Get Creative At Home

For many of us Memorial Day marks the start of summer and brings us to a nostalgic time of
longer days and warm nights.  While this summer will look different, we can still find ways to
celebrate summer fun safely!  It is important for children to experience aspects of normalcy
and for adults, it can help to step away from many of the stressors and watch your children
enjoy some of Vermont’s most beautiful days.  Finding outdoor activities you can enjoy from
the comfort of your own home will be a big part of summer this year.  Here are some fun ideas
to try this weekend or anytime this summer.  Enjoy the sunshine!

Make your own Sidewalk Chalk Paint

30 Kid Friendly Summer Recipes!
Make Your Own Bubbles

Mosaic Sidewalk Chalk Art

Week of May 18th, 2020

Gratitude

There are many benefits to practicing gratitude and thankfulness for children.  It can lead to higher levels of happiness & optimism, better sleep, less stress and improved resilience and improved self-esteem.  Practicing gratitude can be especially helpful during times of uncertainty or stress- it can help you reframe situations and remind you of the positive aspects of life.  

Some easy ways to practice gratitude with children include 

• Drawing a picture of something you are grateful for.
• Saying a simple "Thank You."
• Writing a card or note to someone to show your appreciation.
• Doing a small act of kindness to say Thank You.

Below is a read aloud of The Thank You Book by Mo Willems, you can use this story as a jumping off point for talking about things and people you are grateful for!

Magic Shell Meditation

Ms. Callie leads us through a guided meditation recording to help us let go of some of the lingering worry thoughts we're having.

To follow with Ms. Callie click here and request access (she usually gives access the same day you request):

Magic Shell Meditation

Week of May 11th, 2020

Last week we talked about about Social Emotional Learning and focused on Self Regulation.  We shared information about how we teach about Self Regulation at RES and the about the Zones of Regulation program.

This week we will share more strategies and tools you can use to help develop Self-Regulation skills.
An effective way to help with Self Regulation is to change the sensory input someone is getting when they are in the yellow or red zone.  So changing what you are hearing by playing music you enjoy or changing what you are feeling physically by giving yourself a nice hug/squeeze or changing what you are seeing by looking at pictures that bring happy thoughts to mind.

One tool you can use is a Happy Book (or poster).  A Happy Book is a short scrap book that includes pictures of favorite things, people, places, food, activities... Really a picture of anything that brings a smile to your face and happy thoughts to your mind.  Here is a short video that shares more information about Happy Books.

In the link section on the right you'll find more information and tools to help build self regulation skills.  We hope this information is helpful during this time (and all times)!  If you have questions, are looking for more resources or would like to connect with someone from school please let us know!

Week of May 4th, 2020

What is Social Emotional Learning (often referred to as SEL)? Here is a short and informative video explaining SEL:

Social-Emotional Learning: What Is SEL and Why SEL Matters

This week our social emotional learning focus is on Self Regulation.

What is Self Regulation? Why is it so important? How is Self Regulation taught at RES?
Please watch this video to learn the answers to these questions:

Learning about Self Regulation at RES (a video for families and students)


For families who would like to learn more about using the Zones of Regulation at home, please watch this video created by Leah Kuypers, the author of the Zones.

Using the Zones at Home

As always, we encourage families to use this information in a way that is best for your family during this pandemic and time of distance learning. If you have any questions or concerns please don't hesitate to reach out to us via email. We are all here for you and want to do all that we can to support our students and their familites during these challenging times.

Mindfulness Activity with Ms. Spaulding

Use this activity as a game with your family!  It can also help recenter and get into the green zone when we are overwhelmed by big feelings and racing thoughts.

Everything Changes Mindfulness Activity

Everything Changes

Below is a recording of a mindfulness activity with our School Services Clinician, Callie Amato. Click the link below to listen and follow along or use the written activity below.

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1POHW-Yc3L5wNAXvRkwyviVZuwWT01a-m

1.  Have you ever noticed that change is all around us and changes happen every day?  Perhaps a tree that had no buds yesterday all of a sudden has a flower on it.  Or the beautiful, sunny day that we had has changed to a cloudy, rainy day.  Change is all around us. 

2.  Some changes are big and some changes are small.  Like school closing; that was a big change!  But the hair on your head getting longer, that is a small change you might not even notice.  You might feel happy about some changes and you might feel sad about another.  That’s okay.  Changes can give us many different thoughts and emotions.

3.  Look around you and find something that has stayed the same and something else that has changed.  Maybe the sunny sky of the morning is still sunny.  Maybe the flower that was outside has lost its petals.  What do you see?

4.  Now take some time to write, draw or tell someone how you feel about these changes.

Parent's Corner

Parent’s Corner

During this time of uncertainty it can be hard not to feel overwhelmed, stressed or anxious. 

As caregivers, your role has changed dramatically in a very short period of time. You are now

caregiving, managing your household and working with your children to complete school work. 

Many of you may be working in or out of your home. It is likely your children have asked

questions about the future, expressed fear or concern for the unknown and demonstrated big

emotions.  It is normal for your children to appear anxious, sad, scared, angry and anything in

between. As caregivers, your children are constantly looking to you for cues regarding safety

and direction in this very challenging and ever changing time.  It is important to remember

that your children are still developing socially and emotionally, which means they may not have

all the skills to regulate and process their experiences. This is why you may see your child have

big reactions or focus solely on how this new way of life impacts them.  However, when caregivers are able to co-regulate with their children they can help guide them through the most difficult of times.  Perhaps the biggest challenge for caregivers to co-regulate is that they themselves must develop self-care routines and a positive mindset.  Add that to the list of things to do! As a team at RES we recognize the incredible pressure caregivers are feeling today and hope we can support you in not only caring for your children, but also yourselves.  Below are some tips for co-regulation and self-care during these challenging times:

• When your children are experiencing emotional responses, staying calm and present while validating their experiences allows for you to co-regulate and provides a sense of safety.  Offer truthful reassurance focused on what you can control. This may sound like, “I hear you saying you feel scared about what is happening.  That is a normal feeling to have right now and I can understand why you feel that way.  I know that as a family we are doing all the right things to stay healthy and help our community.  We are doing our part and that is really important.”   
• It is important that your children understand your experiences.  It is OK to tell your child that you feel worry, stress or sadness and reassure them that as their caregiver you are helping to keep them safe.  
• Let your child know that if something changes and they need to know that you will tell them.  Giving your child a sense of control through knowledge while demonstrating calmness establishes security.  
• Children may have big reactions to situations that previously wouldn’t bother them.  Allow your child to safely express this emotion while staying calm and present. When your child has calmed, gently process the situation.  
• If you and your child are having a difficult time completing school work take a break and make a plan to return to the work when you are both ready.  Encourage your child to do something regulating and do the same for yourself! 
• If your child is having a difficult time develop a positive mantra to say to yourself that will keep you calm.  For example, “this too shall pass” or “my child is doing the best he/she/they can in this moment.”
• Create a schedule for gathering your news and consider your resources.  
• Set time frames for school work with your child and stick to those!  If you don’t know how long each activity should take, ask your child’s teacher and reach out if you have concerns about what your child is able to get done.  
• Make yourself lists with “have-to” and “tomorrow”.  Be realistic and prioritize. 
• Set up quiet time in your house and follow the same rules.  It is also important for you to decompress throughout the day.
• Find time in the day to do something for yourself, commit to that and make sure it is attainable.  This should fill your cup and not be an added stressor. Teach your children this and encourage them to do the same.
• Establish a process to recognize your energy early in the day.  Do you feel tired, rested, calm? Be honest with yourself and how this energy will carry with you throughout the day.  Adjust your plans as needed while still encouraging yourself and your children.  
• At the end of the day, tell yourself you have done all you can do and that is enough.  These are challenging times, be compassionate with yourself.