5 Tips for Helping Kids Deal with Missed School Activities

The coronavirus pandemic has forced schools from all levels to close. For these children, the abrupt closure left them with feelings of frustration, sadness, and disappointment. Many are missing out on so many major rites of passage such as graduation ceremonies or the prom. Other kids are missing out on their regular school activities like art classes, band practice, sports, or any of their favorite after-school clubs and organizations. Basically, they just miss life with their friends.

While everyone initially thought this was just a relatively temporary situation, it seems that school may be out for a while. In many cases, possibly until the end of this year. There is no vaccine yet and keeping everyone safe is the main priority at this point. This can be daunting and overwhelming for everyone. Having kids around at home 24/7 can definitely turn a peaceful life into chaos. Children may feel a bit sad and disappointed that school activities were canceled. 

Supporting them during this period is highly important, especially since there are so many uncertainties surrounding when these activities will resume. Here are some tips for how you can help your kids deal with this situation:

Talk to kids about the coronavirus

Every parent needs to educate their kids about the effects of the coronavirus and why schools need to be closed. Talk to them about why self-isolation and social distancing is critical at this moment. Make them be aware of the implications of this virus and why this needs to be taken seriously, without arousing panic.

Your kids may get incorrect and alarming information about COVID-19 from their friends or online sources. Parents need to explain the facts, in age-appropriate language, about the virus and its health implications. Give them the assurance that you are doing the best that you can to ensure that they are safe and healthy, without overwhelming them with information. 

Your kids are scared and anxious about this unseen virus that has been affecting everyone, so regular check-ins are a must. Hold meetings with your kids to discuss their concerns and fears, as well how to incorporate safety health practices at home.

Monitor their screen time

Since there are no schools or school activities to worry about, kids will be likely spending more time now watching television or browsing through various social media channels. It is important that you monitor these activities. Set a limit to their screen time and avoid listening or watching any upsetting or fake news with your kids around. They will definitely pick up these ideas and it could just aggravate the stress they are feeling at the moment. Remind them that not all stories they may read or hear regarding COVID-19 are all true and most are based on rumors and falsified information.

Emphasize the importance of social distancing

Eventually, there will come a time when your child will complain why it’s unfair that they can’t go to school or see and hang out with their friends. They will start to feel hurt that they can’t have school graduation or why their birthday party has to be postponed.

When these happen, validate their feelings and acknowledge their frustrations. However, make sure that you emphasize that closing schools and postponing school activities are the right thing to do right now. Educate them on the importance of social distancing and explain how taking time off from regular activities is ideal for everyone. Let them understand that all of these are for health and safety, not just for them but for the whole community.

Praise them for doing their part

As you educate your kids about the virus and its implications, point out to them how proud you are that they are staying home. While they may complain or eventually start to get bored just being at home, acknowledge that you are all doing this together as a family. Everyone is doing their part to help stop the spread of the virus. And they are making a big contribution to the community. Make it clear to them that everyone’s patience and hard work will help bring this crisis to an end sooner.

Create a new normal

Your kids will feel bad about school closures, but it is imperative that they move forward and accept this fact with optimism. To help them move forward, you need to create a “new normal” at home for the next few weeks. Sit down with them and explain the new structure that needs to be followed for their home-based days. You can ask your kids to help contribute to the activities they want to do in a day. This could be setting household chores, meal times, various fun activities in the afternoon, or schoolwork and reading time. Whatever that structure is, make sure there is consistency throughout the days or weeks you will be at home.

Keeping your family safe is important at this point in our lives. Without activities, many children (or even adults) will feel a bit lost and disoriented about how to maximize their time. Be with your kids during this time. Work together and have fun together.

For more information on how to help your kids deal with canceled school activities, check out The Pillars Christian Learning Center.

 

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Online Learning Tips: Helping Your Child Adjust to Remote Learning

In education, there has long been a slow shift underway toward online instruction. That has accelerated recently, both taxing school systems and forcing major adjustments for all involved.

As you and your children adjust to this new set up, it’s important for parents to help their kids establish healthy routines so they can stay focused on learning. Help your kids cope with the transition to remote learning with these online learning tips.

Create a schedule

Young kids are easier to manage if they are guided with well-established routines. Instead of giving them a free hand on how to go about their day and attend to online education any time they please, it would be best to create a schedule for them to follow if there isn’t one yet.

Wake up time should be set so they get up in the morning just as they would if they had to travel to a school. Have them take a shower and eat their breakfast. 

Schoolwork, including homework, should be scheduled the same time every day. Make sure they finish their online education first before playtime and other stuff.

Impose digital quarantine

For most kids, being at home and out of a traditional school setting means more time for gadgets and electronic devices. It means more time to watch TV, play video games and log on to the internet.

This is where more stringent screen time rules come in. Children must be made to understand that because they are at home does not mean that it’s going to be all playtime.

Make sure that electronic devices, except for their dedicated laptop, are kept away from them until they’re done with schoolwork.  There shouldn’t be any distractions when it’s time for online learning so that it receives their undivided attention.

Create a space conducive to learning 

In schools, classrooms are designed to make learning conducive for children. To make sure your little one makes the most of their online education, it’s best if they are able to work in a comfortable and quiet spot in your home that is free from distractions. 

Find a room, or even just a nice corner, that you can convert into a learning nook. Set up a table and a cozy chair. Decorate it with posters. Put their books in there as well as other learning materials. 

Treat online school like a “real” school

Make sure your little one takes homeschooling seriously by treating it like a real school. They should tackle their homework and make sure it’s done before they’re allowed to play. They should attend classes daily and work on getting perfect attendance.

Do close monitoring

Because this homeschooling setup is something new to your child, it’s important that you check their engagement with the lessons and confirm that learning takes place.

Are they absorbing the lessons or are they zoning out? Take time to monitor their progress by observing them as they take their online classes. Are they having any technical difficulty or is everything going okay? You can also ask them questions by the end of each lesson to check learning.

Get them to take breaks

Just like we need to take time to step away from work to keep our sanity, kids need to take breaks from studying, too. This is true even if they’re only doing it at home.

Not only is it important to give them time to have snacks and rest their tired eyes and brains. It’s also important to let them take a quick break from screens.

In a regular classroom setting they’d get break time so this should be no different.

Set up virtual playdates

Who says your child can’t stay connected with their friends? Leverage the internet to help your little one maintain friendships even from a distance. There are several platforms they can use so to chat and even play with their classmates and friends, despite the distance.

Learning from home presents several challenges especially when children are first trying to get used to this new setup. But with the help of these tips, you can help them navigate this journey with ease and have fun while learning. 

For more helpful parenting tips and resources, or if you’re looking for the best preschool for your child, please visit The Pillars Christian Learning Center. 

 

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How to Master Working from Home When You Have Kids

After a while working from home, most parents fall into a rhythm and figure out effective ways to juggle work and family life in one setting. If you are new to working from home, it may take a while to figure some of this stuff out.

Working from home has its own ups and downs. It lets you spend more time with your kids, focus on their growth, and help with their development without compromising your work and professional goals. However, some parents may struggle to stay productive and keep their sanity intact.

Family members, especially kids, may think that presence equals availability. If they see you at home, they may think it’s okay to interact with you without restriction. To avoid distractions and stay productive, you’ll have to set clear boundaries.

Having the best of both worlds—domestic bliss and professional success—is achievable, but you need to set up a plan to be more effective. Here are some tips:

 

Designate a Conducive Work Space

Setting boundaries is crucial to staying productive while at home. A visible boundary between your personal and work lives is a great start for this.

Consider your kids and their age and the amount of supervision they require when choosing a work space. Depending on their needs, you can set up a separate room as a designated work space, separate your space with rugs or shelves, or convert a closet into a workstation.

For kids who require a lot of supervision, make sure that they are still within eyesight.

 

Communicate and Set Expectations

In every job, communication plays an important role. Regardless if you are in the office or working remotely, letting your team members or your superior know what you’re working on and the struggles you are facing make the job a bit easier to manage.

Kids may not make your situation easier—they will have needs you have to attend to. This is even more difficult if you are a single parent.

Make sure that you proactively inform your employer that you have kids at home and there will be times when conversations or meetings may be interrupted.

Flexible working hours may be ideal, if you have that option in your company.

That way, you can attend to your children’s needs and work when they are preoccupied with a game or a book. When you assign screen time for kids, you can be with them working in the background as they watch their favorite movie.

 

Take Breaks with your Kids

During this time when parents are at home, kids may want to take advantage of the opportunity for more together time. They can spend more time with you, play with you, and eat with you.

When it’s not so busy with your work, take intermittent breaks—five to minutes or so—to read a book with them. This will make them feel loved and important.

 

Capitalize on Sleep Time

Take advantage of nap times. While they are sleeping is the perfect time to be more productive at work. Save crucial tasks that require your undivided focus and concentration for these times. 

 

Use Screen Time for Kids Wisely

While you don’t want your kids to spend most of their day in front of the screen while you work, you can still take advantage of some media. Choose educational games or videos prior to starting your work. Make sure that you create a schedule and structure their usage with time limits and security restrictions.

An alternative to screen time can be art or writing projects. Tell them what you’re involved with and “hire” them as your assistants. Ask them to write a client letter or draw a new label for product packaging.

They will feel engaged and useful while you get time to focus on the work that needs to be done. A special bonus is that you will get to see their unique perspective on the work you do.

Working from home with kids around can be a challenge. However, you do not need to do this alone. If you have a partner, collaborate and work together to create a balance.

 

The Pillars Christian Learning Center is a place whose main focus is the development of your child. Need assistance taking care and nurturing your kids to become better adults? Contact us today.

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5 Effective Ways to Help Boost your Child’s Immune System

Keeping ourselves safe in the midst of a worldwide health crisis is a challenge not only for our world leaders but also for us parents who want to keep everyone in the family safe. If we could keep our children away from unwelcome diseases at all times and wrap them up in a plastic bubble, we would, but that’s of course, outrageous and impossible. 

So what should we do then? The next best step is to work on boosting our child’s immune system.

Luckily we have antibodies that protect us by naturally fighting off harmful bacteria and viruses that make us sick. And it doesn’t really take much in the way of effort and resources to strengthen them.

Let’s take a look at some effective ways to boost your child’s immune system.

Probiotic-rich foods strengthen our gut flora

Our tummies house both good and bad bacteria. And while some can be harmful to your health, most bacteria do well in keeping your digestive tract healthy. Maintaining a good balance of good and bad live microorganisms in the gut is necessary for our gastrointestinal health, and boosting the presence of our good gut flora also equates to boosting our immune system. 

Eating probiotic-rich food such as yogurt, pickles, some types of cheeses, kimchi, etc, can help introduce live good bacteria in the stomach. Although supplements can do this too, finding natural food sources is always the ideal way to ingest them.

These probiotic-rich foods give plenty of benefits for strengthening gastrointestinal health. They also reduce the chances of your kids getting an upset stomach, developing autoimmune diseases, and having various food intolerances. 

Replace sugary snacks with fruit

Kids tend to have an insatiable love for snacks. Chips and other sweets are okay in moderation but are not an ideal food to give your kids as snacks for school, nor something to munch on a lazy weekday afternoon. 

So while kids are busy playing video games or watching TV, swap out these unhealthy snacks for yummy fruit slices. Not only are they sweet and healthy, but also a surefire way to help boost your child’s immune system.

Colostrum is essential

Remember when our kids were babies and they were so small and fragile? They nestled in our arms the moment they were born.

Babies don’t have fully-developed immune systems when they’re born. The colostrum from breast milk takes care of providing disease-fighting antibodies for them. As a result, kids who were breastfed and were able to take the colostrum from their mothers are less prone to sickness as they’re growing.

If you had trouble breastfeeding, you may think it’s too late for your child to get a chance at getting that nutritious first meal once they’re grown. Luckily, colostrum isn’t only found in humans. Calves and goats get them too, and supplements are available to help boost your child’s immune system. 

Introduce Green Leafy Veggies

Healthy meals also contribute to boosting your child’s immune system. Green leafy veggies most especially are helpful for your child in several ways.

There’s methylation that comes from sulfur-containing veggies that contribute to the body’s detoxification. There’s a reason why moms feed their kids brussels sprouts and broccoli. These veggies help provide the necessary B-vitamins that aid the process of methylation, which then helps in flushing out harmful toxins from the body.

Make them love the experience of taking healthy veggies by including them in fun meals and smoothies. Incorporate them in meatballs or pasta sauce. Whichever way you can find to add them, do so. This bit of effort will soon pay off when you have a healthy kid running around the house. 

Reduce Antibiotic Intake

Antibiotics are largely prescribed by physicians to help with bacterial infections. But avoid them when you can.

Not only do antibiotics kill bad bacteria in the stomach but they also affect the good bacteria in there too and that spells trouble for the body’s natural immune system. 

Though it shouldn’t be completely avoided as it does help in curing some ailments, making informed decisions about the medicines your child takes can do a lot in keeping their natural immune system strong.

Caring for your child means caring for their health and also their well-being. At The Pillars Christian Learning Center, we emphasize three fundamental pillars of health: a healthy mind, a healthy body, and a healthy faith. Find out more at The Pillars Christian Learning Center.

 

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How to Make Traveling with Kids Easy and Stress-free

Do you know what’s fun? For a lot of us, that’s traveling the world, exploring new sights and finding new experiences. But do you know what’s even better? Seeing your child’s face light up in joy with beaming smiles as they take in these new experiences with you.

Traveling with kids can be a hassle when things don’t go as planned. Luckily, times have changed and traveling with kids has become more convenient. 

Thanks to the internet, traveling the world has become more accessible. Planning is as easy as a few clicks of a mouse button. Need to book a flight? Just go to your computer and book them online. Preparing an itinerary? Tour packages have got you covered. Wondering about where to stay? Hotel booking websites have a wide array of rentable spaces to choose from.

From travel blogs, to cheap flights, to affordable accommodation and tour packages, all the information you need is right at your fingertips.

All that’s left is to pack your bags and leave.

Here are a few tips to make traveling with kids easy and stress-free. 

Set a flight plan whenever you’re bringing kids

Stress-free travel begins with a well-executed flight plan. Check in early if you have baggage that needs to be checked to avoid rushing for your flight. Set proper expectations for your children so they know what will happen before and during the trip, from the check-in to boarding, flight safety, and any layovers. 

Flights can also cause drastic change in temperatures so it’s best to layer clothes. Make them as easy and comfortable as possible for your kids. Avoid buttons that can get in the way if they need to get to the restroom. And opt for slip-ons or velcro instead of laces for footwear.

Remember that planes have pressurized cabins. That can cause discomfort in the ears when there’s a change in altitude during takeoff or landing. This can get uncomfortable especially to young kids.

Help your child depressurize their ears by bringing snacks or pacifiers. But the best way to pop their ears? Chewing gum. Give your child some when they’re old enough to chew it without making a mess. 

Prepare for travel safety

Having a family member get lost during the trip can be a nightmare. Take extra precautions when bringing kids on trips. Set up a meeting point when out in the streets or places with lots of people. 

Have them memorize your contact information or keep it close to them at all times. Even give them a printed copy of your travel itinerary that they can keep in their pocket.

Practice scenarios in which they can safely reach out to someone for help. Teach them to identify and seek help from a trusted adult such as a woman with a child, a salesperson with a nametag, or a security guard.

One safe rule of thumb to teach your kids (even at home) is: if you approach a stranger and they appear to be friendly, it’s probably safe to trust them. But if a stranger approaches you and appears to be friendly, it’s best to be wary.

To avoid the uncertainty altogether, look into using a GPS bracelet when traveling. This saves you from the worries of locating your child in case they get lost.

Avoid overpacking

Imagine yourself bringing a huge load of baggage with your kids tagging along and pulling at the hem of your shirt. Sounds miserable? Well it is and this is why you should leave unnecessary stuff at home and avoid overpacking when possible. 

You can get most stuff on the road anyway. Strollers can be rented, baby monitors have an app for it. So try to reduce packing into only the necessities. Pack versatile pieces of clothing that can be paired with other pieces and worn for a variety of different occasions. 

Keep a stash of snacks

Keeping a small pack with essentials and snacks within easy reach on a trip can reduce the hassle of having to go through all your bags searching.

Meltdowns can happen any time. Especially when children are hungry. Bringing some snacks in the essentials backpack will help minimize that.

Always Use the Restroom Before You Leave a Place

Let’s face it, kids have a knack for needing to go to the bathroom when there are no nearby toilets in the area. Make it a habit to head to the restroom whenever one is nearby before you leave a place.

When it comes to traveling with kids, preparation and foresight is key. Following these helpful tips can help you leave the stress at home, and focus on enjoying the trip with your family!

When it comes to a quality preschool education for your child, we’re here to take care of that for you. Here at The Pillars Christian Learning Center, we value the importance of learning essential life skills to set a child on the path to success. Send your little one to a school that fosters holistic growth and development. Give us a call for more information. 

 

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Your Guide to Helping Children Develop Emotional Literacy

Emotional literacy is the ability to identify, understand, name, and process feelings. Not just your own, but also the feelings expressed by others.

This deeply undervalued and unappreciated skill is a better indicator of intelligence and a better predictor of success than IQ. At least that’s what the latest research suggests.

So what is it and how can we help cultivate it in our children?

Appreciating the nuance

A big part of emotional literacy is understanding and embracing just how complex feelings can be. The English language has over 4,000 words that describe feelings.

Almost always, what a person is feeling at any given time is really a combination of more than one emotion.

For example, we may think of someone as angry when that’s really just an umbrella term covering emotions that may include frustration, emotional hurt, physical pain, anguish, fear, or even embarrassment.

The same is true of positive emotions. Happy is just an umbrella term that may include proud, excited, satisfied, and a number of other feelings.

A person who has emotional literacy understands the complexity and nuance of emotions.

Learning emotional literacy

No one is born simply knowing this stuff. It has to be learned.

We can instill it in our children. Start by reassuring them that feelings are normal. Help them put labels on their feelings as a way to describe them, but never as a way to judge certain feelings as “good” or “bad”.

Help them recognize the sources, or triggers, for various feelings. Simply knowing what caused you to feel a certain way is a big help to expressing that constructively.

Help them see how feelings change based on circumstances and environment. What each of us is feeling right now is not the same as what we felt an hour ago. Nor is it the same as what we’ll be feeling an hour from now.

These fluctuations are perfectly normal and healthy.

Putting emotional literacy to practical use

While there may be patterns to our general emotions and demeanor, we are not slaves to our feelings. Learning to understand and describe what we’re feeling takes away some of the power those feelings hold over us.

For a preschooler, this is a pretty big deal.

Gradually you will teach them — through understanding rather than punishment — that things like throwing a wailing tantrum over not getting a piece of candy is not a constructive way to express one’s feelings.

Children who learn to understand, accept, and regulate their emotions become far more resilient. They experience negative emotions less intensely and for shorter periods of time. They are also less prone to depression.

At the same time, their ability to embrace so-called positive emotions becomes stronger. They form closer friendships and even perform better academically.

Color with every crayon in the box

In the same way that a box of crayons has more colors in it than simply red, yellow, and blue, we as humans have a wide range of emotions too.

Use this analogy to help your child understand that there is more than one shade of green. There are also many kinds of happiness, or love, or irritation.

Giving your child a rich emotional vocabulary as a way to describe a wide array of emotions is key to helping them learn to manage their feelings.

Research has shown that the words we use to label something has a powerful impact on how we perceive that thing. Different people experiencing the very same trigger event, but using different words to describe their feelings toward it, had measurable differences in their bodies’ physiological reactions.

This fact can even be turned into a game that you play with your child. In books and magazines, find photos of people expressing strong emotions. Ask your child to label some of the things the person in the photo might be feeling.

You can even carry the game a step further and invent your own story about what happened to make the person feel the way they do. Maybe the woman in the yellow coat just got a promotion at work, or found a dollar in her pocket, or got to pet a kitten. The man in the green shirt may have bumped his toe on some furniture or spilled hot coffee on his new pants.

As your children get older and better at this, they will naturally add their own layers of complexity. Ask them what things the person in the photo might say, or what may happen next, or if there are other ways the person might express their feelings.

All of these things will help your child build a rich set of mental and emotional tools for expressing their own feelings.

Emotions in action

Kids respond strongly to behaviors that you model. Like it or not, they will observe how you act in various situations and take that as the way they should act as well.

So let your kids see you expressing a range of emotions. Perhaps you won’t want to stop and talk about it when you’re still feeling sad or angry, but at some point sit down with them to talk through your own emotions and how you handle them.

Like meditation, being accepting and mindful of your emotions and how to respond to them takes practice. It also brings peace of mind and a less turbulent experience of life.

This is a powerful skill to pass on to your children.

At The Pillars Christian Learning Center, our entire focus is on helping your children grow into the best adults they can possibly be. Call and arrange to stop by so you can see our approach in action.

 

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4 Ways To Prepare Healthy Snacks For Kids

Let’s face it. Being a parent in 2019 means being incredibly pressured for time.  Between work, family and everything that comes in between, it can be easy to overlook some tasks during the day. And it’s even easier to look for a convenient compromise. But when it comes to nutrition and preparing healthy snacks for your kids, there can’t be  any compromise. Ensuring that your kids eat healthy food is a necessity.

In addition to teaching children about the value of nutrition, it’s also important to teach them how  to make the best choices. You want them to make choices that are healthy, positive and lead to productive results, and  choices that stay with them for the rest of their lives. You want your kids to be active, energetic and well-balanced. And you probably won’t find those things  in a bag of potato chips.

Even kids who are the pickiest eaters can learn to love healthy snacks.  The earlier they start, the broader their tastes will become down the road. If you’re looking to teach your kids about the value of nutrition, here are some great tips on how to prepare healthy snacks for your kids that are fun, quick and above all… delicious!

Don’t Skimp On Fresh Fruit And Veggies

This might seem like an obvious choice, but believe it or not, many parents tend to forego healthy fruits and vegetables, and offer countless excuses for their neglect. For example, parents may say that fruits and vegetables are too expensive,  too inconvenient to prepare, or that their kids just have fussy taste. But fruits and veggies rich in nutrients and vitamins aren’t difficult to prepare. They’re inexpensive, tasty and versatile. Not only that, they’re appealing to look at as well!

A bowl of fresh fruit arranged by both shape and color on your kitchen table can go a long way in promoting your child’s growing visual coordination. Many  kids adore hummus for both its flavor and its texture. There are also plenty of alternative spreads and dips including almond butter, tzatziki and cashew butter, just to name a few.  And best of all,most of these options won’t take you more than a few seconds to prepare!

Go With Whole Grain

One of the great benefits about whole grain bread is both its fiber and nutrient density. But whole grain options don’t have to be confined to bread alone. There are plenty of tasty choices to choose from when it comes to whole grain snacks like brown rice crackers, cereal, pita wraps, tortillas and even soy-based breads and wraps. In lieu of nachos, baked pitas with salsa can provide more energy without sacrificing the taste. And if your kids are pizza lovers (and who isn’t?), try swapping out traditional pizza dough for a whole wheat wrap topped with tomato sauce and plenty of low fat mozzarella cheese. Chances are your kids won’t even be able to tell the difference!

Lean On Leaner Meats

It seems like everywhere you turn these days, people are moving towards leaner meats that are lower in fat and higher in protein, with popular options like turkey breast, ham, roast beef and chicken breast. These heart healthy choices are significantly lower in saturated fat. Even better, consuming higher amounts of protein means healthier muscles, tissues and organs. Leaner meat options are  not just relatively inexpensive, they also taste great! A quick roll-up can be made from a slice or two of deli meats and reduced fat cheese for an added burst of on the go energy they won’t be able to get enough of!

Don’t Be Afraid To Treat Them To A Treat Once In A While!

Treats are not always bad in and of themselves. But unfortunately, most of them are heavily processed with added preservatives and sweeteners that are great for a quick pick-me-up followed by an inevitable crash. However, treats you make yourself can be as healthy as they can be delicious! Fresh popcorn that isn’t drenched in butter can be a great between-meals munchie., Dark chocolate mixed with grated coconut and raw cocoa powder can be made into a variety of shapes and refrigerated for a hands-on experience that helps turn your kids into little dessert chefs! As long as you don’t go overboard with refined and processed ingredients, you might find that the occasional treats can be as rewarding as they are healthy.

 

Nutrition isn’t something to take for granted. And at The Pillars Christian Learning Center, we emphasize three fundamental pillars of health: a healthy mind, a healthy body and a healthy faith. Find out more at The Pillars Christian Learning Center.

 

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