Special Edition 2

Helping Children Cope with Changes Resulting from COVID-19

It is very important to remember that children look to adults for guidance on how to react to stressful events. Acknowledging some level of concern, without panicking, is appropriate and can result in taking the necessary actions that reduce the risk of illness. Teaching children positive preventive measures, talking with them about their fears, and giving them a sense of some control over their risk of infection can help reduce anxiety. This is also a tremendous opportunity for adults to model for children problem-solving, flexibility, and compassion as we all work through adjusting daily schedules, balancing work and other activities, getting creative about how we spend time, processing new information from authorities, and connecting and supporting friends and family members in new ways. The following tips can help.

1. STAY CALM, LISTEN, AND OFFER REASSURANCE

Be a role model. Children will react to and follow your reactions. They learn from your example.
Be aware of how you talk about COVID-19. Your discussion about COVID-19 can increase or decrease your child's fear.
Explain social distancing. Children probably don’t fully understand why parents/guardians aren’t allowing them to be with friends.
Demonstrate deep breathing. Deep breathing is a valuable tool for calming the nervous system. Do breathing exercises with your children.
Focus on the positive. Celebrate having more time to spend as a family. Make it as fun as possible.
Establish and maintain a daily routine. Keeping a regular schedule provides a sense of control, predictability, calm, and well-being.
Identify projects that might help others. This could include: writing letters to the neighbors or others who might be stuck at home alone or to healthcare workers; sending positive messages over social media; or reading a favorite children’s book on a social media platform for younger children to hear.
Offer lots of love and affection.

2. MONITOR TELEVISION VIEWING AND SOCIAL MEDIA

Watching too many news clips or reading too many articles on COVID-19 can stir up a lot of fear.

3. TAKE TIME TO TALK

Be available to listen to your children and encourage them to voice what they are feeling and thinking.

4. BE HONEST AND ACCURATE

There is a lot of false information out there. Protect your children from the unnecessary false facts but also provide them with explanations and correct information within reason.

5. KEEP EXPLANATIONS AGE-APPROPRIATE

Share information that is appropriate for their age and development.

6. STAY CONNECTED TO SCHOOL

Use technology to help your children stay connected to teachers and friends.

7. KNOW THE SYMPTOMS OF COVID-19

8. MODEL BASIC HYGIENE AND HEALTHY LIFESTYLE PRACTICES

Practice daily good hygiene and encourage your children to do the same.

9. BE AWARE OF YOUR CHILDREN’S MENTAL HEALTH

Most children will manage well with the support of parents and other family members, even if showing signs of some anxiety or concerns, such as difficulty sleeping or concentrating. Parents and caregivers should contact a professional if children exhibit significant changes in behavior.

The above was taken from: www.nasponline.org

(National Association of School Psychologists) .

Follow the link for the full article and more information.

Need a new way to help your children with math?

Visit www.mathgeekmama.com for a detailed explanation on how to use LEGOS to teach math!

You can start teaching children cooking skills at any age! While the skills will look different for different age groups, cooking with children has a ton of benefits that carry beyond the kitchen. Cooking with children helps build self-esteem, teaches them the importance of following directions, helps with overcoming picky eating and (hopefully!) puts them on a path to a lifetime of healthier eating habits.

The following are some essential kitchen skills children can learn by age 10. Use your judgement for any modification depending on the child.

An adult should ALWAYS supervise steps that involve hot or sharp tools or any equipment that should be handled with caution!

UNDER 3

One of the biggest challenges for little ones is being able to reach the counter safely! Find a good sturdy stool, preferably one with rails to prevent falls.

Sensory Play

Stiring, Feeling, Tasting, Pouring

Washing Produce

This age loves water! Give them the job of washing the produce.

Taste Testing

Help them expand their pallete by letting them try what you are cooking.

AGES 3-5

Dull Knife Skills

Use Plastic knives or a butter knife.

Baking Basics

Teach them the basics of dry and wet ingredients. Work on measuring and mixing skills.

Sandwiches, Pizza ect

Let them pick the toppings!

Smoothies

Work on pouring & mixing skills.

Setting and Clearing the Table

This is a great time to teach the proper way to set the table and get them helping with clearing it as well!

AGES 6-8

Stove Basics

Try scrambled eggs! This is an easy "first".

Boiling Water

See video Below for Safety Tips

Food Presentation

Let them "design" the food.

AGES 8-10

Sharp Knife Skills

Use your best judgement of your child's readiness but by 8 years old, many kids may be ready to try a real knife with supervision.

See Video Below for Safety Tips

Breading

Teach the "standard breading procedure"; dipping ingredients like chicken in egg, then bread crumbs before cooking in a pan or the oven.

Make sure to teach about cross contamination or the concept that once raw meat has touched a surface, it can no longer be used for cooked food unless it's washed thoroughly.

Meal Planning, Shopping & Beyond

Ask your children for their opinions and ideas for a few meals a week and ask them ahead of time what portion of the meal they would like to own.

For Full Article Visit: www.eatingwell.com

The following video is a great clip to help you keep your children safe in the Kitchen!

Send us YOUR pictures!

We want to see what you are doing during the quarantine!

We are always in need of new pictures of children doing different activities in different seasons for our newsletters and publications.

If you have a picture or pictures to send us, you can email them along with the photo release form below to: cbrooks@childcaredutchess.org

Click HERE for the photo release form.

Thank you to those who sent pictures in!

Check back for future parent workshops!

Need Help Finding Childcare?

Call the Council! A referral specialist will assist you with your search for childcare and help you narrow your search. After answering a few questions, you will be given a list of NYS licensed/registered childcare providers who provide care in the area you are looking. The specialist can also connect you to other community resources and provide basic information regarding childcare subsidy. Assistance is also available to help you identify quality childcare programs for your child's needs.

During the quarantine, we are keeping an active list of who is open and who is accepting new children. If your Childcare Facility has closed and you are an essential worker who needs care, give us a call! We are still here!

(845) 473-4141 or go o nline to search on your own!

Clickable Links

Parents can be partners of CCCDP, too! Click here for more information.

Visit the Consumer Product Safety Commission for current information on recalls and product details.

Visit CCCDP's website for a list of partnering agencies who offer parent education resources.

Tell us what you need! Take the Parent Education Needs Assessment.

Child Care Council of Dutchess and Putnam, Inc.
301 Manchester Road Suite 201A | Poughkeepsie, NY | 12603 United States

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