Good to Know

The iconic Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF campaign has moved online this year. Beginning Oct. 1, teachers and par ents can register children at trickor treatforunicef.org, where they will receive a Virtual Collection Box with a customized link and QR code. Kids can partic ipate in online activities and watch educational videos to earn Trick-or-Treat Coins which translate to real-life earnings. Children can then decide where they’d like their earnings to go.

Old Sturbridge Village is offering free admission for kids through Nov. 28. Up to three kids 17 and younger are admitted free of charge when accompanied by an adult paying full admission. Visitors are required to purchase/ reserve tickets in advance. Visit osv.org for all the details.

For some children, screen time before bed translates to less sleep. According to a study by Arizona State University, media use in the hour before bedtime impacts how kids sleep, especial ly children who struggle to self-regulate their behavior. Frequent media use before bed in these children predicted later bedtimes and less sleep.

Making more out of chores

How weekly tasks help kids be more caring, responsible BY MELISSA ERIKSON right tone. complete them, Beresin said “Doing chores alongside kids Preschoolers are learning

Telling your children it’s fun is also a way that you could the basics of taking care of to be productive probably make it more fun. Kids love themselves, so keep things very won’t convince them that doing spending time with their parents, simple. household chores is a great way so helping them do things like “Things like carrying their to spend a Saturday morning. putting toys away or cleaning up plate to the sink after dinner or

It’s worth the struggle, after dinner will give them that feeding the cat will make them though, because doing chores opportunity,” Beresin said. “You feel important and accom is good for kids in many ways. could also put on some music plished,” he said. “They may

“Chores are incredibly import while you do the chores, which also help in putting their toys ant for developing children will brighten the mood.” away or tucking their stuffed and teenagers,” said Dr. Gene animals away and putting them Beresin, executive director Helping kids succeed to bed.” of the Clay Center for Young Parents should gear a task School-age kids will succeed Healthy Minds at Massachusetts toward a child’s maturity and with more responsibility, such General Hospital. “By mastering ability to perform to help them as setting the table for dinner or new skills in daily life, they will succeed, Beresin said. taking the dog for a walk. build positive self-esteem and “Reframing chores as respon “They also are old enough to essential life skills. sibilities will show kids and help in cooking meals with older

In short, chores will make teens that chores are just life siblings or parents. This age them feel like they are growing skills that have a great payoff,” group might be more likely to up.” he said. “Not only are they push back and complain about

Additionally, chores are nec learning to be more indepen being assigned chores, so essary to prepare kids and dent, which will obviously help remembering to express praise teens to be more independent, when they grow up, it gives and gratitude will go a long responsible individuals. them opportunities to learn way,” Beresin said.

“Even if they don’t recognize something and perfect it for use As they’re getting ready for it at first, they will enjoy being later in life.” adulthood, teenagers’ chores able to take care of themselves Chores help teach kids and should revolve around preparing and others,” Beresin said. “It is teens that they have a responsi them to be independent. valuable for them to feel and be bility for themselves, but also to “Babysitting, cooking meals recognized that they are mak care for other people. on their own or cleaning the ing important contributions “This will later help them with bathroom are great things they to the family.” relationships and working in a can do for the family, and skills group to accomplish a common they will eventually need later in Choose a motivating reward goal,” Beresin said. “Because life. Teens, in particular will be

Assigning chores will likely our brains are wired for giving, motivated with more freedom, be met with resistance and eye performing acts that help others so consider that as rolls. release powerful neurochemi a reward for

“The stigma of chores as bor cals that make us feel good.” completing ing activities does still exist, so Avoid overloading kids and chores,” it’s important parents stand their teens with too many family Beresin ground in enforcing them, as chores, because that can affect said. they will be beneficial to every their schoolwork or ability to one down the road,” Beresin just be a kid. said. “Children require time to play,

Parents may have to be cre learn social skills and pursue ative to get children to coopertheir own hobbies and inter ate. ests,” Beresin said.

“Rewarding kids and teens for completing chores is a great Age-appropriate tasks way to motivate them. One of Assigning age-apthese ways is by giving them propriate chores more freedom. For example, helps to cut down allow school-age kids to choose on frustration at how to spend their down-time kids’ and teens’ after completing their chores, inability to such as using their iPad or watching TV. For teenagers, allow them a later curfew or more use of the car if they have a license,” Beresin said.

Supplying child-sized clean ing tools may help children get in on the fun, but role modeling good behavior helps set the

How to manage kids’ exposure to news coverage

The 24-hour news cycle, the internet and social media all allow people to stay much more connected to the events going on around the world, but as parents, we often don’t know the extent of our children’s exposure to news coverage when it comes to tragic events - especially in 2020.

While it is important for kids to understand the world around them and the events that shape and affect their lives, parents and caregivers can struggle with the question, “How much is too much?”

According to the American Psychological Association, par ents should learn to manage the amount of exposure their chil - dren have to tragic news events and prevent overexposure to such events. Experts say taking a break from news coverage increases our own resilience and the resilience of our children to cope with difficult situations.

Here are a few ways you can help manage the amount of expo - sure your children have to tragic news events, according to the APA.

1. Talk to your children: Parents should have an age appropriate conversation with your children and teens about what they have seen and heard. Explain or cor rect rumors or misunderstandings that they may have.

2. Be mindful of your children:

It’s easy to get caught up in news coverage and not even realize your children are present. It’s unnecessary for very young chil - dren to watch news coverage at all. They may not understand that what they see are replays which can be misconstrued as circum - stances happening again.

3. Find other ways to connect:

Children may want to send pic- tures they made or letters they have written to families, first responders, hospitals or teachers. This can be a way to take positive actions and express caring.

4. Plan your TV/internet view-

ing: Find windows of time each day (like in the morning, midday and evening) to watch. Limit this to 30–60 minutes. Then get up and do something else. If you continue to want to stay with TV/ Internet, switch to another show or site that has programming you enjoy.