Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, children have been home with their families more than usual this year. Some children have been home with parents full-time, while others have spent part of their time in child care programs. This extra time at home, combined with the added stresses of this past year, have left families with young children needing more support than ever.
As parents wrap up this difficult year, many are anticipating holiday celebrations involving more time at home and distance from loved ones. As a result, social-emotional learning at home will be extra helpful, for children and their parents. In this article, you’ll find several tools that offer support to people of any age who are experiencing big or difficult feelings.
While many of the resources below are geared toward parents, they include tips and ideas that are beneficial for caregivers and educators too!
Managing Your Own Emotions: The Key to Positive, Effective Parenting, is an article from Zero to Three that shares easy-to-implement strategies for parents to tune in to and manage their own feelings, in order to better support their relationships with their children.
Self Care, an article from Sesame Street in Communities, lists quick and easy tips to help parents practice self care during everyday activities
Practice Mindfulness: Just a few minutes a day of mindfulness can help parents feel calm, connected, and less reactive. Here are a few quick tips from Zero to Three to help parents experience the benefits of mindfulness: Mindfulness for Parents.
How Can We Help Kids With Self-Regulation?, an article from the Child Mind Institute, provides advice for parents trying to support emotional regulation in children of all ages.
Comfort Strategies, an article from Sesame Street in Communities helps parents build calm, familiar environments that encourage children to feel confident and secure.
Apps like Moshi Sleep are designed to help young children learn to practice relaxation and meditation.
DIY Calming Cube: Ready4K explains how a few simple materials (a cardboard box, paper, and markers) can be used to create a tool that helps children process emotions. Click here to learn more.
Sesame Street in Communities – Managing Big Feelings: This resource bundle from Sesame Street includes a video, conversation starters, and printables for parents to support children as they navigate big feelings.
Pushing a Wall to Settle the Nervous System: A quick tip for little ones who are feeling overwhelmed by big feelings — push against the wall as a way to calm the nervous system and let the brain know that it is safe. (Note: This is a great option for adults, too!)
Executive Function Videos from Promise Venture Studio – Guiding Children’s Behavior at Home: Parent and educator Kai-leé Berke describes easy, 2-3 minute techniques parents can use to help children move away from challenging behaviors.
Sesame Street “Monster Meditations” with Headspace: This handy video playlist features short videos to help children practice simple mindfulness and meditation techniques.
Inviting Parent Feedback with Surveys 
Preschool Family Engagement at the Start of the Year
Free Webinar: Equitable Family-Teacher Relationships