Important questions to ask yourself.Experts advise that keeping a routine during a time of uncertainty is important to maintaining a sense of calm and control. This article from the New York Times helps parents plan for the days of school closures.
The article asks parents to think about the following questions to help them make a plan for children during school closures. 1) Will an adult be around to supervise? California does not have a specific law for the age at which a child can be left alone, or in the supervision of an older sibling. Parents are asked to make that determination based on maturity levels. The California Department of Education offers a checklist to help you make this decision here. Your child may need to take on more responsibility during these days, especially if they are needed to care for younger siblings. Have realistic expectations on what they are able to accomplish academically based on their responsibilities and stress levels. 2) Do we have a daily schedule? Setting up a daily schedule with your kids will help them manage time, provide brain breaks, and create a sense of normalcy. Sample Daily Schedule: 8:30 - 10:00 Reader's Workshop 10:00 - 10:30 Break (snack, stretch, go outside) 10:30 - 11:30 Math 11:30 - 12:30 Writer's Workshop 12:30 - 1:30 Lunch Break 1:30 - 2:30 Finish Morning Work/Family Game Time 3) Do we have the necessary tech equipment to access learning and enrichment materials? Please contact a teacher, counselor, or administrator if you are having difficulty accessing school activities due to technological capabilities. We will do what we can to provide tech support. 4) How do we plan to keep our kids active indoors? For younger children, GoNoodle.com is a fun website for getting kids to dance and move. Older kids can take advantage of YouTube to learn various dance moves, try out meditation or yoga. Hopefully, we will be able to move about freely in the outdoors, but having indoor options is important, too. 5) How will we balance children's exposure to social media during this time? Encouraging kids to find a healthy media balance in our normal life is challenging, but this situation makes it even more important to urge kids to disconnect. Try this self-care bingo for other activities that promote overall wellness! Tools for Use at HomeFollow this link to find some of Ms. Meghan and Ms. Jen's favorite social emotional tools. You'll find information on the Zones of Regulations, Kimochis, and other self-regulation tools. Below, you will find online resources to keep your kids motivated.
Enrichment ActivitiesMathematics
Mindfulness
Digital library for kids 12 and underScience
History-Social Science
General
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Talking to your kids about CoronavirusWe know these are uncertain times. Making sure you have accurate and up to date information is crucial to being prepared and not scared. Try to keep your children's access to media limited so as not to bring about undue anxiety. Please know that I am available during these weeks, we can set up a phone conference, FaceTime, or correspond via email.
Meghan Greenwood [email protected] This article from Child Mind Institute has some useful tips:
Here is some information from the American School Counseling Association with links to reliable sources: Centers for Disease Control Coronavirus Disease 2019 Interim Guidance for Administrators of US Childcare Programs and K-12 Schools to Plan, Prepare and Respond to Coronavirus Disease 2019 Guidance for School Settings Before and During an Outbreak U.S. Department of Education COVID-19 Information and Resources for Schools and School Personnnel Protecting Student Privacy SAMHSA Coping with Stress During an Infectious Disease Outbreak Child Mind Institute Talking to Kids About the Coronavirus Center for American Progress How K-12 Schools Should Prepare for Coronavirus National School Boards Association COVID-19: Preparing for Widespread Illness in Your School Community: A Legal Guide for School Leaders Share My Lesson Coronavirus Student Guide: Explanations and News Updates National Education Association Schools and Coronavirus National Association of School Psychologists Talking to Children About COVID-19: A Parent Resource
Finding Reliable ResourcesHere is some information from the American School Counseling Association with links to reliable sources: Centers for Disease Control Coronavirus Disease 2019 Interim Guidance for Administrators of US Childcare Programs and K-12 Schools to Plan, Prepare and Respond to Coronavirus Disease 2019 Guidance for School Settings Before and During an Outbreak U.S. Department of Education COVID-19 Information and Resources for Schools and School Personnnel Protecting Student Privacy SAMHSA Coping with Stress During an Infectious Disease Outbreak Child Mind Institute Talking to Kids About the Coronavirus Center for American Progress How K-12 Schools Should Prepare for Coronavirus National School Boards Association COVID-19: Preparing for Widespread Illness in Your School Community: A Legal Guide for School Leaders Share My Lesson Coronavirus Student Guide: Explanations and News Updates National Education Association Schools and Coronavirus National Association of School Psychologists Talking to Children About COVID-19: A Parent Resource |