Starting a new school year can be stressful, let alone during a global pandemic. While a return to school will be welcomed by many, others will be feeling anxious or frightened especially given the disruptions of the past two years.<\/p>\n
Here are a few handy tips to help you support your children at this time:<\/p>\n
Daily check-ins<\/strong><\/p>\n Check in to see how your kids are doing. Their emotions will change regularly and you need to tell them that\u2019s okay. Ask them to rate their feelings on a scale of 1 \u2013 10 with 10 being amazing. Listen carefully to their responses, speak kindly, and reassure them. Some children can\u2019t talk about their emotions, so look out for any unusual, anxious, or aggressive behaviours that show issues.<\/p>\n Creative outlets<\/strong><\/p>\n Encourage creative activities, such as playing and drawing. This is a positive way to express feelings such as anger, fear, or sadness in a safe environment.<\/p>\n Be a positive role model<\/strong><\/p>\n We all have inner voices or private conversations with ourselves. Unfortunately, children\u2019s inner voices can be particularly negative at times. For example, thoughts such as, \u201cSipho doesn’t like me – \u00a0I\u2019m not smart enough; I will never be accepted by that <\/em>group,\u201d get repeated over again.<\/p>\n The good news is that parents, mentors, and teachers can help shift the balance toward the positive. Always look for the bright side of things and your kids will do the same, you can even make it a game! Find opportunities to compliment your children sincerely.<\/p>\n Think before speaking<\/strong><\/p>\n Yelling\/arguing produces harmful chemicals in the brain. If you feel frustrated with your child, take a deep breath and try to relax before speaking. Keep good eye contact and a warm tone in your voice. Words and delivery are just as important when parents talk in front of children. Remember, you are your child\u2019s greatest role model!<\/p>\n Teach gratitude<\/strong><\/p>\n When children learn to notice and appreciate the good things, they develop a sense of optimism. Ask the family to share what they are thankful for at mealtimes.<\/p>\n If you are struggling with your own feelings of sadness or anxiety and or are worried about your children, please reach out to LifeAssist for support.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Starting a new school year can be stressful, let alone […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":13918,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[256,43],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-13917","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-2022-han-articles","category-your-wellness-family"],"yoast_head":"\n