October 4, 2021 Sesame Street in Communities: Exploring Emotions Feelings come in all shapes and sizes. When you help children express and understand their emotions, you’re helping them to overcome challenges, understand others, and communicate. More Information Sesame Street in Communities: Exploring Emotions gives parents the tools to help their children learn about their feelings. Worksheet activities, videos, and articles will guide children as they handle big feelings, little ones, and every feeling in between.
April 23, 2021 Art Activities that Encourage Social-Emotional Development Play helps to build social-emotional skills. When children practice social-emotional skills, they gain access to a toolkit of strategies that help them build and maintain relationships; recognize, cope with, and express their emotions; collaborate effectively with others; and more. To encourage the social-emotional development of your young child, add opportunities for art and creative expression into your daily routines! Activity Lists Children naturally explore and practice social-emotional skills during play, and creative art activities are a great way to introduce your child to new topics in a non-threatening, playful way. In addition to exploring social-emotional skills, creative art activities also provide children with opportunities to build their confidence, problem solve, explore their creativity, and more! For activity ideas to get you started, view the resource lists below! Hands-On Activities 5 Art Activities For Social Emotional Learning, Better Kids Art Activities for Social Emotional Learning, Pathway 2 Success 50 Activities that Support Social-Emotional Learning, The Art of Education University Mindful Art Activities for Kids, Empowering Education Online Games and Resources Online Coloring Games, PBS Kids Online Teamwork Games, PBS Kids Online Music Games, PBS Kids
Mindfulness for Children About According to the Greater Good Science Center at Berkeley University of California, mindfulness is the practice of “maintaining a moment-by-moment awareness of your thoughts, feelings, bodily sensations, and the surrounding environment through a gentle, nurturing lens.” When practiced, mindfulness techniques can relieve stress, decrease blood pressure, and regulate your breathing. Mindfulness techniques also provide opportunities for children and adults to practice self-control, compassion, kindness, and emotional regulation. Mindfulness Guide To help families learn about mindfulness, the New York Times created an online guide for families. The guide explains mindfulness and provides strategies for infants, toddlers, young children, older children, and teenagers. Additional resources are also provided. To learn more, view the guide! Additional Resources To learn more about mindfulness, view the resources listed below: Mindfulness Toolkit, Transforming Education Mindfulness for Kids, Mindful 25 Fun Mindfulness Activities for Children and Teens, Positive Psychology Mindful Art Activities for Kids, Empowering Education Ease your anxious child: 6 simple mindfulness exercises to try today, Motherly Rainbow Relaxation, The Mental Health Teacher Belly Breathing: Mindfulness for Children, The Mental Health Teacher Kids Meditation – Square Breathing (Focus & Calm), MyLife Yoga for Kids!, STORYHIVE Free Smiling Mind App
Respecting Your Child’s Boundaries Respecting your child’s boundaries matters. Every person has their own preferences when it comes to physical touch, and that includes young children. While touch is a fundamental need for babies and toddlers, it is important to teach children that they are allowed to set boundaries and have the self-confidence to stick to them. This helps them advocate for themselves and plays an important role in teaching them how to identify and get away from inappropriate or dangerous interactions with adults or others. Your child may not be comfortable hugging a person they do not know (even if that person is a family member), or they may have moments where they do not want to be tickled or touched. While it can be difficult to hear your child say that they do not want to hug or touch at that time, caregivers should not assume that a child is comfortable with an interaction or demand that they participate in that interaction. By asking for consent, caregivers help their children identify and vocalize their boundaries. These skills not only help them in the present moment but also benefit them long-term. Resources If you are interested in learning more about the benefits of teaching your child about boundaries and strategies to support, check out the following resources: Teaching Consent, Safe Secure Kids Respecting Your Child’s Personal Space and Boundaries, Missing Children’s Network Please Don’t Handle the Children, Janet Lansbury Teaching Kids About Boundaries, Child Mind Institute Respecting a Child’s Right to Say No & Make Choices About Their Own Body, The Pragmatic Parent 5 Tips for Teaching Your Kids about Boundaries, All Pro Dad
Child Wellness Brochures, Fred Rogers Center About Inspired by the legacy and work of Fred Rogers, the Fred Rogers Center created free, downloadable Child Wellness Brochures to support children and caregivers on a variety of topics related to child wellness. As Fred Rogers said, “Even in hard times such as this, you are just what your child needs.” View the Guides The Fred Rogers Center’s Child Wellness Brochures provide information and resources on the following topics: Grief, Addiction, Cancer, and Divorce & Separation. Hard copies are also available to order. To order copies, contact info@fredrogerscenter.org. More Information For more information, visit the Fred Rogers Center website.
Family Resources of Pennsylvania Parenting Warmline Parenting support is available. Are you the parent or caregiver of a young child? Are you looking for parenting support? The Family Resources of Pennsylvania Parenting Warmline is here to help. About The Family Resources of Pennsylvania Parenting Warmline is a free, confidential hotline for parents and caregivers with non-medical parenting concerns and questions. The Parenting Warmline is also able to provide referrals. The hotline is available Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., and from 1 to 5 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. Individuals who wish to call outside of those hours can leave a confidential voicemail message. A trained counselor will return the call as soon as possible. Contact the Warmline Main Number: 412.641.4546 If you live in Allegheny County, call 1.877.927.6596. If you live outside of Allegheny County, call 1.800.641.4546. Individuals can also email help@familyresources.org to access support. Learn More Family Resources of Pennsylvania provides a range of prevention, intervention, treatment, and counseling services. For more information, visit their website.
Self-Care: Resources for Families Self-Care Matters The COVID-19 pandemic has been challenging for children and adults alike. While it can seem impossible to juggle both your needs and your family’s everyday needs, make sure to prioritize your well-being as a parent or caregiver. This will not only benefit your health and wellbeing but will also benefit your family. About To help families identify ways to prioritize self-care, Child Mind Institute created the resource, “Self-Care in the Time of Coronavirus.” The resource explores strategies families can incorporate, including setting boundaries, prioritizing healthy choices, reconnecting with things you enjoy, and more. Self-Care Resources For information on how to prioritize self-care, view the full article by Child Mind Institute and check out the following resources: A Guide to Self-Care for Parents: Why Making Time For Yourself Matters, Waterford Importance of Self-Care: Why Parents Need Time Out to Recharge, HealthyChildren 25 Simple Self-Care Tools for Parents, Psychology Today Self-Care for Parents, PBS Kids Raising Socially Conscious Kids: Self Care for Parents, First Up Five Things You Should Know About Stress, National Institute of Mental Health
Social-Emotional Development: Family Resources Support your child’s development. Social-emotional skills play an important role in the lives of parents, caregivers, and children. If you are interested in learning about social-emotional development, activities, tools, and more, check out our list of resources below. Social-Emotional Development Developing Social-Emotional Skills, ZERO TO THREE Building Social and Emotional Skills at Home, NAEYC List of Developmental Milestones, CDC Milestone Tracker App, CDC Helping Kids Express Their Emotions, PBS Kids for Parents Emotions & Self-Awareness, PBS Kids for Parents Social Skills, PBS Kids for Parents How to Help Your Child Develop Empathy, ZERO TO THREE How Children Really Learn Empathy, Janet Lansbury Being The Person Our Children Confide In, Janet Lansbury No Angry Kids – Fostering Emotional Literacy In Our Children, Janet Lansbury Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood Episodes, Fred Rogers Productions How Technology Affects Kids’ Social Emotional Learning, Common Sense Media Self-Esteem and Confidence Developing Self-Esteem in the Early Years, ZERO TO THREE Empowering a Passive or “Shy” Child, Janet Lansbury Nurturing Your Child’s Independence, PBS Kids for Parents Most Effective Ways to Help Kids Who Are Too Hard on Themselves, PBS Kids for Parents 12 Tips for Raising Confident Kids, Child Mind Institute Your Child’s Self-Esteem, KidsHealth Challenging Emotions and Behaviors Guidance and Challenging Behaviors, NAEYC Understanding and Responding to Children Who Bite, NAEYC Responding to Your Child’s Bite, CSEFEL Tantrums, Defiance, Aggression – Oh My!, ZERO TO THREE I Said I Want the Red Bowl! Responding to Toddlers’ Irrational Behavior, ZERO TO THREE Helping Young Children Channel Their Aggression, ZERO TO THREE Managing Emotions as Parents, PBS Kids for Parents How to Be a Less Anxious Parent and Enjoy Your Child, Janet Lansbury 5 Ways to Help Kids Build Resilience, PBS Kids for Parents Family Guides and Tip Sheets Mindfulness for Children Guide, New York Times How to Get Help for Your Child (English & Spanish), CDC How to Help Your Child Understand and Label Emotions, TACSEI How to Help Your Child Recognize & Understand Sadness, TACSEI How to Help Your Child Recognize & Understand Anger, TACSEI Teaching Your Child About Feelings from Birth to Age 2, CSEFEL Mindfulness Toolkit, Transforming Education Trauma-Informed SEL Toolkit, Transforming Education A Parent’s Resource Guide to Social and Emotional Learning, Edutopia Social And Emotional Learning Activities For Families And Educators Let’s Talk About Feelings, Child Care Aware of America Activities for Children Using Emojis With Kids to Express Feelings, PBS Kids for Parents 10+ Social Emotional Activities for Home, Pathway 2 Success 5 Art Activities For Social Emotional Learning, Better Kids Art Activities for Social Emotional Learning, Pathway 2 Success 50 Activities that Support Social-Emotional Learning, The Art of Education University 5 Easy Social Emotional Learning Activities For Kids To Do At Home, Better Kids Mindful Art Activities for Kids, Empowering Education Online Coloring Games, PBS Kids Online Teamwork Games, PBS Kids Online Music Games, PBS Kids Meditation Apps for Kids, Common Sense Media 17 Apps to Help Kids Stay Focused, Common Sense Media Best for Character Development, Common Sense Media MotherCould Instagram Account Self Care 11 Simple Self-Care Habits for Kids, PBS Kids for Parents A Guide to Self-Care for Parents: Why Making Time For Yourself Matters, Waterford Importance of Self-Care: Why Parents Need Time Out to Recharge, HealthyChildren 25 Simple Self-Care Tools for Parents, Psychology Today Self-Care for Parents, PBS Kids Support Services Jeremiah’s Place Jeremiah’s Place provides a safe haven of respite, health, renewal, and support for children and families during times of crisis. Services are provided for free and are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Family Resources of Pennsylvania Parenting Warmline This is a free, confidential hotline for parents and caregivers with non-medical parenting concerns and questions. Their main number is 412.641.4546, or you can email help@familyresources.org to access support. If you live in Allegheny County, call 1.877.927.6596. If you live outside of Allegheny County, call 1.800.641.4546. PA 2.1.1 Southwest (Call 2.1.1 or text your zip code to 898.211.) PA 2.1.1. Southwest provides access to an extensive list of resources for families in Southwestern Pennsylvania. Specialists can provide referrals to human needs resources, physical and mental health resources, child care programs, and more. Pennsylvania Family Support Programs Family Centers in Allegheny County SAMHSA National Helpline (1.800.662.4357) This is a free, confidential information service for individuals and family members facing mental and/or substance use disorders. This service provides referrals to local treatment facilities, support groups, and community-based organizations. Toll-Free 24-Hour Emotional Support Helpline (866.342.6892), Optum National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1.800.273.8255) NAMI National HelpLine Warmline Directory, NAMI SEL and Mental Health Resources for COVID-19, SEL4US Single Mom Defined Facebook Group Developmental Concerns Free “Learn the Signs. Act Early.” Materials, CDC Concerned About Your Child’s Development?, CDC “Concerned About Your Child’s Development?” in ASL, CDC Developmental Milestones, CDC Developmental Quizzes, TEIS Early Intervention Early Learning GPS, Pennsylvania’s Promise for Children Early Intervention What is “Early Intervention”?, CDC Early Intervention, Pennsylvania Department of Education Early Intervention, Peal Center Early Intervention Parent Information, The Early Learning Institute (TELI) CONNECT Helpline: The CONNECT Helpline assists families in locating resources and providing information regarding child development for children ages birth to age five. Call 1.800.692.7288, email help@connectpa.net, or submit this online form. The Alliance for Infants and Toddlers If you live in Allegheny County, call 412.885.6000. If you live outside of Allegheny County, call 1.800.692.7299. TEIS Early Intervention Call 412.271.8347, text INFO to 412.543.8398, or email info@teisinc.com. Achieva Early Intervention Early Intervention Specialists Early Intervention Program, Pittsburgh Public Schools COVID-19 How to Support Children (and Yourself) During the COVID-19 Outbreak, Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University Virus Anxiety Resources
Navigating Difficult Emotions as Caregivers: A Guide for Families About From the moment a parent or caregiver meets their child, they experience a shift in their daily lives, expectations, and roles. Navigating these changes can be difficult, but as many caregivers have said: “The experience of watching your child learn, develop, and grow is well worth it.” To support families, Trying Together developed the following guide on navigating emotions as a parent or caregiver. Although the strategies and support services included will not eliminate the challenges families face entirely, they can help make the journey a little easier. Strategies for Navigating Difficult Emotions Stay In Tune With Your Emotions Recognize that it is natural to experience difficult emotions. There is no shame in feeling angry, sad, or upset. However, it does matter what you do with those emotions. Take 10 minutes to reflect on your thoughts and emotions. You can do this silently or by writing your reflections in a journal. Think through the following questions: How am I feeling today? Why am I feeling this way? Did something specific cause this feeling? Is this feeling temporary or have I felt this way for a long time? Have I told anyone about this feeling? Why or why not? Where am I holding those feelings in my body? Am I tensing my shoulders? Clenching my jaw? Overthinking? How am I interacting with others? Are my emotions impacting my interactions? What can I do to relax, cope with this feeling, or get into a better headspace? Who can I reach out to for support? What time should I reach out to them? What am I grateful for today? What am I proud of? Managing Emotions In The Moment Take a pause before you respond to someone or a situation. When we experience big emotions, those emotions can influence our reactions. Taking a moment allows you to recognize how you are feeling and implement strategies to cope. Inhale slow, deep breaths through your nose and exhale slowly through your mouth. Rather than breathing into your chest cavity, imagine that you are breathing into your stomach. Place your hands on your stomach and feel it rise and fall. This will decrease your heart rate, slow your breathing, and make you more present in your body. Take a moment to observe the situation without the influence of your emotions. What is happening? What could have caused this situation? How is someone feeling? What did someone say or do? Finding the answers to these questions can help you identify what steps to take to resolve the situation. Focus your mind on something specific, like the feel of your shirt or the scent of something in the area. This can help to keep you grounded in the moment. See this Mindfulness Guide from the New York Times for more mindfulness ideas. Managing Daily Stress Managing stress looks different for everyone, so find a method that works for you. Start off by identifying what causes you stress on a daily basis and brainstorm ways to either eliminate or reduce that stress. If you have many tasks or activities to keep track of, create a daily, weekly, and/or monthly calendar to list your upcoming engagements. Make this calendar easily accessible in your home or consider using a phone calendar. Add notes around your house that remind you to take a deep breath, drink some water, and relax your body. Those little reminders can help you get into the practice of using these strategies on a regular basis. Know your limits and set boundaries. If you are feeling overwhelmed, let the people around you know and say no to things that you cannot take on at that moment. Ask for Support When You Need It Ask if a friend, family member, or loved one would be able to take over caregiving responsibilities for a period of time, even if it is only for 10 minutes. Having some time alone can help you process your emotions and give you time to refresh your mind. If no one is available at home, consider using a crisis child care center such as Jeremiah’s Place for temporary respite care. Reach out to a loved one, family member, or trusted person to let them know what you are struggling with. Never feel as if you have to suffer alone. When you feel uncomfortable sharing with a loved one, reach out to the Family Resources of Pennsylvania Parenting Warmline at 412.641.4546. Join a support group such as Fathers Trying Together, Single Mom Defined, or Women’s Rap. Reach out to your local Family Support Center to access a range of services, including parent support groups, parenting skills programs, family activities, and more. If you live in Pennsylvania and need help accessing mental health services, call 2.1.1 or text your zip code to 898.211 to talk with a resource specialist for free. For individuals outside of Pennsylvania, call the SAMHSA National Helpline at 1.800.662.4357. Prioritize Self-Care Take time to identify what makes you feel better in difficult situations. Do you like taking a warm bath? Drinking a cup of hot tea? Taking a short walk? Identify the things that help you recharge and schedule time for them into your daily schedule. If you need a place to start, check out these Self-Care Planning Resources from the University of Buffalo School of Social Work. Create joyful moments by trying something new. You can try a new food combination, a new scented candle, hairstyle, or activity. The best part about this is that you can include your child in these things as well. Take time to be playful and creative together. Take Time to Celebrate When surrounded by stress, it can be easy to focus on the bad. Escape this cycle by taking time to celebrate your personal or parenting wins, or identify what you are thankful for that day. Whether it is a funny joke that you told earlier in the day or simply getting a meal on the table, celebrate those wins. Resources Developmentally Appropriate Parenting Series Developmentally Appropriate Parenting is a family resource content series developed by Trying Together as an effort to empower caregivers to create high-quality experiences at the earliest stages of their child’s life. Family Resources of Pennsylvania Parenting Warmline The Family Resources of Pennsylvania Parenting Warmline is a free, confidential hotline for parents and caregivers with non-medical parenting concerns and questions. If you live in Allegheny County, call 1.877.927.6596. If you live outside of Allegheny County, call 1.800.641.4546. PA 2.1.1 Southwest PA 2.1.1 Southwest provides access to an extensive list of resources for families in Southwestern Pennsylvania. Specialists provide referrals to human needs resources, physical and mental health resources, child care programs, and more. For more information, call 2.1.1 or visit their website. SAMHSA National Helpline SAMHSA’s National Helpline is a free, confidential information service (available in English and Spanish) for individuals and family members facing mental and/or substance use disorders. This service provides referrals to local treatment facilities, support groups, and community-based organizations. Jeremiah’s Place Jeremiah’s Place is Pittsburgh’s only crisis child care center that provides a safe haven of respite, health, renewal, and support for children and families during times of crisis. Services are provided for free and are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Hello Baby Hello Baby supports parents with newborn children in Allegheny County by making it quick and easy to find local resources. Print This Resource Download this resource as a printable PDF document (English)(Español).
Strategies to Support Social-Emotional Development: A Guide for Families About From infancy through adulthood, social-emotional skills are intertwined with every aspect of our daily lives. These skills enable us to communicate our needs, wants, and ideas; build relationships; communicate emotions; and handle conflict effectively. To assist families in understanding the importance of social-emotional development, Trying Together created a family guide. Continue reading to explore the meaning of social-emotional development and strategies caregivers can use at home to support their child’s development. What is Social-Emotional Development? Social-Emotional Development is the process of learning mental and behavioral patterns that impact a person’s ability to work through social and emotional situations. These patterns can be broken down into individual skills such as: building and maintaining positive relationships; working productively in a team; recognizing, coping with, and empathizing with emotions; resolving conflicts with others; and building confidence in oneself and others. In addition to the skills listed above, there are several others. To view lists of social-emotional skills, view the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s Developmental Milestones resource. When are Social-Emotional Skills Developed? Because social-emotional skills are introduced in early childhood, a child’s early relationships and experiences play influential roles in determining which social-emotional patterns they develop. While these patterns can be difficult to break, individuals continue to develop and fine-tune their social-emotional skills throughout adulthood. If a child regularly screams during difficult situations, they may develop a long-term pattern of responding to tense situations with an outburst of anger. While caregivers should not demand their children to withhold their natural emotional responses, teaching children strategies to express and cope with their emotions effectively can help. Caregivers should strive to create a safe, nurturing environment in which children feel safe in expressing their thoughts and emotions. Strategies for Caregivers If you find yourself struggling with your own social-emotional responses as a caregiver, these strategies can guide you in further developing your toolkit and modeling these strategies. Children practice social-emotional skills during play. Provide your child with opportunities to play independently, with caregivers, and with children. Include different types of play, such as nature play, imaginative play, cooperative play, etc. When your child is experiencing a big emotion, avoid saying “calm down” or “don’t be sad/mad.” This teaches children that certain emotions are “bad” and should not be expressed or shared. Instead, help them recognize, name, and work through what they are feeling. Examples: “When Mya took your toy, you started crying. It must have been hard for her to take that toy from you. How are you feeling? Did you feel sad?” “I see that Juan stepped on your favorite shirt. It doesn’t feel nice when someone steps on something you like, huh? How did you feel when that happened?” Explore different emotion/feeling words together so your child can better identify and express what they are feeling. No matter what age your child is, have back and forth interactions with them. Make eye contact with your child and show them different facial expressions. If a baby coos at you, reciprocate that interaction with your own sound, a smile, or whatever feels right in the moment. If a toddler shows you something, pay attention and ask questions about it. If your child is having a hard time writing letters or adding numbers, empathize with what your child may be feeling (anger, frustration, sadness, shame), help them recognize those emotions, and help them practice the task at hand. Model the social-emotional skills you would like your child to develop. If you would like your child to share with others, make sure they see you sharing with others. If you would like them to wait for their turn, show them situations where you are waiting patiently (in a grocery store, to use the restroom, etc.) Talk through situations where you are practicing a social-emotional skill in front of your child. Think of it as narrating the situation and the thoughts you have about sharing your favorite snack, resolving a conflict, etc. Create a safe space in your home where your child can go to relax. While children should feel safe to come to you with their emotions, they also need a place to go to process their emotions alone. Add their favorite items in their safe space. Children should never be forced to go to their safe space. Practice mindfulness techniques with your child. Tell them that it is okay to take a pause to process their feelings and help them practice this skill. They can take a few deep breaths, drink some water, count to five, or hug a stuffed animal. See this Mindfulness Guide from the New York Times for more mindfulness ideas. Do not solve all of your child’s problems. To develop independence and self-confidence, children need to work through their challenges independently (reaching a toy that is too far away, resolving a conflict, etc.). If the situation is unsafe, step in. But if it involves lower levels of risk, give your child a chance to solve the issue. Help children share their ideas and opinions. One way to encourage respect and shared decision-making is by introducing the concept of voting. If a decision needs to be made about a shared experience (play, snack, etc.), have children share their ideas and vote to decide the outcome. Ideas that do not win can be incorporated during the next play session. Praising children for their effort, not the outcome. This builds their self-confidence, persistence, and resiliency to challenges or failure. You communicate that their effort matters and, regardless of the outcome, you are proud of them. Resources If you are interested in learning more about social-emotional development and other early childhood topics, consider utilizing the resources listed below. Developmentally Appropriate Parenting Series Developmentally Appropriate Parenting is a family resource content series developed by Trying Together as an effort to empower caregivers to create high-quality experiences at the earliest stages of their child’s life. ZERO TO THREE ZERO TO THREE works to ensure that all babies and toddlers have a strong start in life. Visit their website to access their online resources to learn more about empathy development, self-esteem, developing social-emotional skills, and more. NAEYC The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) works to promote high-quality early learning for all young children, birth through age eight, by connecting early childhood practice, policy, and research. Their website includes resources on building social-emotional skills at home, working through challenging behaviors, and more. Fred Rogers Productions In the television series “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood,” Fred Rogers explores several social-emotional skills such as empathy, imagination, self-esteem, and self-control. Watch recordings of the episodes on the Fred Rogers Productions website. Print This Resource Download this resource as a printable PDF document (English)(Español).
