{"id":16368,"date":"2021-02-19T17:20:08","date_gmt":"2021-02-19T17:20:08","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.brethren.org\/news\/?p=16368"},"modified":"2021-02-19T17:24:11","modified_gmt":"2021-02-19T17:24:11","slug":"cds-recommends-bbt-resource-on-children","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/news\/2021\/cds-recommends-bbt-resource-on-children\/","title":{"rendered":"Children\u2019s Disaster Services recommends BBT resource on children and the pandemic"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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By Lisa Crouch<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Children and families continue to face isolation, and challenges abound with the pandemic continuing. Mental health for all ages has been impacted on some level. As we approach the one\u2010year anniversary of \u201cflattening the curve\u201d to slow the virus down, some may be feeling like this will never end. So, how can we face this year with hope and a plan to keep our families moving in the right direction?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A good place to start is with the February issue of Brethren Benefit Trust\u2019s WellNow<\/em> newsletter, featuring children and the pandemic. If you haven\u2019t seen it, you can find it here: www.cobbt.org\/sites\/default\/files\/pdfs\/WellNow%21%20Feb%202021%20-.pdf<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

BBT provides some great information for parents and some questions to ask your children about how they are feeling. It is so important to keep your children talking. Start a new game at dinner that sparks conversation, like \u201cWhat did you find challenging today?\u201d or \u201cWhat was good for you today?\u201d Then be prepared to talk through their answers. This can be monumental in developing healthy mindsets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As families seek out a new sense of normal, keep looking for ways to create new traditions as a family that fit within social distancing guidelines. I saw a challenge to reach 1,000 hours outdoors in 2021. I love this idea–and even if we fail to get 1,000 hours, just think of the fun we will have trying!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What kind of challenge can you do as a family? The longterm effects of the pandemic on children will be stretching far beyond what we can see now, but we can create a path through this \u201cwilderness\u201d that may just bring some of your best memories yet as a family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

— Lisa Crouch is associate director of Children\u2019s Disaster Services, a program within Brethren Disaster Ministries.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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