Dear SLC Families,

By now you have heard about the extended school closure through April 30th, and each day that we are apart feels like a tremendous loss.  And it is.  Humans are social beings and Early Childhood Education rests on the foundation of relationships and socialization.  It’s no wonder this feels hard.

We are currently going through a collective traumatic experience.  All of a sudden we are burdened with tremendous worry, new responsibilities, less productivity, and coping with uncertainty.  We were NOT prepared to become our children’s teachers (says this mom of two teens), work-from-home employees, or even more difficult unemployed.  All while being isolated from our human flock.  It’s no wonder this feels hard.

After reading this article, and in an effort to make this situation feel a little less hard, I started to wonder:  what if we lowered our expectations for ourselves, and for those around us?  What if we practiced more self-care and forgiveness? Allowed our parenting & work efforts to be good enough whatever they may be on a given day?  I don’t know about you, but life and work do not feel like business as usual to me.  Perhaps this is a mindset we should consider, when applicable.

One of the most frequently asked questions the SLC staff has received during school closure has been, “how can I structure my child’s day?”  It is true younger kids thrive with schedules and routine, and ideally it would be balanced with fun and free play.  The above article suggests to make a list of your families’ values, and to pick 2 activities each day.  The list might include:

• Mind Activities (i.e. for a 3-year-old, doing a new puzzle)
• Body Activities (building something with twigs outside, kicking around a ball)
• Soul Activities (art, creativity, music)
• Good Citizen of the House (chores like setting the dinner table)
• Acts of Compassion (write a letter to a loved one, a community helper or someone who is isolated

What I love about this suggested framework is it actually feels feasible, and good for the soul.Before I sign off I want to remind our families that SLC is here for you!  Are you in need of a meal?  More face time with your teachers?  Looking to be connected to a resource?  Please reach out to us through the link below.  We miss you and want to remain as connected.

Until we are together again, sending all of you a BIG virtual hug.

Warmly,
Chrissy

P.S.  Wondering how to talk to kids about the Coronavirus? Discussing the coronavirus with children in age-appropriate ways, helps our kids learn to deal with adversity but very few of us feel equipped to do this. Here are a few tips from Child Psychologist, Dr. Colleen Cicchetti of Lurie’s Children’s Hospital.