CDA

Tammy Tait

Hello, my name is Tammy Tait and I am the Child Development Advisor at Heloise Lorimer School.  My focus is on supporting students social and emotional health, especially at times like these.  Some helpful tips include:

• Being aware of the latest information from the department of health and education through their websites
• Building a schedule/predictable routine for your children during this time of change
• Minimize time spend on gaming apps and technology
• Daily journaling (through words or pictures) during this time might be a helpful way to allow children to reflect on their feelings, and process what is happening around them.
• Encourage a daily reflection of something positive from each day, as well as something they learned each day

Below is some information to support you in talking to your children about COVID-19:

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/talking-with-children.html

https://www.nctsn.org/sites/default/files/resources/fact-sheet/outbreak_factsheet_1.pdf?mc_cid=05e9199e36&mc_eid=6ea5940149

https://globalnews.ca/news/6671709/talk-to-kids-about-coronavirus/

https://www.nasponline.org/resources-and-publications/resources-and-podcasts/school-climate-safety-and-crisis/health-crisis-resources/talking-to-children-about-covid-19-(coronavirus)-a-parent-resource

If you are looking for other ways to support your children’s social emotional development while at home, please check out the links below:

Zones of Regulation: Helps identify your child’s emotions, and targets strategies to use based on how they are feeling:

http://www.zonesofregulation.com/index.html

Take a few minutes each day to practice being mindful with your children, with apps such as Smiling Mind:

https://www.smilingmind.com.au/

Help your children with their social thinking skills:

https://www.socialthinking.com/eLearning/aha-teaching-moments

Focus on resiliency:

https://www.foothillsnetwork.ca/Foothillsnetwork/media/Files/Resources/Social%20and%20Emotional%20Development/tms-prov-amh-mhpip-bbrbs-5-to-8-years-(002).pdf

If you are looking for more specific resources, you can search a variety of topics here:

http://www.selresources.com/

If you, or your child needs more specific mental health supports, you can contact:

Kids Help Phone 1.800.668.6868

Airdrie Mental Health 403.943.1500

Distress Centre 403.266.4357

ConnectTeen 403.264.8336

If you need help accessing other services (such as financial supports or food/basic needs), during these times, dial 211 or contact https://www.ab.211.ca/

“We will get through this together – but from a distance”

Stay strong, Knights!