Disclaimer: I am not a mental health or medical professional. Sharing this for awareness and information purposes only. With the recent events taking place in Gary, Indiana, I feel it is important that we all have some level of awareness of how to engage. @Irene Huger is a professional, and I would love for you to weigh in on this. NIMH guidance on how children and teens react to disasters, violence, or serious accidents, and how caregivers can support them. Common reactions across all ages: Physical complaints (stomachaches, headaches), sleep problems/nightmares, trouble concentrating, loss of interest in usual activities, guilt, and thoughts of revenge. Age-specific reactions: Age 5 and under: clinginess, crying, tantrums, regression to bed-wetting/thumb-sucking, new fears (dark, monsters, being alone), reenacting the event through play Age 6 and up / teens: school problems, social withdrawal, avoidance of reminders, substance use, disruptive or destructive behavior, anger/resentment Most of these reactions are normal and fade with time. If symptoms persist beyond a month, it's time to involve a health care provider. How adults can help: Caregiver calm and stability directly shapes how kids cope, so adults should manage their own stress first. Do: Secure safety and basic needs Let them be sad, cry, talk, write, or draw about it Limit repetitive news exposure Allow temporary comfort measures (sleeping near you, light on) Maintain routines (meals, bedtime stories, games) Give small choices to restore a sense of control Watch for sudden shifts in behavior, speech, or emotion Seek care if flashbacks, racing heart, being easily startled, emotional numbness, or deep sadness persist beyond a few weeks Don't: Expect them to be "brave" or push them to talk before they're ready Get angry at strong emotions or regressive behaviors Make promises you can't guarantee ("You'll be fine tomorrow")

Back To School in The Ghetto, You Cant make this UP!!! https://youtu.be/FV1FyeuXCzg?si=6YdQUxPShAUh0TbL Back To School in The Ghetto, You Cant make this UP!!! Disclaimer: This is being shared for your awareness. No judgement. I feel a lot of us live in our own respective worlds and realities and in many cases, we never really go outside of it. To an extent, that is okay. However, sometimes we do not have a realistic impression of what is going on in the world around us. Hence, when I saw this, I was WOWED, I've seen things like this from time to time, however, I had no idea this would be something I would witness parents doing with their kids for their first day of back to school photos. Check it out and let me know your thoughts. And Devin, @Devin Trent thank you for the space. ❤️

Direct all questions to the primary casting directors listed here and below. Wendy O'Brien and Chris Gehrt are the show's primary casting directors Hit TV show Abbott Elementary is casting background students for Season 6. (Minors ages 6–14 of all genders and ethnicities.) Filming runs from Aug-Feb at Warner Bros. Studios-Burbank. Applicants must have a valid CA work permit and an on-set guardian. Wishing all the kiddos well! Audition info -> https://lnkd.in/gEViR_nK Parent Tip: Wendy O'Brien and Chris Gehrt are the show's primary casting directors. Casting Networks is the submission platform where their breakdowns often post so keep your eyes open there!

Yesterday, I was encouraged by this mother's humility to apologize to her son. Because kids watch what we do, more than what we say. But you already know that. So this is just a reminder to be the good example you want them to follow 😊

Tell me if this sounds familiar... A mother tells her son, "go pack your backpack" In her mind, that means: -Notebook inside -Lunchbox inside -Water bottle inside -Etc... But her son doesn't see the same picture in his head. So he puts his notebook inside the backpack, then wanders off to play again. A few minutes later, she sees the lunchbox and water bottle still sitting on the counter. She says, "I thought I told you to pack your backpack." He says, "I did" Now they're both standing there confused. Can you relate to this scene? I've noticed some parents lose patience in moments like this...thinking that kids are being lazy, disrespectful, or just not listening. But sometimes the real issue is that kids don't have the same expectations as their parents. I call this Finish Line Fog™. Finish Line Fog is when "done" looks obvious to the parent, but the idea of "done" is still not clear to the child. Kids can't consistently hit a target they don't clearly see. So here's one practice you can try today. Before your child starts a task, ask them: “What will it look like when this task is done?” Then help them name two or three visible signs. For example: “The toys are inside the basket.” “The books are back on the shelf.” “The floor is clear enough to walk across.” This practice gives you both the same clear picture and makes the finish-line look less foggy. --- Think about one responsibility in your home... Can your child clearly show you what done looks like, or does the complete picture still live inside your head? If you've ever been confused about why kids don't do what you asked them, then the root cause might be Finish Line Fog™ But that's only 1 of 4 patterns I've seen, that keeps parents confused and in an endless cycle of reminders. So I've created a tool to help you uncover these hidden patterns before they get worse as your child grows and responsibilities get bigger. It's called The Responsibility Readiness Check. It's a 9 question assessment that takes about 3 minutes.