First, some sobering comments, and then on to the hope that Spring brings.
For our January Medical Minute – I wrote about helping children cope with scary news/events/trauma. And then…Kansas City experienced a moment of extraordinary violence during the celebration of the Chiefs Super Bowl win. So, I’ll just put in some sites that can help folks process responses kids (and adults) may be experiencing in the aftermath. People and books can offer both support and solace. Remember, our kids may unexpectedly/randomly begin to ask questions about this event – what happened, how it happened, and how can they be safe. If you or your children/grandchildren continue to be distressed, contact your providers for therapy resources!
Tips for communication with children:
Helping your children manage distress
by the American Psychological Association
Talking to kids about fear and violence
by Mental Health America
Book lists:
Books about trauma and violence for young children
The comforting capacity of books
March has arrived! Spring teases us with crocuses and bird song and hope! Flu season is a wrap, RSV season mostly a wrap, and Covid…well Covid is still with us, but not like it was the last time I wrote the Spring medical minute! And the BIG news of the Kansas Governor’s proclamation that March is Reach Out and Read KC Month!!!
In our 39 clinics, we will begin to see more preschoolers getting ready for Kindergarten enrollment. We are so lucky to have the Kindergarten book bag for our 4 year olds! It has 2 books that will help their parents get the kids ready and excited for kindergarten, as well as a Readiness Checklist for families to review to see what things they need to work on before kindergarten begins. Many experts emphasize the importance of shared reading, helping kids begin to recognize sounds associated with letters, coaxing kids to tell the story in their own words and more! Thanks to all our amazing donors, ROR-KC is able to support kids with that library of books that they can review again and again as they develop their pre-literacy skills.
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