SEL for Parents - Meigs Memos -
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SEL for Parents - Meigs Memos -
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"Practicing gratitude on a regular basis is instrumental in helping you become more optimistic. It also can have a huge impact on your overall mood and perspective. What's more, when expressed during challenging times, gratitude can help you recognize the goodness of life, which in turn helps you calm your fear and anxiety and maintain a positive outlook in an uncertain situation." Read the articles listed below for additional information.
SEL for Parents - Meigs Memos -
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"'It’s managing our own emotions that’s the big problem.' Indeed, this has been my own greatest parenting challenge, as it has been for the hundreds of parents I have worked with. I am solidly convinced after 30 years of practice that the single most important skill for “positive” parenting over the course of our kids’ lifetimes is our own self-awareness and self-regulation as parents." Read the articles listed below for additional information.
SEL for Parents - Meigs Memos -
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"All children are capable of working through challenges and coping with stress. Resilience is the ability to bounce back from stress, adversity, failure, challenges, or even trauma. It’s not something that kids either have or don’t have; it’s a skill that kids develop as they grow. Resilient kids are more likely to take healthy risks because they don’t fear falling short of expectations. They are curious, brave, and trusting of their instincts. They know their limits and they push themselves to step outside of their comfort zones. This helps them reach for their long-term goals and it helps them solve problems independently." Read the articles listed below for additional information.
SEL for Parents - Meigs Memos -
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"The teenage years are confusing and difficult years for child and parent alike. However, they are also critical moulding years – the behaviours and habits that your teenage child adopts now may affect their personality in future and shape their character in the long run. Many parents feel frustrated during this period of time. Frequent clashes in attitude may make you feel that you are slowly losing your bond with your once obedient child. However, you need to accept that your teenagers are likely just trying to find themselves and to push the boundaries of their values and what they can live with and accept in themselves and in others. Things need not be complicated and there are many ways for you and your child to manage a healthy relationship through mutual respect and love." Read the articles listed below for additional information.
- 10 Ways to a Better Relationship With Your Teenager - Families for Life - Inspiro Community Health Service
- Tips for Building Healthy Relationships with Your Teenagers - CAMH
- Building Your Relationship With Your Teen: Here's What to Know - Today
- 10 Ways to Build Relationships with Teen Children - Inspiro Community Health Service
SEL for Parents - Meigs Memos -
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"We think of test anxiety as something that crops up when teenagers take the SAT or some other important exam, but the truth is that even very young children can experience it. With the increase in tests and assessments at the elementary school level, more and more young children are experiencing symptoms of test anxiety." Read the articles listed below for a few steps you can take to help your child tackle this problem before it becomes overwhelming.
SEL for Parents - Meigs Memos -
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Read the article below for “a curated list of articles and videos for parents about fostering skills like kindness, empathy, resilience, perseverance, and focus in children."Three Items From the List:
SEL for Parents - Meigs Memos -
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“'Whether it's called 'social and emotional learning' or 'emotional intelligence,' most people understand it's critical to pay attention to the development of the whole young person, including character education. Parents have a dual role to play in raising a self-aware, respectful child who knows how to manage his or her emotions, make responsible decisions, and resolve conflicts non-violently. At home, you should strive to create an environment of trust, respect, and support. Remember that modeling 'emotionally intelligent' behavior at home is the first step in nurturing emotionally intelligent children." Read the article below some specific steps you can take to nurture an emotionally intelligent child.
SEL for Parents - Meigs Memos -
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“'Hope is certainly essential in the lives of all our kids but it is up to us to ignite it to light the flame that lives within.' Many educators and parents are concerned about children and youth becoming cynical about making the world a better place. [But] the hope is there. It resides within the hearts of the vast majority of our students. Adults must provide the spark that enables hope to flourish." Read the article below for additional information.
SEL for Parents - Meigs Memos -
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“Self-regulation is the ability to manage your emotions and behavior in accordance with the demands of the situation. It includes being able to resist highly emotional reactions to upsetting stimuli, to calm yourself down when you get upset, to adjust to a change in expectations, and to handle frustration without an outburst. It is a set of skills that enables children, as they mature, to direct their own behavior towards a goal, despite the unpredictability of the world and our own feelings." Read the articles below for additional information.
SEL for Parents - Meigs Memos -
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“The teenage years are naturally full of angst as children move through adolescence to adulthood. The COVID-19 pandemic has intensified the stresses of that transition for many youth. The restrictions presented by the stay-at-home measures can make it hard for youth who long to test their independence. Being stuck at home and missing out on extracurricular activities can be tough. Attending school remotely can require an adjustment. Connecting with peers and friends at school is an important part of development for teenagers. Finding creative ways to help your teenager spend time with their friends is really important." Read the articles below for additional information.
- Teen Mental Health During Pandemic - Davia Gray - Stanford Children's Health
- Supporting Your Teen During the Pandemic | April Cox | Discovery Mood & Anxiety Program
- Managing Your Teen's Anxiety During the Pandemic | Jacqueline Sierzega, PsyD | Healthy Driven
SEL for Parents - Meigs Memos -
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“Raising teenagers is hard. There are many parents that fear the teenage years. That fear may be merited because these are the years that the relationship between the kid and the family is being redefined. The importance of friends rises for them, while the parents and siblings fall. The fruit of your labor is not as easily seen as it used to be. In some cases, it may even seem like your influence is outright rejected. If so, hang in there. Your work is not in vain. This period can prove to be the most rewarding and most vibrant phase of parenting. Here are 10 keys to raising a great teenager."
- 10 Keys to Raising a Great Teenager | Mark W. Merrill | All Pro Dad
- Breaking Through the Walls of Teenagers | B.J. Foster | All Pro Dad
SEL for Parents - Meigs Memos -
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“With the internet awash with child-rearing advice and theories, it can feel totally overwhelming being a parent. "Parenting Ideas" helps parents focus on the things that matter when raising kids. Here’s a potent formula written in plain language to help you focus on what really matters as a parent."
- A Simple Formula for Parenting | Michael Grose | Parenting Ideas
- Five Ways to Get Teens to Listen - Michael Grose | Parenting Ideas
SEL for Parents - Meigs Memos -
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“While there are concerns about the negative impact of physical isolation is having on children’s learning, we should also be concerned about their mental health. Teachers and health professionals report that the strain of physical isolation is starting to show for many children and young people. Any anxiety and fear they experience is heightened by isolation from friends, lack of access to their usual sports and leisure activities and a lack of certainty about the future. In these challenging times kids’ mental health needs to be a high priority." Read the following article for additional information:
- Maintaining Kids' Mental Health During the Coronavirus Pandemic | Michael Grose | Parenting Ideas
- How to Talk to Your Child When They're Highly Emotional - Michael Grose | Parenting Ideas
SEL for Parents - Meigs Memos -
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“Right from birth, kids learn new skills at a dizzying rate. And along with those new abilities, they also acquire the confidence to use them. As children get older, that confidence can be as important as the skills themselves. To thrive, kids need to trust in their own capabilities while, at the same time, knowing that they can handle it if they aren’t successful at something. It’s by experiencing mastery and rebounding from failure that they develop healthy self-confidence." Read the following articles for additional information:
SEL for Parents - Meigs Memos -
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“In this unprecedented novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, many parents are left struggling with navigating a new, uncharted territory of challenges, while trying to grapple with and establish new norms in the household. Given the rapid and drastic changes in daily life that the world has witnessed recently, it is not uncommon for parents to doubt their parenting approach, whether they are doing enough, and/or wonder about what else could they be doing. Many parents are understandably feeling overwhelmed. While you’re very likely doing the best you can as a parent in these challenging times, if you’re looking for strategies for more effective parenting in the face of this pandemic," read the following articles.
- The Pandemic Parenting Guide: How to Improve Your Child/Teen’s (and Your Own) Emotional Well-Being in Times of COVID-19 - Richa Bhatia, MD, FAPA - ADDA
- Pandemic Parenting - Two psychologists, scholars and moms share science-based research to help all who care for kids navigate this challenging time.
Feeling Stressed or Anxious? Here are 12 more coping strategies for you to try:
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SEL for Parents - Meigs Memos -
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“'The main task for parents is to help their children grow into the best version of themselves.' This ... can be challenging for parents who want to raise their kids in their own image. Sure, parents want to share the best parts of themselves with their children but that doesn’t mean they should raise them in our own image. If excellence is a strong value, then in all probability this is a value you may like your child to share. That makes sense. However, if sport is your strength and your child doesn’t share that interest it’s wise to assist your child to develop their own strengths and interests rather than push them down a path of your making." Read the following articles for guidance in helping your child grow into the best version of themselves both socially and academically.
- Helping Children Grow into Their Best Selves - Michael Grose - Parenting Ideas
- We Grow Through What We Go Through - Michael Grose - Parenting Ideas
SEL for Parents - Meigs Memos -
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“As our adolescents navigate their way from childhood to adolescence, they will wobble, fall and rise many times. They’ve done this before – as tinies when they were discovering their walking legs. We stayed close, held them up, and let go when we needed to. We knew they wouldn’t learn to walk if we didn’t let them fall ... Adolescence will work the same way, and the temptation to hold on tight to our teens and control the path that lies ahead of them will be bigger and more fierce than ever – but our response has to be different." Read the article below for additional information.
Feeling Stressed or Anxious? Here are 12 coping strategies for you to try:
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SEL for Parents - Meigs Memos -
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“The start of a new year is a great time to help your children focus on forming good habits. Here are some healthy and positive goal-setting ideas you can suggest to your children, depending on their age." Read the articles below for additional information.
- Healthy New Year's Resolutions for Children & Teens - American Academy of Pediatrics - HealthyChildren.org
- 6 Parenting Goals to Start the New Year - American Academy of Pediatrics - HealthyChildren.org
- Chores and Responsibility - American Academy of Pediatrics - HealthyChildren.org
SEL for Parents - Meigs Memos -
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“We tend to recognize the fact that babies need lots of loving touches. We hold them against our skin. We carry them next to our heart. We soothe them by gently smoothing their hair or massaging their tiny hands and feet. But as they grow, we may not consider how often we touch, how we touch, and the importance of touch. In fact, there’s research that shows that positive touch can have powerful effects and those findings have significant implications for family life. Touch can deepen intimacy in any relationship creating safety and trust and a sense of well-being. It offers health benefits as well. A study found that those who hugged more were more resistant to colds and other stress-induced illnesses." Read the articles below for additional information.
Parents Together:
5 Things You Can Say to Your Kid |
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SEL for Parents - Meigs Memos -
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“I feel like there should be a warning for all parents around mid-November that reads: Caution. Self-regulation may be limited.As the season’s shift and the store shelves begin to burst with the latest toys and flashy gadgets, kids dream of candy and getting gifts for doing absolutely nothing. That’s a lot of excitement to manage. We feel it in ourselves – hurrying around, trying to get everything ready for the holidays – we’re running a little faster than normal. Unfortunately, our kids are at a disadvantage. They are still in the process of learning how to self-regulate." Read the articles below for additional information.
- Helping Your Child Self-Regulate During the Holidays - Nicole Schwarz - Imperfect Families
- How to Make Your Family Happy With Less - Kelly Holmes - Happy You, Happy Family
SEL for Parents - Meigs Memos -
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“The coronavirus pandemic has canceled many things. But don't give it the power to cancel the holidays. Here are some safe ways to celebrate the season with your family in 2020. Talk honestly about your usual holiday traditions. Try to replicate the ones you can, allow everyone to mourn the ones you'll have to let go this year, and then commiserate about a few you're maybe not so sad to say goodbye to. You may even want to continue the trimmed-down traditions in future years." Read the articles below for more information.
- In a Pandemic Year, Here Are 50 Ways to Celebrate Holidays With Your Kids - Amy Schwabe - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
- A Season of Good Health - Emerson Hospital - Tips for the Holidays in the Pandemic
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“The holidays are right around the corner, which means it’s time for firming up plans. But with the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, those plans are going to look a lot different than usual. Because of factors like travel complications and susceptible family members, there will be plenty of rethinking plans and, possibly, canceling them altogether, adding more anguish to a period already filled with immense stress." Read the articles below for more information.
- Should You Cancel Your Holiday Gatherings This Year Because of COVID? - Health Essentials
- How to Help Kids Handle Holiday Disappointment During COVID19 - Amy Adolfo Signore, PhD, MPH & Emily Wakefield, PsyD - Connecticut Children's
SEL for Parents - Meigs Memos -
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“Parenting teens can sometimes feel like a tightrope walk. It’s no small feat trying to balance providing support to help teens navigate the world and easing back in recognition of their growing independence. Despite all our attempts to show love and care, we can often end up in conflict with our teens. But a new study offers some insight into how to help teens feel loved." Read the articles below for more information.
- When Do Teens Feel Loved by Their Parents? - Maryam Abdullah - Greater Good Magazine
- What Are We Grateful for During Covid 19? - Emiliana R. SImon-Thomas & Jeremy Adam Smith - Greater Good Magazine
SEL for Parents - Meigs Memos -
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“We have something at our fingertips, literally, which is so incredibly powerful that it can calm anxiety and gently open the way to brave behaviour. It’s touch, and when we use it in
ways that are safe, warm, and invited, it can soothe anxiety and help the brain and body come to rest. The magic happens in the amygdala, which is also the part of the brain where anxiety happens. The amygdala keeps us safe by constantly scanning the environment for threat and making lightning-quick decisions about whether to avoid or approach. It does its job beautifully, but sometimes it becomes a little overprotective and pushes too hard for avoidance. This is when anxiety can cause more trouble than it deserves to." Read the article below for more information.
ways that are safe, warm, and invited, it can soothe anxiety and help the brain and body come to rest. The magic happens in the amygdala, which is also the part of the brain where anxiety happens. The amygdala keeps us safe by constantly scanning the environment for threat and making lightning-quick decisions about whether to avoid or approach. It does its job beautifully, but sometimes it becomes a little overprotective and pushes too hard for avoidance. This is when anxiety can cause more trouble than it deserves to." Read the article below for more information.
SEL for Parents - Meigs Memos -
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“Every evening at the dinner table, my husband and I used to fall into [the] age-old parenting trap [of asking questions with one-word answers]. But one-word answers don’t foster a good discussion, and they certainly don’t help us reconnect with our kids after a long day apart from each other. And yet, it’s absolutely essential that we do reconnect because if we don’t, we pay the price later. Read the article below for a list of questions for kids that will not only teach your child the art of conversation, but also give you a peek straight into his/her heart ... And most important of all, you’ll close any distance that’s come between you and your child during the day so you both end the day feeling connected, loved, and happy."
- The Best Questions to Ask Your Kid Instead of “How Was Your Day? - Kelly Holmes - Happy You, Happy Family
- 15 Questions to Replace 'How Was School Today?' - Elena Aguilar - Edutopia
SEL for Parents - Meigs Memos -
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“You've lived through 2 a.m. feedings, toddler temper tantrums, and the back-to-school blues. So why is the word "teenager" causing you so much worry? When you consider that the teen years are a period of intense growth, not only physically but emotionally and intellectually, it's understandable that it's a time of confusion and upheaval for many families. Despite some adults' negative perceptions about teens, they are often energetic, thoughtful, and idealistic, with a deep interest in what's fair and right. So, although it can be a period of conflict between parent and child, the teen years are also a time to help kids grow into the distinct individuals they will become." Read the articles below for additional information.
- A Parent's Guide to Surviving the Teen Years - KidsHealth Medical Experts - KidsHealth
- Three Tips for Raising Resilient Teens - Theo Koffler - Mindful Magazine
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“... many teenagers tend to be either terribly disorganized, requiring constant nagging, or tightly wound, perfectionistic, and in need of constant therapy. There’s also all that new neuroscience showing, unfortunately, that the brain regions that help humans make wise choices don’t mature until kids are in their mid 20s, and that many potentially life-threatening risks become more appealing during adolescence while the normal fear of danger is temporarily suppressed. Knowing these things can make it hard for us parents to relax. Though teenagers can be hard to parent, the good news is that parenting teenagers is in many ways a hell of a lot easier than raising little kids. For this to be the case, however, our parenting needs to shift. Here are the three big shifts that parents of teenagers need to make to survive their kids’ adolescence." Read the articles below for additional information.
- Three Ways to Change Your Parenting in the Teenage Years - Christine Carter - Greater Good Magazine
- Seven Things to Understand About Your Teen, According to a Veteran Teacher and Father of Five - Braden Bell - The Washington Post
- 20 Questions to Help You Bond with Your Teen - Christin Perry - Parents.com
- A Parent's Guide to Surviving the Teen Years - KidsHealth Medical Experts - KidHealth
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“Although teens don’t have to worry about bills, a career, or holding down a household, they experience different sources of stress. They deal with issues like bullying, peer pressure, and academic issues which can be very stressful. Without appropriate support, stressed-out teens may be at a higher risk for mental health problems, academic problems, and health issues. It's important to be on the lookout for warning signs your teen is feeling stressed out. Then, you can intervene sooner, rather than later." Read the articles below for additional information.
- 10 Signs Your Teen is Stressed Out - Amy Morin - Very Well Mind
- A Parent's Guide to Helping Teens Understand and Cope with Stress - Jen Tramer - Your Teen Magazine
- Stress: It's Contagious - Arietta Slade - Yale School of Medicine
- Video: Kids and Stress: A Look at New Pressures Facing Teens Today - Video - Today (Yale Child Studies)
- Video: Helping Kids Cope with Stress During Coronavirus Pandemic - Denise Daniels - FoxNews (Scholastic & Yale Child Studies
Parents Together:
5 Questions to Get Your Kiddo's Brain Churning |
Move This World: Family Interview Activity
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Parents Together:
5 Questions That Will Make Your Kid Smile |
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SEL for Parents - Meigs Memos -
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“Before the pandemic, many of us found ourselves doing a little more parenting than we knew we ought to be doing ... many of our parenting decisions ... were informed by more "shoulds" than "coulds ... But now, the chaos and suffering brought on by Covid-19 have laid bare just how impossible our parenting standards are ... Two new books consider what perfectionist parenting does to the human brain, and what a relaxed, more compassionate parenting can look like for parents and kids. While both titles were written pre-Covid, their messages about privileging connection over perfection are more urgent than ever." Read the articles below for additional information.
SEL for Parents - Meigs Memos -
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"'They teach everything differently,' ... said Jennifer Szot (parent) ... making her approach to such problems seem obsolete. And there are other challenges, she tells me while shushing the family dog, starting with the need to scatter everyone throughout the house so that the four simultaneous video conferences don’t clog the airwaves. She checks on her son while he’s in 'class' to make sure he’s not secretly playing video games. She calms her 11th-grade daughter who is taking three A.P. classes and worrying about how she’ll manage the exams. Most of all, she tries to lower the collective stress that everyone feels under their roof, including her husband and 9th-grade daughter. 'Nobody is sleeping well,' she said." Read the articles below for additional information.
SEL for Parents - Meigs Memos -
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“They teach everything differently,” ... said Jennifer Szot (parent) ... making her approach to such problems seem obsolete. And there are other challenges, she tells me while shushing the family dog, starting with the need to scatter everyone throughout the house so that the four simultaneous video conferences don’t clog the airwaves. She checks on her son while he’s in “class” to make sure he’s not secretly playing video games. She calms her 11th-grade daughter who is taking three A.P. classes and worrying about how she’ll manage the exams. Most of all, she tries to lower the collective stress that everyone feels under their roof, including her husband and 9th-grade daughter. “Nobody is sleeping well,” she said.
Parents like Szot who’ve been repurposed as teachers or managers of their kids’ schoolwork can benefit from the wisdom of experienced educators." In the article below, several teachers offer advice for mothers and fathers who need a hand.
Parents like Szot who’ve been repurposed as teachers or managers of their kids’ schoolwork can benefit from the wisdom of experienced educators." In the article below, several teachers offer advice for mothers and fathers who need a hand.
- How Parents Can Help Their Kids While Managing Distance Learning - Linda Flanagan - Mind/Shift
- How to Proactively Prepare for Distance Learning - Jenny Anderson - New York Times
- 22 Remote Learning Tips for Parents Helping At Home - Terry Heick - Teach Thought
SEL for Parents - Meigs Memos -
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"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 ... so how can we practice SEL at home? Here are ten tips that families can follow." Read the article below for additional information.
- 10 Ways Parents Can Bring Social-Emotional Learning Home - Sara LaHayne - EdSurge
SEL for Parents - Meigs Memos -
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"School closures due to coronavirus have impacted at least 124,000 U.S. public and private schools and affected at least 55.1 million students, according to Education Week ... Of course, the burden of educating students falls first on teachers to create online classrooms, lessons, and activities. But to complete those activities, parental guidance will be necessary ... While this is a stressful time, it’s important to plan and not panic." Read the articles below for additional information.
- 9 tips for parents navigating online learning with their children due to Coronavirus - Jennifer Fabiano - Ladders
- How Parents Can Help Their Kids While Managing Distance Learning - Linda Flanagan - KQED
- How to Reduce the Stress of Homeschooling on Everyone - Rebecca Branstetter - Greater Good Magazine
SEL for Parents - Meigs Memos -
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"Having teenagers confined to home during the coronavirus crisis may not be as labor-intensive as being holed up with small children, but it definitely has its challenges. While younger children may be thrilled at the prospect of having parental attention 24/7, adolescents are likely to feel differently." Read the articles below for some tips for parenting teenagers (and young adults suddenly home from college) during this time.
- Supporting Teenagers and Young Adults During the Coronavirus Crisis - Caroline Miller - Child Mind Institute
- Anxiety and Coping With the Coronavirus - Rachel Ehmke - Child Mind Institute
- How Mindfulness Can Help During COVID-19 - Rae Jacobson - Child Mind Institute