As we experience this time of uncertainty and uncharted challenges of social distancing, I hope this message will inspire a sense of calmness, hope and peace.
Several of you have reached out to me with questions about what you’re supposed to do and how long will our preschool be closed? As you know there is a possibility of extending the school closures into mid April because of the coronavirus pandemic. Our March and April parenting classes and Family Fun Night scheduled for April 2nd will be postponed until a later date. Our April chapel dates will most likely be rescheduled as well. We will keep you closely updated. The best thing to do is not panic and consider a viewpoint that will ease our fears and anxiety.
Excerpts from Fox & Friends offers the following advice to parents/care givers of young children. Dr. Buckmaster said parents should consider this a “new adventure” with these simple suggestions.
Make a simple daily routine for your child and stick to it. If you want to ease off of it later, that’s fine.
Have your child get dressed, eat breakfast, and have a morning routine, Choose teachable moments that are fun and interesting, even if you set small blocks of time.
Set rules about technology and how much time is spent on iphones, tablets or computers.
Plan for time outdoors as well as quiet time and rest time indoors. Play games with your children that all ages can play like duck, duck-goose. Go on walks together.
It is very important to remember that children look to adults for guidance on how to react to stressful events. If parents seem overly worried, children’s anxiety may rise. Parents should reassure children that health and school officials are working hard to ensure that people throughout the country stay healthy. However, children also need factual, developmentally age appropriate information about how to avoid infections and spread of disease such as good handwashing. Teaching children positive preventive measures, talking with them about their fears, and giving them a sense of some control over their risk of infection can help reduce anxiety. Being at home with you offers your child the best sense of love, safety and security.
You are your child’s first and most important teacher. This opportunity for families and caregivers to use this time to reconnect and come together as a family unit can be a blessing in itself. Thanks for your continued support and prayers for our children, teachers, families, medical professionals and our entire country as we work together in a labor of love to keep each other safe and healthy. God is always with us.
Beverly Sims
Preschool Director
Faith Preschool & Kindergarten
2200 N. Meridian Road
Tallahassee, Fl 32303
(850) 385-0725
We can all find comfort in this powerful message from Pastor Brad:
In moments of uncertainty, I try hard to remind myself of what is certain. It is certain that we are loved. It is certain that God works in us, through us, even in spite of us. It is certain that through Jesus Christ we are forgiven and we belong to God and nothing can change that. And so our calling has not changed, though maybe our methods have. We are called still to share with the world what is certain. God loves us and will not let us go. We just have to keep sharing this certainty through kindness, generosity, and selflessness. Someday we will be able to share that good news through hugs and handshakes again. And maybe when that day comes, we will find ourselves shaking hands with those whom we avoided sometime long ago. We can hope, can’t we?
Grace & peace,
Brad
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