Guidance
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Mrs. Badeau Ms. Blondet Mrs. Parker Mr. O'Neil |
This has been a challenging year for everyone, getting back on track after the pandemic. Many children are behaving differently because they crave healthy attention from others. This summer is a great time for you to spend quality time with your children. Quality time only requires your intentional presence with your child, so it does not need to be expensive or complicated. All you need is to be fully present! This means, everyone puts their cell phones out of reach. This is a must because it shows your child that they are important enough for you to pay full attention to them, and you could model to your child how to have more meaningful social interactions. Every moment in life is an opportunity to feel joy and to learn something new. You can experience quality time while doing any activity together, including but not limited to:
Prepare food together, try a new recipe, shop all the items on a grocery list, clean together, walk outside in a backyard/park/garden/nature preserve, look at plants, put a bird feeder outside and watch/listen for birds (bird identification apps are fun), play with sand/clay/dough, do yard work, draw, color, read stories, read about new information together, make lemonade, do housework, declutter, donate or sell items, fix something that needed it, learn a new dance, play board games, blow bubbles, use sidewalk chalk to make art/hopscotch/obstacle course, make a pillow and blanket fort, do science experiments, make a sun dial, take care of a potted plant, go to a museum, go to the library, volunteer at an animal shelter, volunteer or prepare donations for children in need.
We know we would do anything for our children, but our kids do not know it unless we communicate our love clearly and regularly. Be intentional about showing affection. Look them in the eye. Hug them for no reason. Listen closely and don’t shy away when they open their hearts to you. Get mushy out of the blue. Use your words to tell your child how special they are to you. Tell your child about an old memory of them when they were smaller. You can create new family hobbies, new family traditions and routines around the home.
Many children AND their grownups are having difficulty getting back on track. People have been struggling to focus or to behave in cooperative, healthy, and safe ways. We all have physical, mental, and emotional needs. Now, more than ever, it is time for us to go back to basics and make sure we are taking good care of ourselves and each other, so we can take even BETTER care of our awesome kids.
Meeting Basic Needs
Wellness Resources
- Child Mind - Information and tools related to mental health, parenting, and addressing current events with children.
- 211 - Resources related to basic needs, crisis, medical care, mental health services.
- DCF Connecticut - Information related to parenting and mental health.
- DCF Children - Educational activities for children.
- TEAM - Community support for toddlers, elderly, and family.
- National Head Start Association - Information related to coping with the pandemic.
- BHcare - Services related to children's behavior and mental health.
- Bridges Healthcare - Mental health programs and services for adults, children, and families.
Mindfulness and Meditation
Calm app - Headspace app - Mind Yeti app - Mind Yeti on YouTube
Drawing, coloring, arts & crafts, and music are a great way for kids (and adults too!) to cope with their feelings and express their feelings.
Find an enjoyable way to move your body, and try to get outside whenever you can. Walk, jog, play with a ball, do yard work, jump rope, use sidewalk chalk to decorate the pavement or even draw an obstacle course or hopscotch for your family to do. YouTube has many physical activity videos, for example if you search for "fitness games for kids," "brain break," or "Go Noodle".
Behavioral Health
As we have seen an increase in children being brought to emergency departments who are experiencing a behavioral health crisis, we wanted to provide you resources where supports can be received during these difficult times.
- Urgent Crisis Centers (UCC) are available for children who are experiencing a behavioral health crisis but do not require emergency department level of care. Licensed and funded by DCF, the centers are aimed at providing quality behavior health services to youths and their families outside of an emergency room to address their needs. No appointment is needed, and parents and guardians can bring their child directly to one of the UCC locations. Please see the attached flier for the nearest location.
- The Community Pathways line is now open at Carelon Behavioral Health and accepts referrals from families and community partners, in order to provide information, access, and connection to needed community-based supports and evidence-based interventions. This is an opportunity for families to receive in-home support for non-emergent behavioral health issues and prevent an escalation in behavior acuity. Community Pathways can be accessed by dialing 877-381-4193 (option 1).
- Families may be experiencing a social determinant of health, which may pose a barrier to receiving support. The Family Assistance and Social Determinant fund is for families that need financial assistance to pay for mental health and/or substance use intervention, treatment, or medication for children ages 0-18 years of age. For a limited time, funding assistance is available for those that qualify. Contact Carelon Behavioral Health at: FASD@carelon.com for more information.
At www.connectingtocarect.org families can find information that will assist them in understanding, navigating, and locating children's behavioral health services near them.