The pandemic has taught us all the importance of being resilient. The photo to the right is the office door that I decorated for the students. Since schools have gone virtual, I was afraid you wouldn't get to see it. I just wanted to say, "I am proud of you for your resilience during the summer program." Everyone did an outstanding job!

I just wanted to say, "I am proud of you for your resilience during the summer program." Everyone did an outstanding job!

Love, Ms. Webber

There are things you can do while at home with your child to help them cope with mental health during COVID-19. Use these self-care and support strategies from the Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) curriculum and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to help the children and youth in your life take care of their mental health.

1. Talk to your child about the COVID-19 pandemic. Reassure them that they are safe, and things will go back to normal in the future.
2. Try to maintain a routine. Create a schedule with learning activities, regular meals and fun games to keep kids engaged while at home.
3. Monitor media consumption. Kids are always listening, so limit the amount of exposure you give them to news coverage about COVID-19.
4. Encourage your child to try something new that interests them. This might be building with Legos, putting together a new puzzle or creating artwork.
5. Maintain family and other social ties. Stay connected with family and friends through phone and video calls regularly.

Be a role model. If you are calm and confident about the situation, your child is likely to be too.

If your child consistently appears more angry or sad than usual, consider reaching out to a mental health professional or seeking online therapy. With the right information and resources, we can #BeTheDifference for the children and youth in our lives during COVID-19.

https://www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org/2020/05/tips-to-help-children-and-youth-take-care-of-their-mental-health-during-covid-19