Now that our Governor has closed our school buildings for the duration of the school year, many of us may be feeling our anxieties rise. We're worried about whether or not we are doing everything we can. As parents we may feel as though we aren't doing an adequate job with regards to our child's learning. As students we may worry that we aren't learning or won't understand what we need for the next grade level.
Let me reassure you both that you are doing an amazing job! Teachers this year are giving you exactly what you need to be successful next year, and your teachers next year will help fill in any gaps you may have acquired due to our distance learning atmosphere.
Here is a link to a video I made about strategies to help us cope with worry. I also show you in the video how to make your own DIY mandala!
https://youtu.be/KkhbEL5RqMo
~Mrs. Lorenzo
Practicing mindfulness is one way we can calm our worries/anxieties. Being mindful helps us to focus on the here and now and to really pay attention to what we see, hear, and feel in THIS moment. By doing so, we are able to calm our thoughts and relax our bodies.
Are you looking for a way to have your kiddos slow down, calm down, and/or practice mindfulness?
Below is a link to a website that lists many apps that help children to calm their worries or anxieties and practice mindfulness (many are FREE).
https://parentingchaos.com/anxiety-apps-kids/
~Mrs. Lorenzo
Hello San Leon Families.
Here is a wonderful calendar full of ideas to help us cope with the stress and anxiety surrounding us today. Practicing something simple everyday can really help to reduce stress and promote peace.
~Mrs. Lorenzo
In some ways, it seems as if everything we know has been turned upside down. Cancellations, grocery store hysteria, and non-stop information about the growing impact of COVID-19 is changing everything around us; at least for the time being. For any of us that struggle with anxiety (and even those who don't typically), this can be a really challenging time.
I wanted to share a few strategies that can help in reducing anxiety. (Ideas adapted from Counselor Chelsey)
Stategy #1: Unplug
- We live in an age of information-we can find information on any topic, from any art of the world, whenever we want it. While this can help us to stay informed, bombarding ourselves with unnecessary information can also lead to unnecessary anxiety. For me, this has meant severely limiting my exposure to social media (as not everything is true) as well as limiting how much news is watched in my household.
Strategy #2: Gratitude
- While the current times are unsettling to say the least, there is also plenty to be thankful for. My family is healthy, we are enjoying our time together, and we currently have enough toilet paper. lol Whenever we begin to sense anxiety creeping in, we can counter it with 3 things that we're thankful for. Gratitude is important. With the practice of gratitude, it rewires our brain to feel more joyful rather than fearful.
Strategy #3: Focus On What We Can Control
- It's so hard not to get caught up in the "what ifs," but worrying about things out of our control is not helpful. We cannot control how much food others buy at the grocery store, but we can control what we purchase. We cannot control whether or not other people go out when they are sick, but we can control how often we go out. By focusing on what we can control, we can turn our anxiety into action.
Strategy #4: Keep Things As Routine As Possible
- We are experiencing so much disruption to our normal lives right now. It is helpful, especially for our kiddos, to stick to normal routines as much as possible. Keep the same bed time. Keep following your daily routines at home. Hanging onto as much normalcy as possible can do wonders in reducing stress and anxiety.
If there is anything I can do to support you, please reach out and let me know. Even though we may be out, I am still able to access my voicemail; so you can reach me via phone or email. Please continue to look back on my website for more information on talking to your children about what is happening around us and/or for tools to use for your child's social/emotional well being.
We'll get through this together,
Mrs. Lorenzo
School Counselor
281-229-7458
jlorenzo@dickinsonisd.org