COVID Weary? Mental Health Tips for Families So many changes, yet so many things are the same. The drop-offs are different, but the school is the same. The classroom is different, but the teachers are the same. There’s a mask on that face, but it’s my teacher underneath it!
A few things we know for sure, we will continue to work together to connect and support learning in its many different forms. We have plans. We will share plans. And we will support you in making plans! LCCAA Head Start’s Mental Health Consultant Donna Jezewski offers these tips for a calm start to the school year amid COVID concerns With Kids:
feelings. • Create a visual schedule: Brush teeth, get dressed, go to school, dinner, bath, bedtime, etc. • Practice calming and breathing with them. For Parents:
• Be kind and gentle with yourself, and your kids. • Remember everybody is adjusting, and still adjusting! This is challenging. • Have a balance between work and play. • Take PLAY breaks with quick dance parties, balloon play, or just be creative!
• Talk about the changes. Prepare • Reach out for extra support if needed. them, and practice new routines with them. Lastly, remember none of us are • Create good-bye and hello rituals. experts in COVID, but we all have • Provide reassurance. Name their expertise in being with kids.
Wellington Head Start teacher Jane Godby made a video of herself wearing a mask to ease children’s minds. For more on how to talk to your child about COVID-19 including the story Mrs. Godby shared in this video, visit our Learning Resources page at www.lccaa.net/ head_start/learning_resources.
Healthy Habits Start Early with Active Play Good activity habits begin early in your child’s life. As early as infancy, you can help your child grow lifelong healthy play habits. Your child learns from you, so while you help him be active, try to do the same activities!
For Your Infant Keep your baby active with tummy time and time spent out of the swing or bouncy chair. This will give him plenty of chances to stretch, reach and kick so he can reach important milestones like crawling and sitting up. Avoid putting a TV in your baby’s room. The more YOU talk to and play with your baby, the more likely
he is to be healthy as he grows.
day. Children who watch more than two hours of TV a day are more For Your Toddler likely to be overweight as they get Even very active toddlers need older. physical activity. Keep moving by dancing, jumping and walking For Yourself and Your Family together. When you spend time being Try to limit screen time to two active, your child learns healthy hours or less a day. Children who habits from you. have lots of active play time outside Set playtime, mealtime and and indoors are more likely to stay bedtime routines to make daily life healthy and active as they grow up. easier to handle. Talk with your child’s pediatrician, For Your Preschooler early care and education staff and Help your child stay active and other parents to get ideas for making learn at the same time by spending playtime active time. time outdoors. Try to limit TV, video games and Source: National Center on Early Childhood computer time to two hours or less a Health and Wellness
