COVID-19, Family

Election Anxiety Is Very Real. Here Are 7 Ways To Cope

With Election Day quickly approaching, it’s very understandable to find yourself more anxious, more on edge. It’s also easy for those feelings to manifest as shortness or anger aimed at the people we love. Of course, that is the last thing our families need or that we want to provide them. So how do you keep yourself healthy and present? Take some deep breaths and follow the suggestions laid out below. Because, as with everything in 2020, the election will drag on for a lot longer than we anticipate.

Continue reading

COVID-19, Family

Are the Kids Really Alright? Daily Mental Health Check-Ins

Like most moms I know, I have spent a lot of time trying to make this period not suck for the kids whilst keeping my sanity. Who could have predicted what a delicate balance that would be? Let’s just say that some days I was not successful at either. As adults, we can grasp the information being thrown around and process it in relation to a plethora of life experiences. Our kids just do not have that luxury. I have been making a conscious effort to be even more cognizant of their mental health during this time. I am not a therapist. I am just a mom trying her best, and my effort looks a little something like this:

Continue reading

Anything, COVID-19, Family

An Expert Guide To Help Build Your Child’s Resilience During COVID-19

Resilience is the process people go through when responding to difficult times. Everyone experiences disappointments, setbacks, failures and challenges – resilient people tend to thrive as a result of these. Each child’s experience of COVID-19 is different, as is their capacity to respond with resilience. Resilience is dynamic and will change depending on a child’s personal and environmental context. It’s also relative – what might be a big deal for one child might be insignificant to another.

Continue reading

Family

How to Create the Perfect Calm Down Corner at Home

We’re all well aware that little ones can have really big emotions. But how come they equate to an epic tantrum on so many occasions? One of the biggest reasons kids have meltdowns is because they don’t understand what to do with all those big feelings—and unfortunately taking a deep breath isn’t yet in their toolkit! That’s where the idea of a calm-down corner comes into play, a method of helping kids process emotions that’s proven to be much more effective than the time outs you may have sat in as a kid.

Continue reading

Family

Toddler Tantrums: A Parent’s Guide

When your kid’s in the middle of a tantrum, it can be tough to keep yourself from having your own meltdown too. “Meltdowns are terrible, nasty things, but they’re a fact of childhood,” says Ray Levy, PhD, a Dallas-based clinical psychologist and co-author of Try and Make Me! Simple Strategies That Turn Off the Tantrums and Create Cooperation. “Young kids—namely those between the ages of 1 and 4—haven’t developed good coping skills yet. They tend to just lose it instead.” Keep reading to learn more about the causes and types of toddler tantrums, with tips for dealing with particularly nasty ones.

Continue reading

Family

Explore The ‘I Can Do It’ Books In The Caribu App To Support Young Kids Through Early Childhood Milestones

With so much focus on back-to-school this fall, it’s important for parents to remember that many kids might have other milestones on their mind! Young kids face many daily challenges in early childhood, and reading books that support them as they take on new tasks can open discussions and relieve anxiety. To help encourage them in their sweet, coming-of-age achievements, try the new ‘I Can Do It’ books, featured in the Caribu app.

Continue reading

Family

When A Child’s Emotions Spike, How Can A Parent Find Their Best Self?

With families around the world spending unprecedented amounts of time in close quarters – and under varying degrees of stress – emotions can run high. In good times and in hard times, parents can take steps to help their children strengthen their emotional competence. Parents may not always feel up to this task – especially in challenging moments – and yet parenting can be an opportunity for adults to strengthen their own emotional intelligence.

Continue reading

12