Tueday Tidbits (April 21, 2020)

Yearbooks

For those who have already reserved a 2019-2020 yearbook, thank you and your patience is appreciated as we wait for the yearbooks to be printed. PTA will provide updates as more information becomes available, though it’s likely the yearbooks will be distributed in June. Questions? Please email PTA@HusiesPTA.com.

From California PTA: Healthy Habits

Staying physically active and eating right while in lockdown mode is essential to getting through it. The following resources offer a road map to eating well and getting enough exercise in the less-than-ideal conditions we all find ourselves in right now:

Physical Activities & Family Health and Nutrition Classes, CATCH.org
Help Your Child Eat STEM for Breakfast, Our Children Magazine
How to Keep Kids Active & Motivated, The Aspen Institute Project Play
8 Indoor Activities to Release Kids’ Energy, PBS Kids
Dealing with the Cancellation of Youth Sports, Positive Coaching Alliance
Tackle Spring Cleaning the Right Way with these Tips, Our Children Magazine

From California PTA: SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING

Here are a few things to keep in mind during this time of social distancing:

Children take their cues from the adults around them, so it is important to remain calm and talk to them about what is going on in an age appropriate way. Children become anxious when the adults around them are anxious.
Experts say children feel better when they have some control over what is going on. By letting them choose what they eat, wear, read and watch on TV, you are helping to keep them calm and confident.
Spend some time outside running, walking or bike riding to get fresh air, burn off excess energy, and keep “cabin fever” at bay. Just remember to stay a safe distance from passers-by.

These insightful articles gathered by National PTA can help families alleviate the mental and physical stress they are likely experiencing right now:

5 Ways to View Coverage of the Coronavirus, The American Psychological Association
Supporting Children’s Emotional Well-being During the COVID-19 Pandemic, Child Trends
Talking to Children About COVID-19 (Coronavirus): A Parent Resource, National Association of School Psychologists
Promoting Positive Mental Health for Teens Feeling Isolated, Erika’s Lighthouse
Parent/Caregiver Guide to Helping Families Cope with the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), National Child Traumatic Stress Network
Manage Anxiety & Stress, CDC
Helping Children Cope with Emergencies, CDC

Other resources:

Good Sleep Habits: Information about children’s sleeping habits (Spanish version here)
Using Mindfulness: Information about using mindfulness as a tool to reduce toxic stress (Spanish version here)
The Benefit of Supportive Relationships: Information about maintaining supportive relationships (Spanish version here)
ACEs Aware Self-Care Tool: A tool to develop a self-care plan to enhance well-being and decrease stress for children and families

(Please note that these links take you to websites that are neither run by nor endorsed by California State PTA nor Hedenkamp PTA.)