{"id":248,"date":"2020-06-01T18:59:02","date_gmt":"2020-06-01T18:59:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.mndare.org\/WordPress\/parents\/?p=248"},"modified":"2020-06-01T18:59:02","modified_gmt":"2020-06-01T18:59:02","slug":"together-for-our-children","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mndare.org\/WordPress\/parents\/2020\/06\/01\/together-for-our-children\/","title":{"rendered":"&#8220;Together For Our Children&#8221;"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"http:\/\/www.mndare.org\/WordPress\/parents\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/06\/DARE-to-Come-Together-for-our-Children-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-249\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.mndare.org\/WordPress\/parents\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/06\/DARE-to-Come-Together-for-our-Children-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.mndare.org\/WordPress\/parents\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/06\/DARE-to-Come-Together-for-our-Children-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.mndare.org\/WordPress\/parents\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/06\/DARE-to-Come-Together-for-our-Children-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.mndare.org\/WordPress\/parents\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2020\/06\/DARE-to-Come-Together-for-our-Children.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Dear Minnesota Children\u2019s Safety Net:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>During these trying times, I want to first and foremost say; Minnesota\nD.A.R.E. is a children\u2019s organization.&nbsp;\nOur mission is to educate and advocate for the safety and well-being of ALL\nof our Minnesota children.&nbsp; We do this\nthrough a collaboration with law enforcement officers, parents, schools, and\ncommunities.&nbsp; We are NOT a government\norganization or a law enforcement agency.&nbsp;\nWe are governed by a Minnesota Board of Directors made of members of our\ncommunities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This blog is intended to help support parents, guardians, educators, families, and other role models.\u00a0 I know that the tips I provide will not fit all children.\u00a0 They are only designed to give you some possible ideas. \u00a0I also know that every child\u2019s experiences, especially right now, are very different.\u00a0 This is a very difficult time for our children and for parents\/guardians\/educators.\u00a0 Let\u2019s do this\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"text-align:center\"><strong>\u201cTogether\nfor our Children\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We need everyone to come together to keep our Minnesota children safe and healthy!  Let&#8217;s make a safety net.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>***This blog is for adults.\u00a0 The Kid\u2019s Blog will be discussing important information for our children.\u00a0\u00a0 You can check at: <a href=\"http:\/\/www.mndare.org\/WordPress\/kids\/\">http:\/\/www.mndare.org\/WordPress\/kids\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Many of you have been isolating at home with your kids. Some have experienced Covid 19 in their families or are healthcare providers that are under heavy stress. Others are in neighborhoods that have law enforcement and the National Guard present.\u00a0 Here are just some things you may try to remember as we deal with our own fears and our children\u2019s feelings about their experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>Help your child feel safe, often. This is a time for hugs (social distancing with those outside your home), warm smiles, positive reinforcement, patience, and lots of your time.\u00a0 If your situation gets to be too much; take a time out, go outside, walk, exercise, breathe, find an adult to talk to, and re-group.<\/li><li>Do not expect children to have the ability and tools to handle adult issues.\u00a0 They do not understand the big picture; they still live in a small world.\u00a0 Do not use them as an adult confidant.\u00a0 This is a very scary time and definitely out of their control.<\/li><li>Be a good role model.\u00a0 You are the most important role model in their life.\u00a0 Children hear and see everything.\u00a0 This is one of my favorite quotes:<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"text-align:center\"><em>\u201cWhat you do speaks so loudly that I cannot hear what you say.\u201d\u00a0 <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"text-align:center\"><em>Ralph Waldo Emerson<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>Children have a tendency to take things, personally.\u00a0 Example: If you are fighting with your spouse, they may think it is because they said or did something earlier.\u00a0 If you separate or divorce, they may think they are the reason.\u00a0 Do not tell them \u201cyou\u201d make me mad.\u00a0 You are responsible for your own feelings, not them.\u00a0 Instead say \u201cMom\u2019s getting mad and needs a break.\u201d\u00a0 Their behavior may be a problem but if you tell them they are bad, they will own that label.\u00a0 With the label, the behavior will match.<\/li><li>Remember children learn what they live.\u00a0 This is a very different time; look at things through their eyes.\u00a0 What are your reactions? What do they see or think they see?\u00a0 Remember, children (and others) mirror you.\u00a0 When you are angry and yell at someone, what do you think they are going to give you back?\u00a0 Children are learning how to react by watching how you handle things.\u00a0 <\/li><li>Do not direct your fear and anger at your children or your family.\u00a0 Sometimes we all need a time out so we do not just react.\u00a0 Sometimes we have to say \u201cI\u2019m sorry.\u00a0 I was out of line.\u201d\u00a0 Kids will learn that it is okay to make mistakes and when you do, you acknowledge them and make amends.<\/li><li>Set up a protective network for your child\u2026grandparents, extended family, neighbors, friends, etc.\u00a0 They need as many trusted adults as possible to be their role models.\u00a0 Sometimes you will not be there and who should they go to?\u00a0 Sometimes they are mad at you and who can they talk to?\u00a0 Maybe you need to back up to come and give you a break.\u00a0 <\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>***This week\u2019s Kid\u2019s Blog is about, \u201cWhat To Do In An Emergency.\u201d&nbsp; Please discuss this with your children.&nbsp; In today\u2019s world things may be different so you will need to rethink how to handle some of these situations.&nbsp; Friends, family, and neighbors may be needed more than ever.&nbsp; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Please stay safe and hug your children!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Kathi  <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Dear Minnesota Children\u2019s Safety Net: During these trying times, I want to first and foremost say; Minnesota D.A.R.E. is a children\u2019s organization.&nbsp; Our mission is to educate and advocate for the safety and well-being of ALL of our Minnesota children.&nbsp; We do this through a collaboration with law enforcement officers, parents, schools, and communities.&nbsp; We [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mndare.org\/WordPress\/parents\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/248"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mndare.org\/WordPress\/parents\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mndare.org\/WordPress\/parents\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mndare.org\/WordPress\/parents\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mndare.org\/WordPress\/parents\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=248"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.mndare.org\/WordPress\/parents\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/248\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":253,"href":"https:\/\/www.mndare.org\/WordPress\/parents\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/248\/revisions\/253"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mndare.org\/WordPress\/parents\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=248"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mndare.org\/WordPress\/parents\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=248"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mndare.org\/WordPress\/parents\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=248"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}