Mental health check in…How’s everyone doing?

Now that everyone is back to school in some capacity, we wanted to check in…everyone hanging in? Life is a lot right now, and everyone is facing similar, yet different challenges. Those of us whose kids are fully remote, have kids home all day, and those of us whose kids are back in the classroom, whether full time or hybrid, have the schedule challenges and possible fears that come with that. It’s a lot. We gathered a few helpful resources to help ease some of the stress during time.

Babies/Toddlers: Fortunately, this set is not noticing how much life has changed, as much as older kiddos are. Toddlers may be missing their buddies at preschool and various classes. Depending on your level of comfort, playdates may be something you have incorporated back into your schedule, along with trips to the park and other outdoor fun. If you are missing the routine of preschool, but still not ready for your young ones to be back in the classroom, check out Bubbles Academy’s virtual preschool option. Bubbles is located in Chicago, but with their virtual option, you can take classes wherever you are, with kiddos from all over the country! Miss Jamie’s Farm is another great resource for keeping younger kiddos entertained virtually. Maybe you can even sneak in a hot cup of coffee while your kids are being entertained!

Early Elementary, K-2: Early elementary kiddos are old enough to know that life looks different right now. They may have friends who are back in school full time, while your family decided to do virtual school, or vice versa. This can be challenging for them to navigate and difficult for them to fully understand. Again, we understand that different families have different levels of comfort, and you need to find what works for you. If you are comfortable with your kiddos playing outdoors with friends, that can be a great way to both get the wiggles out and stay connected. If you are still more comfortable with virtual meetups, K-2 kids are more tech savvy than a lot of adults and have no problem navigating a good game of FaceTime “I spy” or even a board game! Mommy Poppins put together a list of great virtual game ideas!

Older Elementary, 3-5: This age group is definitely feeling all the things! Older elementary kiddos can be tricky to navigate in general, throw in a global pandemic and holy moly! One advantage to this age group, is their ability to understand “social distancing.” If you are comfortable with playdates, these kiddos can better understand maintaining distance and/or the importance of wearing a mask. If you have gamers, this group is also old enough to play video games online with their friends, which can be a great way for them to have virtual “playdates.” Older elementary kiddos are also old enough for solo crafting. Check out some of the ideas we’ve pinned for you on Pinterest.

Middle to High School: By the time kids reach middle and high school, they are generally fully plugged into technology, which has it’s definite pros and cons. One pro is their ability to more easily stay connected to their friends and the attention span to sit through virtual classes. One of the cons can be that they are constantly connected! They also may be on social media and able to see their friends hanging out in person and/or engaging in social activities that your family isn’t comfortable with yet. Open communication is important during these years as a whole, and especially during this time, when family’s comfort levels may differ. Take the time to explain to your kids why your family has set their parameters where they have and help find ways for your kids to feel connected to their friends in ways that work for your family. This is a great article from Grown and Flown about supporting your teens during this time.

College: Most universities have gone partially, if not fully remote, and with that, came the question, “Do we send our kids back to campus, or keep them home?”. We found this article from the New York Times with some helpful advice on how to help support your student, whether at home or on campus.

Parents/Caregivers: How are YOU doing? Taking care of the mental health of your kiddos can really take a toll, and cause you to put your own mental health on the back burner. You may be dealing with your own increased anxiety during this time, trying to juggle it all. In a lot of households EVERYONE is home…everyone. It’s a lot. Did we mention it’s a lot? It is. It is important for parents and caregivers to find ways to stay connected with their own friends and family and also to maintain some level of normalcy for yourselves. This article from Johns Hopkins is a quick read of five mental health strategies for parents. There is a reason you can’t find any home gym equipment anywhere…everyone is creating at home gyms to help maintain their sanity! One of our very talented nannies, Allynn*, shared this article she wrote for the Huffington Post a few years ago and the information is very relevant in our current climate. Remember the importance of community, even if it’s virtual and don’t be afraid to reach out to your village for support. We’re all in this together!

*Allynn Taylor is a Life Coach and owner of Sip Of Positivitea. You can find her on Facebook and Instagram