Family resources
Helping Children and Teens Cope After a Traumatic Event
https://www.colorincolorado.org/article/15-tips-talking-children-about-school-violence
https://childmind.org/guide/helping-children-cope-after-a-traumatic-event/
Resources for Parents and Caregivers from the National Child Traumatic Stress Network
Critical Incident Stress Information Sheet from the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation with signs and symptoms of stress (which may last beyond the event).
BUGS Executive Function Skills Presentation
Tips and Strategies to support your child with executive function skills:
Navigating the COVID-19 Crisis
At BUGS, we love Common Sense Media's guidelines and resources. Curated and coordinated by the experts at Common Sense, "Wide Open School" is a free collection of the best learning experiences and activities for kids, organized by grade band and subject. You will also find daily schedules with creative breaks and recommendations to keep kids engaged and exploring, one day (or one hour) at a time. Note the Social Emotional section and articles like Helping your Teen Shelter in Place.
The Child Mind Institute understands that young people and their parents are struggling with the ‘new normal’ of COVID while trying to keep worries under control. Here are helpful tips and resources in English and Spanish.
For additional resources and tips, please also visit “How to Cope with the Pandemic” from NY Project Hope (click here).
Support Students’ Mental Health
New York State Office of Mental Health has launched a crisis text line - a free, anonymous text-based support network that’s available 24/7. Students simply text “Got5” to 741-741 to start a texting conversation with a trained Crisis Counselor who can help guide young people through a difficult moment. Learn more by watching the video here.
Preparing for conversations about Ukraine and Russia
>How to Talk to Kids about Ukraine
The New York Times offers these suggestions (PDF) for how to address young people’s questions.
>Kids are learning about the Russia-Ukraine conflict on TikTok with a mix of snark and fear.
Click here for suggestions on how parents can explain, not alarm.
>War Breaks Out. How Will Students Get News.
A middleweb blog by Frank Baker looks at where students get their news and offers some valuable resources for families for following current events in this era of conspiracy theories, sensationalism and disinformation.
BUGS Family Workshops
Mental Health & Wellness family workshop
Tune in as BUGS School Counselors define SEL, review the five SEL competencies, and discuss ways families can implement social-emotional learning at home.
Presentation from Family Workshop provided by BUGS Counselors Anali Chavez Monal Nabulsi on 2.17.2022
SEL and Summer Family Webinar
We invite you to watch BUGS School Counselors, Anali Chavez and Olivia Heffernan, discuss social-emotional learning at home and activities to continue to support your child throughout Summer in the pre-recorded webinar, SEL, and Summer.
Tips for Open Communication with Your Child
Sometimes it can be daunting to find the “right way” to begin an open dialogue with your child, however, there is no one right way to do it. BUGS Counselors Anali Chavez and Olivia Heffernan discuss different ways to open communication.
Presentation from Family Workshop provided by BUGS Counselors Anali Chavez & Olivia Heffernan on 12.9.2020
Tips & Best Practices for Getting Back into the Virtual School Year
Learn strategies to set up your child for success on topics including organization, the importance of routines, and establishing and maintaining social connection. Use this link to join the session:
Presentation from Family Workshop provided by BUGS Counselors Anali Chavez & Olivia Heffernan on 10.7.2020
Transitioning to Hybrid & how to Support your Child
Listen as BUGS school counselors, Anali Chavez and Olivia Heffernan discuss topics such as Social-Emotional Learning (SEL), building resilience, and ways to support your child during this 20-minute webinar.
Presentation from Family Workshop provided by BUGS Counselors Anali Chavez & Olivia Heffernan on 4.21.2021
Continuing to Build Kindness, empathy, compASSION IN YOUR CHILD
As we kick off BUGS Kindness and Inclusion month, school counselors, Anali Chavez and Olivia Heffernan, led a live webinar on Continuing to Build Kindness, Empathy, and Compassion in Your Child. During this webinar, they discussed best practices for modeling continued acts of kindness, activities to participate in as a family, and ways to stay kind even in difficult situations
Presentation from Family Workshop provided by BUGS Counselors Anali Chavez & Olivia Heffernan on 3.3.2021
Test-Taking Strategies Presentation
Discover ways to reduce stress around test-taking time, strategies to encourage students to do their personal best, and how families can support at home.
Presentation from Family Workshop provided by BUGS Counselors Anali Chavez & Olivia Heffernan on 3.11.20
What to Expect in Middle School:
Strategies for Handling the Transformation
One of our favorite psychologists, Lisa Damour, Ph.D. is offering a wide range of resources to help parents support their children during COVID-19. Check out “Ask Lisa: The Psychology of Parenting”, a podcast where she discusses parenting in the midst of a pandemic and answers questions about raising children and teens. Visit https://drlisadamour.com/podcast/ to learn more. She has also created mental health one-sheets at www.drlisadamour.com/resources.
Here the author of the New York Times bestseller Under Pressure—shares her top 10 list of what to expect in middle school. For each behavior, she explains why it happens, what we might be tempted to say or do, and finally, what how we should handle it.
Social Media and Online Safety
We know that as a parent it may be hard to understand what your kids are doing online. That’s why we’ve shared these resources.
Social Media & Anxiety
Learn to recognize the warning signs of anxiety disorder and help your kid keep social media use healthy and productive. This article is written by Caroline Knorr at Common Sense Media.
Helping Kids deal with cyberbullying
Finding out that your kid has been cyberbullied is emotional for parents. You or your kid might want to retaliate, but it’s best to help your kid defuse the situation, protect himself, and make rational efforts to put a stop to the bullying. Here are the immediate steps the Child Mind Institute recommends for parents.
HealthY Living
What you need to know and how to talk to your kids about Vaping
Healthy Eating TIPS for the Whole Family
How much sleep do I need? (A guide for teens)
Although it has been around for over a decade, vaping’s popularity exploded in 2017, taking many families, schools and healthcare providers by surprise. Vaping, or Juuling as it is often referred to by teens and young adults , in the inhaling and exhaling of an aerosol produce by using the vape device.
Whether you have a toddler or a teen, read the article for five of the best strategies to improve nutrition and encourage smart eating habits.
Most teens need about 8 to 10 hours of sleep each night. Getting the right amount of sleep is important for anyone who wants to do well on a test or play their best in sports. Unfortunately, many teens don’t get enough sleep.