It Takes a Neighborhood…
By Gail Hoins
Your WWNA Board Members will be presenting child safety tips, resources, and activities through Facebook and our monthly newsletter. It takes a neighborhood to raise our children in a safe and caring environment so get involved and be a part of Child Safety.
Breaking News! Are you feeling overwhelmed? What about our children?
Covid-19 and Black Lives Matter have certainly turned our lives upside down. Every adult I have talked with over the past few weeks has felt some aspect of stress, anxiety, worry due to lack of control, trapped and lonely due social distancing, and the list goes on and on. So, what are our children feeling? Their whole world has changed without the coping experiences we as adults have mastered. 😊
A pandemic hit – schools closed, play dates ended, social distancing is keeping them away from friends and family members, hugging is limited, and wearing masks are the norm. Racial injustice – unacceptable and many of us are not sure what to do next. But there is certainly a call for action. So where does that leave us and what about our children?
We could focus on the negative, we could ignore the news, we could cover our heads with a blanket, we could get angry, or could we use this as a leaning-in and teaching moment. We could become better listeners, let our children share their fears and anxiety, provide a safe environment for play, show them that love will conquer hate through our own behavior, respect their opinions, and be aware of the words and phrases we are using as adults. GoZen is a fun place for activities and information if you are looking for things to do.
May was Mental Health Awareness Month and May 7 was National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day. Did you know that suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death among children and adolescents ages 10 to 24, and the 3rd leading cause of death among 12 year olds? A great source of information can be found here.
Black Lives Matter is an organized movement dedicated to non-violent civil disobedience in protest of police brutality. You may want to check out a list of books for children and teens to help start the conversation around Black Lives Matter.
June is Pride Month and was chosen to commemorate the Stonewall riots, which occurred at the end of June 1969. Did you know? The pink triangle was used by the Nazis in concentration camps to identify and shame homosexuals. The pink triangles were slightly larger than the other colored triangles so that guards could identify them from a distance. It is said that those who wore the pink triangles were singled out by the guards to receive the harshest treatment, and when the guards were finished with them, some of the other inmates would harm them as well. Click here for a list of Pride Month resources.
Remember, we’re all in this together!