We are so stressed out with the pandemic as adults. Imagine how stressed  kids are!  Here are some ways to find out how kids are feeling and how to help them.

Part 1:  

How to find out what kids are feeling:

1) Open ended interviewing with children:  a more effective way to get information about how they are feeling

2) Make it part of your daily routine to ask open-ended questions about how their day way.

3) Short-term questions vs. Long-term questions:  often simple questions can help you gauge their perspective on things in a very meaningful way.

Part 2:

How to help support kids' mental health:

Resources: 

Books:

 * Mark R. Dixon:  ACT:  Acceptance and commitment therapy;  ACT for Children with Autism and Emotional Challenges

(available from Shawnee scientific)

* Anger Anger Management Workbook for Kids: 50 Fun Activities to Help Children Stay Calm and Make Better Choices When They Feel Mad by Samantha Snowden MA and Andrew Hill PhD 

* CBT Toolbox for Children and Adolescents:  Over 200 Worksheets & Exercises for Trauma, ADHD, Autism, Anxiety, Depression & Conduct Disorders.  Lisa Weed Phifer, Amanda K. Crowder, Tracy Elsenraat, Robert Hull.

* Coping Skills for Kids Workbook:  Over 75 Coping Skills for Kids Workbook: Over 75 Coping Strategies to Help Kids Deal with Stress, Anxietey and Anger.  By Janine Halloran.

* Wilma Jean the Worry Machine.  

Helpful Apps:  

* Calm Counter 

* Stop, Breathe & Think Kids

* Calm

* Cosmic Kids Yoga (YouTube)

Articles:

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/31/well/family/children-coronavirus-grandparents-grief.html

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/09/well/family/children-anxiety-stress-pandemic.html

https://coc.unm.edu/common/manual/grief.pdf

Signs of concern:

Typical versus Atypical Depression

Remember, depression is a medical illness just like diabetes, and high blood pressure.  It needs to be treated the same way!  Take it seriously!!