Thanksgiving is traditionally a time for joyous celebrations and coming together of family and friends. This year we're right in the middle of the three-week pandemic pause---and with safe-health distancing, it's going to look very different. Because the safest way to celebrate Thanksgiving 2020 is to celebrate at home with the people you live with. As a result, our stress levels will probably be higher than usual. And that's okay. Below are some tips and tools to help you and your family navigate "a new normal" during during the holidays. (Compiled by Starfish Trauma Informed Care Specialist Alice Santa, MSCP, TLLP. Materials adapted from The National Child Traumatic Stress Network and Connecticut Children's.) Parents & Caregivers: Taking care of YOU will increase your patience with your children & ease their distress. Allow yourself to feel sad, worried, or angry.Do something to take care of yourself.Listen to your favorite song.Take some deep breaths.Go on a … [Read more...]

As COVID-19 restrictions slowly begin to ease up, many of us are venturing into public spaces. Those public spaces, however, look far from normal. As grownups, we know we're required to wear face coverings for safety and health reasons. But it's unsettling---especially when we're used to small moments of connection we make through a friendly smile. If it's strange for us, what does a child think? And how do we answer their questions? Below find tips from Rebecca Parlakian, senior director of programs at Zero to Three. See original article. For toddlers, it’s important to answer only the questions they ask. Avoid sharing "too much" information that might be confusing (e.g., what does contagious mean). Some common questions might be: Is the mask a costume? (No, sometimes people wear masks when they are sick or to help keep them safe so they won’t get sick.)Can the person still talk? (Yes. The mask covers their mouth, but they can still talk. Just like if I put my hand over my … [Read more...]

Our children are struggling right now. But how that struggle looks is different at different ages. Toddlers to Teens: How to Help Kids Cope with Stress from COVID-19 from Healthline provides some common responses children and teens are having to COVID-19, as well as some helpful parenting tools.  Younger children may be regressing and are in need of age-appropriate explanations about what’s going on.Depression among teenagers may be on the rise as a result of physical distancing and missing events.Online counselors and therapists are providing telehealth appointments in a format that’s far more comfortable to the younger generation than parents may realize. If you and your child would like some additional support coping, please reach out to our behavioral health team at 888-355-5433. Coping strategies: for kids of every age When we feel overwhelmed by our emotions it can be easy to start to think unhelpful thoughts and use unhelpful behaviors. Add in the additional … [Read more...]

Raising or taking care of children can be stressful. As parents or caregivers, we can feel stressed when we're worried about paying the rent or worried about a sick family member or when our child is having a tantrum. We may try to protect our child from the stress we're feeling, but children are very sensitive to our emotional states. If we are feeling stressed, most likely our child is also feeling that stress. They might not know why you are stressed or why they feel stressed, but they feel the stress. This doesn’t mean you need to share every detail with your child about what is stressing you out, but it does give you a chance to tell them you are feeling stressed and to show them what you do to feel better and calmer.   Manage your stress first The best way to help your child manage their stress or other big feelings is for you to manage your stress or big feelings first. Have you ever been on a plane or watched a movie where the flight attendants remind caregivers … [Read more...]