As parents we are now being asked to wear more hats than ever before. Our families are spending all hours of the day together, in one space and you might be worried about how you are going to meet the social emotional needs of your children, work expectations, school requirements, and self-care needs, all while finding opportunities for joy and fun throughout the day. Parent Time will allow you to ask questions and receive sensitive and relevant advice for you and your children.

To start... here is our first piece of advice: Figure out the parts of your child’s day do not need to change and emphasize this in as many conversations as possible. For example, “We are still having Cheerios for breakfast every morning” and “We are still reading two books before bed.” By facing so many changes during this challenging time, we are asking our children to be flexible beyond what feels developmentally appropriate. Focus on what you can keep consistent in your child’s life, especially during times of anxiety caused by continuing adjustments to our daily lives.

Random Notes & Thoughts…

CNN and Sesame Street hosting a special coronavirus town hall for kids & parents (click)!

Parent Tip:
Think about setting aside twenty minutes of uninterrupted playtime with your child each day. Put down your phone, shut off the news and close the computer and find a small area that is designated for you and your child. Try to make the time as predictable as possible to add to the structure of the day and give your child something to look forward to. Let them pick the game or activity and lead the interaction.  Play is a huge emotional release and relaxation vehicle for young children and they are often able to communicate big feelings through play that they can not communicate with language.  Let them be the boss and tell you what to do during this time.  So much control has been put on pause for all of us and this helps children to work through these big feelings of change.  We understand that committing to one more thing in your busy day may feel overwhelming, but by giving your child and you this special time, you may find that you are saving time on struggles or transitions throughout the day because your child is feeling a bit more secure and regulated. 

Understanding Covid-19 with sesame Street (click)
Sesame Street special featuring Elmo and Lin-Mauel Miranda about helping young children understand Covid-19. Can watch on HBO, Cartoon Network, Boomerang, TBS, TNT, truTV, or PBS Kids at 7 p.m. ET on April 14.

Brene Brown Podcasts and Blogs
Brene Brown is a research professor at the University of Houston and has spent the past two decades studying courage, vulnerability, shame, and empathy. She is the author of five #1 New York Times bestsellers: The Gifts of Imperfection, Daring Greatly, Rising Strong, Braving the Wilderness, and Dare to Lead. Her podcasts are conversations that unlock the deeply human part of who we are, so that we can live, love, parent, and lead with more courage and heart. Podcasts link (click) | Blogs link (click) | Ted Talk Link (click)

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Articles of Interest

Click on the links below to read more

Table Topics
The Importance of The Family Meal!

Parenting Under Quarantine - A Facebook Group

The Art of Socializing During a Quarantine
Being cooped up at home will likely prompt feelings of loneliness no matter what, but these strategies might help make the experience less stifling. From the Atlantic.

Lonely in the Time of Coronavirus? These Ideas Might Help
Everyone needs to stay home as much as possible. But what about when the loneliness starts to take over? How can we stay connected when we’re all by ourselves? 

Parents Need Stress Relief, Too
We’re all anxious. Here are ways to cope…

Insights and commentary from our Meeting House team!

Click on the links below to read more

Yikes! I’m Home With My Kids: 3 Steps to Retain Sanity During COVID-19
Ife Lenard, MSW, EdM

Contact Comfort and the Challenge of Social Distancing Steven Rubin, MSW

Random Thoughts

Parent Tip

Think about setting aside twenty minutes of uninterrupted playtime with your child each day. Put down your phone, shut off the news and close the computer and find a small area that is designated for you and your child. Try to make the time as predictable as possible to add to the structure of the day and give your child something to look forward to. Let them pick the game or activity and lead the interaction.  Play is a huge emotional release and relaxation vehicle for young children and they are often able to communicate big feelings through play that they can not communicate with language.  Let them be the boss and tell you what to do during this time.  So much control has been put on pause for all of us and this helps children to work through these big feelings of change.  We understand that committing to one more thing in your busy day may feel overwhelming, but by giving your child and you this special time, you may find that you are saving time on struggles or transitions throughout the day because your child is feeling a bit more secure and regulated. 

Understanding Covid-19 with sesame Street (click)
Sesame Street special featuring Elmo and Lin-Mauel Miranda about helping young children understand Covid-19. Can watch on HBO, Cartoon Network, Boomerang, TBS, TNT, truTV, or PBS Kids at 7 p.m. ET on April 14.

Brene Brown Podcasts and Blogs
Brene Brown is a research professor at the University of Houston and has spent the past two decades studying courage, vulnerability, shame, and empathy. She is the author of five #1 New York Times bestsellers: The Gifts of Imperfection, Daring Greatly, Rising Strong, Braving the Wilderness, and Dare to Lead. Her podcasts are conversations that unlock the deeply human part of who we are, so that we can live, love, parent, and lead with more courage and heart. Podcasts link (click) | Blogs link (click) | Ted Talk Link (click)