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Winter break is over, and most families have already returned work and school. Whether you’ve sent your kids back to their institution or chosen to enroll them online, you’ve probably noticed the healthy number of assignments that have been passed out in the new year. As we all struggle to get back into the swing of normal life, it’s important to remember that playtime is just as important as homework. No matter how old your kids are, they deserve a chance to relax and be themselves.

Improving Imagination, Memory, and Comprehension

Although playtime is often seen as nothing more than a break from work, recent studies have shown that it can be an important part of a child’s cognitive development. The reason for this is that playing is the standard way in which young children engage with the world. Playing can take the form of imagining fake scenarios, manipulating toys and other objects, or simply exploring an environment and making use of the various senses that are so new to a young soul.

Children who are allowed to play have stronger memories, more creative imaginations, and better decision making skills. The best way to let children play is to give them free access over a curated environment full of interesting materials. As they choose their own activities and make their own decisions, they’ll learn a sense of self confidence that can be difficult to replace later in life.

Creating Healthy Relaxation Habits

Relaxation is an important skill that many people forget to learn during their early years. People who are not allowed to play when they are younger often complain about their inability to unwind during their adult lives.

Although the correct ratio of work and play varies based on the child’s age, the truth is that even older children should be given several hours to themselves on a daily basis. Parents should recognize that there will be plenty of time to work during their child’s teenage and adult years. While they are young, kids should be allowed to exist comfortable in the world that their parents have made for them.

As you’re helping your kids create healthy playtime habits, remember that many play activities count as work for small kids. Remind them to take actual breaks from games, art projects, and anything else that demands attention for an extended period of time.

Forging Strong Parental and Sibling Relationships

Playtime isn’t just about allowing a kid to run off on their own. Most of the strong memories that help forge a child’s personality are created by playing with their family members and friends. Even spending one or two hours a week engaging with your child’s favorite activities can help them learn who you are and create a parental relationship that lasts a lifetime.

When your child is younger, they will probably want to involve you in their games of imagination. As they get older, they may want your assistance with complicated building projects; they may also want you to play a round of their favorite game. The important thing is that you spend time learning about the things that your child likes to do. When they grow up, they’ll remember how well you supported the development of their personality.

Playtime is about allowing your child to explore the world and learn what kind of person they want to be. From dressing up dolls to running around in the back yard, all of the classic activities of childhood are important. Kids who are allowed to play grow into adults who are healthy, happy, and capable of taking on the entire world.

2020 was a stressful year for many students, and 2021 is looking to be equally hectic. Whether your students are attending in-person classes or online lectures, there are several steps that you can take to reduce their stress and help them develop healthy attitudes towards education and life.

Manage Homework Levels

Children of all ages often complain that the amount of homework they receive is interfering with their time for play and sleep. Although a certain number of assignments often need to be completed to meet state and national standards, teachers have a great deal of control over when these tasks are performed. By lowering homework expectations, teachers can help make sure that kids are getting the rest that they need to maintain their mental health.

In general, students shouldn’t have more than an hour or two of homework to complete each weeknight. Longer assignments should be handled during school hours, especially if the teacher is around to offer assistance. If you aren’t the only teacher assigned to your class, collaborate with other instructors to make sure that every child’s free time is being respected.

Reduce Test Anxiety

Test anxiety is one of the leading causes of stress for young children. As a teacher, you can do a lot to make sure that your students aren’t worrying about upcoming quizzes when they should be enjoying the subject material.

First, avoid springing surprise tests on your class. Kids need time to study, ask questions, and make sure they truly understand the lessons. Putting a test date on the syllabus isn’t enough for most kids, so make sure to remind them at least a few class periods before the quiz is due.

Next, consider reducing the amount of impact that tests have on your students’ grades. Some teachers have started letting students retake online tests as many times as they need to; this way, they learn the material without incurring any of the harmful impacts causes by stress.

Provide Emotional Support

For many students, a teacher isn’t just an instructor; they’re also a parental figure and a role model. The way that you interact with your students can greatly influence how they perceive themselves and how they handle the stresses of daily life.

Treat all of your students with compassion and understanding, regardless of the grades that they receive. If a student is struggling, don’t assume that they are lazy or unintelligent. Instead, try to find out why they are having a hard time with the material. Some students have difficulty reading, while others are distracted by problems at home. In many cases, a student who has failed many times will have low self-confidence. Try giving them a few encouraging words and offering them a private study session to help them build their skills.

Encouraging mental health as an educator is all about paying attention to the way that the learning environment impacts the rest of the child’s life. Going to school teaches kids how to function in society, so make sure they are learning positive lessons that you want them to carry forward into the world. A single word of praise or a night without homework can go a long way towards helping a struggling child regain momentum in a difficult academic system. Pay attention to your charges’ emotions, make compassionate decisions, and be ready to change your plans to reflect the reality of your classroom’s needs.

 

Despite strong efforts and hopeful wishes, it doesn’t look like the COVID-19 pandemic will be over for the 2020 holiday season. In the meantime, try these tips to make sure you and your family stay safe and healthy while you celebrate.

Shop Online
As much as you might miss the festive displays and holiday music, 2020 is not a good year to do your Christmas shopping at the mall. Instead, stay nice and warm at home while you complete your shopping in the online marketplace. Many stores have a gift option that will let you ship presents straight to your relatives’ homes, complete with wrapping paper and a gift receipt.

If you do need to get something in person, consider opting for curbside pickup. Coronavirus spreads quickly indoors, so you’re much safer interacting in the fresh and frosty air.

Connect Virtually
Holiday gatherings simply won’t be the same size this year, but that doesn’t mean you need to feel alone. Plan to meet up with your family or your friend group in a Skype call or Zoom meeting. Consider asking everyone to display a few holiday decorations on camera to make the setting more festive. If you’re tech savvy, you can also spice things up with a holiday-themed Zoom background.

Share Memories
You might be in different places, but you and your family can still spend the holidays together by recreating the same memories in your own homes. Consider asking everyone in the family to do the same holiday activity, like making a gingerbread house or playing the same classic Christmas album. You can also try sharing recipes, watching the same movies, or even just decorating your trees on the same day. Don’t forget to take pictures so that everyone in the family can participate in the fun.

Travel Carefully
The CDC is recommending that everyone stay home for the holidays, but as of November, they haven’t laid down a travel ban. If you’re desperate to see your relatives, follow these steps to make your trip as safe as possible:

Get tested. You should take a COVID-19 test both before and after your flight. That way, you’ll know that you’re not bringing COVID with you on the plane, and you’ll also make sure that you don’t pick it up at the airport.

Pack extra masks. Fresh masks are important, especially when you’re passing through public spaces. Be prepared to swap your mask every time you enter a new environment.

Bring your own everything. This year, don’t stop at the store between the hotel and your parents’ house. The shorter your route is, the less chance you’ll have of catching the virus.

This year’s holiday season will be different, but there’s no reason it can’t be merry. Call your loved ones, send thoughtful packages, and look forward to ringing in a safe and healthy new year.

The holidays are fun, but they can also be incredibly stressful. If the thought of throwing a great Christmas celebration is already making your heart pound, you might want to try a few of these stress-reducing tips.

1) Start Shopping Early

Last-minute gift buying is never fun, but it’s a particularly bad idea during 2020. This year, save yourself the worry by doing all of your online shopping at the start of December. Then, you’ll be able to sit back and relax while the postal elves make sure that your holiday happens exactly on time.

2) Create a Budget

Overspending is an incredibly common response to holiday stress. Unfortunately, money can’t actually buy happiness; if you try, you’re more likely to end up with an empty wallet and an incredibly anxious holiday.

As a solution, set a firm budget for your holiday spending before you even begin. Know how much you have for gifts, how much you have for food, and how much you have for spontaneous ice skating. Then, stick to your budget, and relax knowing that you’ll be starting the new year with your finances in good order.

3) Eat Healthy

When you get stressed, it’s tempting to load up on as much junk food as possible – especially when all of those holiday treats are on the table. Unfortunately, a poor diet is actually a major contributor to lasting feelings of stress and depression. If you’re having a hard time making it through the holidays, consider keeping your diet on the healthier side.

To start eating healthy, make sure you’re getting an adequate amount of vegetables, whole grains, and other fibrous foods. Fill out your plate with leaner meats, and make sure you’re drinking plenty of water. As long as your normal diet is healthy, you can safely eat a few cookies when Christmas Eve rolls around.

4) Get More Sunshine

Seasonal affect disorder is incredibly common during the winter months. If you just can’t shake the holiday blues, it might be because you’re not getting enough direct sunlight. Pull back the curtains from your windows, and try going for a short walk every day. You can also purchase a sun lamp or light box to bring a little sunshine into your quarantine.

5) Call Someone You Love

Connecting with friends and family is one of the best ways to help yourself feel less stressed. This year, when you start to feel the darkness of winter rolling in, break your cycle by picking up the phone. Find a friend or family member who you can call or text when things get to be too much. With any luck, they’ll be happy to spend the holiday season chatting with you.

Seasonal stress is normal, but lasting depression shouldn’t be ignored. If you’re struggling with your feelings this year, don’t be afraid to schedule an appointment with us; we’ll be happy to help you figure out what’s going on.

The pandemic has changed everyone’s normal, and fitness culture is no exception. Between slowed supply lines and safety ordinances, nearly every athlete has had to alter their standard routine. If the fact that many gyms have been closed for more than six months has prevented you from reaching your goals, these tips might help you restore your life-exercise balance and get back on track to the body you deserve.

Find a Class

Gyms might be closed, but that doesn’t mean class is cancelled. Many gyms and private instructors have started offering their lessons online; now, attending class is a simple as moving the coffee table and joining a video call.

Some gyms offer virtual classes as part of their subscription models, but you can also find classes run by private instructors. Your favorite trainer might be running a class – and if they’re not, they’ll probably know someone who is. Remember to check the type of exercise, the skill level, and any tech or equipment requirements before you get started.

Explore the Outdoors

The vast outdoors is the perfect place to get rid of that cabin fever that you’ve surely accumulated in quarantine. Running is the ideal form of socially-distanced outdoor exercise, but you can also try going for a walk or enjoying an outdoor session of your favorite yoga routine.

If you’re lucky enough to have a back yard, there’s nothing wrong with staying safely quarantined on your own property. Otherwise, the safest way to exercise may be to go for a run through your neighborhood or around the track at your local park. Remember to stay well-distanced from other runners; with gyms closed, they’re sure to be around.

Exercise Cautiously

Pandemic restrictions vary by area, and you should always comply with local ordinances. In addition to your city’s recommendations, you can follow a few tips to make sure that your workout doesn’t contribute to the spread:

• Wear a mask. Even if you don’t like wearing a mask while running, the truth is that you need a facial covering if you’re going to go into a business or have a conversation. Try choosing a mask that you can put on quickly if someone approaches your exercise path.
• Bring your own water. The last thing you want to do during a pandemic is drink from a water fountain. Always have your own water bottle with you. You probably shouldn’t expect a refill, so you may want to buy a larger bottle. Remember not to rinse your bottle in public sinks; always wash it out as soon as you get home.
• Sanitize as you go. A pocket-sized pack of sanitizing wipes will make your adventures a lot safer for you and the other people who may pass through the same environment. Exercise equipment should be sanitized both before and after use, even if it’s in your own home. You can also use wipes to quickly prevent the virus from spreading on park benches, door handles, and other utilities.

Staying fit is about motivation. No matter how your conditions change, a positive attitude will help you power through so you can become the person you want to be.

 

Living through a pandemic isn’t easy, and the toll on the world’s mental health is obvious. Even if you don’t feel like COVID has you stressed, the extended quarantine is still a great excuse to make sure you’re in a happy and healthy mental state.

Take a Media Break

If you’re feeling stressed and nervous, one of the first things you should do is turn off your news feed. A flux of negative headlines has been shown to cause headline stress disorder, and 2020 has certainly delivered on the hard-to-handle news.

Make a commitment to spending an entire day without accessing the internet. Use this time to check in with your family members, complete a few chores, and generally regain a sense of stability. When you’re ready to turn the computer back on, pay attention to whether your use is excessive. You may want to set limits or adjust your habits to better accommodate your lifestyle.

Rotate Your Hobbies

When work and life blend together, monotony gains a whole new meaning. You may be sick and tired of watching the same shows, playing the same games, and looking at the same environment. Although you can’t necessarily change your surroundings, you can definitely add variety to your list of favorite pastimes.

Some people already have a hobby that they’ve been neglecting to try, but other people may struggle to find variation in their free time. Even small variations, such as watching a new genre of television show, can help get you out of a mental rut; don’t be afraid to make changes that work well for you.

Watch Your Overall Health

It’s hard to be mentally healthy when you’re not physically healthy. Before you pay too much attention to your anxiety, make sure that you’re taking care of your basic needs. This includes getting enough sleep, drinking enough water, and eating a relatively balanced diet. If you’re not exercising, you should probably start at least a small routine; however, be aware that anxiety may also be caused by over-exertion.

Staying healthy can also include taking care of your environment and your responsibilities. If you feel stressed, it might be because something needs to get done. Take a quick look around to see if you’ve done your laundry and paid your bills. Just remember to relax once your chores are done; after all, your goal is to decrease your anxiety.

Don’t forget that if you’re struggling with your mental health, you can always reach out to us here at CCPS. We’ll be happy to help you make a virtual appointment and discuss your problems in a safe and comfortable space.

As the needs of the economy become undeniable, many officers are considering reopening and assuming close-to-normal operations. If you find out that you’ll be sent back to work, you can use these tips to stay safe.

1) Wear Your Mask
The coronavirus that causes COVID-19 is an aerosol, and that means it can spread easily through small, enclosed environments like offices. The best way to protect yourself from exposure is to always wear a mask while you are indoors and especially when you are in a poorly-ventilated room, such as a private office.

Your mask should sit comfortably on your face. If it fits too tightly or slides around while you’re working, you might need to get a different size. Look for masks that are made from multiple layers of cotton; it should be thick enough to provide decent filtration, but it shouldn’t be so thick that you overheat.

Wear a fresh mask every day, and always keep an extra mask with you. If someone breaks social distancing and you worry that you might have been exposed, switch masks as soon as you get the chance.

2) Take Your Breaks Outside
You really shouldn’t take your mask off while you’re indoors. Still, people need breaks to eat, drink water, and get out from under that hot fabric.

The solution is to take outdoor breaks as often as your employer will allow you to. Try to step out for a few minutes once every two hours. Wash or sanitize your hands, pull your mask down, breathe the fresh air, and have a drink of water. Then pull your mask back up, wash your hands again, and get back to work.

Likewise, you should take your lunch breaks outside. Keep your distance and avoid conversations while your mask is down. As cold weather looms, talk to your employer about adding wind guards, overhangs, and other protections that will keep staff comfortable on breaks without reducing the benefits of outdoor ventilation.

3) Communicate Virtually
Coronavirus spreads person to person, so don’t have face-to-face conversations unless you have to. Even if you work in the same office as someone, it may be safer and more convenient to handle simple communications online.

Talk to your employer about finding an instant messaging solution that works for the entire office. This will allow you to maintain a steady flow of communication without disrupting other services like phone and email. Avoid meeting rooms; a closed environment full of people from different departments is a recipe for disaster.

4) Avoid Unnecessary Stops
One of the worst-case scenarios for an office environment is that someone will catch COVID-19 and bring it with them to the rest of their coworkers. You can’t control every interaction that you have, but you can definitely limit the number of chances you have to be exposed.

Resist the temptation to stop somewhere for breakfast on your way to work. If you do need to stop somewhere, try to take advantage of drive-through or curbside pickup. Avoid stepping into an enclosed indoor space, especially if there is a line inside.

5) Know When to Stay Home
2020 is not a year to be shy about sick days. If you feel even the beginnings of a head cold, stay home for at least a day. If the symptoms start to worsen, get tested, and continue to self-isolate.

You should also insist on quarantining if one of your coworkers arrives with any kind of symptoms. Quick coronavirus tests generally take around 3 days. If you’ve been exposed, you could spread countless of infections in that time. It’s much safer to have everyone work from home until the test comes back negative.

You might not have a choice to stay home from work, but you can still act as a responsible member of the community. Prioritize the health of your family, your coworkers, and yourself; if you feel sick, stay home.

Are your kids heading back to school? Although staying home is the best way to prevent coronavirus exposure, there are still a few things you can do to approach the school semester as safely as possible.

Gearing Up for Class
School supplies this year are going to look quite different from previous semesters. In addition to pencils and books, you should make sure that your kids have the following items for safety and survival:

Masks: Your kid should be wearing a clean mask every day. Make sure the mask fits, and provide a few extras for their backpack. If the mask is disposable, it will need to be changed before the school day is over.

Hand sanitizer: Give your child a pocket-sized bottle of hand sanitizer, and encourage them to use it frequently. Remember to refill or replace the bottle regularly throughout the school year.

Prepackaged snacks: Kids get hungry throughout the day, but you don’t necessarily want them standing in the cafeteria line. Provide plenty of healthy snacks in disposable packaging – and don’t forget the bottled water.

Extra supplies: When borrowing a pencil could mean catching a virus, no kid should be coming to school unprepared. Ask teachers what supplies your kids need to have to succeed.

Teaching Social Distancing
Let’s face it: you’re not going to convince a child to stay apart from their closest friends. At some point, they’re going to have a conversation, toss a ball back and forth, or share a snack with a hungry classmate. The fact that student bodies are so vulnerable is precisely why it’s so important to protect them.

However, although you might not be able to isolate children completely, you can help them understand basic social distancing practices. Things like mask-wearing and hand-washing truly do reduce community spread, and students deserve the chance to protect themselves and their friends.

Teach your kids to be aware of how germs spread around a room and a school building. Explain that they should avoid sharing their items, having unnecessary conversations, or straying away from their class.

Don’t forget to ask teachers how they’re planning on explaining and then implementing social distancing procedures at your school. Try to model the behaviors that the teachers are asking for; kids learn best by watching their parents.

Preparing for Quarantine
The best way to prevent community spread is to keep children at home every time there is potential exposure. It might be exhausting to send everyone home whenever someone sneezes, but it’s far worse to risk getting everyone in the community sick because an asymptomatic child was sent to school.

As a parent, you should have plans in place for what you’ll do if classes are canceled. Exposed children can’t be sent to daycare; if you can’t work from home, try to find a friend or family member who can provide isolated childcare and who is not in an at-risk category.

If someone at school gets sick, insist on keeping your own child at home for at least 3-5 days, and request that faculty and exposed students undergo testing. Encourage other parents to support closures; if students stay home, the virus cannot spread.

Ultimately, school requires interaction, and interaction comes with a risk of exposure. Kids can’t be expected to carry the burden of protecting their community, so parents and faculty will have to make sure they’re not exposed to the virus. Talk to your school to find out what steps they’re taking to keep the students and their families safe.

The pandemic is showing no sign of slowing down in the United States. Even when the stay-at-home orders lift, you should still take precautions to ensure the safety and wellbeing of your family.

Provide Plenty of Masks
Face coverings are the best way to reduce coronavirus exposure, especially in closed environments. Your children should be equipped with correctly-sized masks that they know how to put on and take off themselves.

Masks get wet and dirty throughout the day, especially when they are worn by children. Your kid should go to school with at least one spare mask in their backpack. Place the mask in a plastic sandwich bag to keep it clean until they’re ready to use it.

Depending on your child’s age and how well-equipped their school is, you may also want to pack hand sanitizer and a few disposable masks for students who may need them. Coordinate with your child’s teacher to make sure that all of the students will have these essential supplies.

Switch to Disposable Packaging
The environment is important, but so is the health of your kids and their classmates. Coronavirus particles can be transmitted through high-touch surfaces and anything that comes into contact with the mouth. So as good as reusable dishes might be for the planet and your budget, this pandemic is probably not the best time to use a shared classroom sink.

Set your kids up with their own disposable water bottles and lunch packaging. If you want to make their meals at home, sandwich bags are an excellent choice. Disposable plastic containers involve more waste but can be used for larger or heavier meals.

If you’re a teacher, think about the ways you can minimize unnecessary contact when serving lunches and snacks. The big rule is that if you’re sending food out, you shouldn’t be taking particles in; after you wash your hands, stay six feet away from students until the meal is fully served. You should also prepare recycling bins to minimize your classroom’s environmental impact.

Avoid Shared Transportation
Every time two families come into contact during the pandemic, there is a risk of spreading coronavirus particles between their households. This means that a multi-family carpool is actually a very bad idea until the final wave of the virus has passed. Instead, try to drop your kids off and pick them up directly from their school.

For some households, carpooling is the only viable transportation option. If this is the case, try to limit the number of families who are involved. Find one other family who is willing to share germs with yours – and be extra conscientious about your hygiene both before and after these shared rides.

In the same vein, public transportation should be avoided as much as possible. Whenever possible, walking to school is actually a good option; COVID-19 spreads much less easily in outdoor environments. Just remember that children should always be supervised by an adult.

Perform Temperature Checks
Temperature checks are a great way to tell if someone has symptoms of COVID-19. Do your community a favor by checking your family’s temperatures before every schoolday. If their temperature is above 99 degrees, it’s probably a good day to stay home.

Schools can take this a step further by checking temperatures at the door. Remember to use no-contact thermometers, and don’t have anyone stand in line unless they’re outside.

The first school semester of the pandemic isn’t going to be comfortable. Keep an eye out for symptoms, and help your kids maintain a positive attitude. If you work together, you can greatly reduce the impact of COVID-19 on your community.

At a time of year when back-to-school sales flood grocery and department stores, the sudden increase in COVID-19 cases across the country has been alarming for many parents and educators. The decision of whether to return to school is incredibly important for the health of your children and your entire community. Before you decide to head back, run through this checklist to make sure your kids will be safe.

Cases in Your Area Are Reduced
As long as there is a coronavirus outbreak in your area, sending your kids to school will not be completely safe. Asymptomatic carriers are incredibly common, and coronavirus tends to spread quickly in enclosed environments like classrooms.

Many states and cities, provide online data regarding the recent number of new cases and deaths. This data may be delayed by as much as two weeks, but it is still a good resource for checking coronavirus spread in your area.

Quarantine Orders Have Been Lifted

Don’t send your kids back to school unless the local stay-at-home orders have been lifted. Some schools may try to reopen in spite of an order from the mayor or governor. As much as you love your academic community, you should refrain from attending classes until your city has seen a significant to total reduction of cases.

Remember that the lifting of a stay-at-home order doesn’t actually mean that the area is safe. Many economies have demanded a reopening against the recommendations of health officials. As long as coronavirus is within your state, you should act as though every point of contact is a potential transmission.

Your School Has Implemented Safety Procedures
Schools that are preparing to reopen are working hard to implement safety procedures for the students and families in their care. Every school is different, but you should make sure that yours is addressing the following:

● Masks for faculty and students
● Temperature checks at school entrances
● Hand sanitizer stations in every classroom
● Reduced classroom sizes and distanced seating
● Open windows and plenty of outdoor recess time
● Virtual classes whenever possible
● Your Family Has Developed Antibodies

After catching most diseases, the human body produces antibodies that can prevent further infections. Testing has shown that coronavirus immunity may last for at least 2-3 months. If your family has already survived COVID-19, you may actually be in a safe position to return to school and interact with your community.

Don’t assume that you have immunity unless you’ve successfully taken a COVID-19 antibody test. Many clinics that offer coronavirus testing also offer antibody testing. These tests involve a blood draw, but they’re incredibly effective at determining whether you’ve already had the virus.

In summary, you should only return to school if your community has successfully weathered COVID-19. If there are still cases in your area and your family does not have antibodies, it probably isn’t safe to leave your quarantine. Talk to your school about virtual options to further your child’s education until the pandemic has passed.