you're faced with Omicron, a variant that South African scientists brought to the world's attention around Thanksgiving, right as you were settling into being with family safely for the first time since COVID-19 began infecting and killing millions of people. The first confirmed case in the U.S. surfaced in San Francisco on Wednesday. Another case discovered in Minnesota, in a patient who hadn't traveled internationally, suggests domestic transmission of Omicron is already underway.

It's reasonable to feel unnerved by this unexpected turn. There's lingering doubt about what Omicron means for your well-laid plans: the long-delayed wedding, getting back on a dating app, returning to an office workplace. Just as you'd gotten familiar, maybe even comfortable, with the stakes of Delta, there are new questions. How well do the vaccines stand up to Omicron? Does Omicron, on average, infect more people than Delta, which is already quite contagious? Do Omicron infections really lead to only mild symptoms?

You'd like to make decisions based on this information, but you can't - not yet. The experts say they'll know more about Omicron in the coming weeks. They say to keep calm, get vaccinated or boosted, and continue practicing prevention measures, like masking indoors and testing before gathering. They're not wrong. The rational response is not to spiral. After all, you've been here before: The downward slide into breathless anxiety doesn't serve you, or anyone else you love, well. But the truth is that humans are terrible at managing uncertainty. They love knowing what will, or is likely to, happen next. You're no exception.

So you look for ways to manage. You could play pretend, ignoring the threat of the virus because you're exhausted from worry, like so many others. You could let the anxiety of the unknown spin you into either hyperproductivity or deep depression. The first is a type of distraction. The second is often what happens when we feel relentlessly out of control.

But between the extremes there's a calmer path. Look around and take note of what you observe. News coverage and social media content about Omicron can be alarmist. If consuming that heightens your emotions - grief, anxiety, anger - take in accurate, measured stories and commentary instead. Turn off notifications. Mute accounts that hype instead of explain. The point isn't to feel nothing about the uncertainty, but to limit how much outside influences push your emotions to the breaking point.

Now consider what you've already learned from past tumultuous periods following a new variant of concern. Did you fret over Alpha last winter and then forget it existed once Delta comprised most infections? Perhaps the choices you made following Delta are ones you can make again now, like avoiding indoor dining, masking at the gym even when it's not required, and being particularly cautious around unvaccinated children and immunocompromised but vaccinated people. If these actions made you feel more in control of your fate and more like a good citizen, try them again.

Make a list of things that boost your mood and do those, too. Safely socialize with people who make you laugh. Move your body with the goal of releasing the stress that's stiffened your joints and limbs. Sleep and eat well, if you can. Be fully present when possible, and breathe. Try a meditation app, or a new meditation course, if that's your thing. Practice the techniques experts say you should: radical acceptance, self-compassion, mindfulness. They'll keep you grounded in the present reality rather than stuck in a circular hell of your own nervous thinking.

Be kind to yourself when you end up there anyway, despite your best efforts. Be especially gentle if you're a health care worker or on the front lines in another capacity, like as a cashier, flight attendant, or DMV employee. You've been worn down by constant exposure to risk. Some strangers you encounter only make this worse with their carelessness or callousness. You, of all people, deserve more certainty in this pandemic, not less. If that's how you feel, simply acknowledge it. Say you wish this was finally over, because you're not alone.

Above all, remember that we're not starting over again. Variants of COVID-19, including Omicron, are unlikely to fully evade the immune system, according to the experts. We know that masking can prevent infection. Rapid tests, though obscenely expensive and sometimes hard to find in the U.S., are available, as is polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing. We're not going back to March 2020, at least not with this virus. As for Omicron, trust that you'll know the answers to your questions soon, because you will. It's just a matter of time.

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Omicron messing with your mental health? Don't let the anxiety get to you.

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You've been here before. The flurry of headlines declare a "variant of concern ." The talking heads urge you not to panic as chyrons below them repeat the words mutation and breakthrough. And, no, you shouldn't emotionally unravel because this isn't a repeat of March 2020 when there were no effective vaccines and little understanding of how COVID-19 spread.

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News of Omicron arrived just as we were heading into what we hoped would be a more relaxed and festive holiday season. And while we don't know yet how deadly the new variant will prove to be, it has already taken a toll by plunging us back into uncertainty.

Will vaccines fail against Omicron? Will schools be closed again? Will it be safe to travel? Gather with family? Shop? Dine out?

Just the thought of wrestling with more uncertainty in the months ahead is exhausting, coming after almost two years of disruption and frustration. The roller coaster of emotions is dizzying. It's no wonder that the first thought from many stressed parents and teachers has been, "I can't go through that again!"

"One of the things we're hearing a lot is fear that we'll go back to the worst of the pandemic," says David Anderson, PhD, a clinical psychologist at the Child Mind Institute. "It's reminding people of the worst, most stressful experiences they had. They've been doom-scrolling Omicron, trying to get a handle on it, and it's not working."

With our reserves of patience largely exhausted, it's time to focus again on things we can do to tolerate uncertainty, he notes. Here are some strategies that adults can use to get through this latest round of stress and help kids do the same. (For tips on how to help kids stay flexible, click here.)

Uncertainty is hard to tolerate, Dr. Anderson observes, because human beings are wired to respond immediately to danger - fight, flight or freeze. We're uncomfortable if we can't identify what we're facing. We like to feel like we're in control, and we can't be if we don't know what we're up against. What's safe and what's not? As he puts it: "We don't like staying in that zone where we have to tell ourselves, 'You need to be prepared, but you don't know for what.' "

It's also especially hard to tolerate frustration and discomfort when you don't know how long it will last. Omicron has dimmed hopes that we'll soon be able to put the pandemic behind us. Will this never end? We can't see an end in sight, but we can get more comfortable living without one.

The tools we can use confront uncertainty are the same tools we use in any situation that involves stress or unhelpful emotions, Dr. Anderson notes. "We can change our thought processes, and we can change our behaviors."

Stay in the present: As we face the possibility of more disruption, Dr. Anderson recalls the advice he gave to stressed-out families early in the pandemic: the best antidote to worrying about the future is to focus on what's right in front of us right now. It's a basic mindfulness skill: try to be in the present, not the past or the future. Instead of spinning out worst-case scenarios ("I can't handle my kid being home from school again!") or getting frustrated that you can't plan effectively (Will we be able to have a big birthday party?), try to connect with what you can see and hear around you. As Dr. Anderson says, "How can you bring yourself back into the little burbles that your baby is making? The funny story your teenager is telling?"

Focus on coping thoughts: With a complex challenge like the pandemic, it rarely works to try to outthink it, to maneuver around all the unknowables and get control of it. Better to focus, Dr. Anderson says, on what psychologists call "coping thoughts" - thoughts that make you more comfortable with uncertainty or inspire your most flexible self. For instance: "I've gotten through things like this before, and I'm strong enough to do so again." "I have family and friends to support me through this stress. Who should I check in with?" Or "I'm just going to focus on today. What's on the list just for today?"

And coping behaviors: Coping behaviors are things you can to do soothe yourself in a stressful situation or boost your mood. Those could be self-care practices like a fresh air break, music, exercise, calling a friend, a show that makes you laugh. Or they could be jumping into an activity that fully engages you. Early in the pandemic many people reported finding activities that made them feel positive, from cooking to learning a skill to organizing closets (not everyone's idea of fun, but Lena Dunham's go-to mood booster).

Practice distress tolerance: "One of the toughest things about really intense emotions is the sense that this feeling is going to last forever, that there is no escape," notes Dr. Anderson. "But it's not true. We know that most emotions evolve and change and lessen over time." Once you realize that, it's easier to acknowledge that you are in pain right now, but you can ride it out, and it will diminish. "It can help to use some of those coping behaviors like reaching out to a friend or soothing sensory experiences," he adds.

Ration alarming news: When the news is awash with disturbing pandemic predictions and possibilities, it may help to limit your exposure to it. "Most people have difficulty resisting the next really clickbaity doomsday headline," Dr. Anderson says. But it can help your mood to resist. One strategy is to look for news and information on the positive side. Another is to put a timer on your news consumption. Dr. Anderson sticks to a diet of 15 minutes of news apps in the morning and watching evening news shows. Beyond that, he says, "there's a point of diminishing returns - the stories aren't adding to my level of being informed but they're adding to my difficult emotions."

Focus on what's better this time: Instead of thinking about how the new variant could take us back to March 2020, remind yourself of the breakthroughs that have made us better equipped to handle the virus. We haven't been able to "beat" it but we understand much better how the virus works, hence what's risky (airborne transmission indoors) and what's not (infection from boxes of groceries). We have not only vaccines that dramatically reduce risk of serious illness and death, but also medicines that can be taken after infection. We have at-home tests that should (especially when they're less expensive) lower the risk of family gatherings.

Focus on what worked before: While it's distressing to be reminded of the worst of what we've been through, it's helpful to think about the things that worked to get us through the toughest moments last time. Was it making scones? Taking walks? A hot bath? Watching funny YouTube videos?

Assess risk and take appropriate steps: One of the most challenging things about uncertainty is making decisions when you don't have enough information. Is that big Christmas dinner a bad idea, given Omicron? Should we keep the kids away from the grandparents - again? Different families have different vulnerabilities, so decisions can vary widely. To keep worry and risk assessment from taking over EVERY moment, Dr. Anderson suggests taking an inventory of your family's risks and deciding whether you want to adjust your activities in the near future. Then stick by your decision and move on. You can make more adjustments when the situation changes.

Seek help if you need it: It's important to keep in mind that the impact of the pandemic has been anything but uniform. For some the lockdowns and disruptions have been challenging but manageable. For many, especially those with small children, it's been intensely stressful. And for those who lost family members - as well as, in many cases, jobs, homes, schooling, financial stability and food security - the pandemic has been traumatic. Mental health suffered, in both adults and children. Learning suffered. And for many, it's not over. Even if you feel you've survived the worst, a new spike could reactivate emotional stress, Dr. Anderson notes. If you're feeling overwhelmed, support from a mental health professional can be crucial for a healthy recovery.

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Dealing With Uncertainty in the Face of Omicron - Child Mind Institute

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News of Omicron arrived just as we were heading into what we hoped would be a more relaxed and festive holiday season. And while we don't know yet how deadly the new variant will prove to be, it has already taken a toll by plunging us back into uncertainty.

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It is hard to believe that we are heading into spring break and moving into a less restrictive "new normal". Please take the time over the next two weeks to find meaningful ways to connect with your family, enjoy quality outdoor experiences  and appreciate the positive changes that are on the horizon. It has been our pleasure to provide helpful information to you as we support one another through this time of transition for our learning community. Have a wonderful spring break. Shannon and Mara

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University of Michigan School of Public Health

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University of Michigan School of Public Health

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University of Michigan School of Public Health

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All about Coronavirus: A Video for Kids and Their Families | Michigan Public Health

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The science has evolved since the virus first emerged

It's hard to remember a time when we could get as close as we wanted to our friends without fear of getting sick.

Since March, the message has been drilled into us: wash your hands and keep your distance.

As experts learned more about COVID-19, they told us to wear masks indoors.

How do masks help contain the virus, anyway?

Jason Kindrachuk, a researcher and assistant professor at the University of Manitoba, has been working in a lab to learn more about COVID-19 for several months.

"The science has certainly changed a little bit from, say, early springtime and late winter to now," he said.

At the beginning, we thought the virus spread on surfaces.

That means you could catch it, for example, by touching a surface where the virus lived and then touching your face.

"It can still happen, but we don't think it's driving the pandemic," Kindrachuk said.

Droplets are the main cause

Now, researchers have found out that the virus mainly spreads through droplets.

That means that if you have COVID-19 and you sneeze, cough or yell, tiny droplets that you can't see are flung from your nose and mouth.

They hang in the air for a few seconds before they're pulled down by gravity.

Watch this video to understand more:

Do you have more questions about COVID-19? Check out these videos:

TOP IMAGE CREDIT: Philip Street/CBC

Get your class on the same page, add this to

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WATCH - How does COVID-19 spread? | CBC Kids News

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It's hard to remember a time when we could get as close as we wanted to our friends without fear of getting sick. Since March, the message has been drilled into us: wash your hands and keep your distance. As experts learned more about COVID-19, they told us to wear masks indoors.

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slowing the spread, how do vaccines work, stopping the spread of germs, are you worried?, why do we wear masks, drive through testing

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Videos for Kids and Parents | Coronavirus Information

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Watch videos from Cincinnati Children's with ideas for kids and parents concerned about coronavirus (COVID-19).

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Coronavirus: How to Teach Kids About COVID-19 | BrainPOP

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How can children avoid the dreaded "summer dip" over the school holidays? Jill Walkinton, Head of Individual Needs at Burgess Hill Girls School, shares her tips

Summer comes but once a year, and brings with it weeks of freedom from school-runs, schoolwork and (usually) homework. And while this break much-deserved, time away from day-to-day learning can have a detrimental impact, too, often setting children off on the back-foot when they start school again in September.

"We read a lot about the summer 'dip' among children from disadvantages home over the summer," says Burgess Hill Girls School Head, Liz Laybourn. "But children in the independent sector, too, are just as vulnerable to it.

Indeed, parents need to remember that children who drop behind lose confidence, which can take time to rebuild. And September is a time when children are facing new challenges - new teachers and a new year group, or perhaps even a new school.

From reading and writing, to remembering their table manners, all can take a hit over the long summer break. So what can you do to ensure that your child keeps learning throughout the holidays?

Keep reading

Read regularly with your child, or if they are fully-independent readers, set aside time for them to read to themselves. Visit the library, revisit old favourite books, read taking turns or taking the roles of characters or the narrator. Read anything: comics, magazines, even instructions for making something!

Practise writing skills

Holding a pencil correctly, can your child write - in their neatest handwriting - your shopping list or holiday list of items to take? What about keeping a holiday scrapbook?

In just one sentence they could outline the different activities and events they have been to, or even describe the best bits of their day, adding pictures and photographs.

Count, count, count

Try counting holiday money, or playing cards or board games - all support mental agility. And don't forget that cooking is the perfect opportunity to practise weighing and measuring ingredients, and learn the difference between ounces, kilograms, pounds and so on.

Encourage independence

Don't do everything for your child because it's quicker or more convenient for you. Help them to learn to follow instructions. Start with one simple task, then add in a second, and build from there.

Encourage organisation

Children like routine, even if it is different from the term time. Young children can practise dressing and undressing themselves - can they do buttons themselves? Can they tie shoe laces? Can they help prepare and pack for any days out? Can they keep their room tidy with/without your support?

As time goes by

As they get older, give children responsibility for being ready for activities or appointments. This transfers into school, where there is a timetable they must follow. Get young children to recite the days of the week, months of the year as appropriate for their age and stage. Do they know how many days in the week, months in the year, weeks in a year, and days in a year there are?

Speaking and listening

Discuss different issues or topics that crop up. Help your child to take turns in dialogue and, by giving them your full attention when listening, encourage them to do the same for you.

Enhance their vocabulary by using slightly more complex words, but don't confuse them! Explore imaginary "what if?" scenarios together - these can be funny and enjoyable, especially if you take turns in extending the story line, e.g. what if an elephant came to live in our house?

Try something new - new activities, new foods, new ways of doing things

Flexibility of thinking is an excellent skill to transfer into school. Trying new things in the reassuring safety of the home with a familiar adult is a great starting point.

Holidays are a great opportunity to build a child's self-esteem by giving them specific, meaningful praise and by commenting on what they are good at. This will help your child to reflect on their successes and feel good in their own skin.

Please don't forget table manners - thank you!

Table manners are something we pick up on in school, but consistency between home and school is so helpful. Use the holidays to practise holding cutlery correctly and cutting up food independently. Good table manners are always a good life skill to model, and for your child to practise.

Allow your child time to just "be"! To relax, to imagine, to play, to have spells of time where there are no planned activities and no electronic devices to hand.

For older children... start prepping for exams

Empower your child to set a timetable for themselves and to commit it to paper with a given time for work and relaxation. Give them choices, such as, "would you like to do 15 minutes reading/times-tables practice/maths/writing at this time?" They will feel in control. If you want to build in rewards, so be it. You should also timetable in activities that take your child outside and away from their desk.

Set aside this agreed time and perhaps ask your child to cover the timetable each week with post-it notes. Once the "working" slot has been completed, a post-it note is taken off, screwed up and put in the bin - job done! This gives a strong, visual sense of making headway, and also helps to develop self-discipline.

Practice papers can be invaluable, as the format becomes familiar, less daunting and therefore less stressful. Remember, stressed children will do less well than those who are more relaxed about exams. However, while practice papers have their place, learning is most beneficial when it is contextualised, so reading a book together and discussing the text in detail can be as equally valuable as doing a reading comprehension test paper.

How much is enough?

Little and often is the ideal depending on age and stage. Don't save it all up to the last few days before term begins, as the "dip" will have already happened and hours crammed into the last few days of the holiday will only induce stress in your child.

Different individuals work in different ways and for different lengths of time, and parents are the best judges of their own child. Between 10 to 40 minutes dedicated slots per task is probably appropriate.
Read more: The Ultimate School Holiday Guide for Families Things to Do: Summer 2017

Whether you need advice or comfort on your choice of school, pastoral care, the best way to tackle exams, or how best to confront teenage problems, Independent School Parent provides all the answers. Our expert writers include some of the top names in teaching, ensuring that Independent School Parent always supplies impartial advice that you can trust.

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How to Maintain Your Child's Learning Over the School Holidays

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Summer comes but once a year, and brings with it weeks of freedom from school-runs, schoolwork and (usually) homework. And while this break much-deserved, time away from day-to-day learning can have a detrimental impact, too, often setting children off on the back-foot when they start school again in September.

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1. Give kids educational gifts, such as board games, science projects, building tasks, scrapbooking kits, and painting kits.

2. Read stories together. Whether just before bed or around the campfire, reading a fun book or play out loud, even taking turns reading the dialogue of different characters , can be very entertaining.

3. Begin a contest for your students to see who can finish the most lessons in a fun, musical online learning program like Let's Go Learn's Edge series for math or reading. Check where your students are in their school year, by having them do a Let's Go Learn reading or math assessment.

4. Listen to music or concerts together. Many musicians, local and international, are streaming their music over the holidays. Billboard Magazine' s website and others list the big artists who are live streaming for the holidays.

5. Complete a cooking craft together, creating cookies or gingerbread houses, or whatever sounds fun for your family. Try a recipe from a different culture. For a little extra math you can use foreign recipes, which use metric measurements and require translations.

6. Write greeting cards to friends and family that tell a little story, going beyond a simple "Happy Holidays!" Bonus points if students create their own cards to send to their teachers out of gratitude.

7. Film interviews with family members for posterity, or edit your own holiday movie using all the decorations of the season.

8. Find a local nature walk and practice identifying plants and animals you see along the way; learn about how the natural world copes with winter.

9. Get out those musical instruments you have lying around and see if your family can pick out "Jingle Bells." If you don't have any instruments, make some...there are many websites to show you how, using household items.

10. Build a group project where every family member contributes a part of the goal. It could be a building model or item from a favorite book, a giant volcano, a house of cards, a group creative writing story with different endings, or even a remodeled bathroom with new fixtures and a fresh coat of paint. Kids love group projects!

11. Play a fun family game that helps reinforce reading and vocabulary, like Scattergories (check out an online version at https://swellgarfo.com/scattergories/ ), Balderdash, Taboo, Boggle, or Scrabble.

12. Visit a historical landmark in your area, learning facts about it that your kids might find interesting.

There's a reason we sing "And Mom and Dad can hardly wait for school to start again" in the traditional holiday song "It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas"! The holidays provide a much needed break from the stress and rigors of the school year, but they don't mean we have to put our brains on hold and watch TV for weeks on end. With a little effort, you can weave a bit of education into almost anything.

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With chestnuts roasting on the fire, and the eyes of tiny tots all aglow, the winter holidays bring a much needed respite from the rigors of school, especially in 2020. But according to the US Department of Education, the holiday break can also result in the "opportunity for significant learning loss."

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There's a little extra chaos and anxiety in many homes across the state. After many districts closed schools and extended spring breaks last week to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus, parents are left scrambling with what to do with their kids -- and how to talk to them about the unprecedented disruption COVID-19 has caused in Colorado and around the world.

And then there are the kids: Teenagers are cringing at being stuck at home with parents who are now working at home or out of work. Young children are climbing the walls. And others are worrying about what the future holds with their parents out of work.

"Even for parents who love hanging with their kids, you can only take so much family time before you start to get stressed," says Craig A. Knippenberg, a licensed social worker who has provided child and family counseling services in Metro Denver for more than 35 years and the author of Wired and Connected: Brain-Based Solutions To Ensure Your Child's Social and Emotional Success.

"It's ok," he says. "This is a parenting experience to which we are all trying to adjust. Just do your best until the coronavirus runs its course."

Knippenberg typically recommends that parents try to be 80 percent consistent with their parenting strategies. However, this will be one of those times when you will need to let some things go.

Here are some ways Knippenberg and others say parents can take care of their and their children's mental health and make it through what could be a long and unexpected disruption:

Don't throw out structure. Knippenberg says: "Sit down with your children and map out how the days will flow. Set up specific times for reading/homework, chores, independent free time, mealtimes, family time and bedtime. Like every teacher, write it down and post the schedule."

Make time for yourself. Everybody will need a breather right now. Make sure your children know that you will plan blocks of time for yourself and that they will need to self-entertain. This will give you time for needed chores and your own mental-health time. Have several a day and work in times for your own self-reflection, checking in with other parents and exercise time. Knippenberg recommends letting children know that disturbing your time will result in a loss of privileges.

Free play. While officials are asking people to distance themselves from others, getting outside is still allowed and encouraged. Outside time and fresh air has huge physical and mental health benefits. While children might complain about not knowing what to do, they will quickly find something to explore or create while outside, says Knippenberg. If there's room in the house for one room to be set aside for unbridled free play, do it. Zoom sessions for your children and their friends are also available. This is also a great time to break out old hobbies and jigsaw puzzles. That said, playdates may not be such a great idea right now. Guidance is mixed but it will be important to keep to family units as much as possible.

It's OK to loosen screen rules ... a bit. Knippenberg typically recommends that families have a limit of a half hour of gaming during the school week and several blocks of gaming time on the weekends. Given these circumstances, he says he'd probably go with weekend rules just to help you and your kids survive. The same is true with TV and Netflix. While binge-watching might be an appealing alternative, you'll pay the price in your child's moodiness after you pry them free of their screens. Several one-hour blocks a day is better than binge-viewing.

Get out all those old-fashioned board games. Watch TV together or share an electronic game or two. This would also be a great time to watch old family videos. Connecting with happier times is always good for our mental health.

Stick to a sleep schedule. While it might be tempting for your older children to stay up late every night and sleep late every morning, that's not going to be beneficial to their physical and mental health. You'll also be left with very moody children the next day. Stick with your bedtime schedule. Don't forget to enforce no screen time an hour before bed, Knippenberg recommends.

Stay in touch with your community. Rather than being on the phone or social media all day long yourself, try to schedule set times to check in with your adult friends. You can also consider setting up a Zoom community of friends where you can have a designated time to check-in with each other. Have grandparents do regular videocalls with the kids. Engage in a little virtual babysitting. Millions of parents are wondering if playdates are acceptable. The answer right now is yes, with some "significant limitations."

Limit the news. For your own mental health, and the mental health of your children, titrate the intake of news. Constantly following the latest coronavirus news will only increase the entire family's anxiety.

Give kids an outlet to discuss emotions. Journaling is a good way for adolescents to process their feelings in this uncertain time. You can also set aside a time to talk as a family about how everyone is feeling and coping with the outbreak. Knippenberg suggests doing this at the dinner table or after dinner. It's important to acknowledge their anxiety but also their loss and grief about upcoming trips and school programs on which they will be missing out. Then turn to your family game time and your usual routines.

Adjust to your unique child. The above recommendations need to be adjusted to the age and nature of your child. Children who struggle with impulse control will need more structure and rules than other children. Teens will need to be in contact with their friends over social media. You'll also need to be aware of teens that will be tempted to sneak out at night to meet-up with their friends.

Have an adventure mindset. In good times and bad, help your child understand that every moment in life, offers opportunities to learn, create and grow, Knippenberg says. Ask your kids what they will remember from this experience. What will they treasure and what would they want to change for generations in the future. One parent reached out to CPR and said her daughter is keeping a journal of things they are doing and seeing because "someday it might be a primary resource for our descendants. This is a moment in time."

Make sure the information is age appropriate. Emphasize safety for younger children, child development experts Erin and David Walsh write in a piece for Psychology Today. Explain they are safe and being taken care of. For older children, in middle and high school, stick to the facts and make sure you are not sharing too much of your own anxieties with them. Process your feelings mostly with older adults. Harvard Medical School offers some useful ways to talk to children about the new coronavirus with sample questions and answers and how to talk to teens about the new coronavirus, as does the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services: Talking with Children: Tips for Caregivers, Parents and Teachers During Infectious Disease Outbreaks

Wondering what to do with your children during the extended break? We've got a few ideas:

Tell us: How are you approaching this extended break? Have anything that's making it manageable for you? Tell us on Twitter @cprnews.

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What To Do With Kids At Home On Coronavirus Break For Who Knows How Long (Without Losing It)

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There's a little extra chaos and anxiety in many homes across the state. After many districts closed schools and extended spring breaks last week to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus, parents are left scrambling with what to do with their kids -- and how to talk to them about the unprecedented disruption COVID-19 has caused in Colorado and around the world.

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March14-18/22 Thinking Ahead: Spring Break

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March14-18/22 Thinking Ahead: Spring Break

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During Spring Break, kids can't wait to sleep in (fingers crossed), and parents are thrilled at the idea of not having to make lunches the night before school. With a whole week of child-time ahead, having plans in place will make for a stress-free, fun, and memorable break.

For the second year in a row, Spring Break will involve keeping it local and close to home. Think of it as your very own homemade Spring Break camp without the super-enthusiastic teen counsellors.

Need ideas for home-based activities that don't include a screen? While many of us would love to start the list with "cleaning bedrooms," the following is probably a more fun (and realistic) list.

1. Scavenger hunts. An oldie but a really goodie. For the younger crowd, have kids collect items based on colours (such as three red items, three blue items, etc.), and for older kids, items can be collected based on letters of the alphabet.

2. Collages. Go through photo collections, print out favourites, and make a creative collage for a fun and thoughtful gift for a special friend or family member.

3. Unlimited painter's tape games. One roll of painter's tape equals countless activities. Create a long jump "pit" with several spaced-out lines of tape and see how far kids can jump. Perhaps they get further each time they try! Fashion your very own indoor hopscotch court and used rolled up socks or beanbags as markers. Design a race track for toy cars, trucks, and trains.

4. Fashion show. Unleash your child's inner diva with a raid of home closets and the dress-up box. Suggest categories for outfits such as stylish or silly. Don't forget the runway, the music, and the flash of the paparazzi taking pictures.

5. Balloon tennis. Using hands, tennis rackets, back scratchers, pool noodles, or other devices, make your own Wimbledon court. (Strawberries and cream and finger sandwiches are strongly encouraged.)

6. Slime! This squishy, oozy fad is not going away anytime soon. And why would we want it to? Make your own slime using myriad internet-provided instructions. Create slime in different colours and themes.

7. Living room picnic. Spread out your favourite blanket and include the kids in the preparation of their favourite lunch items. Who knows? Maybe after the break, they will make their own lunches! (A parent can dream.)

8. Paper airplanes. There are so many ways to craft a super-sleek aircraft. Ramp up the fun by designing a landing strip. Can you fly your plane into a large pot, a large circle cut out of paper on the floor, or through a hula hoop?

9. House of cards. Skip the Netflix version, grab a pack of playing cards, and see how high your kids can build a tower.

10. Rock painting. With warm, sunny days ahead, prepare to beautify your outdoor space with colourful, painted rocks. Decorate rocks with multiple colours, pictures, dates, and kids' names.

11. Forts. Go old-school with pillows and blankets, or create a full-day activity by picking up a large appliance cardboard box. Cut out a door, a window or two, and provide craft materials including paint, markers, glue, feathers, ribbons, and stickers for kids to make their very own stylish tiny house. Don't forget to stock the fort with cushions, flashlights, books, and snacks.

12. Domino run. Pick up a few boxes of dominoes at your local dollar or toy store and set up a domino run. Start small with a straight line of dominoes and increase the challenge with varying shapes of runs.

13. Freeze dance. Think of this as a super way to burn off excess energy as well as an always-fun game. Crank up your kids' favourite songs and when the DJ (designated kid or parent) stops the music, players must freeze in their spot.

14. Puppet show. With a few craft supplies and a whole lot of creativity, have your kids make their own puppets, write a script, and perform a show. Think Sound of Music without the goats.

15. Twister. Using the official board or your own home-designed version, there is never a dry eye (as in happy, laughing tears) when getting tied up in knots with your friends and family.

16. Obstacle course. When designing an obstacle course indoors or outside, it's all about movement. Crawl under an object, jump over an object, run around an object, slide between objects, and laugh!

17. Board games. Think the old favourites: Hungry Hippos, Clue, Sorry, Monopoly, Candyland, Snakes and Ladders, and Yahtzee.

18. Indoor basketball. The methods of playing indoor basketball are practically limitless. Have kids toss balled-up socks into laundry hampers, ping pong balls into cups, stuffed animals into hula hoops, etc. etc.

19. Bake. Channel your inner Martha Stewart and bake cookies from scratch. Or channel your inner Betty Crocker and get a pre-made mix. No one is judging!

20. Juggle. It takes a lot of skill and coordination to become a master juggler but with a lot of practice with one, two, and eventually, three items found around the house, juggling can become a party favourite. (Just be sure to lock the knives away while looking for potential juggling props!)

Enjoy, and let us know if you have more ideas!

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20 ways to keep kids busy at home during Spring Break - Active For Life

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During Spring Break, kids can't wait to sleep in (fingers crossed), and parents are thrilled at the idea of not having to make lunches the night before school. With a whole week of child-time ahead, having plans in place will make for a stress-free, fun, and memorable break.

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The days leading up to spring break in the classroom can be trying for educators. Spring fever coupled with a looming vacation makes for antsy students who are ready to disengage. While spring break is a great time for fun and relaxation, it's beneficial for students to maintain some degree of engagement in learning even while on break. This ensures that students keep their brains active during the week off. The key is to engage students just enough to keep them mentally stimulated without robbing them of a much-needed opportunity to disconnect and destress. Below are some activities to engage students during spring break without overwhelming them.

The Rules

Before you run off into a field of endless spring break learning opportunities, let's reel it in for a moment. There are rules that you must abide by when assigning spring break activities. The goal is to make the work meaningful without taking over time that, rightfully, is dedicated to leisure. However you choose to engage your students, please consider the guidelines below.

1. Activities must be brief - there should be more relaxing than learning.

2. Consider the fact that students may be traveling.

3. Don't penalize students who don't have access to technology.

4. Communicate your expectations to parents clearly.

5. Make the activities meaningful beyond spring break.

6. Use student interests to influence your choices.

7. Make assignments an extension of your pre-break learning.

Activities for Engagement
Scavenger Hunt
Whether your students spend spring break across the globe, at home, or anywhere in between, a scavenger hunt is a fun and easy way to keep your students engaged in learning. This is adaptable to any grade level and can be done in many ways. Younger students can collect items of certain colors or count a certain number of small objects. Older students can solve riddles to determine which items to collect or collect items that represent themes from a text. Students can even use technology to take pictures of their hunt items. The possibilities are endless!
Basketball Stats
Springtime is when basketball season heats up, and there will indubitably be games to watch during spring break. Assign students to watch a basketball and tally stats - like the number of free throws, 3-point shots, etc. Students can use the shots made and missed to determine percentages or determine stats and percentages for one player.
Nature Walks
No matter where a student spends spring break, they will likely have access to the outdoors in some capacity. Ask students to take a stroll outside to observe nature. The sky, trees, grass, etc. are perfect muses for art and written expression, and can even give way to mathematical analysis. Of course, students can always make connections between science and their outdoor surroundings.
Science Experiments
Speaking of science, scientific experiments are a great way to engage students both in and outside of the classroom. Give students science experiment options that feature a range of materials. Try to stick to experiments that have affordable or readily available materials.
Post Card
Allow students to flex their writing skills by writing a postcard to their classmates during spring break. Coach students to write about their experiences, and allow them to share them in small groups. This is a quick, easy way that every student can be involved in an individualized way.
Photography
Ask students to take pictures throughout spring break that they can bring to the classroom, digitally or physically, to contribute to a spring break project. This project can be a digital presentation, poster, storybook, or scrap book. Older students can choose a photo from spring break to write a photo analysis essay. This idea allows students to participate from anywhere and creates a seamless transition from spring break.
Journaling
Anytime students are practicing literacy skills, it's a win for the classroom. A simple way to keep literacy going over spring break is to have your students journal. The key to making this appealing and effective is autonomy. Give students freedom while journaling by providing a wide range of topics or allowing students to express about anything they choose to. This should feel like an outlet for students as opposed to an assignment.

Why Students Need Spring Break Engagement

One of the greatest benefits of keeping students engaged on spring break is easing the transition back into the classroom. While our students' minds are often sharp enough to recall information after a week off, their organizational and productivity habits can suffer. The appropriate level of engagement during spring break helps student adjust back to school more easily.

Furthermore, learning should not be confined to the classroom nor the school calendar. Students will always glean from the world around them, and we as educators can help them do that. Breaks are the perfect opportunity to extend learning and allow students to practice autonomy and self-expression.

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How to Keep Students Engaged over Spring Break - TeachHUB

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The days leading up to spring break in the classroom can be trying for educators. Spring fever coupled with a looming vacation makes for antsy students who are ready to disengage. While spring break is a great time for fun and relaxation, it's beneficial for students to maintain some degree of engagement in learning even while on break.

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What If I...Surviving and Thriving at School

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What If I...Surviving and Thriving at School

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.] really helped my son with his behaviour in school and at home. He is now in Grade 5 and is making better choices and is a better student. Thanks for the AMAZING book!﻿I highly recommend [Instead I...'s] use in homes as well as in schools, where these concrete skills can be effectively modeled by adults and practiced by children.
W. Dale Heide, MSW,
Clinical Social Worker, AB​,

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! "Instead I..." will help children navigate the many challenges of a school day.
Madeline DeLorey,
B.A., B.Ed. Teacher, ON

[ Instead I .. Parent Entrepreneur, AB
Robert

Van McGeein, MSW, RSWDr. Jennifer Batycky,teaches skills to calm the worried mind. These skills that are foundational to good mental health in childhood AND adulthood. What If I ... draws the reader into the day-to-day realities of children and young students.

Principal, AB
​ AB

This book is exceptional in helping quiet worriers build language around their feelings and develop simple strategies to begin to find new patterns.

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So then I... is a book that children will identify with and that adults will find invaluable in helping kids to 'have a great week.' Mary-Catherine ... weaves straightforward and research-based strategies for dealing with ... challenges into the story.
Craig Harper, M.Sc.
​ Psychologist, AB

So then I... is a great companion to the first two books. My daughter engaged with them immediately.
I know she will love this one too! Heidi Grogan, M.A.
Writer, Instructor, AB

T his beautiful little book is a much needed resource for kids and the adults in their lives. ... Why Can't I helps every child to understand what they're feeling, and to take simple, practical steps toward a healthier and happier state of being.
Tam Lundy, Ph.D.,
Canadian Self-Regulation Initiative

This series is exceptional at giving children and adults the language to describe, and practice, emotional, calming, and social skills. ... Children can discover that they can "grow" important survival skills, that these skills aren't simply innate or absent. Liz Spittal, B.Ed., M.Ed.- TESL, English Language Learning
​

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really helped my son with his behaviour in school and at home. He is now in Grade 5 and is making better choices and is a better student. Thanks for the AMAZING book!﻿I highly recommend [Instead I...'s] use in homes as well as in schools, where these concrete skills can be effectively modeled by adults and practiced by children.

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BC Children's Hospital, VSB, VCH

This Part 2(a) webinar recording for parents & caregivers discusses how to develop a roadmap for successful school attendance based on your child's unique situation and needs. To see the accompanying presentation slides, click here (Nov. 19, 2020).

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BC Children's Hospital, VSB, VCH This Part 2(a) webinar recording for parents & caregivers discusses how to develop a roadmap for successful school attendance based on your child's unique situation and needs. To see the accompanying presentation slides, click here (Nov. 19, 2020).

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The good news is that this website is designed to help parents and their anxious children. Here, you will find practical strategies and tools to help you manage your child's anxiety, whether your child is just beginning to show symptoms, or has been diagnosed with an anxiety disorder. The first step is to find out more about anxiety - how it looks, how it works, and how to recognize if it is problematic. If your child has been diagnosed with an anxiety disorder, you may prefer to go directly to the disorder menu and click on the relevant disorder.

As a parent of an anxious child, you are not alone.
Anxiety is one of the most common mental health concerns for children and adults, affecting upwards of 20% of children and adolescents over the lifespan. Anxious youth are often quiet and well behaved, and thus frequently go unnoticed by their parents, teachers, and coaches. Alternatively others can be disruptive and act out, being labeled as having attention deficit disorder or being a "bad" kid. Both scenarios result in youth failing to receive the help they desperately need. Sadly, untreated anxiety can lead to depression, missed opportunities in career and relationships, increased substance use, and a decreased quality of life.

Parents often say that from a very young age, they knew there was something different about their child, but did not immediately recognize it as an anxiety problem. Some waited for their child to "grow out of it", never expecting their child to become even more debilitated over time. Other parents viewed the anxious behaviours as normal as, they, too behaved in a similar way. As a result, parents of anxious children and teens are often confused about what to do, as well as frustrated, and overwhelmed.

The good news: Anxiety can be successfully managed!
Parents play an essential role in helping their child or teen manage anxiety. When coping skills and brave behavior is rewarded and practiced in the home, children and teens can learn to face their fears, take reasonable risks, and ultimately gain confidence. Review the following sections and take the first step towards becoming an anxiety expert.

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The good news is that this website is designed to help parents and their anxious children. Here, you will find practical strategies and tools to help you manage your child's anxiety, whether your child is just beginning to show symptoms, or has been diagnosed with an anxiety disorder.

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What is My Anxiety Plan (MAP)?

My Anxiety Plan (MAP) is an anxiety management program based on cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT). CBT is an evidence-based psychological treatment that was developed through decades of scientific research and has been shown to be one of the most effective treatments for anxiety problems. MAP is a resource for parents and caregivers to "coach" anxious children or teens using practical strategies and tools to manage anxiety. MAP includes 6 units with 46 lessons.

Unit 1: Starting the Journey: Understanding Anxiety. The lessons in this unit highlight key information and facts about anxiety, so that you and your child can become anxiety experts. The lessons will also help you and your child take some initial steps to get ready to tackle anxiety.

Unit 2: Calming Strategies: Learning to Chill. In Unit 2, lessons focus on helping your child or teen learn relaxation and mindfulness strategies to help them "ride out" the physical sensations of anxiety.

Unit 3: Helpful Thinking: Talking Back to Anxiety. Learning to be a balanced thinker is a core strategy for coping with anxiety. In this unit, you will help your child or teen learn how to catch, evaluate, and change their anxious thinking.

Unit 4: Facing Fears: Exposure. Unit 4 outlines one of the most powerful tools for managing anxiety. You will learn how to help your child or teen overcome their fears by gradually facing them one step at a time.

Unit 5: Continuing the Journey: Staying on Track. Help your child or teen prepare for the future with strategies aimed at maintaining their gains and keeping anxiety in check. Unit 5 highlights the importance of a solid foundation and helping your child or teen develop a plan to prevent anxiety from making a come back.

Unit 6: Special Topics. Your child or teen may have some specific fears or be faced with situations that are challenging in unique ways that require specialized tools. In this final unit, get additional information and strategies to tackle other problem areas that your child may need help with.

Who is this Program for?

The MAP program was designed as a self-help program for parents or caregivers to support children and teens with mild to moderate anxiety problems. It can also be used by educators to better understand anxiety and learn about key tools for helping students manage anxiety that can also be used in school settings. Although MAP was designed to be used on your own, it can also be used while working with a mental health professional who can guide you through it.

How to Work Through this Program?

We encourage you to review the material on your own first, and once you're familiar with it, work through it with your child or teen. Make sure to work through the various units and lessons at your own pace. As this is a journey and not a race, you may choose to go through all 6 units, lesson by lesson, over the course of weeks or months. Alternatively, you may prefer to skip around the various units, focusing only on relevant lessons, knowing you can return at a later date and work through the rest. This content can be reviewed and learned via computer screen, and worksheets and forms can be filled out and printed. Finally, you and your child can decide whether you wish to schedule formal "coaching" time on a weekly basis to review the lessons, or whether you prefer to do this work when the timing feels right even if this is at less regular times or intervals. The point is that there is no "right" way to use this material, and while we do recommend proceeding through the units and lessons in the specified order, the goal is to inspire your child to learn and if this means working out of sequence, the MAP program can be used in this way.

When to Seek Professional Help?

Working through this material can be challenging, especially if your child or teen is struggling with more moderate to severe anxiety issues. If your child has been diagnosed with an anxiety disorder the information and strategies in the program may not be sufficient. If you're struggling to get your child to use the strategies or your child or teen's symptoms persist or worsen despite working through the program, seek professional help. Talk to your family doctor and find a therapist who specializes in CBT.

Getting Started

You begin by clicking SIGN UP (top right hand corner) and set up a free account. After you've set up your account, click on the Anxiety Canada logo on the top left corner of your page which will take you to the MAPs Preview page where you can choose the program you want: MAP for Children or MAP for Adults. On the MAP for Children or MAP for Adults pages, please click on START PLAN to get started.

We ask you to set up an account so you can work through the program at your own pace and your progress is automatically saved.
*Notes: Throughout this program we will use the term parent or caregiver to refer to any adult who is routinely involved in the care of an anxious child or teen. Furthermore, the term child, teen, and youth will be used interchangeably. This website is not compatible with Microsoft Internet Explorer. We recommend using Firefox, Chrome or Safari instead. After registration and anytime you need to return to the beginning of the course, please click on our logo at top left.

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My Anxiety Plan (MAP) for Children and Teens - Anxiety Canada - MAPS

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What is My Anxiety Plan (MAP)? My Anxiety Plan (MAP) is an anxiety management program based on cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT). CBT is an evidence-based psychological treatment that was developed through decades of scientific research and has been shown to be one of the most effective treatments for anxiety problems. MAP is a resource for parents and caregivers [...]

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Week of Feb1-4/22 Anxious Thoughts and Feelings-What Can We Do as Parents?

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Week of Feb1-4/22 Anxious Thoughts and Feelings-What Can We Do as Parents?

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With the help of a few creative teachers, parents and youth workers, we've created a list of our 20 best indoor activities for kids to do while they're cooped up at home. And best of all? Only one activity requires a screen.

1. Create Your Own Puzzle

You don't even need a pair of scissors to make your own puzzle, as long as you already have puzzles at home. All you need is crayons, markers or paint.

Create your own puzzle by simply using the other side of a puzzle you have (it's usually blank cardboard) to draw or paint your own picture. First, you'll need to put the original puzzle together, then carefully flip it over. Draw your complete picture, take a picture of it to reference, then break the puzzle apart and build it back using your image instead.

Make it even more difficult by drawing on the separate pieces first, then trying to put the puzzle together without knowing what it will look like until the end.

2. Make Superhero Capes

Before you make your capes, talk to your kids about their talents and how they can use them to be superheroes. Then, think of a superhero name and logo that has to do with their talents and create your cape!

To make yours, grab an old T-shirt and cut everything below the collar - only halfway around - to keep the collar intact. Once you cut halfway around the collar, cut down the back of the shirt on both sides to create the cape.

Basically, you're leaving the full collar and back of the shirt intact and cutting away the rest. Then, design your cape using markers or fabric paint.

3. Paint Fireworks

Recycle empty toilet paper and paper towel tubes with this project. Cut vertical slits around one end of the tube and fan them out. Then, dip the end of the tub in paint and press it on a blank sheet of paper.

Use a different tube for each color of paint. To make your fireworks truly sparkle, sprinkle on some glitter while the paint dries.

4. Train Like A Spy

All spies need to know how to work their way through a laser beam maze. Have kids train like spies by making your own maze down a hallway of your home. Using Command strips or painter's tape, string crepe paper or yarn from one wall to the other across the hall.

Go back and forth until you create a maze of "laser beams" they must navigate without touching. If they touch a beam, they must start over.

5. Create Oobleck

Deriving its name from the Dr. Seuss book, "Bartholomew and the Oobleck," this weird substance is easy to make and extremely fun to play with. Oobleck is known as a non-Newtonian fluid, which means it acts as both a liquid and a solid.

It pours out like a liquid but hardens when force is applied to it. You can pick it up and hold it, but it will ooze out of your grip.

For even more fun, place plastic wrap over a speaker or subwoofer, place the oobleck on the plastic and turn the sound on to watch the oobleck dance. Creating oobleck is simple and only requires two ingredients that you'll likely already have: cornstarch and water.

Simply mix 1 part water with 1.5 - 2 parts cornstarch. So, for example, you may mix 1 cup water with 1½ cups of cornstarch. Add a little bit of cornstarch to your water at a time and stir. You'll have to make adjustments to get it just right.

If you want to make it even more fun, mix some food coloring in. Remember, oobleck is messy, so make it in the kitchen, outside or another area with hard surfaces and wear clothes that can get dirty.

6. Make Slime

While there are several recipes out there (DIY slime is very popular), our favorite recipe only requires three ingredients: glue, contact lens solution and baking soda.

To make slime, take one, 6-ounce bottle of glue (we prefer the clear Elmer's glue) and mix in ½ teaspoon baking soda and 2 - 3 tablespoons of contact lens solution. Use a mixing spoon or popsicle stick to stir the slime until it starts to thicken.

Once it forms into a blob, use your hands to mix and knead it. Pieces of it will stick to hands but keep kneading it. The slime will eventually harden to the point where it moves as one unit. For additional fun, add in food coloring or glitter.

7. Go Towel Skating

A fun activity that also cleans your floors, towel skating is just as it sounds. Squirt some cleaner on your floor, put some rags under your kid's feet in place of roller skates and let them glide across the floor.

Just make sure they get every inch.

8. Make Up Your Own Yoga

Let kids get creative while getting their exercise by having then create and name their own yoga poses.

Create a deck of yoga cards with regular yoga poses and their own creations, then draw a few cards and hold the poses for a more creative meditation practice.

9. Spin A Sticky Spider's Web

Using painter's tape, have kids run strips across a doorway in your home to create their own spider webs. Make sure the sticky side of each strip faces the same way.

Then, toss small, soft objects at the web and see how many get stuck. Make it a competition by having each kid build their own web and seeing whose web captures more items.

10. Go To The DIY Drive-In Theatre

Don't just watch a movie, make it an experience by creating a DIY drive-in theater. Have kids decorate their own cars made from moving boxes or laundry baskets. Don't forget to make a cozy interior of blankets or pillows, too.

When they're done making their car, have them help make signs for the drive-in and its concession stand, stocked with popcorn, juice and candy. Make it more authentic by making drive-in speakers for each "car" using cups and string.

11. Make DIY Noisemakers

Ok, this activity may be one you immediately regret doing, but kids will have a fun time making these and playing with them - even if the playtime is short-lived. First, clean and dry empty water bottles.

Next, decorate the outside of the containers. Glue on streamers, paint the bottles and apply glitter and gems.

Then, search your craft supplies and kitchen cabinets for different items that would make noise when shaken. A few ideas of items to fill your bottles include: dry rice or beans, popcorn seeds, small jingle bells or beads.

Once you fill the bottles (leaving a lot of space for the objects to move around), close the lid tightly and glue or tape it shut.

12. Create A Happiness Box

If kids are stuck at home due to a natural disaster, national situation or other scary event, it can be a stressful time for them. A happiness box is a great resource for when they feel worried, anxious or scared.

Decorate an old shoebox with bright colors, smiley faces, suns and other happy things. Once the outside is decorated, fill the box with things that make your child happy - their favorite book, a photo that makes them smile, their favorite jokes, pieces of candy, a letter from a loved one, etc.

Tell them that whenever they feel sad, they can open their happiness box and feel better.

13. Make Your Own Stress Ball

Another fun activity that can help kids experiencing different emotions could be a DIY stress ball. All you need for this activity is some flour or corn starch, a balloon and a funnel.

Start by stretching out the balloon, then stick the funnel in the opening and pour in the flour or corn starch. You may need to tap the sides of the funnel to help the flour move down the funnel.

Once the balloon is filled with flour (it will not expand much), simply tie it. You may want to consider placing it inside another balloon to make the exterior stronger.

Once the stress ball is made, kids can use a permanent marker to draw a silly face or other image that will stretch out when the balloon is squeezed.

14. Make Homemade Ice Cream In A Bag

Making your own ice cream can easily become a lesson in science, and all the shaking your kids will do can help tire them out. Here's how to make homemade ice cream.

Mix ½ cup whole milk with ½ cup cream. Add 2 tablespoons of sugar and ½ teaspoon of vanilla extract. For chocolate-flavored ice cream, add ½ tablespoon of chocolate milk powder. For strawberry-flavored ice cream, add ½ tablespoon of strawberry milk powder.

Pour the mixture into a plastic bag that zips shut. Make sure the bag is sealed. In a second plastic bag, pour in one or two handfuls of ice and about ¼ cup of salt.

Place the first bag into the bag of ice and salt and seal it. Then, shake the bags until the mixture freezes and forms ice cream. This can take 5 - 10 minutes. Keep in mind, it will not be as thick as normal ice cream.

Once the ice cream forms, remove the bag of ice cream and wipe it down before removing the ice cream since there will be salt on the exterior of the bag. Cut a corner off and pipe the ice cream into individual bowls and enjoy.

15. Build A Reading Nook With Accessories

Build a space in your home dedicated to reading for kids who love books. Build a fort or turn a giant box into a little nook and lay down some floor pillows and blankets to make it extra cozy.

Accessorize the space with your child's favorite books, a small reading lamp or flashlight and some decorated bookmarks and "do not disturb" signs. Pick a time each day for your child to visit their nook and read for a few minutes.

16. Make Treasure Out Of Trash

This activity encourages your kids to get creative and use their imagination. Make a pile of unused items in the home that are headed for the trash - broken appliances, empty bottles, wrappers, etc.

Give your kids 5 minutes or so to invent something new with the pieces. After 5 minutes of building, have them explain their new invention and give it a name.

Go even further and have them make up a commercial for their product, too.

17. Play Minute To Win It

Minute To Win It games are party favorites, but you don't need a big group of people to play them. These games involve several different physical challenges that each must be completed in 1 minute.

Here are a few examples of one-minute challenges you can try.

Stack pennies on top of one another. If any fall, you must start over. Whoever has the tallest stack at the end of 1 minute wins.

Place a cookie on your forehead. You have 1 minute to move the cookie down to your mouth without using your hands.

Using only your nose, you must push a ball across the floor, from one end of the room to the other in under a minute.

Tie an empty Kleenex box around your waist and fill it with ping pong balls. You have 1 minute to shake all of the ping pong balls out of the box without using your hands.

In 1 minute, move as many mini marshmallows from one cup to another using only chopsticks.

18. Go On A Hunt Around The House

There are a few different types of "hunts" you can make to keep kids busy. Create a map from the floor plan of your home that they can follow to some hidden treasure.

For kids who are a little older, make a scavenger hunt with a clue at each spot that leads them to the next. Younger children may like a simpler hunt that asks for specific things, like something that is green, something that is soft or something you love.

19. Move Radioactive Space Rocks

Pretend you're astronauts discovering a new planet. You come across unique "rocks" that you want to take back to your ship to study - but beware. These space rocks may be radioactive.

Use balls of aluminum foil to create the space rocks and place them in a basket at one end of the room. Put an empty basket at the other end of the room. Your kids must race to put as many space rocks in their empty basket as they can.

But wait! Since the space rocks could be dangerous, take extra precaution. Your kids must handle them with only chopsticks, tongs or spoons - and wear oven mitts too.

If you have multiple children playing, see who can get more in their basket. If you have one child playing, challenge them to get as many space rocks in their basket as they can in under a minute.

20. Use Free Resources

Right now, people and places all around the world are banding together to offer educational and entertainment opportunities for the world's youngest inhabitants. For example, there are many educational places, like museums, zoos and historical landmarks, offering free virtual field trips.

Streaming services are unlocking kid's programming for everyone. A number of educational companies, like Scholastic and Khan Academy, are offering free subscriptions. Celebrities are reading stories to kids, musicians are performing live concerts and fitness instructors are offering free classes for kids.

Hop online and see what you can find to help you keep kids active at home during this time.

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20 Creative Activities For Kids To Do At Home During COVID-19

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With the help of a few creative teachers, parents and youth workers, we've created a list of our 20 best indoor activities for kids to do while they're cooped up at home. And best of all? Only one activity requires a screen.

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​​​​​​​​​​​​​​by: Danette Glassy, MD, FAAP & Pooja Tandon, MD, FAAP​ ​

Getting outside as a family is a great way to spend time together. ​ But what can you do outdoors while staying a safe distance from others during the COVID-19 pandemic? Think nature exploration!

Read on for ways that you and your children can get a physical and emotional boost from being outdoors while still practicing good social distancing.

Exploring the outdoors while social distancing

Nature all around us. Exploring outside with proper social distancing can happen in your yard, a table-top garden, or even virtually (though not with all of the benefits).

Bringing out baby. Even infants and toddlers can play and learn in nature. If you will be in public areas like a park, it may be safest to keep them in a carrier or a stroller. If they are in your own private space, it's fine to have them explore even more.

Nature sculptures can be built with twigs, leaves, cones, rocks and more by sticking the collected items into a play dough base. Notice what kind of patterns are created by different items. Or, let your child play in mud with old pots, pans, utensils, and household tools to develop senses and motor skills.

Bike or walk with the family while keeping your distance from others. If you have a child bicycle trailer or stroller, get some exercise while enjoying the outdoors with your baby. Describe what you see along the way to your baby or preschooler. Use a lot of details to help them learn new words.

Challenge older children & teens. Stay engaged with the outdoors as a family. Take advantage of this time to bond over games and activities you all enjoy.

Hold a nature scavenger hunt or start a nature collection. Hunt for plants, trees, animals, and birds. Collect rocks, acorns, leaves or pinecones. See how many items children can find on a list, or gather objects to add to a collection.

Leave a trail. Organize with parents of your children's friends to send kids on "secret spy missions." One family goes on a walk with sidewalk chalk, drawing arrows and letters along the way to spell out a secret message. The other family must then follow the arrows along the way to record the letters in the message.

Have a ball. Kicking a soccer ball or playing catch together can be fine if you are apart from each other and avoid sharing sports equipment with others outside your household.

The benefits of being outside

Getting outside provides more than a fun break for children and teens. It is also good for their physical and mental health and development. Children and teens who spend time enjoying nature can be:

Physically healthier. Children play harder outdoors than indoors. Especially without the structure of preschool, school or afterschool activities, children especially need opportunities to move. More outdoor time is linked with improved motor development and lower obesity rates.

More engaged in learning. Playing outside promotes more curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking. Studies have found that children who spent more time in nature exploration had improved learning outcomes.

More positive in behavior. Research has found that when children spent time in natural settings they had less anger and aggression. Impulse control also improves. This might be especially important when normal routines have changed for children.

Mentally healthier. Stress and depression are lower for all people who spend time in nature. Children show increased focus and reduced symptoms of for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.

Reme​mber

Take advantage of the healing power of play in nature-in your own backyard or on a walk. Be sure to follow local public health guidelines about wearing masks​ and keep at least 6 feet from others not in your family. Wash your hands with soap and water or use hand sanitizer during and after your adventure. Getting outdoors, being in nature, and moving our bodies is good for everyone!

More Information

About Dr. Glassy

Danette Glassy, MD, FAAP, is a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics Councils on Community Pediatrics and Early Childhood, as well as the Washington Chapter of the AAP. She practices in Mercer Island, Washington

About Dr. Tandon​

Pooja Tandon, MD, FAAP, is a general pediatrician and researcher at the University of Washington and Seattle Children's Hospital. Her research interests include studying and promoting equitable access to physical activity and outdoor time for all children.

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covid 19~ coronavirus~ coronavirus kids~ coronavirus children~ coronavirus child~ coronavirus baby~ getting outside and social distancing~ kids and nature~ keeping kids active~ benefits of outdoor play on children's health~ benefits of nature preschool

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Getting Children & Teens Outside While Physical Distancing for COVID-19

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​​​​​​​​​​​​​​by: Danette Glassy, MD, FAAP & Pooja Tandon, MD, FAAP​ ​ Getting outside as a family is a great way to spend time together. ​ But what can you do outdoors while staying a safe distance from others during the COVID-19 pandemic? Think nature exploration!

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You can make the most of the winter months with these pandemic-friendly things to do.

As the coronavirus pandemic stretches into nearly a full year of impacting our daily lives, it can feel like it's hard to find any fun in your day-to-day routine. (Life at home can feel a lot like Groundhog Day-and not in a good way.) Finding winter activities that bring you joy may be even more of a challenge as temperatures drop, when it's not as easy to get together with family and friends safely because of the weather.

Winter officially begins December 21 (and there are plenty of fun things to do in December normally), but with cold weather common well before then in many parts of the country and indoor activities unavailable or unsafe, you may be looking for great outdoor winter activities or things to do at home when it's cold out before you know it.

But even if you're socially distancing and spending more time at home to reduce the chances of developing COVID-19 or passing it on to others, with a little creativity, you can still find some wonderful ways to enjoy the season (and reconnect with your loved ones in a safe way) with clever winter activities during coronavirus.

Winter activities during coronavirus

Enjoy the outdoors (socially distanced)

Have an epic snowball fight

Go sledding

Try friluftsliving

Make a snowman or a snow fort with people in your household

Go snowshoeing

Make snow angels

Go stargazing

Take a wintry hike

Try ice skating

Get a taste of winter

Load up a cup of cocoa with whipped cream or marshmallows

Bake a pie

Sip a hot toddy

Make baked apples

Restart your sourdough addiction (and try these ideas for things you can make with your sourdough starter that aren't bread)

Make homemade caramel popcorn

Roast root vegetables

Enjoy some mulled wine

Simmer a pot of homemade soup

Make snow cream

Indulge in a big stack of pancakes slathered with maple syrup

Make (and enjoy) eggnog (here's an easy eggnog recipe!)

Have a little fondue

Try some wintry crafts

Build a gingerbread house

Cut paper snowflakes

Make a birdfeeder out of pinecones, peanut butter, and birdseed-and place it near your window for a show

Create handmade valentines

Knit a scarf

Enjoy some much-needed self-care

Cozy up by a roaring fire (indoors or out!)

Watch the snow fall

Burn your favorite scented candle

Light candles and enjoy a bubble bath

Break out a jigsaw puzzle

Cuddle up with a blanket, a cup of tea, and a good book

Spend the day in your PJs

Work on a challenging crossword or word game

Splurge on a pair of fuzzy slippers

Reconnect with loved ones

Bake cookies to share with your friends and neighbors

Build a pillow fort

Enjoy a living room picnic

Host a movie marathon of all your favorites

Eat dinner by candlelight

Write a love letter

Plan a virtual game night

Try something new

Take an online cooking class

Pick up a new hobby

Encourage an amaryllis bulb or other flowering plant to bloom

Start some seedlings

Host a virtual book club

Stick with a New Year's resolution

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49 Fun Winter Activities You Can Still Enjoy (Even During a Pandemic)

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Winter activities are still plentiful, even with the coronavirus or COVID-19 pandemic taking some things to do in winter off the table. See great ideas for fun winter activities for kids, adults, and the whole family in our roundup of things to do in winter during the coronavirus pandemic.

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Want to give it a shot? Try the jump rope strength workout, the jump rope HIIT workout, and the jump rope endurance workout here. All of those fun options take under 20 minutes.

6. Take some photos.

SELF's social media manager Frances Dumlao uses her outdoor time to foster her creativity-she brings her camera and searches out beautiful flowers.

"I live in a city, and rarely do I stumble upon greenery during most times of the year. In the spring though, the city is blooming with tulips, daffodils, magnolias, and cherry blossoms," she says. "It's a good reminder for me to 'smell the roses'-that there are still small things to be grateful for in this weird time. I also share my flower photos on social media, so that others may find a little joy in them too."

7. Grow some food.

The act of gardening can be super-relaxing, and as a happy bonus, you could come out with some delicious-and free-fruits, vegetables, or herbs for your trouble.

SELF reader Melissa Alfano considers vegetable gardening one of her favorite outdoor activities for her whole family.

"We are teaching our preschooler about plants, so this is fun, relaxing, and educational," she says.

8. Run some stairs.

If running isn't your jam, you can still get in an intense cardio workout outside-especially if you live by some stairs.

Lauren Leavell, an NASM-certified personal trainer and barre instructor, has been running up and down the stairs at her local train station as a HIIT workout.

"Since the trains are not running now, no one is there," she says. "I don't like to run-run, so doing the stairs is more my style."

9. Play outside.

Remember the sheer joy of simply playing outside when you were a kid? Mimic that now with some unstructured time outside.

Sivan Fagan, an ACE-certified personal trainer, spends time outside with her new puppy, Chai, to help blow off some steam.

"I love to run around and play shuffles with him, especially since he's a puppy and has lots of energy," she says. "Basically whenever I want to calm my mind, center myself, and practice gratefulness, I go outside. It's like a pause button I can press during the day to reset and be one with nature and more in tune with myself."

10. Make your own gym.

If you have some outdoor space, you can certainly do your equipment-free workouts there in the fresh air. But one of my own favorite ways to work out outside includes making your outdoor structure work for you.

For instance, I bring a large, looped resistance band outside and attach it to my steel fire escape. (Any kind of sturdy anchor point, like a pole or thick tree branch, would work too). Depending on the angle, you can do exercises like lat pull-downs and rows -moves I feel a little wary doing inside with my old, wooden, not-so-secure door frames.

I also use the open stairs themselves for bodyweight moves. They're the perfect height (and sturdy enough) for pull-ups, and they make push-ups easier or harder by elevating either your hands or your feet off them. I've combined these exercises for a 15-minute four-move upper body circuit (pull-ups, push-ups, pull-downs, and rows) that honestly rivals a heavy-weight gym workout.

11. Ride your bike.

In order to get outside more, Miklaus has also been going on more rides lately.

Whether you're cycling hard or going on an easy ride, remember that the same rules for running apply here-make sure you're wearing a mask, and be sure to maintain proper social distancing while you're riding.

12. Take a hike.

If you live near hiking trails-and they have remained open-hiking can be a great choice for a relaxing cardio workout. (Again, just be sure to wear a mask.)

"Hiking keeps me grounded," says SELF reader Brindi Talley. "I get some good pics and a workout in."

SELF reader Michelle Bowen chooses hiking both for its physical merits and stress-busting benefits.

"I love how I feel when I'm with the trees; sounds of water and the silence at times," she says.
Related:

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12 Outdoor Activities for When You Need to Get Out of the House

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Want to give it a shot? Try the jump rope strength workout, the jump rope HIIT workout, and the jump rope endurance workout here. All of those fun options take under 20 minutes. SELF's social media manager Frances Dumlao uses her outdoor time to foster her creativity-she brings her camera and searches out beautiful flowers.

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As more and more school systems close and families across the country follow mandates and start to socially distance themselves in order to help stop the spread of the coronavirus, parents are scrambling for ideas on how to occupy their children - off the grid. So, if you want to keep the phones, tablets, computers and gaming systems to a minimum - other than for the purposes of online learning - we've complied some great ideas for you and your children of all ages and complexities.

The first rule of thumb is to set and keep a predictable schedule - for all children of all ages. Since school, leisure time and all activities are now at home, perhaps consider a white board or chalkboard or simply type up a basic schedule in big, bold letters and hang on the refrigerator for everyone to see. Here at The Center for Discovery, we know that predictability in schedules helps end confusion and eases anxiety and fear in children and adults with complex conditions.

The Great Outdoors - Fresh Air and Fun

At TCFD, we have the great privilege of being located in a beautiful, rural environment. If you have access to the great outdoors, even just a backyard, here's a few ideas to enjoy the fresh air:

Decorate a shoebox and go on an adventure collecting favorite rocks, acorns, twigs, pinecones. You can even make animals from the treasured pinecones and acorns with pompoms, googly eyes, construction paper, feathers, pipe cleaners, and more.

Go on a botany adventure! With a notebook and crayons/pencils in hand, try to draw local plants and observe what's already budding.

Collect rocks and categorize or paint them! Here at TCFD, we have a painted rock garden with inspirational pictures and sayings.

Play balloon tennis. No racquets? No problem. Use your hands, which is great for hand-eye coordination.

Ball Challenges. In partners, try bouncing a small ball right hand-to-right hand, and left-to-left.

Obstacle courses are a fan favorite! The skies the limit - use hula hoops, sidewalk chalk, tunnels, paper circles for markers, sturdy tape.

Digging in the dirt - obvious? Do not underestimate the power of a mud pie.

Preparing the garden for planting - rake, weed and plant a vegetable garden.

Build a slackline! Got two trees? Look around the garage for tubular webbing, carabineers and an old piece of carpet and voila - hours of fun trying to balance! Here's additional information on setting up a slackline: https://www.instructables.com/id/Set-Up-a-Slackline/.

Start a weeklong fitness challenge - indoors and out - jump rope, sit-ups, pushups, etc. Team up - kids versus adults to see who has the muscle!

Potato sack races: an old game with a few old pillowcases equals endless fun.

Three-legged races: team up adult and child and see who wins!

Egg race: a few spoons and a few hard-boiled eggs and a relay! Plus a perfect protein snack when you are done!

Bubbles, Bubbles, Bubbles! Everyone loves bubbles. Make giant wands and homemade bubbles mixed with some dishwasher detergent. Chase them. Pop them. Marvel at the rainbow of color in each! Check out a fun tutorial here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lTQIgVFvFYE.

Too Cold to Head Outdoors? Check out these Ideas for Tons of Indoor Fun!

Go camping! Build tents with blankets and pillows, and decorate with favorite stuffed animals, plastic figurines, flashlights, etc. Snuggle inside and read books and tell stories!

Hunt for Treasure! Hide "treasure" all over your home and devise cleaver clues to bring your treasure-hunters closer or farther away from the cache.

Cook, cook, cook! It's a perfect time to spread your love for food and nutrition.

You can have a bake-off challenge between siblings, or even mom vs. child!

Another cooking lesson could be to teach your children to make Chia Seed Pudding or a "healthy" ice cream made from coconut or almond milk, with healthy flavorings like cacao powder.

Smoothie Challenge. Find out who's got the perfect recipe!

Slime it up! Rather slippery slime over dough? Bubbling slime? There's so many possibilities! Check out these great resources: https://epicfunforkids.com/bubbling-slime-recipe-sensory-tubs/ and https://www.thesprucecrafts.com/slime-recipes-4171511.

Sensory boxes galore! Grab some plastic bins and fill them with rice, beans, buttons, beads, feathers, slime, or even dough. Hide your favorite toys inside and let the kids dig!

Make sensory balls. Kids can fill balloons with dough, water beads, glass beads or slime and decorate!

Make sensory pillows. Make small pillows from material scraps and stuff with bells, paper, foam, etc.

Bag puppets! Remember them? A paper bag - construction paper and crayons? Bits and pieces of material and imagination and you are on your way to a fantastic puppet show.

It's all about art! Plan an art show by challenging your children to draw a picture and then make it come alive with materials from your house or backyard. Recently, students and residents from TCFD won a statewide competition making this amazing mixed-media work (link to blog post).

Feeling silly? How about a dance party? It's a great way to expel some energy, while also having tons of fun - great from the heart and soul.

The Voice...at home! You don't need a karaoke machine to get this going, just lyrics from your favorite songs - on your phone or on a Bluetooth speaker.

The Wow Factor! Bring science right to the kitchen table. Make corn dance or homemade lava lamps. Who doesn't love a fizzy baking soda-vinegar reaction? Here's a great resource: https://littlebinsforlittlehands.com/dancing-corn-thanksgiving-science-activity/.

Don't have a lot of space? Try some simple kid-based yoga videos on YouTube and meditation Apps. In fact, even if you have space - try the yoga and meditation with your children. It's a great break from your day!

Calendars! Calendars! Calendars!

It's a well-known fact that all children (and adults!) thrive on structure, especially our community at The Center for Discovery.

Use a calendar to challenge your little (or big) ones. Are they builders? Do they like Legos? Blocks? K'nex? Create a construction challenge for each day that outlines a different activity with their item of choice.

Decorate for spring! Here in the Northeast, we've had quite a mild winter and the crocuses are beginning to show their purple flowers. Challenge your children to make arts and crafts each day to decorate your home. Tissue-paper flowers brighten everyone's day!

Kindness matters. At The Center, kindness and compassion are at the heart of our work with our residents and students with complex conditions. Make a list of loved ones - especially those who may be isolated by themselves. Put their names on a calendar day. On that specific day, call to check up on them. Have the kids use FaceTime or Skype or any other platform to show they care.

There's power in the written word. If you have a budding writer, use a calendar challenge to create short stories or poems each day.

The art of the letter. Bring back the art of writing a letter. Reach out to grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins and friends - both far and near.

Make a coupon book! Have the children make lists of things they love to do. Ice skate? Make a coupon for ice skating at your local rink. The movies? Another coupon. Climbing a ropes course? There's a coupon for that, too! Staple them all together and save for when things return to normal with the understanding that your children can turn in the coupon for a fun time with their loved ones.

Slow it Down

Remember all those pictures saved on your phone? Start organizing them into digital albums.

Books! Books! Books! Designate an hour each afternoon or evening to sit together and read aloud a picture book. Kids too old? Just cozy up on the couch and read. TV - off!

Game Night (or day)! Get those competitive juices going and play some board games - or even simple card games.

Movie Night! Grab some snacks (healthy, of course) and head to the couch for some old family favorites. Make a calendar with each family member's choice and day of "showing."

Jim Cashen, Assistant Chief of the Integrated Arts Department at The Center for Discovery, emphasizes the importance of being a role model, "Please continue to model proper handwashing and social distancing habits. Let's try and remember our kids are looking to us for reassurance, strength, and hope during this uncertain and unprecedented time. We will persevere."

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SAFE INDOOR AND OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES FOR FAMILIES IN THE TIME OF CORONAVIRUS - The Center For Discovery

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As more and more school systems close and families across the country follow mandates and start to socially distance themselves in order to help stop the spread of the coronavirus, parents are scrambling for ideas on how to occupy their children - off the grid.

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Week of Feb21-25/22 Happy (safe!) Family Day

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Week of Feb21-25/22 Happy (safe!) Family Day

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What will you do to celebrate?

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Week of Feb28-Mar4/22 Positive Peer Connections in Person and Online

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Week of Feb28-Mar4/22 Positive Peer Connections in Person and Online

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Troy Winters | CUPE Health and Safety
The COVID-19 pandemic has upended everything in our lives. The uncertainty about the coronavirus and its social, economic and cultural impacts are, without a doubt, making people feel on edge.
Change, even when it is expected, can cause significant stress, as our bodies react to new and unaccustomed pressures. But during this pandemic, many changes have been forced upon all of us very quickly.

Those pressures might include layoffs (actual or potential), working from home, limited social and physical interactions, having children home all day and the closure of many stores and businesses - not to mention being sick ourselves or taking care of sick family members.

Stress is a reaction, both physical and psychological, to events or hazards that challenge or threaten us. Our responses to stress include distinct and overlapping biological, environmental and psychological aspects. It's true that stress responses can help us: they are powerful protective mechanisms that help us deal with sudden changes, dangers or immediate demands (also known as "stressors"). But of course, problems arise when stressors don't subside.

In normal circumstances, stress usually has three phases: it comes, we deal with it, it leaves. The first response occurs quickly as an immediate, instinctive response to the stressor(s). When the situation concludes, stress usually also ends. However, when the situation causing the stress does not go away, a person can get stuck in the second phase (dealing with the stress), and the body continually reacts. This is the situation many of us find ourselves in now.

Building resiliency

The amount of stress you can absorb is called your resiliency. It is like a battery: you need to recharge to be healthy. Anything in your life that adds stress likewise drains the battery and make you less able to cope with the next (or ongoing) stress.
CUPE never advocates for people to build their mental resiliency so they can take more punishment at work. But building personal mental resiliency is important for coping with the "stress of life", whether at the best of times - or during a pandemic.
Know yourself and your resiliency

During these times, we need to take stock of our own mental health and work to increase our resiliency, as best as we can. Start to take notice of the factors that affect you. Understanding your strengths and weakness can help guide you to take steps which increase your resiliency (or that at least don't drain your "battery").

It is important to understand the areas in which you're strong, and those in which you could improve. This will allow you to learn new skills to help manage the challenges of everyday life, and that can help strengthen your overall mental health by reducing stress.

Improving your resiliency

If we think of resiliency as a battery, we can also imagine ways to improve the "battery life" by increasing the battery's charge or reducing the power use. That is, we can make ourselves stronger, or reduce the impact of life events.

Building and maintaining energy reserves starts with awareness of what builds up and what draws your energy. The fuel that recharges resiliency levels comes from good physical health practices (exercise, diet, rest), good mental health practices (like coping skills), family and social supports, and a work-life balance that allows you to do things you enjoy.

It might seem difficult to practice good health in current circumstances, or as we return to work. But you can start now, even within your own home.

Here are nine practices you can use to improve your mental resilience:

Self-monitor

Check in with yourself. Some people find it useful to create a journal or log of what's stressing them. Name the emotions you feel and identify the situations that make you feel that way. Rather than reacting indecisively or instinctively, review what causes negative emotions and determine the best path forward for overcoming the stressor.

Acceptance

Many things have changed for each of us in a very a short amount of time. We had virtually no control about how those changes happened, so dwelling on resenting these changes will not help much. What can help is altering our practices to make the best of things. You weren't responsible for the current situation, but you can take charge of how you react to it.

Build a schedule

COVID-19 has thrown many of us off our regular schedules, and many will find it hard to adjust. Determine what you are required to do each day or week and make a plan for how you will accomplish these tasks. Break larger tasks into plans for sub-tasks. If you have too many things to do, list the things which must be done and separate them from what you would like to get done. Time for your own mental health should be included in the "must get done" group

Physical distance, don't social distance

The best practice to avoid COVID-19 is to maintain two meters distance from anyone who isn't in your immediate household. That doesn't mean we can't reach out to others. If you are working at home, reach out to co-workers through video chat or phone to talk about what you are working on. Schedule group coffee breaks like you would at work. Call relatives or friends you have not heard from, especially if they are older and can't leave the house.

Be optimistic

It may sound simplistic, but people who maintain an optimistic view of the world maintain higher levels of resilience. Being optimistic can reduce depression and anxiety and can help overcome intrusive thoughts and images that lead to further spiraling and reduced resilience.

Remove toxic stressors from your life

Do not allow negative influences to constantly affect your thoughts. It might help to limit the amount of news (online or other social media especially) you consume about COVID-19. It's important to know what is going on, but constant minute-by-minute updates might be overwhelming.

Improve your physical health

Mental and physical health are linked. Diet, exercise and sleep may not restore your resiliency on their own, but they'll help. Even though your life is more restricted, you can stretch and move.

Perform a positive social good

Many community organizations need help. Find out if your CUPE local is organizing outreach initiatives or getting involved in local efforts to help out. Giving one's time or money can be an excellent way to become part of a larger collective action. It's good for others, and it's good for you: research shows that contributing is good for your mental health.

Give change time

Just like with a new workout routine, we must allow time for change to take place. You may not be able to feel improvements to your resiliency immediately. Start by identifying one or two of the above practices that would be relatively easy or that provide you with the greatest benefit; try and do it every day. Once you feel a change, add another.

Remember to track how you are feeling so you can reflect on the journey as you go. By tracking your resiliency levels, you can determine what adds to your "battery power" - and what drains it.

If you are in a crisis

If you find yourself near or "in crisis", reach out for help. The stress from COVID-19 and the related upheaval may be too much for some, especially those with pre-existing mental health concerns or conditions. Now is the time to get better, not to work on resiliency. Don't forget, you're not alone. Visit cmha.ca https://cmha.ca/find-your-cmha to find resources in your province. If your workplace has an Employee Assistance Program, tap into it.

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Improving mental resiliency during COVID-19

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The COVID-19 pandemic has upended everything in our lives. The uncertainty about the coronavirus and its social, economic and cultural impacts are, without a doubt, making people feel on edge. The amount of stress you can absorb is called your resiliency. It is like a battery: you need to recharge to be healthy.

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Resilience is the ability to recover from difficulties or change-to function as well as before and move forward. Many refer to this as "bouncing back" from challenges (CAMH, 2009).

Our 10 Tips on Growing Up Resilient display can be borrowed by community partners for education and awareness events.

Want to know more about resiliency? Check out the following additional resources:

Chapter 2 - Understanding Resilience, an exerpt from Growing Up Resilient: Ways to Build Resilience in Children and Youth. For more information on this book, check out CAMH website here.

Brochure - Raising Resilient Children & Youth

The Community Mental Health Association also has a page on resilience, which offers Mental Fitness Tips and a Mental Health Meter to help reflect on your unique strengths and identify areas where your level of mental fitness could be improved to help you cope with all of life's up and downs. Check it out here.

Feelings Poster & Share Your Feelings Sticker Activity
Sometimes it can be difficult to express our emotions & share how we feel. Use this sticker to a draw a face to share your feelings. Stickers available upon request.
Please continue to check back, as this page is still under construction.

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Resilience is the ability to recover from difficulties or change-to function as well as before and move forward. Many refer to this as "bouncing back" from challenges (CAMH, 2009). Our 10 Tips on Growing Up Resilient display can be borrowed by community partners for education and awareness events.

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As we deal with a relentlessly upsetting news cycle in a world changed by COVID-19, taking care of our mental health is critical to our overall well-being. And building personal resilience is key. Get all the latest research, expert insights, and tools to help you strengthen your resilience for these challenging times.

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Resilience Resource Center: Why is Resilience Important

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Get all the latest research, expert insights, and tools to help you build resilience for a better life.

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Resilience is the process and outcome of successfully adapting to difficult or challenging life experiences, especially through mental, emotional, and behavioral flexibility and adjustment to external and internal demands.

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May2-6/22/21 Resiliency...where to find it!

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May2-6/22/21 Resiliency...where to find it!

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You may experience overwhelming thoughts or feelings at times. Intense feelings or thoughts around panic or fear are normal, but they can start to come up more often, feel out of control, and really take a toll on your well-being. Learn how to turn down the volume on difficult or overwhelming thoughts or feelings as they come up.

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Author: Canadian Mental Health Association, BC Division

Doctors in BC continue to ask people to seek medical help when they need it-don't put off going to a doctor, clinic, or hospital if you are unwell. If you think you have a mental illness or start to experience new or worsening symptoms of a mental illness, seek help! Talk to your family doctor or contact your mental health care provider. If you don't have a family doctor, you can contact a walk-in clinic. Some clinics ask that patients call first to consult with a doctor and some clinics have changed their operating hours, so it's a good idea to check with your usual walk-in clinic. You can find walk-in clinics, mental health intakes, and other services through HealthLink BC.

Free psychotherapy or counselling

Adults and older adults

Post-secondary students

Young people

Paid psychotherapy or counselling

Courses and programs

Adults

Youth

For youth ages 15-18, BounceBack for Youth from the Canadian Mental Health Association BC Division helps youth manage low mood, anxiety, and stress. You can take the course online on your own or work with a coach by phone

Crisis lines, help lines, and online chat platforms

Everyone

Call the BC Mental Health Support Line at 310-6789 (always open)

Call 1-800-SUICIDE (1-800-784-2433) to talk with a trained volunteer (always open)

For a list of local crisis lines, visit crisislines.bc.ca

Adults

Older adults

Young people

Family caregivers

Healthcare providers

Indigenous people

Community services and support groups

Everyone

Visit bc211.ca or call 2-1-1 for information and referrals to community service providers in BC, including mental health and substance use supports, housing, supports for families, supports for Indigenous people, and supports for immigrants and refugees

For information about substance use services and referrals to local services (including virtual meetings), call the Alcohol and Drug Information and Referral Service at 604-660-9382 (in the Lower Mainland) or 1-800-663-1441 (in the rest of BC)

Mood Disorders Association of BC support groups will move to online meetings. Contact your local facilitator for updates and more information

Regional educators and branches from the BC Schizophrenia Society continue to help families and caregivers. Contact your local branch for more

Older adults

Young people

Self-help and self-management

Ask Us...about managing mental health and well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic from HeretoHelp: Tips and resources to help you take care of yourself and seek extra support when you need it

Coping With COVID-19 from Anxiety Canada: Articles, town halls, and strategies to manage anxiety. You can also download the MindShift app to build on skills like mindfulness and stress management

Tolerance for Uncertainty: A COVID-19 Workbook from Dr. Sachiko Nagasawa and Bay Psychology in Ontario: Build skills based on dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT) to help you manage distress, uncertainty, and other difficult emotions. This workbook is free and available in English and French

COVID-19 & Supporting Someone Living with Schizophrenia from the BC Schizophrenia Society: Information for families and loved ones, including medication management during the pandemic

Parenting During COVID-19 from Kelty Mental Health Resource Centre: Talking to young people about COVID-19, taking care of your own mental health, and supporting a child or youth

COVID-19 Info Centre from Kids Help Phone: Tips and strategies to help children and youth take care of their mental health, navigate changes like social distancing and school closures, and seek help.

COVID-19 for Kids: "How can I help?" series from Health Prince Edward Island: A workbook for children, including healthy coping skills and strategies to manage worries and fears

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Author: Canadian Mental Health Association, BC Division Doctors in BC continue to ask people to seek medical help when they need it-don't put off going to a doctor, clinic, or hospital if you are unwell. If you think you have a mental illness or start to experience new or worsening symptoms of a mental illness, seek help!

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May9-13/22 Let's Talk about Mental Health

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May9-13/22 Let's Talk about Mental Health

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Week of Jan24-28/22 Staying Positive in the Darkness of Winter

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Week of Jan24-28/22 Staying Positive in the Darkness of Winter

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As Ned Stark frequently reminded us in Game of Thrones, winter is most definitely coming. Short days, cold weather and, this year, the lingering uncertainty and restrictions of a global pandemic. It's enough to send anyone's mood into a downward spiral.

And it's true. We can't stop winter coming. We can't change the seasons. Or a global pandemic.

But positive psychology studies show that - despite our circumstances - we can change our mood. We can reinforce our happiness defences, often with small, easy changes that have a dramatic impact on our sense of wellbeing.

So as we enter the long months of winter, now is the time to shake up our routines and build our positivity wall.

REFOCUS FROM NEGATIVE TO POSITIVE

When our ancestors were struggling to survive on the savannah, negativity bias played a key role in keeping them attuned to the threat of predators.

But now, our bias towards focusing on the negative can seriously jeopardise our sense of wellbeing. Here are three ways to help refocus on the positive.

Three good things

Each evening, think of three good things that happened during your day that you're grateful for. Use a notebook, a simple app like Three Good Things or a more expansive diary app like Day One.

Gratitude journaling encourages you to actively scan for the positives in your life, rather than the seemingly more prevalent negatives. The longer you do it, the harder it is to find new things to be grateful for - so the stronger your positivity scanning muscles become!

Build a moat

Many of us face a dilemma when it comes to news: how to keep abreast of what's going on, while avoiding the health impact of the constant barrage of negative stories? And that impact can be significant. In one study, people who watched just three minutes of negative news in the morning were 27% more likely to report their day as unhappy 6-8 hours later.

In his book Big Potential, Shawn Achor suggests 'building a moat' against these negative influences by making early morning and late evening news-free zones. This helps protect our mood at times when we are most vulnerable.

Create a list of awesome things

We may be missing big pleasures like holidays, nights out and family gatherings. But we can still enjoy the smaller things. So make a list of what author Neil Pasricha calls 'awesome things' - the little things in life to be grateful for.

Take inspiration from his own list at www.1000awesomethings.com, then create your own - and add new things as you think of them. Review your list whenever you need a boost.

GET SOCIAL

One thing we're all missing is close contact with friends and family. And it's not surprising: social connection is the biggest driver of happiness, as predictive of how long we'll live as obesity or smoking. So what can we do if we can't see as much of our family or friends?

Cultivate your 'weak ties'

Remember the last time you had a chat with your local shop assistant or barista? Or a quick catch-up with a neighbour? Did it feel good? Research suggests people are happier on days when they personalise interactions with what sociologists call 'weak ties'. This can be simply through smiling, making eye contact or perhaps a quick chat.

2-minute text

In a recent webinar for Action for Happiness, Shawn Achor proposed a daily 2-minute text as another way to cultivate weak ties.

Simply pick someone from your contacts each day who you haven't seen or talked to for a while, and send them a quick, friendly message.

Reach out

When we're under pressure or feeling down, many of us tend to turn inward - just when we would most benefit from actively seeking the support of friends and colleagues.

So if you're struggling, don't keep it to yourself. One study found that if you stand at the base of a hill, it looks up to 20% less steep if you're with a friend, than if you were facing it alone.

What's more, sharing your struggles gives your friends the green light to open up on their own challenges and experiences.

RINGFENCE YOUR WORKING DAY

Many communicators are still working remotely - and are likely to be doing so for some time. What's more, it seems we're busier than ever.

This can lead to an unhealthy blurring of the lines between home life and work. Establishing a transition routine between home and work can overcome this.

Create a virtual commute...

While few of us miss our daily commute, it did help create a clear separation between home and work.

According to a recent article in the Harvard Business Review, the happiest commuters were those who used their commute to plan their workday. It suggests creating a 15-minute 'virtual commute' to slowly get into work mode - perhaps by taking a short walk.

The benefit of a virtual commute has even led Microsoft to build it into their Teams application. According to their research, reflection during commuting time can increase productivity by 12-15%.

... and a 'Feierabend'

In Germany, the Feierabend is the name given to after-work time - the start of which is often marked with a beer, snack or exercise. It's seen as a way to truly disconnect from the office, rather than be tempted to check those emails later after dinner. That way, you return more refreshed and productive the next day.

CREATE HAPPINESS BOOSTERS

Positive emotions not only make us feel good, they improve our performance too. That's why some companies furnish their offices with mood boosters like slides, table tennis tables or basketball hoops.

Happiness researcher Tal Ben-Shahar suggests creating your own happiness boosters: bite-size activities that can quickly elevate your mood. For example, you might create playlists of:

favourite movie scenes from YouTube: one study found that just thinking about a favourite film raised endorphin levels by 27 percent

stand-up comedians

those feel-good songs that remind you of happy times, or are guaranteed to make you want to dance.

Or you could do five minutes of meditation. Or yoga. Or reading a good book. Anything to help stimulate positive emotions and reset your mood.

So with winter coming, take a little time to prepare your defences. Gather your happiness boosters. Establish some simple new habits. And build your wall of positivity.

by Dave Wraith, Internal Communications, Employee Engagement and Change Comms Specialist.

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Alive With Ideas - Blog - Winter is coming: time to build your wall of positivity

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As Ned Stark frequently reminded us in Game of Thrones, winter is most definitely coming. Short days, cold weather and, this year, the lingering uncertainty and restrictions of a global pandemic. It's enough to send anyone's mood into a downward spiral. And it's true. We can't stop winter coming.

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Note: This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my disclosure for more details. Thanks for supporting the brands that make The Happy Arkansan possible!

It's The Happy Arkansan Year, y'all. You may be thinking, "Amanda, WTF is this?!" Well, it's going to be a monthly blog post I will put out during the last week of the month that will detail some positive actions that you can do the following month. The positive tasks will be equal to the amount of days that month, and they won't put you out of house and home monetarily. Hopefully, they will all be individually great, but coming up with 365 tasks over the course of a year is a HUGE undertaking (one I wanted to do all at once, but who has the time to put that together all that right now?!)

So, sit back, relax, and enjoy this list of positive quotes. Get your #TheHappyArkYear self ready to read this list and don't forget to use that hashtag throughout 2018 so I can find you and send you all the love on your positivity journey.

1. Past Year Reflection

Take some time to reflect on the positive things that have happened to you last year. It's the start of a new year, but that doesn't mean that you should abandon all the amazing things that happened to you last year just yet. Take some time today to reflect on last year's journey in preparation for a wonderful new year.

2. New Year, New Word

Create your positive word for the new year. If you could sum up what you want the new year to be in one word, what would it be? Take some time to create that word and stick it up somewhere you will see it each day.

Your word has to mean something to you-so think on this word today.

3. Ghost A Negative Thing

Drop one thing from your life you don't want to worry about for the rest of the year. Be it a person, a bad habit, or just a food you eat ghost that thing like your life depended on it. You can leave things in the past! Make sure you follow through on this ghosting.

4. Start Your Positivity Journal

Writing things down can be extremely helpful. Journaling will help you make the most of your year as well as be a great thing to reflect on at the end of the year. This doesn't have to be something you write in daily, but obviously the more you write in this journal, the better.

5. Bake Some Cookies

Bake cookies (or eat the cookie dough, I won't judge!) Baking cookies is just such a fun, winter activity so get a cheap package of cookies from the store and bake them up this evening.

6. Charity Time

Whether you donate $5 or an hour of your time, a charity in need will thank you! I recently shared a post all about how to make your donations go further, so be sure to check that out!

7. Share Some Positive Vibes On Facebook

Write something nice on a friends Facebook wall. There is not enough happy and positive vibes on people's walls outside of their day of birth. Go share a sappy message with a friend for no reason other than happiness.

8. Donate That Ugly Top

You have my permission, throw away or donate one thing from your closet that doesn't make you happy anymore. We all have something in our closet that we just don't like now, so donate that top you don't like in hopes that someone else will love it or trash it if that makes you feel better.

9. Watch A Good TED Talk

There are so many phenomenal TED talks out there, all you gotta do is look for them. I am recommending one of my favorite TED Talks below, but you can pick any talk you want.

10. Explore A New Area Of Your City

Your town is bigger than you think. Grab a friend or go solo to explore a part of your town you have never been to before.

11. You Deserve A Bubble Bath

Take a bubble bath or a longer shower and don't feel bad about relaxing. Get some of the stress off you by washing it down the drain.

12. Call Someone Just To Chat

Call a friend or family member just to chat. I love just talking with my family (sometimes for hours.) You don't have to have anything to talk about in particular, just chat with them.

13. Make A Personalized Playlist

Make a personalized playlist for someone you love so they can discover some new music. I love creating mini-Spotify playlist so pick a few songs you think your friend or family member will love.

14. Follow The 1:2 Rule

Whenever you say something negative about yourself today, follow it up with two positive comments about yourself. This will make you very happy today and get you thinking about all the negative things you may say about yourself daily.

15. Fire Meme Delivery

Send a meme to one of your favorite friends. Everyone loves a good relatable meme so go to one of your favorite Facebook meme pages (we all have those, right? I am loving Petty Mayonnaise lately) and pick some memes your friends would love.

16. Get Excited About Your Hobbies

Think about your most creative hobby and do it for a few hours. Taking a few hours to relax with a creative hobby will help you recharge and spark some creativity in your life.

17. Pledge To Say Nice Things To Yourself

Pledge to say 10 nice things to yourself today. Whether you compliment your brains or your beauty, say some nice things to yourself today, throughout the day. Don't just start your day with 10 nice things to get this over with!

18. Social Media Authenticity

Be real with your audience on social media today whether you have a big following or not. Your authenticity could be exactly what someone else needs and you will feel better because you won't have to force yourself to be perfect on social media.

19. Unfollow Negativity

Unfollow a negative person in your life on Facebook. You don't have to unfriend them or cause controversy in your life-just unfollow them for a while so you don't see their posts in your timeline. Don't know how to unfollow someone? Check out this tutorial from Facebook.

20. Get Some New Tunes

Discover some new tunes. I love discovering new tunes I haven't heard before. Go to your music listening service of choice and find a playlist to listen to so you can find all sorts of new tunes at one time. If you love alternative rock (like I do) check out my post where I share 100+ alt rock tunes with y'all.

21. Clean Out The Moldy Cheese In Your Fridge

Clean out some of the stuff in your fridge. Cleaning out your fridge is a productive thing to do, and a task that we don't do enough to be honest. You never know what you will find in there, but you will feel better that it's in the trash and no longer in your fridge.

22. Small Treat Yo Self

Treat yourself to something small (under $5!) This challenge is not about going broke so I will never suggest a splurge, but you can treat yourself so much with just $5. Grab some coffee, get a book on sale from Amazon (it's surprising how many times I have seen books on sale on Amazon for less than $5, plus you can always get a Kindle book!), or get some donuts from a donut shop. Yes please!

23. Reflect On A Great Thing You Did

What is one great thing you have done lately? Praise yourself for that thing and reflect on it. We often don't give ourselves enough credit for the things that we have accomplished, and today is your day to do that.

24. Hit The Ground Running On A Task

Get a head start on something you have to do soon. We love to push back tasks that we know we should be doing, but what would happen if we just did the tasks when we are assigned it? A lot less stress, that's what!

25. Walk To Class/Work Without Headphones

Drowning the world around you out with music is fun, but it doesn't always make it easy to meet new people. Instead of drowning people out, walk to your class or work without your headphones. Greet people as you pass them by and put out positive vibes to those around you.

26. Stop Multitasking

We all know how I feel about multitasking (and in case you don't, I think it's killing our productivity and positivity.) When you are working today, try working on one task at a time instead of being pulled in a million different directions.

27. Read A Post By Your Fave Blogger

Read a post by one of your favorite bloggers. They would love to have you check them out, and you will love catching up with a friendly internet face!

Need some fave bloggers? I shared 25 of my favorite millennial bloggers in a September post.

28. Create Something You Pinned On pinterest

We all have that crafts or recipes Pinterest board that basically acts as a junk drawer where we dump crafts and recipes we like but probably will never do. Get out one of those crafts or recipes and actually follow those instructions today.

29. Sleep Like A Grandma

So many people want to criticize you or tell say you are a grandma if you fall asleep before 9 PM, but sometimes you are tired. Instead of trying to stay up to a "socially acceptable" hour, sleep whenever you feel like sleeping today.

30. Support A Friend's Business

If you have a friend who is running a blog or business, go show them a ton of love on one of their pages online by liking all their stuff. Engagement really matters in the blogging/business world, and your engagement can spark engagement by other followers and fans. You will definitely be appreciated for all your likes and comments!

31. Wake Up On Your First Alarm

Hitting the snooze button is not good for you. Instead, set the alarm right the first time. Wake up on your first alarm (and if you like it today, try doing it more often, you will really feel better doing it!)

Conclusion

That's it, 31 tasks to get you in a more positive mood this January. Join me at the end of every month in 2018 for a new set of positive tasks you can complete the next month. I cannot wait to go on this positive journey with you this year. Remember, use the hashtag #TheHappyArkYear so I can follow your positivity journey.

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#TheHappyArkYear: 31 Positive Tasks For January - The Happy Arkansan

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Note: This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my disclosure for more details. Thanks for supporting the brands that make The Happy Arkansan possible! It's The Happy Arkansan Year, y'all. You may be thinking, "Amanda, WTF is this?!"

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Every day has something positive in it. Some days you just have to look a little harder. Here are seven things you can do to bring positivity and happiness into your life.

Write in a gratitude journal every day. Make sure to be specific! A number of studies have found gratitude to be linked with positive emotions, and overall well-being and life satisfaction. For tips on how to make a gratitude list that really works, read this post.

Listen to music that sounds the way you want to feel. Research has shown that music activates the region of the brain that releases the feel-good chemical dopamine and also relaxes the body. So "happy" music can, in fact, make you feel happier!

Share positivity by sending one thank-you email or doing one kind act every day. There are several studies that show that acts of kindness can boost happiness, reduce depression and even help you live longer.

Challenge your negative thinking. Ask yourself, "Is there another more positive way I could view this?" Hundreds of studies have shown that being able to think optimistically is good for your health and well-being.

But, it's not just about adopting a Polyanna attitude-optimists are better problem solvers and better at accepting bad situations. Read this post to learn how to rid yourself of negative thinking patterns.

Smile. It might sound simplistic, but research has shown that it might actually help you feel happier. Feedback sent to the brain from facial muscles may impact the development of emotions. So smile at the next cute kid you see!

Follow your passion. Do something you feel excited about. Volunteer for a cause you believe in or sign up for a class to learn something new. Several studies have shown that people who feel a sense of meaning in their life are healthier, live longer and have greater life satisfaction.

Meditate. Even just seven minutes of meditation a day has been shown to improve mood, decrease stress and improve sleep. Regular meditators are calmer, have greater self-awareness and have better focus, too.

If you're wondering how to fit meditation into your already busy schedule, start with an informal mindfulness practice.

You don't have to let bad news and negativity ruin your day. You have a choice about where you focus your attention and how you choose to respond to any situation. Try incorporating these tips into your life and I'm confident you'll see how the positives outweigh the negatives.
To stay updated on Wise Mind Living, visit erinolivo.com and follow Erin on Twitter.
© 2015, Erin Olivo, Ph.D.

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Every day has something positive in it. Some days you just have to look a little harder. Here are seven things you can do to bring positivity and happiness into your life. Write in a gratitude journal every day. Make sure to be specific!

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After the hustle and bustle of the holidays, there can be a letdown. It is colder, the days are shorter and we tend to be more isolated with no holiday gatherings and other activities to keep us busy. Sometimes it is easier to let the "blues" take over. This year, make a decision to find ways to make winter time fun and productive. Follow these tips for staying positive this winter.

#1: Make the Best of It

Look for ways to continue to be active in the winter and get outside and enjoy it. Try something new, like ice skating outside, snow skiing or snow tubing, or taking a walk in the snow.

#2: Take up a New Hobby

Find something you have been interested in and take time to investigate it more. Do something creative, for example, knit, paint or take an art class. Try photography or take a drive to capture the beauty that winter brings.

#3: Stay Active

Even if you would rather not be outside, you can still be active. Use indoor exercise options. For example, go to the gym, use the treadmill that has been collecting dust, take up rock climbing with an indoor climbing wall or walk at the mall. If you really need to get warm, try something new, like hot yoga - and feel the burn!

#4: Organize

Winter can be a wonderful time to tackle those indoor projects that get put off when the weather is nice. Clean out a closet or your basement, and donate used items to a charity. Get your home office or workspace in order so you are ready for tax season. Get the year's photos together and make a new photo album or organize your photos on the computer. Do things you do not want to do when the summer sun is calling us to go outside.

#5: Plan

Plan for the spring and think about what you want to grow in your garden or in your yard, or consider what cleaning or remodeling projects you might want to do. Think about summer and/or vacation and how you want to spend that time.

#6: Keep in Touch

Winter is a great time to connect with friends and family, near and far. For those close to home, have a family night and play games, watch a movie, pop popcorn and enjoy each other's company. Sit around the fire and share stories and reminisce. When friends and family are farther away, take time to write letters or call. It can be such a positive boost to our spirits to touch base with those we love.

#7: Nurture Yourself

There is no better excuse to read a book or complete that crossword puzzle than when it is too cold to be outside. Check out a TV series you have wanted to watch from the library. Bake a batch of cookies. Build a fire, wrap up and just watch the snow fall. It can be such a gift to have that time for ourselves and our family.

#8: Appreciate

Appreciate the quiet, the peace and the restful state that comes after the holidays are over. It is in our nature to "hibernate" during the winter. See it as a time to reflect, be still and relax.

#9: Eat Well

Winter is a great time to try new recipes and the best time for crockpot meals. Try a new stew or soup. There are wonderful low-fat, healthy recipes online or at your local library. Look for crock pot recipes that allow you to return home to the cozy smell of a home cooked meal.
Healthy Recipes:

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A Winning Winter Attitude: Staying Positive in the Winter

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After the hustle and bustle of the holidays, there can be a let down. It is colder, the days are shorter and we tend to be more isolated with no holiday gatherings and other activities to keep us busy. Sometimes it is easier to let the "blues" take over.

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I know that I am not alone in thinking that January is one of the hardest months of the year to get through. All the festive cheer of the holidays are behind you, the decorations are down, it's usually just as cold and slightly rainer and the nights are still long and daylight short. Plus there's not a Bank Holiday in sight.

I would find Late November-December difficult, but I'm so distracted by festive fun and time off work that it rushes by. Those post-holiday blues can be killer though. The full weight of winter and SAD coming crashing down on my shoulders as soon as January 1st is done and dusted.

For me, February is so short that it doesn't stress me out as much and March? Well, March is basically spring in my eyes - light length at least, if not weather permitting. But January. Oh January. My old foe.

So this year, I am going to find the joy and positivity in January with some simple tasks. Maybe you'd like to join in!

Staying Positive in January Tasks

1 January: Go for a long walk or hike outside.
2 January: Read for 20 minutes before bed.
3 January: Take a bath whilst slathering on a facemask.
4 January: Write thank you letters for any Christmas gifts you may have received.
5 January: Do a full hour of yoga.
6 January: Take my morning cup of coffee outside on a walk.
7 January: Meditate for 3 minutes. Start small. Download the Headspace app if you need help.
8 January: Listen to a podcast whilst cooking dinner.
9 January: Apply a fresh coat of nail polish/varnish.
10 January: Eat a rainbow of vegetables.
11 January: Creative a positive affirmation to use every morning for the rest of the month.
12 January: Have breakfast / brunch at a new (to you) cafe.
13 January: Spend 1 hour decluttering.
14 January: Go on a run before starting work (or a walk if running isn't for you)
15 January: Stay off your mobile phone for one full evening as soon as work is over.
16 January: Buy yourself a plant or small succulent.
17 January: Message a friend to make plans to meet up.
18 January: Go to the theatre: be it a local community show or something grand on the West End. Studies have shown that people are 3rd happiest at the theatre (behind sex and exercise).
19 January: Go on a mini-adventure where you live (a museum exhibit, an art walk around town.)
20 January: Wash all your bed linens.
21 January: Drink a glass of kombucha.
22 January: Go to bed early enough to ensure 8 hours of sleep.
23 January: Light a few candles and listen to one whole album with your favourite beverage post-dinner.
24 January: Don't watch any telly/Netflix/films.
25 January: Have a 5 minute dance party in your room before getting dressed for the day.
26 January: Bake some bread.
27 January: Try a new hobby.
28 January: Give yourself a footrub or soak your feet in a small footbath with Epsom salt before your nightly pre-bed routine.
29 January: Drink 6-8 8oz glasses of water throughout the day.
30 January: Don't eat lunch at your desk
31 January: Write a list of every amazing thing you've done this month plus anything that has occurred that's made you happy.

Do you need a boost to get you through January?

If you enjoyed this post, you might also like:

How I Recharge Daily 100 Simple Pleasures in Life Simple Ways to Reduce Stress Making the Most of Autumn Simple Ways to Embrace Slow Living
Introduction to Slow Living
Tips on Seasonal Eating
Blogging with Intent
Eating a Plant-Based Diet

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Staying Positive in January - Rhyme & Ribbons

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I know that I am not alone in thinking that January is one of the hardest months of the year to get through. All the festive cheer of the holidays are behind you, the decorations are down, it's usually just as cold and slightly rainer and the nights are still long and daylight short.

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About

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has prompted widespread school closures and physical distancing measures, making online platforms and communities essential to maintain a sense of normalcy. Now more than ever, children and their families are turning to digital solutions to support children's learning, socialization and play.

While digital solutions provide significant opportunities for sustaining and promoting children's rights, these same tools may also increase children's exposure to online risks. This technical note from UNICEF and partners sets out some of the key priorities and recommendations on how to mitigate those risks and promote positive online experiences for children.

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Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) and Its Implications for Protecting Children Online

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Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has prompted widespread school closures and physical distancing measures, making online platforms and communities essential to maintain a sense of normalcy. Now more than ever, children and their families are turning to digital solutions to support children's learning, socialization and play.

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Homepage of the Government of Canada Get Cyber Safe campaign. Find out where the risks are, how to protect yourself and how to protect your devices.

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Week of Mar14-19/22                                                Managing technology at home.

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Week of Mar14-19/22                                                Managing technology at home.

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Getting to Know your Emotions Inside and Out

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Getting to Know your Emotions Inside and Out

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Share your videos with friends, family, and the world

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zones of regulation – More Good Days – Parenting Blog

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Posts about zones of regulation written by Janelle Durham