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Family Resources to Support Health and Wellness

Jun 16, 2020 | Bell Top, Columbia, District, Genet, Goff, Green Meadow, Red Mill, Sutherland

As the school year comes to a close, the East Greenbush Central School District is sharing resources to help families with coping, calming and stress management during these challenging times. The resources include websites, videos, books, mental health providers and a list of helpful tips.

Websites

YouTube
Offers many videos on the topic of meditation, mindfulness, stress management and how to manage anxiety with children.

For children:

For Parents:

  • How To Parent Your Anxious Kids – 4 Part Series with Natasha Daniels
  • Helping Anxious Kids – Practical Tips
  • 8 Techniques To Help An Anxious Child

Google Classroom
There are many posts related to the topic of wellness, stress management, calming, coping, feelings, problem solving, mindfulness.  

  • Mrs. Rinehimer’s DPS Counseling Corner, code itblyx7.  
  • Ms. Fontaine and Mrs. Scaringe’s Green Meadow Counseling Corner, code d2qqtea.

Mental Health Providers
If you are not engaged with a therapist or other mental health specialist for your child and family, the following are suggestions:

Other Helpful Tips

  • Maintain a schedule, routine for your child
  • Prepare the environment for your child 
  • Presets and explanation for any changes, novel experiences / situations
  • Visual supports – pictures for daily routine, tasks
  • Break things down into manageable tasks
  • Make a ‘To-Do’ list
  • Use paper-pencil lists, white boards, sticky notes
  • Talk to your child, encourage conversations about their feelings
  • Coloring, painting, journaling, writing
  • Allow for breaks, especially movement and outdoor activities
  • Encourage and help set up for good sleeping, eating and exercise 
  • Use a “First, Then” verbal or visual prompt
  • Use visuals
  • Calming music
  • Assign tasks to your child that they can feel good about completing and being in charge of
  • Zoom socialization with family, friends
  • Socially distant play dates
  • DPS library website offers social events/activities
  • Join class google meets
  • Set up a zoom ‘playdate’ with friends – be creative- create a theme like hat day, tie dye, tell a joke 
  • Call a friend or a relative
  • Play a board game, card game
  • Write letters to people
  • Get outside and engage in movement activity
  • Bubbles, Playdoh, slime – all can be made at home too!
  • Try preventive interventions with commitment and diligence over the course of time; behavioral change takes time
  • ’In-the-moment’ response to a tantrum or behavioral meltdown could be stating the observable behavior and then bridging to a calming strategy

Books

Book covers