Earl Beatty School Advisory Council (EBSAC)
Welcome to the parent community for Earl Beatty Jr and Sr Public School
Stress and anxiety is running high in our little ones these days. Here are some great resources that we found on https://strongmindsstrongkids.org/. They host lots of amazing content under their resource tab including how to help your child cope with stress, a podcast called The Working Parent, articles and videos.
We encourage you to take a look!
We acknowledge that covid has been stressful for everyone (total understatement right?!?). In person? Online? Flip-flop, flip-flop, flip-flop! There is some real fear being experienced out there. Here are some helpful resource links that may help calm minds especially for those who have suffered from Covid and the stigma that may be associated with it as well as the internal struggle they may be experiencing.
Perhaps we should start changing the conversation with children about covid. No denying that covid can have a negative impact. But is there a way to reduce the fear in many little minds and reduce the dark thoughts that they may be having?
Can the conversation now shift from dire thoughts and fear to awareness and reminding families that they are strong, loved & smart about their choices like getting vaccinated, distancing and hand washing? Let’s make sure no one compares symptoms and feels bad or of lesser value if symptoms are not as strong as another. Let’s make sure we are talking to our families about concerns they may have. Let’s help everyone calm their minds as much as possible. We are in this together! We hope these resources are helpful. Please send us a PM if you have any questions. Hope to see you tonight at our EBSAC meeting!
How to cope with Covid & survivors guilt: https://www.healthline.com/health-news/how-to-cope-with-covid-19-survivors-guilt
https://smho-smso.ca/covid-19/students/
https://www.tdsb.on.ca/School-Year-2021-22/Mental-Health-and-Well-Being
TDSB professional support services gave this option for parents: https://www.tdsb.on.ca/School-Year-2021-22/Mental-Health-and-Well-Being/Virtual-Office-Hours
Mindfulness Resources:
Sitting Still Like a Frog https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EOckRqbCdG0
https://www.childreach.on.ca/blog/mindful-parenting-during-the-covid-19-pandemic
Thich Nhat Hanh’s books for kids https://www.amazon.ca/Handful-Quiet-Happiness-Four-Pebbles/dp/1937006212
https://www.amazon.ca/Ruby-Finds-Worry-Tom-Percival/dp/1547602376
– Diamond Dotz Junior or mosaic type calming activities-sensory experiences that use the whole body to calm (having a bath with some nice smelling salts and music or doing a puzzle while listening to calming music-breathing videos on youtube— there is something called Rainbow breathing that comes up a lot https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IIbBI-BT9c4
-puzzles that are a little bit too hard that maybe the family can do together-gratefulness exercises (listing things that make us feel loved, things that make us feel calm, things that make us feel lucky…etc)
Stay safe out there!!