Self-Care for Parents and Teachers
Guide children and young adults in recognizing when self-care is needed and how they can facilitate that for themselves.
Grounding Exercise
Teachers and parents can conduct this grounding exercise with children or young adults by asking these six questions:
1. Gratitude: What am I grateful for today?
2. Connection: Who am I checking in on or connecting with today?
3. Expectations: What expectations of “normal” am I letting go of today?
4. Outside: How am I getting outside today?
5. Movement: How am I moving my body today?
6. Beauty: What beauty am I creating, cultivating, or inviting in today?
Grounding exercise suggested by Dr. Crystal Broussard, LCSW, Clinical Assistant Professor, Tulane University School of Social Work
More Resources
- Simple Activities for Children and Adolescents from the National Child Traumatic Stress Network
- A Loving Space for Kids’ Emotion from Greater Good Science Center at Berkeley University of California
- Self Care for Educators from the National Child Traumatic Stress Network
- Everyday Parenting: The ABCs of Child Rearing free course from Yale University
Links suggested by National Mental Health Innovation Center and Dr. Julie A. Larrieu, Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and Director, Psychology Division, Tulane University School of Medicine
As other ways to provide a sense of calm and predictability to children, caregivers can:
- Prepare an adjustable schedule (i.e. work/schoolwork time, games, meals, FaceTime® with relatives, exercise).
- Create work spaces and study spaces for family members.
- Unplug from technology and work and being fully present for mealtime and family time (i.e. game night or prayer time).
- Monitor reactions and responses to children (i.e. revisit a conversation when appropriate).
Tips suggested by Dr. Maurya Glaude, LCSW-BACS, Professor of Practice, Tulane University School of Social Work
As other ways to provide order and normalcy to students, faculty members can:
- Check in via email and provide resources that the student and perhaps their family members can use.
- Allow students time at the start of class to state anything they would like to share.
- Ensure course expectations are clear.
- Publish nuanced due dates.
- Answer student emails in less than 24 hours, even if the response is to say that you are securing additional information.
Tips suggested by Dr. Candice Beasley, LCSW-BACS, Clinical Assistant Professor, Tulane University School of Social Work
Self-Care Suggestions Welcome!
Add to our recommendations. Tell us about something that's useful to your self-care.
