Maintaining Healthy Relationships
 5 Things to Know or Do
1. Make the most of family time
- Find more opportunities to spend time together as a family
- Give child positive attention (eye contact, affection, intentional praise, showing interest)
- Spend quality time together (take breaks, 1:1 time)
2. Stay connected with extended family and friends.
- Schedule virtual playdates, video chats, and phone calls with family and friends
- Write letters or send cards/postcards
- Engage in celebrations and traditions virtually
- Make encouraging posters and signs and put them in windows to support neighbors
- Go outside and say hello - wear a mask and stay 6 feet away
3. Conflict is common even in the best of times. During stressful experiences, it is natural for families to experience more conflict. Some ways to manage family conflict:
- Find opportunities to practice social skills like problem-solving
- Model healthy problem solving
- Discuss family rules
- Give children intentional praise when they are getting along well or working to solve problems
- Calmly reflect on disagreements
- Pick your battles
4. Maintain and implement daily routines
- Maintain basic daily routines as you normally would, such as getting ready for the day and bedtime schedules.
- Create daily tasks
- Plan for activities indoor and outdoor activities
- Create a schedule for the day including breaks; also include one and one uninterrupted time with your child
- Create a goal or theme for the week
- Make time for self care
- Use educational resources that your child's school provides for a portion of each day
- Spend some time outside each day for exercise and fresh air
- Plan time for fun and relaxation too
5. Talk about feelings
- Dedicate time each day to talk to children
- Encourage children to express their feelings and ask questions
- Take the time to answer their questions
- Validate emotions
- Help Kids Cope with Loneliness
 4 Children Read Alouds
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 I Will Never Not Ever Eat a Tomato by Lauren Child (Fairfax Library)
A picture book about fussy eating that is perfect for difficult meal times! Lola will not eat vegetables, and definitely not a TOMATO! Charlie explains that peas are green drops from Greenland, and carrots are orange twiglets tempting Lola to clear her plate.
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 Good Morning Yoga by Sara Jane Hinder (Fairfax Library)
Yoga helps children learn how to focus, relax, and both self-monitor and self-soothe Good Morning Yoga instills these four skills and more, enabling children to jumpstart the day with energy and excitement—and meet the adventures that come with mindfulness and perspective.
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 You Weren’t With Me by Chandra Ghosh Ippen (Amazon)
Little Rabbit and Big Rabbit are together after a difficult separation, but even though they missed each other, Little Rabbit is not ready to cuddle up and receive Big Rabbit’s love. Little Rabbit needs Big Rabbit to understand what it felt like when they were apart. “Sometimes I am very mad. I don’t understand why you weren’t with me,” says Little Rabbit, “I worry you will go away again.” Big Rabbit listens carefully and helps Little Rabbit to feel understood and loved. This story was designed to help parents and children talk about difficult separations to help them reconnect and find their way back to each other.
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 Here and now by Julia Denos (Fairfax Library/Amazon)
A stunning celebration of mindfulness, meditation, and enjoying each moment, from the team behind the award-winning Windows. This lush picture book is a fantastic tool for engaging children 3-7 who are schooling from home who are eager to feel connected to their world while managing new anxieties.
 3 Links to Visit
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Zero to Three: Five Tips to Make the Most of Video Chats
- About Kids Health: Coping with separation from family and friends during COVID-19
- Zero to Three: Tips on Helping Your Child Build Relationships
 2 Videos to View
- MedBridge: COVID-19: Staying Connected While Social Distancing
- Highlights @ Home: Staying Connected While Social Distancing Fun with a Purpose
 1 Point to Access Research
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Supporting Healthy Relationships Between Young Children and Their Parents (Center for Child and Family Policy Duke University)
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