Calming Children’s Fears After a Hurricane

I live outside Savannah, Georgia and many of us in our area, as well as, others up and down the coast have just experienced Hurricane Matthew.  He left much devastation and damage.  Taking down power lines, destroying trees and beaches, flooding areas, damaging homes, changing our daily lives…..we were just happy to see him go.  During this time of uncertainty, Matthew actually encouraged the best side of many people to join together, help a neighbor or stranger, open their homes for hot showers and meals, and just pull together through this difficult time.  Many people had to evacuate their homes, not knowing what they were coming back to of if they would have a home at all.  Shelters were full, schools and childcare centers were closed, and things just changed.

With changes we often feel fear, anxiety, uncertainty, and may even look forward to what is ahead and the challenges.  So some of your fears are definitely concerns for your children and those in your care.  It may take awhile to adjust and here is a great resource to help The National Child Traumatic Stress Network provides a fact sheet “Parent Guidelines for Helping Children After a Hurricane”. This guide provides some tips to help you deal with what you may be feeling and especially strategies for helping your children. Please visit http://www.hcpss.org/f/aboutus/helpingchildren.pdf This is a time for everyone to pull together and share resources. I know it is very difficult for some of you right now but together we can get through this.  When the children return to your centers I hope some of this information will assist you as you help them deal with their many emotions from the hurricane. 

If you have not been through a disaster yet, please keep resources available, as you never know when this could be happening to you.  There are many valuable resources from planning for a disaster to what you should do afterwards.  Contact your local county extension for more information.  In Georgia, you can call 1800.ASK.UGA1.

Celebrate Farm to School Month

There are many events being celebrated in October and among them are National Farm to School Month.  I have just visited the website and I Took the Pledge:  Pledge to take one small step for farm to school this October.  I encourage you to also take the Pledge for your school or center.  This includes a sweepstakes to win support for your activities.  I will be posting some ideas in the next blog for you and encourage visiting the website for more information, great ideas, resources, and ways to get involved.  Healthier schools, children and communities all go hand in hand.  It is those small baby steps that add up to great changes and impact.   Please feel free to share on my blog some of the activities you conduct this month to promote Farm to School in your programs.   I am happy to share photos, activities or your comments so others can get ideas too.  Many of us are looking for ideas and I think when we share with each others we all benefit.

If you are in an urban or a rural community farms still influence us.  It  may be a local farm or farmer that you get your food from or you may purchase items in a local grocery that may be from various states or countries.  Farmers influence our daily lives and the food we eat.  It is surprising sometimes that a child may only know a carrot as the baby carrot we find in many stores and maybe have never seen one grow or the carrot top.  Simple things can make a big difference.  So let’s start celebrating our food!!

http://www.farmtoschool.org

The National Farm to School Network (NFSN) is an information, advocacy and networking hub for communities working to bring local food sourcing and food and agriculture education into school systems and early care and education settings.  Visit their website to find out more information, view valuable resources and get involved.