The 7th Habit of Happy Kids!
Thanks for coming back to check out our newsletter! Today I am going to be talking about the 7th Habit of Happy Kids! We've been using this book all year to talk about habits that help us be happier and healthier. The Habit for April is: Sharpen the Saw - Balance feels Best! Did you know that there are four core parts to who we are: body, heart, mind and soul? All four parts need time and attention for us to feel "balanced"!! If we are too busy focusing on one part, we will feel unbalanced. Think about your life: how does each part feel for you right now? Body? Heart? Mind? Soul? Talk to your parents or a friend (safely from 6 feet a part or over the phone) about any of these that feel out of whack and what you may be able to do to bring balance back. Have fun! Oh, and watch the video below of Mrs. Bland reading the 7th habit story, Sleepy Sophie!
Let's Chat: Bike Safety
Spring is bringing warmer days & Sunshine! Take to opportunity to get out & ride your bike. This is a great way to to stay ACTIVE (maybe learn a new skill if you are new to bike riding?) Here are some tips from National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to avoid accidents & injuries while riding your bike:
- ALWAYS Wear a Properly Fitted Bicycle Helmet.
- Adjust Your Bicycle to Fit- Stand over your bicycle. There should be 1 to 2 inches between you and the top tube (bar) if using a road bike and 3 to 4 inches if a mountain bicycle. The seat should be level front to back. The seat height should be adjusted to allow a slight bend at the knee when the leg is fully extended. The handlebar height should be at the same level with the seat.
- Check Your Equipment- Before riding, inflate tires properly and check that your brakes work.
- See and Be Seen- Whether daytime, dawn, dusk, foul weather, or at night, you need to be seen by others. Wearing white has not been shown to make you more visible. Rather, always wear neon, fluorescent, or other bright colors when riding day or night. Also wear something that reflects light, such as reflective tape or markings, or flashing lights. Remember, just because you can see a driver doesn’t mean the driver can see you.
- Control Your Bicycle- Always ride with at least one hand on the handlebars.
- Watch for and Avoid Road Hazards- Be on the lookout for hazards such as potholes, broken glass, gravel, puddles, leaves, and dogs. All these hazards can cause a crash.
Link for more info: https://one.nhtsa.gov/people/injury/pedbimot/bike/KidsandBikeSafetyWeb/index.htm
Virtual Tooth Fairy Garden
Let's keep the celebration going! If your child loses a tooth, send a photo with his or her name to angela.gottesfeld@hcps.org and we will include them in next week's newsletter! Keep sending those toothless smiles!
Outside Play = Fun (or Seasonal Allergies??)
Playing outside & the changing of the seasons can lead to pesky Seasonal Allergies for so many. Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) recently posted a Health Tip of the Week that gave GREAT information of treating seasonal allergies. Below are some ways to minimize allergy triggers:
- Have your child wash their hands and face as soon as they come in from playing outside so they don’t rub pollen in their eyes and nose.
- If your child’s eyes are puffy and swollen from pollen, start by rinsing their eyes gently using tap water. Have your child take a shower to remove all of the pollen they’ve been exposed to.
- Check the forecast for pollen levels, and limit outdoor activities when pollen counts are at their highest.
- Dry clothes in the dryer, not by hanging them outside, where they’ll get covered in pollen dust.
- Have your child take their bath at bedtime, which may help wash off allergens and prevent nighttime allergy problems.
- Keep windows in your home and car closed, which can lower your child’s exposure to pollen. Use air conditioning to keep your home and vehicle cool, but make sure it’s on re-circulating mode, if possible, to keep outdoor air out.
Here's the referenced article for more information: https://www.chop.edu/news/health-tip/seasonal-allergies-keeping-symptoms-check
What questions do you have?
Parent Corner
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/cases-updates/index.html
Helping Kids Cope with the COVID-19 Pandemic
https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/helping-kids-cope-with-the-covid-19-pandemic/
Child Mind Institute: Talking to kids about COVID-19
https://childmind.org/article/talking-to-kids-about-the-coronavirus/
About Mrs. Gottesfeld
Email: angela.gottesfeld@hcps.org
Website: https://hies.ss18.sharpschool.com/home
Location: Hickory Elementary School, Conowingo Road, Bel Air, MD, USA
Phone: 443-338-3609
About Mrs. Bland
I'm the school counselor at Hickory and my job is to support the social and emotional well-being of all students! This is my 9th year at Hickory and I absolutely love my job and helping students learn about life and friends and most importantly, their feelings. I live in Bel Air with my husband Dave and our two boys, Zach (4) and Jake (1), they keep me busy when I am not helping students :) My work number is listed below, please don't hesitate to call or email me if your student needs anything during this time.
Email: Christina.Bland@hcps.org
Website: https://hies.ss18.sharpschool.com/home
Location: Hickory Elementary School, Conowingo Road, Bel Air, MD, USA
Phone: 443-503-0883
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HIEScounseling/
