It is a challenging time to balancing work with being a present parent in your child’s at-home learning. I’ve found a great resource in The Child Mind Institute; they hold daily live video chats at 8:00AM and 2:30PM MDT with new topics every day and live Q & A sessions.
In a recent chat they discussed how to help parents manage their anxiety. These are some of the main points that Clinical Psychologist Dr. Janine Domingues discussed:
- Validation – It’s normal to feel stress and anxiety at this time. It’s okay to grieve the things that we have lost.
- Bring yourself back to the moment –Through exercise, deep breathing, or using your 5 senses to observe your surroundings.
- Create a “self-soothe kit” – Place go-to items in a box that help calm you down. This can be a family activity where everyone creates a self-soothe kit.
- Stay connected – Reach out to co-workers, friends, and family. Use your network as a healthy distraction.
- Stay informed – However, try not to be on media too much. Designate set times to help limit over-consumption of the news.
- Find your new routine – Create structure in the here and now. Create time for yourself to be mindful and reflect.
You can listen to the full chat here. I will continue to share resources regularly. If you are looking for something specific, please don’t hesitate to ask. I’m still available to meet with both you and your children. If you would like to meet please email me or call and we can set up a time.
Andrea Kuenzli
School Counselor
.png&command_2=resize&height_2=85 "Symbolic Learning and The Zionosphere")
