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From The National Traumatic Stress Network, February 2021 Resource Description Provides information to parents and caregivers about how to support children after the U.S. Capitol Attack. This fact sheet offers guidance on understanding media exposure, the potential impact of this event on children and families, what parents and caregivers can do to help, and what to do if your family was a part of the event. Published in 2021 [ Please click here to download the resource .]

By Rebecca Honig, Director of Content & Curriculum This weekend I had an opportunity to listen in to a mixed age conversation about dreams. It was a group of PreK-2nd graders. Under normal circumstances they’d be meeting in person to do projects, play together, learn together. This year, like so many things, they come together over Zoom. Two weekends ago they had gathered to honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with a day of service. This weekend, to build on what...

photo courtesy of Diana Rivas Diana Rivas had studied child development as an undergraduate, but it wasn’t until she joined a parenting group in 2019 in Davis, California, that she began to reflect on the way she herself was raised — and punished. Diana Rivas “My dad had experienced a lot of abuse,” she recalls. “He was raised in a small town in Mexico, and his father had used heavy corporal punishment against him. He did the same with me, because he thought that was the way discipline...

By Simon Brooks, Moms, January 25, 2021 Research has shown that childhood emotional trauma often determines whether an individual develops a physical disease as an adult. This means that the experiences that an individual goes through in their childhood years have a huge effect on the quality of life that they live as adults. A rough childhood can predispose one to physical diseases. The brain adapts and evolves from birth according to life experiences. Most experts agree that what goes on...

This Tuesday, January 26, 2021 @ 8:30 pm ET Ahora con traducción en vivo y en español (lea más abajo) As John Legend sang last night , we're hopeful that we're seeing a new dawn, beginning a new day in the United States. We appreciate healing moments even as we know that, when it comes to issues of race and racial justice, the road ahead will be full of challenges. That's why we hope you join us for the next Talking Race & Kids conversation this coming Tuesday, when we'll both turn the...

Healing the Heart Through the Creative Arts, Education & Advocacy Hope, Healing & Help for Trauma, Abuse & Mental Health “ Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls; the most massive characters are seared with scars”. Kahlil Gibran The Surviving Spirit Newsletter January 2021 “ May 2021 bring everyone Joy - Peace - Hope - Love - Good Health - Renewed Faith - Inclusiveness - Empathy - Understanding - Kindness - Acceptance - in a Safer World. May we spend more time &...

By Alia E. Dastagir and Alia Wong, USA Today, December 22, 2020 It has been almost a year of pandemic parenting, an all-consuming, ever-changing chaos that has tested American families in unprecedented ways. Schools closed, then opened, then closed again. Playdates were fewer and fraught with new rules. Working parents often did their jobs without child care, while parents of teens did their best to buffer against a litany of losses – friends, sports, proms, graduations. For many low-income...

Worried that your child may be secretly cyberbullied? There are signs and changes in your child’s life that can serve as a telltale. This may include subtle or not-so-subtle behavioral changes in your child’s school and social life, how they handle the use of technology, and changes in their emotions and behaviors. You’re a parent, right? You know your child like the back of your hand. Their daily behavior and routine. And even if you find it hard to keep abreast with the latest toys (read:...

By Beata Mostafavi, Michigan Health, January 18, 2021 An estimated one in five teenagers has symptoms of a mental health disorder such as depression or anxiety, and suicide is the second leading cause of death among teens. But the first person a teen confides in may not always be an adult – they may prefer to talk to another teen. And three-quarters of parents in a new national poll think peers better understand teen challenges, compared to teachers or counselors in the school. The majority...

Fussiness and Colic Between 3-8 weeks of life, many babies become more fussy, with peak fussiness at 6 weeks. All babies need help calming their bodies during this time. However, some babies cry more than others and are more difficult to soothe. We refer to this as colic if a healthy, well-fed infant cries for more than 3 hours per day, more than 3 days a week for more than 3 weeks in a row. Typically colic begins around 3 weeks of life and the crying is more common in the evening hours. The...

Dear parents: Good news! In February, Echo will be offering virtual support groups for current and past participants of our trauma-informed, nonviolent parenting course . The support group will be led by Andi Fetzner who was our facilitator for in-person Seeking Safety groups before the pandemic hit. She has deep empathy for the struggles of parents, plus a comprehensive knowledge of trauma. We think you will be in good hands. For more information and to see our available dates, please go to...

Together, we can do better. All students, school districts, families and communities have equitable access to rich resources to improve student learning, strengthen families and create healthier communities. School and community partnerships are empowered and connected in meaningful ways, problems are solved and resources are used effectively. To view the 12-page digital well-being resource from Community Schools, please click here.