Welcome Back!
Happy 2021! We want to wish you a Happy New Year and welcome all of our AAS families back to school! A special welcome to the new Penguin students and families joining us in each grade from PK - Grade 5. We are so glad that you have become part of our AAS family!
Explaining the News to Our Kids
News of the Pandemic, events last week in Washington DC and the issues of JEDI - justice, equality, diversity and inclusion challenge us to be and do better. The news can be overwhelming and cause feelings of anxiety in us as adults. No matter how we try to protect our children they are keenly aware of the world we now live in and the challenges we face.
Dramatic, disturbing news events can leave parents speechless. These age-based tips on how to talk to kids about the news -- and listen, too -- can help.
If it bleeds, it leads. The old newsroom adage about milking stories for sensationalism seems truer than ever today. And with technology doing the heavy lifting -- sending updates, tweets, posts, and breaking news alerts directly to our kids' phones -- we parents are often playing catch-up. Whether it's wall-to-wall coverage of a global pandemic, the latest natural disaster, a horrific mass shooting, a suicide broadcast on social media, or a violent political rally, it's nearly impossible to keep the news at bay until you're able to figure out what to say. The bottom line is that elementary school-aged kids and some middle schoolers have trouble fully understanding news events. - By
Caroline Knorr of Common Sense Media.
No matter how old your kids are, threatening or upsetting
news can affect them emotionally. Many can feel worried, frightened, angry, or even guilty. And these anxious feelings can last long after the news event is over. So what can you do as a parent to help your kids deal with all this information?
Addressing News and Current Events: Tips for all kids
Consider your own reactions. Your kids will look to the way you handle the news to determine their own approach. If you stay calm and rational, they will, too.
Take action. Depending on the issue and kids' ages, families can find ways to help those affected by the news. Kids can write postcards to politicians expressing their opinions; families can attend meetings or protests; kids can help assemble care packages or donate a portion of their allowance to a rescue/humanitarian effort. Check out
websites that help kids do good.
