A timely article...Your kids, the holidays and COVID

How to Talk to Your Kids About Celebrating the Holidays During COVID-19, According to Experts

Much as parents rail against the end-of-year-frenzy, the crazed shopping for gifts, the endless planning for big family gatherings and the insanely long lines for Santa, the absence of those things this year leaves a gaping hole in many families’ normal operating procedures. And the radical break with tradition can be destabilizing for children (adults too). If so many traditions associated with something as well-established and ancient as Christmas or Hanukkah can be cancelled, what can children rely on?

A survey by Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, found that two-thirds of parents of children under 18 are concerned that the effect the COVID-19 pandemic has had on their kids’ mental health will be harder to reverse the longer it goes on. More than half of them also say they’re running out of ideas to keep their kids feeling positive.

To keep reading this article  https://time.com/5918595/holidays-covid-19-kids/

Happy Holidays!

 We are already almost halfway through this academic year and just about to break for the Winter holidays! It has definitely been a whirlwind...we have all had to adapt to new situations and restrictions and yet try to maintain all of our traditions and student engagement. I am so proud of our students and their adaptability and resilience!

This has been a hard-earned holiday and I hope you have a safe and relaxing 3 weeks! Please travel safely and be well.

If you are worried about the holidays and gatherings, please find a helpful set of guidelines by the Mayo Clinic.

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/coronavirus/in-depth/covid-19-holiday-safety-tips/art-20503363#:~:text=Keep%20a%20safe%20distance.,Consider%20assigned%20seating.

Webinar Recording - Caring for your Child's Mental Health During COVID 19

 If you missed this fabulous webinar focused on your child's mental health and how to support them as we all move through this global pandemic, please feel free to use this link and watch it. 

https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/qu-wDbbQX96IZ2I33klooV7-7ls85WNAwlrOmBztELFOSAqvcQkKi0WJtSoiQovb.Q6AW_3_ovM_KBwYo?startTime=1606370281000

 Please note that the link will be valid for 14 days only.

Informational Handout

Grief Support - The Lighthouse Center for Wellbeing

 

3 Ways Parents Can Help Their Kids Thrive While Virtual Learning

 Q: My daughter is a senior honor student who is now stressed and anxious. How can we help our kids maintain their wellbeing right now during this uncertain time?

https://katiecouric.com/lifestyle/3-ways-parents-can-help-their-kids-thrive-while-virtual-learning/

A Psychologist On How To Keep Your Kids Focused During ‘Zoom School’

Whether you’re a caretaker with a young school-aged child or a parent with a high schooler, you may be facing the stress of juggling homeschooling — along with everything else on your plate — right now. Enter Homeschool Hotline, a new series with our friends at Sleep Number. You’re in luck: Experts from the Child Mind Institute are answering your burning questions about how to make sure your kids aren’t missing out on important learning experiences while maintaining a healthy routine for the whole family.

Today, *Dr. Laura Philips, a clinical neuropsychologist at the Child Mind Institute, gives advice to a stressed out Wake-Up Caller who’s having trouble motivating her child to take virtual learning seriously…
Wake-Up Call: Keeping a young child focused during virtual learning can be very difficult. What can I do to motivate them to pay attention and treat it like “real” school?

Please click the link below for the full article

https://katiecouric.com/lifestyle/a-psychologist-on-how-to-keep-your-kids-focused-during-zoom-school/

Teen Tribe Online Support Group

 

Teen Tribe is a bi-monthly support group for teens aged 13 to 16 years of age who would like to get together with others and talk about the stressors they are currently facing in their lives. Today, many teens today are feeling lonelier, more confused and unsure of themselves and the world around them, than ever before. As teens are adjusting to the new norm since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, many are struggling to cope with the changes now transitioning from distance learning to being mostly back at school but with many restrictions. Many teens today report feeling like they have lost a sense of independence they crave, while others are experiencing negative and upsetting social interactions with people online. Many feel like they don’t have anyone they can talk to about their experiences.

*Kindly note, participation and respect for the group and for others is important. Please ensure that your video camera is turned on for the full duration of the group, just as you would be seeing others face-to-face for an in-person group. We thank you in advance. Admission into the session will close 10 minutes after it has started.

A mandatory consent form will be shared upon registration

Monday, November 23rd, 2020 05:00PM - 06:00PMhttps://www.lighthousearabia.com/register-for-an-event/?selected_event=8282

Reminder - Upcoming Webinar offered by The Lighthouse Center for Wellbeing.

 Meeting Link: https://bit.ly/2GLeUJY

Your Child's Mind Matters - recorded webinar

 Please follow the link below to watch a recorded webinar presented by The Lighthouse Center for Wellbeing.

It is centered on supporting your child's mental health.

This link will only be valid for 14 days.

https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/u5uY2ABMtt_ezBp613P73dZgSuewSq8kVmOu2skBlvziKiUg_sBmsb4ORiYefFax.7DVO6MZqT8CgPaUN

Mastering Your Stress and Avoiding Burnout- Webinar Recording Link

 In case you missed this wonderful webinar focused on mastering your stress, presented by The Lighthouse Center for Wellbeing...please find it linked below. This link will be active for 14 days only. Be sure to watch it before then!

https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/gok_7hhrUYSrZTFVDnTbYo_mJ5ydhpz6lfz4J2D6NymdQhC6jk63poXz_TcWoEZg.GDxYqoA418uKCp_E

You can’t protect your kids from stress. But here are ways to teach them to cope.

Parents are always on a mission to protect their kids from the hard stuff, it seems. Bully-proof your kid. Stress-proof your kid. Intervene at school at the slightest sign of discomfort, which essentially boils down to school-proofing your child. Here’s the deal: Kids experience stress and discomfort and they will encounter difficult situations. It’s impossible to completely remove stress from the lives of our children. There isn’t a way to stress-proof our children. What we can do, though, is teach our kids to be stress-savvy.

When we take the time to educate our children about stress and teach them strategies to use when they feel anxious and overwhelmed, we not only normalize the complex emotions that sometimes confuse young children, but we teach them how to manage and cope with their stress.

Read the full article here: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/parenting/wp/2016/06/29/you-cant-protect-your-kids-from-stress-but-here-are-ways-to-teach-them-to-cope/

What To Do When Your Child Worries Too Much

 Please take a minute to watch this recording of a fantastic webinar provided by The Lighthouse Center for Wellbeing. This link is valid only for 14 days and it is definitely worth a watch!

https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/play/akjS29zuuzcOJQuYqcBspg-qZTMed9I4xSJHxjWrlP3CaAn4ak8DCK97BP-o2jqv0scuMaoFoX7zx788.cUHoxOxhvt7EnXPP?continueMode=true&_x_zm_rtaid=f982KgH_QbCurBpT1LZ2Ug.1604293588744.3b0cc2230c07ba63b54447653fba2ffc&_x_zm_rhtaid=252

Mastering Stress and Avoiding Burnout - Complimentary Webinar

 Meeting Link: https://bit.ly/3jU8FC2

10 Ways to Teach Your Child Gratitude – Plus Tips for Teens

 We have all faced restrictions, disappointments, traumas and anxiety over the course of 2020. Some days it feels like we are stuck on a rollercoaster of madness...and in the midst of that, it is easy to forget the many things we can be grateful for, both small and big. A sense of gratitude has been found to vastly improve one's outlook on negative events and one's cortisol levels. I agree, that it can be difficult to find the bright side, at times, but with with intentionally focusing on it...it may become a habit.

https://sparkandstitchinstitute.com/teach-gratitude-tips-for-teens/

A fantastic opportunity for our teens!

This is a wonderful chance for our teens to learn more about their mental health and how to support the mental health of their peers!

 

4 Tips for Reducing Test Anxiety in Middle School Students

It is that time of year where students are wrapping up units of study in multiple classes and it seems like they have an assessment in every class. We are also well into our Fall MAP assessments. Hopefully the four tips found in the article below will help with managing the test anxiety and allowing our students to perform better.

https://apertureed.com/4-tips-reducing-test-anxiety-middle-school-students/

Webinar: Raising Emotionally Intelligent Children

 Meeting Link: https://bit.ly/3mjUB68

SELF-CARE TIPS FOR KIDS

You have likely heard about the importance of self-care and some ways to practice it. Every adult should practice self-care to give themselves a break from their hectic lives, refresh, and take care of themselves mentally, emotionally, and physically. While we all know that self-care is important for adults, it is also important for kiddos!

See full article here for tips on teaching kids self-care.

https://www.growingkids.com/child-care-goshen/self-care-tips-for-kids/

Living in uncertain times makes taking care of your mental health even more important!

 

Benefits of Thinking Positively, and How to Do It

Are you a glass half-empty or half-full sort of person? Studies have demonstrated that both can impact your physical and mental health and that being a positive thinker is the better of the two.

Read the full article here for tips on how to develop a positive mindset.

https://www.healthline.com/health/how-to-think-positive

Raising Children in the iGeneration - Online webinar

 

Meeting link: https://bit.ly/2GVEeN8

Teaching our children to take care of their mental health

 

7 Ways to Support Your Child’s Mental Health

Our children and teenagers are suffering the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic and the civil unrest that has shaken our nation, just like we are. Even if they and their immediate families have stayed healthy, these crises have taken a toll on young people. From the outrage over the murders of countless unarmed Black people at the hands of the police and the racism it put on display, to the sadness of missing important life milestones, and the anxiety they surely feel from all of the bad news out there, our youth need our support more than ever.

Read the entire article here: https://www.altamed.org/articles/7-ways-support-your-childs-mental-health

10 Ways to Promote Positive Mental Health

Positive mental health is important, but how do you achieve it?


Talk About Your Feelings

Telling somebody that you are sad can take some of the sadness away and sharing joy will add more joy. Humans often crave closeness to other people and sharing feelings helps.

Keep Active

Exercise keeps the brain and body healthy and can help improve your mood. Research on depression and anxiety shows that exercise has both physical and psychological benefits.

Eat Well

What we eat has a big impact on how we feel, mentally as well as physically. Your brain needs nutrients to stay healthy, certain types of food contain essential components for good mental health. Remember what is good for you physically is good for you mentally.

Avoid Alcohol

Alcohol is a depressant, we drink alcohol to change our mood. Drinking a lot can harm your brain and lead to depression. Short term it may make you feel better but when the drink wears off, you feel worse and are more likely to get the blues. It becomes a vicious cycle.

Stay in Touch

There’s nothing better than catching up with friends and family, try to invest your time in people you care about. Give them a call or chat to them online. Communicate more, conversation can solve most problems.

Get Help and Advice

Asking for help is not a sign of weakness it is a way of staying strong, help to create a culture where asking for help is encouraged. As well as family and friends there are local services put in place to help you, remember everyone needs a little help from time to time.

Take Time for You

A change of pace is good for your mental health. It could be as simple as five minutes to yourself to a weekend away, or just trying something new. Just that little five minutes can de-stress you. A new environment may distract you from how bad you feel and make you focus on something else. Have a little selfish time, you deserve it.

Do Things You’re Good At

If it makes you feel happy and you enjoy doing it, then make time for this activity even if it is only to boost your self-esteem. Enjoying yourself can help beat stress, think of something you love doing now or loved doing in the past
Self-acceptance

For many people self-acceptance is hard to come by on a good day, but when you have had a bad day your self-acceptance is in shreds, its normal to feel like this. Learn to accept that you’re unique, work on your strengths and be kind to yourself. Feeling good about yourself will boosts your confidence, be proud of who you are.

Care for others

Caring for others is what brings relationships closer together.


There are many charities that offer free support if you need someone to speak to, please see below:

Samaritans
Website: www.samaritans.org
Telephone: 116 123

Mind
Website: www.mind.org.uk
Telephone: 0300 123 3393

Rethink Mental Illness
Website: www.rethink.org
Telephone: 0300 5000 927





https://www.thsp.co.uk/2017/10/10-ways-promote-positive-mental-health/

Celebrating Mental Health Awareness Week

 October 11th -15th we will be celebrating Mental Health Awareness week throughout DAA. Our focus is on promoting positive mental health and wellbeing. Activities will be provided across the school for students to learn more about and practice skills that promote wellbeing. 

We will also be providing articles each day on our MS Counseling blog to support this initiative.

Let's work together to create a community that values mental health and supports each other positively!

Child Mind Institute Facebook Group

 Child Mind Institute has a wealth of information on offer on their website and their facebook group offers live sessions and question/answer sessions. It provides you with valuable mental health resources at your fingertips.

https://www.facebook.com/ChildMindInstitute/

Secrets of a Healthy Mind Webinar

MEETING LINK: https://bit.ly/32pMn4z

Instructions for how to join this webinar will be shared separately in advance.

 

Tips for Communicating With Your Teen

The teenage years have a lot in common with the terrible twos. During both stages our kids are doing exciting new things, but they’re also pushing boundaries (and buttons) and throwing tantrums. The major developmental task facing both age groups is also the same: kids must pull away from parents and begin to assert their own independence. No wonder they sometimes act as if they think they’re the center of the universe...

You can navigate these challenging times with the support of effective communication.  This article contains some fantastic tips to communicating openly and honestly with your teen.

https://childmind.org/article/tips-communicating-with-teen/

Anxiety Information and Relaxation Strategies.

Anxiety in kids is more common now than ever! The world we are living in can be incredibly stressful and our kids are having to cope with more and more at younger ages.

Please find below more information about anxiety in children and some relaxation strategies that you can do right alongside with your children.

This information is courtesy of Kids First Medical Center

Anxiety in Kids

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZ1VGQw69E8&feature=youtu.be

Relaxation Strategies

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQM_nsg1vyw&feature=youtu.be

Supporting Student Connections – Middle School Ambassadors

The Middle School Student Ambassadors would like to extend an invitation to join them on Zoom for a chance to connect with other students. This session is mainly for students that are fully remote…but all are welcome. 

 

Topic: Supporting Student Connections – Middle School Ambassadors

 

Date: Tuesday, September 22, 2020

 

Time: 3:00-4:00pm (Dubai)

Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/4414469243?pwd=MVN4RmJJYnYvRGVXWmdwb3ZpRklZUT09 

Meeting ID: 441 446 9243

Passcode: 354888 

Upcoming Parenting Webinars - The Lighthouse Center For Wellbeing

Meeting Link: https://bit.ly/3aBytyO

Meeting Link: https://bit.ly/3j7LUd5

 

All you need to know about TikTok

 There is a very strong possibility that your children are on and obsessed with TikTok! Here is all you need to know about the dangers of TikTok and what you can do to keep your children safe!

National Online Safety Poster - TikTok

Supporting your child’s mental health as they return to school during COVID-19

 The coronavirus outbreak has caused major disruptions to daily life and children are feeling these changes deeply. While the return to school will be not only welcome but exciting for many students, others will be feeling anxious or frightened. Here are tips to help your children navigate some of the complicated emotions they may be facing with going back to school.

A very timely article with schools opening up again across the globe. It is a series fo answers to difficult questions.

https://www.unicef.org/coronavirus/supporting-your-childs-mental-health-during-covid-19-school-return?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=coronavirus

Parenting Webinars

 

Ready to Go! Parenting skills for the start of the school year Monday, September 14th at 4:00pm / 16:00

REGISTER NOW

Managing Separation Anxiety Post-Lockdown Wednesday, September 16th at 8:00pm / 20:00

REGISTER NOW

Welcome Back!

It has certainly been a whirlwind as we settle back into a school year, like no other. We are navigating uncharted territories together, and as a team we will make it through. Thank you so much for your patience and understanding as we worked out the details of the blended learning model and the new digital platforms.

We have loved having students back in the building...a school is not a school without the kids.

It's a new year and a new counseling team!

Mira Nasr - Grade 6

Pushpa Dasari - Grade 7

Christina Demers - Grade 8

We are here to help! Please reach out if you need anything or if there is a specific topic you would like us to find more information on and share.

MS Counseling Department

Have a lovely summer!

What a wild ride it has been! Thank you for your dedication and support throughout this difficult time. I am really proud of how our community came together and made this adventure work. Have a lovely summer and I look forward to seeing you all, in person, in September!! 

Stay safe, stay healthy and relax!

Positive Parenting Webinar

Are some of your parenting styles not working with your kids the way they worked for you when you were little? Learn about positive parenting skills with Therese Sequeira today June 23rd from 8-9pm. This webinar is FREE. To register, visit bit.ly/positiveparenting_webinar

How to Help Your Kids Handle Disappointment

Very timely considering the fact, that many of us are disappointed by summer plans that will not be happening...

Among the many painful effects of the coronavirus pandemic on children is the distress of losing the chance to participate in important events — sports playoffs, significant birthdays, school plays and graduations, or that big family trip to Disney World.

As the crisis goes on, even missing out on regular day-to-day activities, like sleepovers or going out for pizza, continues to be upsetting for many kids. And with summer on the horizon and kids wondering whether camp and other activities will be possible, the situation is getting tougher. Adults are going through some of the same kinds of difficulties, but they often have plenty of experience processing such challenges. Kids, on the other hand, may be experiencing these intense emotions for the first time.

https://childmind.org/article/how-to-help-your-kids-handle-disappointment/

Parenting Webinar on June 24.

Reminder about a Parenting webinar this afternoon!

How to Help Teens Manage Their Emotions and Accept Their Feelings

As we all know, being a teen is a bit like being on an emotional rollercoaster with no idea how to get off. This is an interesting read on how to support your teen in managing their emotions, especially in these stressful times when our emotional reserves may be depleted as well.

https://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/how-to-help-teens-manage-their-emotions-and-accept-their-feelings-0705175

Parenting Webinar: Parenting High Energy Kids during COVID-19

Helping Children Cope After a Traumatic Event

In the wake of a traumatic event, your comfort, support and reassurance can make children feel safe, help them manage their fears, guide them through their grief, and help them recover in a healthy way. This guide was assembled by psychiatrists, psychologists and mental health experts who specialize in crisis situations. It offers simple tips on what to expect, what to do and what to look out for. If you or your children require assistance from a mental health professional, do not hesitate to ask a doctor or other health care provider for a recommendation.

https://childmind.org/guide/helping-children-cope-traumatic-event/

Reminder - Parenting Webinar

Healing Minds.org

Healing Minds

An alternative to help your mind stay healthy.

It is normal to experience anxiety, depression, sleeping disorders etc. during the pandemic. We are here to help you to navigate life's challenges and manage your mental health. Call our toll-free number 800 MINDS (800 64637) and you can speak to our team of leading psychologists and mental health experts for free. We provide counselling in English, Hindi, Malayalam, Urdu, Tamil, Kannada, Bengali and Arabic. Individual sessions are available every day from 8 am to 12 midnight. We respect your privacy and assure confidentiality. 

 

https://healing-minds.org/

Parenting Webinar.

10 ways to read the news without feeling anxious

How to consume the current alarming news in the healthiest way possible, according to the experts...

In the world we are living in, it seems that we are constantly being inundated with breaking news that is inevitably negative...from COVID 19 to murder hornets to locusts to riots and racism...we can't catch a break! It can be easy to feel despair and become overwhelmed. This is an interesting light read with some easy to use tips to ease news related anxiety.

https://www.harpersbazaar.com/uk/culture/culture-news/news/a41925/10-ways-to-handle-bad-news-without-despairing/

How to stay motivated with remote learning

If you're finding it challenging to stay motivated right now, you're not alone. Here are some tips to help you get things done and succeed in your classes.

https://www.colorado.edu/today/2020/04/03/how-stay-motivated-remote-learning

The Perfectly Normal Reason Why Many Of Us Are Suffering FOGO: Yep, that's the fear of going out people...

An interesting read about unease towards going out after lockdown restrictions ease.

https://www.whimn.com.au/strength/mind/the-perfectly-normal-reason-why-many-of-us-are-suffering-fogo/news-story/b57c56cfa8cecbeea5ec3c57e386c077

Teenagers and Reopening: Tips for helping kids stay safe during a confusing time

It’s a trying time to be the parent of a teenager. After months of being cooped up at home away from friends, unable to attend school or go out, most kids are chomping at the bit to get back to the lives they had before the pandemic. Getting teens to take safety seriously is a struggle at the best of times, and as the nation moves towards reopening, it’s never been more important to ensure kids are following the rules.

https://childmind.org/article/teenagers-and-reopening/

How Parents Can Help Their Kids While Managing Distance Learning

Several experienced educators offer advice for mothers and fathers who need a hand due to being repurposed as teachers or managers of their kids’ schoolwork

https://www.kqed.org/mindshift/55621/how-parents-can-help-their-kids-while-managing-distance-learning

How to help your teenager with staying home during lockdown - and transitioning out of lockdown

As restrictions ease across the UAE, there are still many people who are not fully comfortable returning to life as we knew it before the lockdowns. It can be hard though to try to explain why to your teen or to help them understand the importance of caution.

This is an interesting article with some great tips to help transition out of lockdown.

If you’re struggling to keep your teenager in the house and sticking to lockdown rules, know that you’re definitely not alone.
Teenage brains work differently than adult brains. Developing independence and freedom is one of the central parts of being a teenager, and at the same time they’re also relying on the impulse areas of their brains rather than the decision-making areas of their brains. Combined, that means they are much more focussed on living for today, having fun, testing boundaries and exploring their identity then they are following rules. It’s completely normal that they focus on these things, and begins to explain why they might find lockdown so hard.

https://www.barnardos.org.uk/blog/how-help-your-teenager-staying-home-during-lockdown

UAE sets up free national helpline to support mental health

A national hotline has been set up in the UAE to support the mental health of vulnerable people during the coronavirus outbreak.

Run by the UAE National Programme for Happiness and Wellbeing (NPHW), the hotline will help people cope with stress, fear and anxiety.

Those in need can call on toll-free support line, 800-4673 (Hope) or connect on WhatsApp to speak directly with specialists.

The service is available in Arabic and English.

A voice of hope - Morgan Freeman

A positive and uplifting video narrated by Morgan Freeman.

https://twitter.com/morgan_freeman/status/1253776405080375296

Telehealth Services - Child Mind Institute

As this Pandemic and all the restrictions it places upon us lingers there has been a documented rise in mental health challenges. If you or someone you know is struggling, please do reach out. 
Below are a variety of services offered by The Child Mind Institute. They are quite comprehensive.

https://childmind.org/our-care/telehealth/covid-telehealth-support/

Telehealth Services During COVID-19

In addition to our existing clinical care, we are now offering additional telehealth services during COVID-19.

We’re here to help you wherever you are.

 

Call Us: 877.203.3452

 

Flat-Fee Phone Consultations

Connect with a clinician on our team. $150 for 30 minutes — topics can include:

• Talking to children about the coronavirus crisis
• Managing behavior and attention during remote learning
• Setting limits around screen time and gaming
• Maintaining social relationships during social distancing
• Identifying and coping with signs of stress and anxiety in you and your family

Remote Learning

• Remote neuropsychological evaluations for children 6 years and older
• Tutoring in remote learning for reading, writing and math: $150 for 45 minutes
• Support for test prep and organizational skills
• Support for college students struggling with organizational skills and executive functioning

Support for Challenging Behaviors

• Managing disruptive behaviors (Parent-Child Interaction Therapy and Parent Management Training)
• Behavioral and Emotional Skills Training (BEST) bootcamp for caregivers

Anxiety Support for Parents, Children and Teens

• Parents of Anxious Children and Teens (PACT) Webinar
• Brave Buddies: Remote, intensive group program designed to help children with selective mutism (SM).
  Ages: 3-12 years old
• Social Anxiety Groups: Remote groups to teach children, adolescents and young adults coping skills to manage their anxiety in a supportive environment through exposures.
  Ages: 9-24 years old
• OCD Treatment Group: Virtual group treatment for children, teens and young adults with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
  Ages: 9-18+ years old

Mood and Emotional Support

• Grief & Bereavement Group: Weekly group therapy session for adults and parents who are coping with the loss of a loved one
• Support for college students struggling with social and emotional challenges
• DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy) and Radically Open DBT
  DBT helps children and preadolescents who struggle with big feelings and behaviors. Treatment includes working directly with parents and 24-hour coaching by phone.
  Ages: Children, teens and young adults

Coronavirus Parenting: Managing Anger and Frustration

Parents everywhere are losing their temper and yelling at their kids. How to maintain your cool under stress.

https://childmind.org/article/coronavirus-parenting-managing-anger-and-frustration/

Teens & COVID-19: Challenges and Opportunities During the Outbreak

Social distancing to slow the spread of COVID-19 can be especially hard for teens, who may feel cut off from their friends. Many also face big letdowns as graduations, proms, sports seasons, college visits and other long-planned events are cancelled or postponed.

Here are a few ways you can help your teen through this difficult time.

https://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/chest-lungs/Pages/Teens-and-COVID-19.aspx

A Teen Guide to Surviving Lockdown

We all struggle with the idea of lockdown and feeling disconnected from others. Teens feel this even more so than adults or younger children. This resource has been shared across counseling networks in Dubai and we hope you find it useful.
Teen's Guide To Surviving Lockdown

Anxiety and Coping With the Coronavirus

We’re all on edge because of the coronavirus. Our daily lives have been disrupted, we aren’t sure what tomorrow may bring, and for many of us the nonstop news and social media coverage isn’t helping.

Our experts say that dealing with your own anxiety can be the most powerful way to make sure your kids feel secure. If you or your children are feeling worried, learning how to deal with that anxiety in a healthy way can help the whole family be more resilient, both now and when the pandemic is finally over.

Read the full article at  https://childmind.org/article/anxiety-and-coping-with-coronavirus/

Some more fantastic cultural opportunities that you can enjoy...from your home

Please follow the link below for a fantastic compilation of cultural experiences that you can enjoy from the comfort of your couch!

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1j1FWFhKw3At_BhJstATEzqglAMCdMIdF/view?usp=sharing

Reminder! Wellbeing Webinar - Cultivating Self-Compassion during COVID-19

Please join us for a K-12 webinar on Monday, May 11th for 2-3pm.

Cultivating Self-Compassion during COVID-19

About this webinar:
In the face of change and uncertainty, we are made to adapt to new realities and environments that are unfamiliar and sometimes unideal. More than ever, it is vital to live in the present and respond to our circumstances with self-compassion. With situational life changes, daily stressors, and increased time in solitude, it can be common to experience a harsher and louder inner-critic that is difficult to silence. In this webinar, you will learn strategies to tackle your critical inner voice, and understand how to face the changes brought about by the COVID-19 crisis with more compassion and humanity, especially towards oneself.

Helping Children Cope With Changes Resulting From COVID-19

Families across the country are adapting to the evolving changes in daily life caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Most schools, places of public gathering, and nonessential businesses are closed, and parents and other caregivers are faced with helping their families adjust to the new normal. This includes trying to keep children occupied, feeling safe, and attempting to keep up with schoolwork as best as possible. None of this is easy, but it helps to stay focused on what is possible in order to reinforce a sense of control and to reassure children that they are okay, and that the situation will get better.

https://www.nasponline.org/resources-and-publications/resources-and-podcasts/school-climate-safety-and-crisis/health-crisis-resources/helping-children-cope-with-changes-resulting-from-covid-19

The Great Realization

And on a lighter more positive note.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nw5KQMXDiM4&feature=youtu.be&fbclid=IwAR3NPXxdgZwKTfFw_tZ0u2-Un8oPHOJnuWOD1JGZTuGaN5vE9puCm0E-uYQ

REMINDER!!! K-12 webinar: Cultivating Self-Compassion during COVID-19 - Tomorrow

Please join us for a K-12 webinar on Monday, May 11th for 2-3pm.

Cultivating Self-Compassion during COVID-19

About this webinar:
In the face of change and uncertainty, we are made to adapt to new realities and environments that are unfamiliar and sometimes unideal. More than ever, it is vital to live in the present and respond to our circumstances with self-compassion. With situational life changes, daily stressors, and increased time in solitude, it can be common to experience a harsher and louder inner-critic that is difficult to silence. In this webinar, you will learn strategies to tackle your critical inner voice, and understand how to face the changes brought about by the COVID-19 crisis with more compassion and humanity, especially towards oneself.

How to Reduce the Stress of Homeschooling on Everyone

A school psychologist offers advice to parents on how to support their child during school closures.

https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/how_to_reduce_the_stress_of_homeschooling_on_everyone

Parenting During Coronavirus: You Are Enough

The expectations for being “perfect” during quarantine can add up. The best thing we can do right now is give ourselves what our friends offer us so willingly — the reminder that we are enough.https://www.pbs.org/parents/thrive/parenting-during-coronavirus-you-are-enough

How to effectively motivate your kids during the pandemic

Wendy Grolnick, a psychologist and parenting expert who has worked with parents in disaster situations, has studied how parents can help children become more self-motivated and decrease conflict in the family. In this piece she shares some strategies to make the house run more smoothly during the coronavirus crisis.

https://us.cnn.com/2020/04/28/health/parents-motivate-children-quarantine-coronavirus-conversation-wellness/index.html

Therapists Answer Your Top Questions About Coronavirus Anxiety

https://advice.shinetext.com/articles/therapists-answer-your-top-questions-about-coronavirus-anxiety/?utm_source=Shine&utm_medium=CareForYourCoronavirusAnxiety

Streaming documentaries for the whole family

50+ Best Streaming Documentaries to Watch as a Family - why not make the most of downtime screen time? We are all trying to limit our screen time...sometimes with some measure of success and often times without. Unfortunately, for most of us, it is the most accessible form of entertainment for the whole family.  So why not at least learn something in the process? This list has something for everyone...guaranteed.
https://www.weareteachers.com/documentaries-for-kids/?utm_content=1587067467&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook

Changing your mindset will help you manage during quarantine and lockdowns

Your Only Goal Is to Arrive
To survive quarantine, you need to change your metrics
https://forge.medium.com/to-survive-the-quarantine-change-your-metrics-e345d79be14b

reminder! Webinar tomorrow

This is open to all our DAA community...and if you know someone outside of our DAA community who would benefit...please feel free to send it on to them. We're all in this together!

Our homes have become our workplace, school, and the center of our family life. Juggling all these roles is challenging to say the least! We hope you will join us for a webinar focused on staying productive while working from home.

Date: Tuesday, April 28, 2020
Time: 3-4pm
Location: The comfort of your own home.

Thank you to the fantastic team at the Lighthouse for offering this complimentary webinars for the DAA community!


Meeting Link: https://bit.ly/3alUEHD
Be sure to click the link and register before the advertised start time.

Self-Care in the Time of Coronavirus

When you’re a parent, self-care often slips to the bottom of the list. But taking care of yourself isn’t a luxury. It’s essential. And during this difficult time, when children are home and stress is running high, it’s more important than ever. Here are five tips from our clinicians that can help.

Read the full article at https://childmind.org/article/self-care-in-the-time-of-coronavirus/

Staying Productive While Working From Home

Our homes have become our workplace, school, and the center of our family life. Juggling all these roles is challenging to say the least! We hope you will join us for a webinar focused on staying productive while working from home.

Date: Tuesday, April 28, 2020
Time: 3-4pm
Location: The comfort of your own home.

Thank you to the fantastic team at the Lighthouse for offering this complimentary webinars for the DAA community!


Meeting Link: https://bit.ly/3alUEHD
Be sure to click the link and register before the advertised start time.

A webinar supporting working parents during Covid 19.

We know it is not easy to juggle all the roles you are playing now...and the stress of the situation we find ourselves in has begun to wear you down, we're sure. Sometimes it's nice to just talk to and get real tips from other parents who are in the same situation. Please find some information below about a webinar that hopes to provide support for parents with working and learning from home.
Mira & Frank

From the Coach Link

We are now weeks into life with COVID19 in the world. I hope that all is still well with you and everyone that you know and love.

Like everyone else, we are navigating our way around doing everything from home - two full time working adults plus a child that is learning from home. It is not always easy, but it is not always horrific either. We try not to dwell too much about what we are "missing" because we are blessed in so many ways.

One of those is the ability to have internet that enables connections with the outside world. We are able to work, learn and socialize during these times.

The other thing that I love about the power of the internet is the ability to continue to serve our customers, clients and partners who I deeply care about. It also gives me the potential to reach more people who might need support during these times.

This Wednesday, April 22nd @ 4 PM - 5 PM I will be part of a FREE live webinar organized byTheCoachLink. Fellow coach, Agni Skafidas, and I will share some real talk about what it is like for working parents during COVID19. 

During this session, I will be super transparent about what it's like for me personally - the good, the bad and the ugly - and I will also share some helpful tips that you can try (and what has worked for me personally) as you navigate your way through these times.

Some of the areas we will be covering are: 

• Managing your productivity at home
• Understanding the different expectations attached to our many roles ( mother, father, wife, sister , daughter in law / sister in law , friend , boss , colleague and also now a teacher )
• Gaining clarity on which areas to adjust and simplify
• Redefining your new normal and crating your approach to find zen amidst a pandemic.

Sign up at this EventBrite link to register for FREE!

A focus on student wellness

An entire site dedicated to student wellness!
https://sites.google.com/view/hightechhighcov19wellness/student-wellness?authuser=1&fbclid=IwAR2eWr7RcvAMsq9rgPQm1lSiV5UFJy1JKYbbNjReTdqoTMCY28VsWQxpzdc

There are virtual relaxation rooms, activities, and live wellness sessions. This is definitely a site to bookmark!

Telehealth services offered by the Child Mind Institute.

The clinicians employed by Child Mind Institute are experts in the diagnosis and treatment of children and adolescents with emotional, behavioral and learning problems. They work with children, teens and young adults across the country and internationally.

https://childmind.org/our-care/telehealth/#panel2

*This service is not endorsed by GEMS Dubai American Academy. This post is purely for informational purposes.

Talking to our children about COVID-19

An informative and brief video with some pointers regarding talking to your children about COVID-19.
Presented by Dr. Amy Bailey from Kids First Medical Center.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6RZntxVVWMw

Cultivating Health, Well-Being, Joy & Compassion While in Solitude

An interesting and complimentary webinar. Please note that this will take place at 8pm (Dubai time) on Saturday the 18th of April. Follow the link below to read more about the presenter and to register for the webinar.

https://www.awakin.org/calls/465/stephanie-nash/

Wellness Webinar - Emotional Resilience During Uncertain Times

We would just like to send out a BIG thank you to Dr. Afridi, from the Lighthouse Center for Wellbeing, for a fantastic webinar yesterday. It was nice to stop, breathe and focus on our own wellbeing for a little while. We walked away with some great tips on emotional regulation and managing our mental health as we go through this incredibly challenging time.
Thank you to those that were able to join!

An extensive bank of museums and galleries with virtual tours

Just because we are staying home, it doesn't mean we can't enjoy a little history and culture. If anything, we can skip long queues, crowds taking pictures, and hefty ticket prices. Why not take a tour of a museum with your kids at home this weekend?

Within the attached pdf are links to the museums and art galleries.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hZjgEjHR-xQm0qiEIgl38Kkb4pVrFqMR/view?usp=sharing

Thank you to Mr. Padraig Downey for sharing this fantastic resource!

Coronavirus: 5 lessons from a teacher-parent at home

We are all learning new things about ourselves...and our children, as we have moved to working and studying from home. This article applies directly to teacher-parents...but some of the lessons can be applicable to all work sectors.

https://www.tes.com/news/coronavirus-5-things-learned-working-home-while-home-educating?utm_campaign=14135212&utm_content=Daily-Register-310320&utm_source=exact-target&utm_medium=email

Reminder of the complimentary webinar for the DAA community

Meeting Link: https://bit.ly/2UP2u7U

The constant battle of keeping your kids indoors...peacefully

How to Help Teens Shelter in Place
Teens are not made for isolation, which makes COVID-19 especially hard on them. Here's how to help your teenager to see the bigger picture.

BY CHRISTINE CARTER | MARCH 20, 2020https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/how_to_help_teens_shelter_in_place

Taaluf Family Counseling

The Ministry of Community Development, MoCD, has launched four interactive channels under a new initiative named 'Taaluf' to provide family counseling for free to all UAE community members.
https://www.emirates247.com/news/emirates/mocd-launches-taaluf-counselling-initiative-2020-03-31-1.693782

https://www.mocd.gov.ae/ar/services/family-counseling.aspx - use this link to register

Daily guided mindfulness sessions

The Center for Mindfulness and Compassion is offering free guided live-online mindfulness and compassion practices every day.

They are based in the US...so please be aware that they are 8 hours behind us here in Dubai. Most of the free sessions that they are hosting are in the morning (for them) which makes it perfect for an end-of-the-day relaxation exercise for us here in Dubai.
https://www.chacmc.org/connect?fbclid=IwAR2Z6QqI81pCywjepD9yirYmPPuTfouGjIj3m0-02qfbCueiXiWPc2AufJ0

Complimentary Webinar for the DAA Community

Link for the poster

Emotional Regulation in Uncertain Times

This pre-recorded webinar presents :

Evidence-based Strategies for Regulating Emotions In Uncertain Times

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ctSWJ2BLDC8&feature=youtu.be

VIRTUAL WELLNESS WEEK - hosted by local business Tania's Teahouse

Just for a little levity, change of pace and self-care.

https://www.taniasteahouse.com/virtual-wellness-week

VIRTUAL WELLNESS WEEK

from: TUESDAY 7th APRIL - WEDNESDAY 15th APRIL 2020

Tania’s Teahouse is launching a virtual wellness week which you can join from the comfort of your home!

In an effort to support local businesses and provide wellness tips to our communi-tea we’ve collaborated with a number of inspiring experts who host informative and useful sessions virtually, everyday at 10.00 AM and 4.00 PM, on how to reduce symptoms of anxiety, depression and quarantine-related cabin fever; we have all sorts of wellness methods featured- from yoga, cooking classes, tea talks and art therapy, to practical tips from health professionals who will help revamp your self-care routine!

Most of the workshops will be interactive or have Q&A sessions at the end. Should you miss any of the sessions they will be accessible for 24 Hours afterwards too.

Hosted on @TaniasTeahouse IGTV

check out our schedule below:

week 1

 Week 2