The Do’s & Don’ts of Re-Entering the World

We have changed, we have learned, we have overcome…and now its time for re-enter the world we use to know. Make sure to take it one step at a time, give yourself time to adjust, focus not only on yourself but on others, and reach out for help if things feel overwhelming. While as adults we may be better at adapting to change, children, especially those returning to their school environment after a prolonged time of unstable routine and limited contact with other children, may find it even more challenging.

Some areas of concern for kids can be:

• Waking up on time & getting ready

  • Set an alarm-clock, teach them to pack their things at night before going to bed in order to reduce last minute stress

• Learning in a less comfortable environment (no more zooming from BED!)

  • Discuss how classroom environments will help them stay focused! And how exciting it will be to have their classmates at hand for support and fun!

• Picking outfits and following dress codes

  • Teach them to lay out their clothes before bed!

• Having less accessibility to food anytime

  • Show them how to pack a lunch or discuss with them potential snacks they could take and the school minuet (if they buy their lunch at school!)

Remember to stay hopeful, supportive, & address the concerns your children have. You are their best guide to navigating the world around them!

Additional info on conductive learning

Addressing Returning to School Anxieties

Children who are returning back into the classroom are facing unusual challenges, one of which may be the anxieties of being separated from their families after moths of being together. This can triggers separation anxiety in addition to other general feelings of anxiety caused by the pandemic to begin with. Some tips on addressing this can include:

• Validating the Child’s feelings - tell them that you’ll miss them too, and that its ok

• Set the tone - Help them pack their backpack and there school lunch

• Help them think positive - Ask them to tell you about what they are excited about, and when they do go to school ask them to tell you what interesting things happened during the day

• Practice separating - start with separate rooms and then maybe going to the store while leaving them at home

• Have a routine - Establish it and help children adjust to it

• Emphasize safety measures

• Encourage flexibility

• Reach out for the help of a therapist if the strategies above are difficult to do or not working

During the coronavirus crisis appointments will continue as scheduled, however they will be conducted through tele-health, a virtual platform from which I can conduct healthcare services. Please fill out a tele-health consent form and return it to me.

For the latest information on the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), visit https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html

For further information about working with your kids at home during this crisis read: Homeschooling During Coronavirus

For further information, regarding my services, please contact me through this phone number: (619) 840-2786

THE ANXIETY AND TREPIDATION OF GOING BACK TO SCHOOL

As we approach September, we enter the traditional "back-to-school" season. This year, however. our daily life continues to be interpreted by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Navigating new teachers, classrooms, and curriculum alone can be stressful for parents and students. Now we have the additional stressor of the question:"can we reopen schools in a safe and efficient manner?" Our anxiety levels can spike. Psychotherapists can be useful during these difficult times to console and help to stratgize methods of coping. Furthermore, this year's "return to learn" season will present new challenges involving online rather than in person approaches. Children and teens, particularly those with attention disorders, may struggle to focus on their school work in the distracting environment of the home. When video games, iPhones, and other distractions are so close at hand with teachers so far away, parents are likely to be concerned about these challenges and how they can be overcome.

Here are some tips about all of this that we suggest:

1. Designating a Work Space for your Student

Whether in the living room or at your child's own desk, distractions must be cleared off and put away (somewhere where they won't fall into the line of sight and become reachable during class time). Furthermore, you can declare learning time as a phone-free zone entirely, and use phone-time as a reward for a specific amount of hours of work or study.

2. Create "Structure" In Your Students Day

Although Zoom classes may have different times for classwork, you can help establish a strict schedule as though child were still going to an in-person classes. Try to have your child awaken at the same time every day, eat breakfast at a specific hour, and enjoy free time in the late afternoon. Make sure to schedule things and follow a routine as best as you can.

3. Plan a "lunch break" for your child during the school day

Lunch breaks provide a good opportunity for your child to decompress after a period of learning and fuel their brains for more activities. Plan one of these breaks at a time close to when they would have had one during a regular school day. If it is possible, we recommend taking the lunch outdoors so your student can get some fresh air instead of being cooped up inside the house all day.

While this time can bring with it new and unexpected challenges, we are certain that this experience will let your child understand the importance of self-study and organization (tools that become more and more vital as your child gets older)! Furthermore, plan fun activities your child can look forward to, such as family game nights or movie nights, and know that although our current situation might be stressful, we are all in this together! Your child's teacher is a great resource to contact for information on your child's progress. Whenever your child succeeds, celebrate! Whenever they struggle, encourage them! Know that while this situation is challenging, your child is learning at their best ability and that is what is important.

Five Easy Steps to Manage Kids Anxiety over going back to School

1. Manage your own anxiety

2. Explore their feelings

3. Validate their feelings

4. Develop a plan together

5. Lots of Patience

In a world full of chaos, we can try to be a guiding light for our kids right now

How to Talk With Children About Racism

As the nation mourns the violent deaths of Black Americans, our screens are filled with images of unrest and uncertainty. Not only may this be a turbulent and emotional time for adults, kids who truly may be confused and bemused by the situation could well be feeling scared, confused, or angry, or all of that. It may, indeed take a village to raise a child. And so it is that as parents, teachers, coaches, friends, and other potential influences (including fellow social media browsers) it is vital that we help children cope with the troubling news about race and violence that screams at us day and night. It is especially important at this time that we all think about and take action to mold our kids into the kind and empathetic human beings we want them to be. With that in mind, here are a few key points to help children develop important characteristics:

• Being kind

  Lead by example by teaching your child to be kind to others by doing so yourself. Parents are often children’s biggest influencers, so your actions (or inactions) do not go unnoticed.

• Being empathetic

  Do not be afraid to show your emotions regarding this issue of human injustice. Show your empathy and teach your child to express their feelings when something is troubling them.

• Addressing issues directly and clearly

  Children are very perceptive and can easily come to their own misunderstanding about issues if the issues are not fully addressed. To avoid confusing the child further, give them access to resources and discuss those resources thoroughly.

• Avoiding negative comments or non-verbal cues about other people

  Habits and traits which children pick up in their youth can stay with them for many years to come. Ensure that you are setting the best example you can for your child when it comes to your interactions with and comments about other people of varying backgrounds.

• Validating children’s intrinsic feelings and leaving room for further discussion

  Children will have a lot of thoughts and feelings about the issues that concern them, so it is vital that you reassure their emotions and be an open resource for them so that they may consult with you when they develop questions. Keep in mind that no question from a child is improper, that all of their questions deserve good answers, even if their questions are asked many times. Sometimes a "good answer" may be that you don't know the answer, and that together you and your child can find the answer together. If you do not feel particularly knowledgeable about a subject, as, for example, racism, make it a learning experience for both you and your child.

For further reading, go to this page

Potential Repercussions of the Covid-19 Pandemic: Know the Symptoms

What is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)?

During this time of isolation and collective fears, experts describe our experiencing of collective trauma. Susceptible individuals in the populations may go on to develop Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), while others may develop acute stress disorder. Some may recover with ease, while others may go on to experience symptoms of these disorders for longer then months after the traumatic event. Even if you aren’t clinically diagnosed with PTSD, you may have a strong emotional reaction to the trauma of Covid-19 that can last long after an incident.

To best understand these disorders, we should familiarize ourselves with symptoms, potential risk factors, and potential methods of coping.

PTSD Risks: Not everyone who experiences traumatic events develops PTSD. A person's risk may depend on:

• The response to the event at the time it occurs

• The intensity of the memory of the event

• Coping style, personality, or past life experiences

• Feelings of safety and support

PTSD Symptoms: Symptoms can manifest themselves immediately following the event or weeks, months, or years later. Symptoms of PTSD can be both emotional and physical and include:

• Reliving the event through vivid dreams or painful memories

• Believing that the event is happening at the present time

• Emotional numbness

• Guilt, anxiety, or panic

• Being overly alert or easily startled

• Outbursts of anger

• Difficulty sleeping

Suggestions for Coping:

• Encourage the person to talk about his or her thoughts and feelings about the traumatic event. A supportive network of friends, family and health professionals can make all the difference.

• Clear up any misconceptions the person may have about the situation. This is particularly important when talking with children, who may be inclined to feel guilt.

• Encourage the person to use effective coping strategies. Reliance on alcohol, overeating, and engaging in dangerous activities can only lead to more problems.

• Help the person return to his or her normal daily activities. Daily routines and activities can provide comfort, and emotional stability.

• Suggest the person see a physician or check with local mental health and community resources. Professionals are trained to help victims of tragedy cope with their feelings.

To learn more about the impact of coronavirus on mental health I’ve listed some valuable articles:

• LA Times, Sonali Kohli: “We need to prepare for the mental health effects of coronavirus on kids”