Back to School with Sesame Street in Communities: Tip 1

By HRI Program Coordinator, Camila Dos Santos, M.Ed.

Now that you’ve met the SSIC Guilford Team, it’s time for us to share our first SSIC Back to School Tip with you! This week, we’ll be highlighting our partnership with Sesame Street in Communities (https://sesamestreetincommunities.org) and sharing Sesame Street in Communities resources to help you prepare your young children to return to school or daycare.  The first tip is to use SSIC resources to prepare young students for the schedule changes they’ll see in school and daycare as a result of the pandemic.

It’s no secret that children learn best when they connect with their learning. Whether it’s a catchy song or a fun character, when it stands out, kids are more likely to pay attention and the lesson is more likely to stick. When the character is from Sesame Street, it makes learning that much easier and fun for the whole family! 

Today’s tip focuses on very important non-academic issue this school year: preparing young children for the changes they will see in school as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. Sesame Street in Communities have created a number of resources to help parents talk to young kids about the pandemic. 

Check out the following resources and use them to prepare your children for all of the changes they’ll see this school year! 

• Teaching young children about using masks: https://sesamestreetincommunities.org/activities/all-about-masks/
• The importance of hand-washing (video): https://sesamestreetincommunities.org/topics/health-emergencies/?activity=washy-wash-song 
• An activity about social distancing: https://sesamestreetincommunities.org/topics/health-emergencies/?activity=social-distancing 
• An article for parents on talking with children about COVID-19: https://sesamestreetincommunities.org/topics/health-emergencies/?activity=talking-about-covid-19-with-children 

Learn more about SSIC Guilford here: https://sesamestreetincommunities.org/community/guilford-county/

Back to School with Sesame Street In Communities!

By: HRI Program Coordinator, Camila Dos Santos, M.Ed. 

Did you know that Guilford County, NC was one of the first counties in the country to partner with Sesame Street in Communities? As one of the original partner counties, we have been working with SSIC to spread the word about Sesame Street-themed resources designed to help parents and caregivers support young children through challenging times. 

Since 2017, the SSIC Guilford team has worked closely to provide the Guilford County community with resources to support healthy families.  We’ve had events throughout the community, both in person and face to face, and we’ve even had Cookie Monster come to town! 

Learn more about our partnership with Sesame Street here, including the organizations working together to make it happen here: https://sesamestreetincommunities.org/community/guilford-county/.

And stay tuned this week for tips on how to use Sesame Street in Communities resources to support your child as they transition from summer to school!

HRI E-Book: A Healthy Start to the School Year

Starting school brings about new routines and expectations, which can lead to stress and anxiety for the entire family.  This HRI E-Book, designed by Bringing Out the Best at UNC Greensboro, provides families with resources, strategies, and insights into transitioning from summer to school in a healthy way. Download the free pdf of the E-Book today!

Going Back to School in a Pandemic: Tip 5

Developed by HRI Program Coordinator, Camila Dos Santos, M.Ed.

The pandemic has uprooted life as we all know it and with that comes a need to be realistic about expectations for your child’s school year. This doesn’t mean that as a parent, you shouldn’t hold high standards for your child’s learning, but it does mean that you may need to reevaluate what successful learning looks like this year for your student. 

Anticipating that there will be bumps along the road will help you overcome challenges as they arise and being flexible with how learning occurs will help minimize stress for the entire family.  While the school year will certainly look and feel different for many of us, if we are flexible with our definition of success, then it can be a positive learning experience for the entire family. 

Going Back to School in a Pandemic: Tip 3

Developed by HRI Program Coordinator, Camila Dos Santos, M.Ed.

Regardless of what school will look like for your child, it is beneficial to help young children practice possible new routines, such as wearing masks for extended periods of time, washing hands consistently, and practicing safe social distancing. 

When children know what the expectations are and have had a chance to practice new routines, they are more likely to adapt to changes in their schedules. This can lead to fewer behavioral concerns, as well as less anxiety and frustration for the entire family. 

Going Back to School in a Pandemic: Tip 1

Developed by HRI Program Coordinator, Camila Dos Santos, M.Ed.

Regardless of how students will return to school this year, it is safe to say that the school year will look different for all of us.   The uncertainty around the logistics of learning in a pandemic can cause added stress for the entire family.  This series will focus on providing tips for families to return to school in a happy, healthy, and safe way. 

Our first tip is to intentionally reflect as a family about returning to school – discussing what family members are fearful and anxious about, as well as what excites them.   These conversations can help family members work through the complex emotions and worries that can stem from going back to school in an unprecedented time.  

Asking questions to reflect on how your student feels can help you understand and anticipate where you may need to provide added support. Encourage your student to share openly and be honest with them yourself! Sharing your perspectives as a parent will help your student understand that they’re not alone and will encourage working together as a family when it’s time to return to school. 

Talking openly and consistently as a family will help keep everyone on the same page, minimizing stress for everyone once the school year starts up again.