Weekly Message from Mr. Ritsema (5/11/2020)
Dear Parents/Guardians,
I hope that you and your families are healthy and well. I am writing to you today to share three resources that can help you to help support your child/children's mental and emotional well-being during this difficult season we are in.
Our children's two worlds of school and home were suddenly and without warning merged into one single world where they need to do it all: school work, socializing, exercise, eating, playing. They now must do it separated from friends and the loving teachers and staff of Marvista, with perhaps a sibling to play with, perhaps a parent or guardian able to spend time with them. Many kids I know are feeling the loss of it all, and may not be able to articulate why they are so tired/ cranky/ sad lately. You as an adult may be going through something similar! And yet there is and always will be hope! Here are some tools to help:
Resource #1 - First, 8 tips from Yale's Child Center on working at home with kids during this time. A great, quick read!
Resource #2 - A simple art activity from Art with Heart to do with your kids that will open up conversations about how they are feeling. (A printer is ideal, but if not you could still pull up the ocean picture and have them look for the emotions while you ask the questions):
Resource #3 - This final link is a more comprehensive one by the Child Mind Institute. If you scroll down there are articles on discipline and behavior, managing anxiety, single parenting help, supporting kids with ADHD at home, and much more. All specific to this season our country is in:
Finally, please know that I am a resource for you too! If you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to reach out to me and I'll get back to you within 24 hours. This is a time of creative problem solving like no other and we as a community needs to come together to meet this new challenge. We will get through this Marvista!
Much Love,
Andrew Ritsema