My mother was one of 8 children in a big Italian family. When the holidays rolled around there was always a lot of hugging and kissing and being told “Go kiss your Aunt or Uncle” (even those who I barely knew). This was often uncomfortable and confusing to me, especially as a young child who didn’t want to hug these “strangers”. When big family gatherings happen now, I never make my children hug or kiss anyone they don’t feel comfortable with. I give them alternatives like waving, shaking hands, saying “Hi” or giving a high five so that they are learning how to be polite and respectful without compromising their feeling of safety. I also explain to the adults what my reasoning is if they should happen to question why my children aren’t hugging and kissing everyone hello and good-bye. No one should touch them without their permission and we need to reinforce this!

In the REACH Assemblies that we had in October and November, we discussed that part of the R for respect is giving others personal space. Using discussion, videos and pictures, students were taught what personal space means. We talked about how we can visualize our personal space by pretending that there is a hula hoop around us. We also talked about how we need to ask permission/consent in order to go into someone else’s personal space and wait for them to grant that permission/consent.

These lessons should ring true at home as well as school. Below are the videos that were shown to the students in the assemblies and some articles for further reading.

Winter Ailments

While we are still technically in the fall season (first day of winter is December 21 ^st!), with the cold temperatures and icy snow, winter weather has taken over! The cold weather outside and the dry heat inside is enough to wreak havoc on our systems. The young and the elderly are especially susceptible. From dry lips and nose bleeds to winter colds and the flu… Follow these tips to help keep you and your family healthy and well:

Chapped lips, dry skin and nosebleeds: We get many visits during the day from children requesting Vaseline for dry lips or lotion for dry hands as well children coming in with spontaneous nosebleeds. If your child is prone to dry skin and/or dry membranes (lips and inside of nose), encourage your child to stay hydrated and drink plenty liquids, preferably water. A humidifier in your child’s room at night will also help with dry membranes (nosebleeds). Send your child to school with a lip balm (Chapstick, Vaseline). If you notice your child’s hands are dry or cracked , moisturize them with a lotion, cream or vaseline at bedtime and again before coming in to school to help maintain skin integrity. Our skin serves many purposes, one being to protect us and keep germs out! Treat it right! Here is an article on nosebleeds:

https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/nose-bleed.html?ref=search

Dressing appropriately for the weather: Protect against the elements and be sure to have your child dress appropriately for the weather. Outdoor playtime is an integral part of our school day here at CET. Unless the conditions are unsafe (snow, rain, ice, “real feel temperature” of 27 degrees or less) we will have outdoor recess! Send your child to school with their legs covered (please no shorts, it’s freezing out!), coats, hats, gloves and proper footwear. Read this article “How to be Safe in Ice and Snow” with your child:

https://kidshealth.org/en/kids/winter-safety.html?ref=search

https://www.healthychildren.org/English/safety-prevention/at-play/Pages/Winter-Safety.aspx

Staying healthy and “germ-free”: It is officially flu season! As well as strep season and plain-old cold virus season. Help keep your family healthy and strong by:
- Washing hands. Review proper hand-washing with your children.
- Covering coughs and sneezes. Show your child how to cough or sneeze into their arms. Teach them how to blow their noses. Remind them that dirty tissues go into trash cans.
- Getting a good night’s rest. Maintain a consistent bedtime. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, children ages 6 to 12 years old should get 9 to 12 hours of sleep!
- Eating healthy balanced meals. Our bodies need the necessary vitamins and minerals to stay healthy and strong.
- Getting a flu shot! It’s not too late!

https://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/prevention/Pages/Germ-Prevention-Strategies.aspx

https://www.healthychildren.org/English/safety-prevention/immunizations/Pages/Preventing-the-Flu-Resources-for-Parents-Child-Care-Providers.aspx