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Coping Skills for Children: Dealing with Crisis, Trauma, and Anxiety

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The world is a dangerous place. There are crises and traumas that happen every single day, all over the globe. They are constantly bombarded with new information and situations that they don’t always understand. Children are often the most vulnerable during times of crisis and trauma, which is why it’s important to teach them coping skills. This can lead to feelings of anxiety, fear, or even depression.  Children need coping skills  to help them manage these events in their lives and move on from them when they do happen. In this article, we will discuss some of the  best ways  for children to cope with crisis, trauma, or anxiety. You may not know what to say to your child during a time of crisis or trauma because you have never been through anything like it yourself, these tips will help you understand how to prepare your child before an event happens so that he or she can feel more confident in dealing with it themselves! What are Coping Skills and Why Are They Imp...

Limiting screen time for kids

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Preschool-age children are naturally full of curiosity and creativity. They love learning about interesting things while developing new skills that involve their bodies and minds. Education and entertainment options are plentiful online and through electronic media like television and a cell phone. However, many experts are concerned that children of all ages are spending too much time in front of a digital screen. The following suggestions can help to limit screen time for young children and provide alternate activities for fun and learning. Offer Choices Children who love playing video games or watching favorite television shows may expect to spend considerable time doing these things. Let them choose two games or programs that they enjoy most as the ones they can play for the day. The opportunity to make decisions about playtime can help to satisfy their desire to be in control of their activities. Monitor Screen Activities The daycare center’s computer can be programmed with age-a...

Helping a Child Transition into Daycare

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  Daycare  Transition Can be Hard on a Child, Here are Some Helpful Tips The reality of putting your child or little one in daycare is a daunting task that you and other parents are not looking forward to doing, but unfortunately, this must be done, especially if you’re working. The thought of leaving your minor in day care for a long time can be overwhelming to both parent and child. Exposing them to an environment that they are not familiar with can cause them to suffer from separation anxiety. Below you will find tips that can help yourself and your little one transition to the new routine. · Researching different daycares –  Before deciding on which day-care to send them, you must do research. It would help if you considered talking to other parents and also the staff of the day care. You can also ask to visit one day to get a better understanding of how things operate daily. Doing this will assist you in dealing with the anxiety of sending them there and boost your c...

Helping Children Deal With Stress

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Kids   can experience stress for the same reasons that adults do, including a change in routine, family tensions, and inadequate sleep or nutrition. While some children keep their stress hidden, others display clear symptoms that should be noted and addressed. Unplanned Circumstances Many things can cause young children to become more fearful. Enrolling in a new daycare center, for example, places the child in a new environment where everything seems strange or unusual. A parent who is chronically or acutely ill can increase a child’s stress. Caregivers can do several things to help a child overcome a sense of fear. Offer reassurance that the situation is safe, and that noting bad will happen. Talk quietly and comfortingly about the situation, and let the child ask questions. Be honest about potential or real difficulties while providing assurance that everything is under control. Change of Environment Children who are adopted or placed in foster care as well as those who move to a...

Creativity and Self-Expression through Art

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Have you ever had a hard time guessing what your toddler draws? As adults, we tend to focus on what the drawing means, instead of seeing the bigger picture.  Children use art as a newfound way to express what they like, who they are, and how they see the world around them. It goes beyond replicating a flower or cat shape, which is very important in itself, but instead by creating an art piece they are learning to be themselves.  Being able to express his or her feelings, thoughts, and wishes equals freedom and safety. What are the benefits of art education in early childhood? According to Kimberly Sheridan, Ed.D., coauthor of Studio Thinking: The Real Benefits of Visual Arts Education , “It’s not as easy to test the skills that children learn from the arts, but that doesn’t make them any less important”.  She noted though that participating in a school arts program increases a child’s ability to: Observe the world carefully and discard preconceptions in order to envision ...

Healthy Eating for Preschoolers

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Teaching toddlers to eat healthy food can be tough. It’s no secret that they tend to favor sweets and snacks over a plate of veggies.  However, if your child eats too many unhealthy foods now, this can harm your child’s health later and possibly cause lifelong diseases.  On the other hand, according to familydoctor.org:  “Healthful eating has many benefits for children. It can: Stabilize their energy. Improve their minds. Even out their moods. Help them maintain a healthy weight. Help prevent mental health conditions. These include depression, anxiety, and ADHD.”  For this reason, teaching your child about the importance of healthy eating and how to carry it out can be a super valuable life-hack. Here’s some advice on how to start without turning every meal into a lecture.  Establish a routine.  The longer you wait, the harder it will be to teach your kids to appreciate healthy food and introduce ‘weird’ flavors to them.  Therefore, start at a young ag...

7 Reasons Why Our Kids Need Music In Their Lives

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Music is more than entertainment. It’s a vital part of our lives since the moment we are born and our mother tries to calm us down by singing a lullaby. Music is present in almost every aspect of our lives such as theater, television, movies, holidays, celebrations, worship, and government and military ceremonies. It can also be a central part of our culture and identity.  Nowadays, recent studies have shown the incredible benefits of music education in early childhood. Check out these 7 proven benefits of music education . Brain development . Music stimulates the parts of the brain associated with academic achievement, such as reading and math, and emotional development. According to the National Association of Music Merchants Foundation (NAMM Foundation), learning to play an instrument can improve mathematical learning and even increase SAT scores. In particular, music can also engage cognitive functions, such as planning, working memory, inhibition, and flexibility. That’s why ...