Dear AIS Families,

Greetings from your counselors.   

We wanted to let you now that we are here to support you during this uncertain time. Please feel free to contact us and let us know how you are doing and how we can support you as your counselor (see email links at the bottom of this message).

In addition, we will be posting here 'Counselor Coffee Chats' on topics relevant to AIS Families as well as resources relating to well-being, balancing time, and supporting your child. 

We thought we would share  several strategies to build resilience and guidance in  having reassuring conversations with kids:

1. Self and Family-Care: Identify what can be controlled and implement measures to control them. Identify things that can’t be controlled and let those things go.  Figure out what you can let go or postpone some things and spend more time in self-care. Increase your connection with loved ones by spending time together and expressing affection.

2. Boost your Coping Strategies and Stay Positive: Remember to keep calm. If you show anxiety or fear, your child will pick up on this and also feel nervous and afraid. Changes to the environment and routines can create unease. Engage in family activities such as drawing, playing games, reading, listening to music, watching Netflix/movies, creating a gratitude list, meditating, doing yoga,  exercising, cooking/baking, talking to a friend or family member, or doing other activities that are fun or give you joy and make you feel good.

3. Stick to the Facts:  Take time to have calm, panic-free discussions to ease emotions around these changes. Check-in on how your child is feeling and acknowledge and address their worries rather than ignore them. Answer questions and share facts about COVID-19 in a way that your child can understand.

4. Consider Media Consumption: When looking online, consider the source and fact-check to prevent fake news, and think before you share. Be mindful of how much media you are checking and minimize how often you are reading stories. Try to keep a healthy balance (both online and offline) in your daily routines and lifestyle. 

5. Eliminate stigma: It is important to be aware of how the coronavirus is explained to your children to avoid any person/group being blamed. Also, communicate that if someone has a fever or cough it does not mean this person has the coronavirus.

Please contact us if you have any questions, comments, or concerns.

Sincerely,

• Amy Perdigone, ES Counselor, aperidgone@wbais.net
• Joe George, MS Counselor, jgeorge@wbais.net
• Rebecca Silverstein, HS 9/10 Counselor, rsilverstein@wbais.net 
• Edie Weitzman, HS 11/12 Counselor, eweitzman@wbais.net