Hello parents and guardians! We have almost made it to winter break! There is so much excitement in the air as we wind down these next few days and I know all of the students are looking forward to a much deserved extended break.
Across all grade levels, we have finished Unit 2 of Second Step, where we learned about handling our big emotions and various methods we can use when we need to calm ourselves down. When we return in January, we will begin working on a new unit that teaches us all about empathy and kindness.
As we move into winter break and a busy holiday season for many families, I want to encourage you to remember that if you as an adult feel stressed, your children may pick up on it as well. While we have been working on being able to identify our feelings and how to calm ourselves, it’s important for you to remember that sometimes our kids don’t have the words to share how they feel and instead can show those feelings in the following ways:
- Physical complaints such as stomach aches or headaches
- Changes in sleeping and/or eating patterns
- Meltdowns
- Oppositional behavior
- Withdrawal
- Heightened clinginess
I encourage you to talk to your child if you notice any of these changes at home and help them to understand and process through how they are feeling. Some coping skills you can use include taking a break, deep breathing, reading, going for a walk, or many other coping skills that you can find listed online.
If there is anything I can do in this final week before break or even once we return to school, please don’t hesitate to reach out and let me know. I hope you have a wonderful break with your students!
