Fredericksburg Parent

www.FredericksburgParent.NET 11 www.FredericksburgParent.NET 11 • RACSB has partnered with local school divisions to provide school- based therapy in the City of Fredericksburg and the counties of Caroline and Stafford. • For children and adolescents, RACSB offers outpatient therapy, medica- tion management and case management services. To start services, call the clinic closest to you: · Caroline County Clinic, 804-633-9997 · Fredericksburg Children's Services Clinic, 540-479-2912 · King George County Clinic, 540-775-9879 · Spotsylvania County Clinic, 540-582-3980 · Stafford County Clinic, 540-659-2725 • Emergency services are always available. You can bring your child to the nearest emergency department, call 988 or call RACSB's emergency ser- vices at 540/373-6876. • Create a safe space by restricting access to means of self-harm such as knives, medication and firearms. RACSB provides free trigger and cable locks. Email prevention@rappahannockareacsb.org. Supplies are limited based on the availability of funds. • RACSB offers training sessions on recognizing childhood trauma, suicide prevention, reversing opioid overdoses and more. Learn more and regis- ter online, rappahannockareacsb.org/trainings. • Learn about the importance of resilience—and how to help children develop the skill, rappahannockareacsb.org/resilience/ CREATE FAMILY RITUALS When a day goes off the rails, having a daily ritual to come back to can calm everyone's emotions. "A ritual can provide a moment of connection during the 'crazy' that life sometimes brings," Davis said. Researchers con- sistently point to the family dinner as one of the most beneficial fam- ily rituals you can institute in your home; however, there's nothing magic about dinner. Families with different work and life schedules may want to build in family breakfast, or a family afternoon snack time. Rituals don't have to be formal, either. Having a silly song you sing at bath time every night, or a game you play in the car on the way to school, can give your kids something to rely on that can bring energy into their day and build lasting positive memories. Bedtime rituals such as reading with or to your children in the evening are also helpful. Research shows even children who are old enough to read to themselves benefit emotionally and intellectually from being read to. 3 4 CHECK IN WITH AP PROACHABLE QUESTIONS Building the habit of having conversa- tions that include vocabulary about feelings and emotions can help children establish the important skill of emotional intelligence. Davis recommends doing this with questions that are open-ended, but not so broad that a teenager is likely to grunt them away (although that will happen, and you should keep asking). Try asking things like: • What made you smile today? • What was your least favorite part of today? • What were you proud of today? • What's something you laughed at today? AFFIRM YOUR CHILDREN ON A DAILY BASIS The work of parenting can feel like constant nagging. But children need to hear the positive aspects of how others see them regularly. Write a daily affirmation and try to find a time each day to say these words to your child. "That positive feedback is so important," Davis said. "It could be sentences like, 'You are such a great big brother or little sister. We are so lucky to have you in our family. I love you. I am so glad I am your parent. You are a blessing to me." MODEL HEALTHY HABITS Children learn from their parents' actions. Davis emphasizes that parents can help children learn emotional regulation by talking about their own emotions, and having conversations about times they have struggled and strategies they have used to cope. Parents should also model healthy habits around taking care of themselves. "Getting enough sleep, getting good nutrition, limiting time with technology and social media—these are all habits children can learn by watching their parents," Davis said. Parents can also be a model of how to connect with others. By putting away phones and screens at family times and mealtimes, they can not only help children learn to regulate technology use, but ensure they are fully present for these simple moments that are foundational to children's mental health. 6 5

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