PARENTING AND PANDEMIC: 
HOW TO HELP YOUR CHILD COPE IN TIMES OF CRISIS

 

Covid-19, and our personal and social responses to the Covid crisis, has impacted most areas of our lives. We are in unprecedented times, with unprecedented stress. The American Psychological Association released a report in May of 2020, titled, “Stress in America 2020”. The findings of the report are that parents are experiencing higher levels of distress now than at any time since distress has been measured in America by the APA. Children and adolescents also report increased feelings of anxiety, anger, and depression.

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Children have been separated from social interactions and peer relationships that are critical to their emotional development and well-being. They are feeling isolated and confused. The world is grappling with the loss of work, loss of financial security, loss of interacting with friends and family, inadequate insurance, loss of social support, loss of control, and the loss of ceremonies to mark life’s milestones. The losses add up. Clearly, they are affecting us in profound ways.

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We don’t have a road map to guide us (with any assurance) from what was before the crisis to where we are now. Still, we do have ways to improve our abilities to face change, uncertainty, fear, and depression, while developing skills and strategies that help us cope with the current crisis.

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About the Presenter: Suzanne Friesner, LMSW, Clinical and Macro License, has been working as a social worker with adolescents and their families for over 25 years. She has worked in outpatient, partial hospitalization, hospital, and residential program facilities. Her husband is a retired ATYP educator and her daughter was an ATYP student. As a result, she has a unique understanding of the dynamics of gifted students, their families, and teachers. She is currently practicing at Child and Family Psychological Services where she is providing web-based therapy.

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This FREE Virtual presentation is open to the public but you must pre-register using the form to the left. 
Monday, October 5, 2020
7 p.m.
ONLINE

This is a 45 to 60-minute presentation, with Q & A at the end.

Already have a question? Please enter it when registering.

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This free program is presented by Partners in Learning for Unlimited Success of Southwest Michigan, a support and advocacy group for the families of advanced and accelerated students. PLUS
 is a local chapter of the Michigan Association for Gifted Children.