It’s hard to feel grateful these days. Between the Pandemic, the election and state of our government, our divided country, civil unrest, fear of the future, and parenting kids who have been locked down with virtual school and virtual life, gratitude is not top of mind. Until today. I received an email from a longtime client, thanking me for all I taught her about cultivating gratitude in her children way back when. She included a photo of the same “Gratitude Jar” she has pulled out every … [Read more...] about Gratitude in the Pandemic…and how to grow it all year long.
Adolescents
What’s a Parent to do about Halloween during a Pandemic?
During these complicated, layered, stressful, kind of crazy times it feels like a great relief to be writing about Halloween. I don’t have to think about the Pandemic, distance learning, wiggly kids, depressed teens, the next Supreme Court Justice, the election, or what I am cooking for dinner! When the news came out that trick-or-treating might be banned this year, all I could think about was how children would be crushingly disappointed. We all need some relief from the harsh realities of … [Read more...] about What’s a Parent to do about Halloween during a Pandemic?
Another Follow UP…New News for Making School Decisions in the Pandemic
I received a tsunami of comments about my last post. Most were so grateful for the information, and all were confused, undecided, and in a real pickle. Of course you are! This is one of the most difficult decisions any of us has ever had to make. There is NO one answer to this question. There is no right or wrong. The answer depends upon each child, each family--nuclear and extended , and what is going on in each community. In my continuing effort to feed you information, today I send … [Read more...] about Another Follow UP…New News for Making School Decisions in the Pandemic
Excellent Info: Follow up to…Deciding on Schooling During A Pandemic
This excellent article is written by Dr. Emily Bruckner to help parents with the decision to send or not to send. I wanted to give an update on the research regarding COVID in children. I should back up briefly and state that I am a physician with a PhD in Epidemiology who became very interested in this topic when a colleague and friend of mine, Jennifer Kasten, MD MSc, wrote a systematic review of COVID epidemiology in children … [Read more...] about Excellent Info: Follow up to…Deciding on Schooling During A Pandemic
Deciding on Schooling During a Pandemic
With school fast approaching, many parents are faced with having to make a big choice. My email box is overflowing with requests for help in deciding what to do about school this fall. And the fact that many private and charter schools in California are now applying for waivers in order to open, makes the decision even more difficult. Virtual or in person? For parents of younger children--preschoolers or rising kindergartners--it is just as difficult: Should my child start kindergarten? … [Read more...] about Deciding on Schooling During a Pandemic
TALKING TO KIDS ABOUT THE RIOTS, RACISM, AND LAW ENFORCEMENT (in light of George Floyd’s killing in Minneapolis.)
Today it feels like our kids’ VIRTUAL SCHOOL is a good thing: Classrooms and school playgrounds are not exposing our young children to the shocking riots that erupted across the country in response to the horrific killing of George Floyd. But our elementary school age children and older will likely hear about it. And we must address what is going on. I certainly don’t have “the answer.” I do know that there are many complicated elements to consider, try to explain, and discuss. Too many … [Read more...] about TALKING TO KIDS ABOUT THE RIOTS, RACISM, AND LAW ENFORCEMENT (in light of George Floyd’s killing in Minneapolis.)