Teen Week - Finale

As we wrap up Teen Week, we hope you will bookmark our blog and go back and review these ideas and activities as needed. Today we are including ideas that didn’t quite fit into other categories. Please remember to keep sending in your activities so we can keep adding to our lists.  Tweet us @schoolpsychws and use #wspsychs and #wsfcslearnon. We hope our blogs this week will help teens and families as they navigate these uncharted waters!


  • Encourage your teen to do something outside: Go for a walk, practice a sport, sit in a hammock and read a book, etc. Being outside will get them some much needed Vitamin D and lift their spirits! 
  • Here is a great list of teen activities created by mom and blogger Danyelle Little.  Ideas include journaling, learning a new word each day, and writing letters to elderly in nursing homes. Read her other great ideas at The Cubicle Chick
  • The Forsyth County Public Library has a digital registration form to get a library card. Your student can now have access to digital materials from home. Visit Virtual Library Card Registration Form
  • Throughout this pandemic, it has been amazing to see the heroic acts of our first responders as they put themselves at risk to save others. Watching how the residents of New York City cheer for them each night at 7:00 from inside their apartments has been heartwarming. In addition to first responders, there are other essential workers who are putting themselves out there to take care of others. Truck drivers, grocery and restaurant employees, and pharmacists are just a few examples. Maybe you or your teen would like to thank these people for all they are doing? Did you know writing thoughtful letters of gratitude can make YOU a happier person? There are so many safe ways to express gratitude right now. Not only will it help that person realize how much they are appreciated, it might also improve your own spirits! Learn more about this research at Inside Kent State
  • For the high school senior who is missing out on all of the traditional celebrations, we haven’t forgotten about you! Triad Moms on Main has compiled a creative list of ways to celebrate this milestone while still maintaining social distancing guidelines. These celebrations can also be done with elementary or middle school graduates!
  • We are in the midst of a historical event like we have never experienced before. Explore ways to help your student document this moment in history.  One idea might be keeping a daily journal.  If done online, your student could even attach visual reminders, such as pictures of empty parking lots or temporary closure signs. You could even consider compiling everything into a scrapbook to be printed. It would be an interesting keepsake to look back at with their own children one day. 


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

September is National Suicide Prevention Month

Image
This month, we want to take time to remember those who have lost their lives to suicide, those who have struggled with suicidal ideation, and acknowledge all of those who have been impacted.  Why is this work important? According to the CDC, in 2021, there were 48,183 deaths by suicide in the United States, which is equivalent to 1 death every 11 minutes. 1.7 million adults attempted suicide. In 2021, the suicide rate among males was approximately four times higher than the rate among females. Males make up 50% of the population but nearly 80% of suicides. In North Carolina, suicide is the second leading cause of death in ages 10-18. There was a 94% increase in youth suicide from 2011-2020.  Suicide can be prevented by recognizing signs, learning how to help, and taking steps to help those in need. Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools Student Services Department has a district protocol to respond to and manage suicide risk.   Firearms are the most common method used,...
Read more

Random Acts of Kindness Week is February 11-17, 2024

Image
  Although Random Acts of Kindness week will be celebrated next week, the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation has provided a calendar for the 2023-2024 school year; that's 365 ideas of ways to spread kindness. They also provide a variety of resources for spreading kindness at school, at home, and at work, including a 2024 calendar for adults to spread kindness at work throughout the year.  Additionally, the Social Emotional Learning and Restorative Practices department has compiled a Random Acts of Kindness resource folder that includes lesson plans, kindness activities, announcements, book lists, and more.  Join the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation in their effort to make kindness the norm, not just next week, but all year long! 
Read more

May is Mental Health Awareness Month

Image
  According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) 1 in 5 U.S. adults experience mental illness each year and only half of them receive treatment. NAMI is dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness. They have more than 700 NAMI State Organizations and Affiliates who work to raise awareness and provide support and education to those in need. You can visit their website to find your local NAMI.  NAMI also actively participates in Mental Health Awareness Month to eradicate stigma, extend support, foster public education, and advocate for policies that prioritize the well-being of individuals and families affected by mental illness. Join their Take the Moment campaign to promote open dialogues, and cultivate empathy and understanding. They have provided a toolkit with more information on the campaign including how to spread awareness, social media content, graphics to share, and facts.   NAMI provides a Teen ...
Read more