PYP Counselor Information

Now that most of you have had your parent-teacher conferences, you might be feeling inspired to try to talk to your child about school, and their learning. Having these conversations, however, aren’t always as easy as they sound. I often hear parents say “I ask them about their school day, but they never give me an answer. Or they say they forgot!”

Sound familiar?

If you’re interested in having more regular conversations with your child about their learning, and their school day, take a look at these resources. You might find that taking a slightly different approach, helps to open up the conversation:

• https://raisingchildren.net.au/school-age/school-learning/school-homework-tips/talking-about-school 
• https://www.todaysparent.com/family/age-by-age-guide-to-getting-your-kid-to-talk/
• https://theconversation.com/how-to-get-kids-talking-about-their-school-day-119837
• https://www.scholastic.com/parents/school-success/10-questions-to-ask-your-child-about-his-day-school.html

As always, please do not hesitate to reach out to your child’s homeroom teacher, Mr. Gerry, or myself if any conversations with your child are causing you to have concerns about their well-being or academic performance.

Warm regards,

Ms. Alex

You’re probably spending more time with your child than ever before, and this can be exhausting. You’re helping them with their learning during the day, making their meals, etc. It’s a lot.

Still, when you get the chance, it is still important to ensure that you enjoy some quality one-on-one time with you child. This can help to improve communication during stressful times, and it can help to meet your child’s social and emotional needs. You might even find that the additional time you’re getting with your child at the moment is helping to strengthen your relationship.

Consider the following tips on how to make the most of one-on-one time your child…

As always, please reach out to me if you’re struggling with parenting, or just have some questions on how to handle a specific situation. I’m here to support.

Warm Regards,

Ms. Alex

As a parent, it is so important that you take care of yourself, and your own mental health, during these unusual and often stressful times. Unicef has put together 3 self-care tips for parents to keep in mind during the pandemic.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ElZYjSId-pQ

Consider looking through the following resources for more ideas on self-care for parents during the Pandemic:

• https://www.cincinnatichildrens.org/patients/coronavirus-information/family-resources/self-care-parents
• https://www.mindwise.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Tips-for-Parents-Self-Care.pdf 
• https://parentingnow.org/self-care-is-possible-during-a-pandemic/

Remember, if you’re doing well, it will be a lot easier for you to take care of your children.

As always, if you have concerns about your own mental health, please do not hesitate to reach out to me, any time.

Take Care,

Ms. Alex

During lockdown I have had many questions from parents regarding their child’s sleep schedule. It seems that since children are getting up later, many of them are going to bed later as well. Although this makes sense in general, some children are going to bed MUCH later than they were before lockdown.

I’ve compiled here some resources for parents on appropriate bedtimes for children across different ages:

• https://www.sleepsisters.com/bedtimes-by-age/
• https://raisingchildren.net.au/pre-teens/healthy-lifestyle/sleep/school-age-sleep 
• https://www.sleep.org/bedtimes-for-kids/

You might also find the following resources on bedtime routines useful:

• https://www.sleepfoundation.org/children-and-sleep/bedtime-routine
• https://www.verywellfamily.com/kids-and-bedtime-routines-2634260
• https://raisingchildren.net.au/toddlers/sleep/better-sleep-settling/sleep-better-tips 

Finally, you might consider looking into the following resources if you’re interested in knowing more about the effects of screen time on sleep in children:

• https://raisingchildren.net.au/school-age/sleep/better-sleep/screen-time-sleep 
• https://www.sleepfoundation.org/children-and-sleep/how-blue-light-affects-kids-sleep
• https://kidshealthllc.com/the-hard-truth-about-screen-time-and-sleep-for-kids/

As always, if you have any ongoing concerns about the well-being and mental health of your child, please do not hesitate to contact their homeroom teacher, Mr. Gerry, or myself.

Take Care,

Ms. Alex

Lots of parents have voiced concerns regarding the increase of screen time throughout the pandemic. In general, of course we would all prefer for children to spend less time on their screens, and more time playing outside with their friends. Unfortunately, the current situation does not always make this possible- and technology has been a valuable tool that has enabled children to continue their learning and social development.

If you have worries or concerns about your child’s screen time, you might find the following links interesting:

•  https://childmind.org/article/screen-time-during-the-coronavirus-crisis/ 
• https://www.unicef.org/azerbaijan/stories/covid-19-rethinking-screen-time
•  https://www.unicef.org/india/parentingtips/ten-tips-cutting-down-screen-time-during-covid-19
• https://www.reidhealth.org/blog/how-much-screen-time-should-kids-get-during-the-pandemic

You might also consider setting up a Screen Time Contract of Family Media Contract with your children. This will help to set boundaries and expectations, making it much easier to manage a healthy balance. You can find lots of examples online if you do a quick ‘screen time contract for kids’ search. There are lots of options out there so you can find the one that best suits your family, or make up your own!

As always, if you have any ongoing concern about your child’s mental health, please do not hesitate to reach out to your child’s homeroom teacher, Mr. Gerry, or myself.

Take Care,

Ms. Alex

It can be fulfilling and validating to know that children all over the world are having similar experiences during these strange and ever-changing times.

You might therefore enjoy watching the Video Diaries that UNICEF has posted with your child/ren. Your children might even get a few good ideas for the activities described in the videos, and they may even be inspired to make a video diary of their own!

Take Care and Stay Safe,

Ms. Alex

I would like to share with you another useful resource. This article talks about the following topics:

• How to help a child that feels anxious about Coronavirus
• How to help a child that’s feeling low or depressed during lockdown
• Dealing with the death of a loved one due to Coronavirus
• Managing your children’s mental health while separated
• 7 practical tips for practising positive wellbeing for all the family

I know that it’s difficult to always be using all of the tips highlighted in these articles. So please remember not to put too much pressure on yourself either. Pick one or two new strategies each week; apply them, and see how it goes.

As always, please reach out if you have any concerns about your child’s mental health, or your own. I am here to support.

Take Care,

Ms. Alex

I found this to be a very interesting article with lots of practical, simple ideas for parents and caregivers to consider as they help their children cope with all the changes and challenges around them during the ongoing restrictions caused by COVID-19.

Give it a read and please remember to reach out to your child’s homeroom teacher, Mr. Gerry, or myself if you have ongoing concerns about the mental health of your child.

Take Care,

Ms. Alex