Friday Roundup: 5 Helpful and Inspiring Items
Emotional health, the importance of play, the weight the pandemic is placing on working moms and more....
Hi Parents,
It’s Friday again! Time for my weekly roundup of helpful and/or inspiring items for you to peruse.
I think a lot about emotions, emotional health and how much better the world would look if this were a top priority. Not to mention how much better we would each operate and show up for one another. This quote that I shared on my instagram account this week, helped articulate how I feel about it. While you are there, follow me. I try to show up there most days of the week.
You’ve likely heard that play is vital for kids. The decrease in free form, open ended play in children is something we should all take seriously. This article from Harvard Graduate School of Education was written pre-COVID but scroll down to the section on Rediscovering Play in an Overscheduled World. There they list ideas for how to get kids who might push back on a decrease in screen time and an increase in free form creative play. Hint: the kids are totally capable of breaking through the sense of boredom and frustration. It will be interesting for all to see what the kids come up with! One idea from my house: If you have boxes and duct tape, kids can stay occupied for a long while.
I am sure it comes as no surprise to anyone reading this that the pandemic has been really hard on Moms. At Hand in Hand Parenting, we take the burden that is placed on mothers and the lack of support seriously. That is a big reason why I do what I do. This op-ed shares part of the struggle for many moms in their efforts to hold onto a job while also parenting at home.
“This crisis should help us finally recognize that mothers are raising the next generation of citizens; motherhood is not a private frolic like hang gliding”
Part of the support that we offer at Hand in Hand Parenting is a tool called Listening Partnerships. Being heard is healing. Being heard lightens your load. Those who practice Hand in Hand Parenting can vouch for the power of Listening Partnerships (and believe me, I was an early skeptic on how useful it would be). What is the difference between chatting with a friend who listens and a listening partnership? See if this is helpful.
My 10 year old son has decided he is really into baking and cooking. So am I. It’s been a fun way to connect this week. He has made several of these loaves and they are delish. PS - they are gluten and dairy free if that is a need for your family.
I hope you have a deeply connected, laughter-filled weekend with your crew.
Love, Kate
Follow me on:
On point, as always! I especially liked the article on play. Thanks for these fantastic resources!