Category: Well-Being

Many things in life cannot be controlled, and death is one of them. Although death is a normal part of life, it’s a difficult topic to discuss, especially with kids who have recently lost someone dear to them. This could be a parent, grandparent, best friend, or pet.

As a teacher or caregiver, know that children react to loss in different ways depending on their age among other things like their personality and their relationship toward the person who died.

For instance, a younger child might mourn by throwing temper tantrums while an older child displays regressive behaviors like bedwetting. Some may even avoid school or get in trouble in school. While these are normal, it’s important to support them through this difficult time.

This article explores ways to help a child deal with their emotions healthily and move forward in life.

Welcome their questions

A child who lost a loved one may approach you with questions like… Where do people go when they did? Why did they have to die? Did it hurt? What is a funeral? Who will take care of me now? These questions are valid and they need to be answered in an authentic way, using language they can easily understand.

Have ongoing conversations about death instead of allowing for only one conversation and ignoring other questions. And while you provide them with reassurance, be careful to avoid making any promises you cannot keep.

Maintain their usual routine

Routines bring a sense of familiarity to a child’s life. It allows them to feel safe and in control. Losing a family member causes a disruption in their daily routine, including school, meal times, and bedtimes. If you’re having difficulty keeping their schedule consistent, don’t hesitate to ask for help from trusted friends and relatives.

What would also be extremely helpful is to explain to a child what to expect so they won’t get confused. You could, for example, tell them who will take them to school tomorrow (in case you can’t do it) or when the funeral will happen and the people who might attend the funeral.

Use resources to help them express themselves

Taking advantage of therapy tools, such as trauma worksheets and handouts, is an opportunity for a child to heal from a loss. This might be their very first time to experience losing someone or a pet, which makes these resources beneficial for processing what happened.

For example, one of our trauma worksheets called “My Trauma Story” lets kids share about an upsetting event. It asks about the emotions they felt and encourages them to explore healthy coping skills, such as deep breathing, grounding, and positive self-talk.

Kids who are having frequent negative thoughts can find comfort in reciting realistic, encouraging statements like:

• What has happened to me does not define me.
• It’s okay that I feel this way. My feelings are allowed to be here.
• I can do things to help myself feel safe.

Reflect on happy memories

One of the ways people can move on from the pain of losing someone is through remembrance. It entails reflecting on and sharing the beautiful memories you’ve had with the person. This honors a person’s life and at the same time sparks positive emotions.

Turn this into a therapeutic activity by making something creative, like a scrapbook or memento of the child’s memories with their deceased loved one. It can be a collection of photos or objects (e.g. dried flowers or a piece of clothing that represents the loved one).

While completing the activity, they will be able to pour out their emotions. This is especially helpful for kids who won’t talk about their feelings yet.

Tip: Incorporate other activities that also relieve stress, such as yoga and scooter rides.

Consider grief therapy

This step is important because some children, unfortunately, find themselves struggling with the loss for a very long time. They may be feeling guilty and somehow responsible for the death even though they had nothing to do with it, or have had multiple traumas before the loss, which made them more anxious.

Watch out for warning signs that indicate the need for a child to receive grief therapy, such as being preoccupied with thoughts of the deceased loved one, changes in their personality, and losing interest in their hobbies and school.

Grief counseling comes in different forms like groups where they meet other kids, or individual therapy in which they speak privately with a counselor.

Wrapping It Up

Whether the loss of a loved one was sudden or not, children grieve in their own way. It’s normal for them to cry, regress, and worry a lot, but more importantly, we need to be there to help them cope and get professional help if necessary. Healing from grief takes time. Don’t hesitate to seek resources that will allow a child to make sense of their loss.

Related Resources

Helping your child move on after a friendship ends.

We’ve all reached a stage where we sit and ask ourselves: Why do I talk to stuffed animals? Well, who won’t judge or interrupt you if you are feeling lonely or stressed or wish for someone to talk to? Do I have a solution for you?

Talking to stuffed animals is an excellent idea!

I know, I know. You might be thinking, “Come on, I’m an adult, and why would I talk to a stuffed animal?” But hear me out! Talking to stuffed animals is for more than just kids, it can also be incredibly beneficial for adults.

Benefits of Talking to Stuffed Animals 

First, talking to a stuffed animal is a great way to relieve stress, and you can pour out your worries and frustrations to your fluffy friend without fear of judgment or interruption. Plus, their soft and cuddly exterior can be incredibly soothing to hold onto when you’re feeling overwhelmed.

But it’s not just about stress relief.

Talking to stuffed animals can also help improve your communication skills. Think about it – if you can talk to a stuffed animal, you can talk to anyone! Practice articulating your thoughts and feelings to your stuffed buddy; before you know it, you’ll be a communication master.

And let’s remember the nostalgia factor. I don’t know about you, but thinking about my childhood stuffed animals always makes me smile. So why tap into that happy nostalgia and chat with your old friends every once in a while?

Listen up, folks! I’m not just spouting off nonsense here – there’s actual science to back up the benefits of talking to stuffed animals. For instance, a fancy-pants study published in the Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology showed that chatting with a stuffed animal can help little tykes develop empathy and social skills. And if it’s good enough for the kiddos, why not for us grown-ups?

So don’t be shy – grab your trusty stuffed animal and give it a good old squeeze. Share all your juicy secrets and worries with it. No judgment here! And if anyone raises an eyebrow at your new habit, tell them ScienceScience gave you the green light. Because who needs other humans when you’ve got a fluffy confidant by your side?

3 Reasons Why Talking to your Plushie is a Good Idea

Stuffed animals don’t expect anything from us

There is always a chance that those we confide in will hold our secrets against us or use them against us in the future. But, there is no risk when we confess to a stuffed animal because they have no expectations. It can be wonderfully liberating to be able to tell them anything and anything without fear of their using it against us, la.

We’re always young enough to need connections

All of us, even adults, requires connections, and we need others with whom we can communicate our ideas, emotions, and experiences. Occasionally, those humans are just stuffed animals. Talking to stuffed animals allows some people to handle their emotions without upsetting others and could be a means of feeling less isolated. In either case, it’s natural.

Stuffed animals don’t expect anything from us

There is always a chance that those we confide in will hold our secrets against us or use them against us in the future. But, there is no risk when we confess to a stuffed animal because they have no expectations. It can be wonderfully liberating to be able to tell them anything and anything without fear of their using it against us later.

How Do Plushies Comfort You? 

You’ll have to concede that teddy bears and comfort go hand in hand. According to Dr. Aniko Dunn, stuffed animals are recommended for people with bipolar, PTSD, and other mental problems. If they feel safe and protected, everyone may relax.

The teddy bear provides people with a physically calming element in their lives in a similar way that live animals ease anxiety and aids in their adjustment to foreign environments.

Like when you were younger, sleeping with a teddy bear is still a widespread behavior as an adult, and it shouldn’t strike responsible adults carrying stuffed animals as weird.

You might be interested in learning more about the benefits of sleeping with a stuffed animal. Clearly state this:

Flows oxytocin

Oxytocin, a hormone that relaxes and calms our minds, is released when we snuggle anything exceptionally soft and comforting.

Decreased loneliness 

By using a teddy bear as a pillow when things are tough. It removes loneliness and isolation from our lives and fills the hole caused by a lack of social interaction.

We only need someone to listen to us when we’re in need since we’re a social species. By giving and caring, we restore our general mental health and become sane. The same condition is met by the teddy bear, improving mental health.

Makes it easier to go through sadness 

Grief is a human trait that comes with being a person. Teddy bears encourage us during our times of sadness and offer ongoing consolation without casting judgment.

We hope you understand why stuffed animals can also be excellent adult buddies. We may all benefit from warmth, compassion, and comfort at any point in our lives.

In conclusion, Talking To Your Stuffed Animals Is Very Natural, Whether You’re Pouring Your Heart Out To Them After A Difficult Day Or Asking Advice From Them About A Love Problem.

This is why:

• We never outgrow the need for relationships.
• Stuffed animals offer impartial support.
• They don’t have any expectations of us.

So feel free to share your deepest feelings with them—they are willing to listen!

Child obesity is a rapidly growing problem in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC), obesity affected 14.7 million children and adolescents between 2017-20.  The percentage of children and adolescents with a body mass index (BMI) in the obese range has more than tripled since 1980.

Furthermore, the number of children with severe obesity has increased sixfold. A 5th to 84th percentile BMI range is considered healthy for children. But many children are over this range.

It’s clear that many factors contribute to this increase, but we don’t yet know exactly what causes childhood obesity or how best to address it. This blog post will explore some of these causes and solutions so you can help prevent your child from becoming one of the millions who struggle with this condition every year.

Harmful Effects of Child Obesity in America

The problem of childhood obesity in America is growing at an alarming rate. Obesity is a major risk factor for heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and certain cancers. It also puts children at risk for poor self-esteem due to the social stigma surrounding their weight or appearance.

Prevention and Support

Early intervention is crucial to help solve childhood obesity in America.  Educate children about healthy eating and how it benefits their bodies.

For support, seek out social work programs designed help bring down obesity among children.   A reliable source to get information online is from University websites. University of Nevada, Reno, has a ton of information on obesity and how early intervention can help. It also lets any student holding a Bachelor’s degree in either social or non-social work get a Master’s degree in social work. This can motivate people to perform social activities to help reduce childhood obesity in America.

Harmful Effects of Child Obesity in America

Rapid Change in Eating Patterns

The rise in obesity can be attributed to several factors. First, we’re busier than ever. Between work and family commitments, it’s easy to find yourself eating on the go including resorting picking up fast food.

At home, people are eating more processed foods than ever because they’re cheap and convenient. Processed foods have high calories that can lead to obesity. According to a recent study published in the JAMA Network publication, 67 percent of a child’s calories come from ultra-processed foods in the US.

Lack of Exercise

While it’s easy to see the link between a sedentary lifestyle and weight gain, physically active children typically have better health outcomes than their more inactive peers.

Physical activity is essential for maintaining a healthy weight, building strong bones and muscles, improving mood and self-esteem, reducing stress levels, and keeping you awake during class.

Increasing Screen Time

Parents are well aware that an excess of TV and computer time can harm a child’s wellbeing and health. Limiting their exposure and encouraging them to be active instead is vital.

• Children who watch more than two hours of television per day are twice as likely to be overweight or obese than those watching less than one hour daily. A study from the American Academy of Pediatrics shows that 42 percent of children are at risk due to this trend.

• Studies have shown that children who spend more time watching television are less likely to eat fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, and this has been linked with childhood obesity in multiple studies over the years.

Family Environment

Family environment is a significant factor in childhood obesity. A supportive family can help your child maintain a healthy weight and prevent unhealthy eating habits, while the opposite can negatively affect their health.

Family support is one of the most critical factors in helping children maintain healthy weights. In fact, research shows that young people with active parents are more likely to be physically active than those without active parents. This suggests that if you want your child to be active, then it’s vital for you as their parent or guardian to model this behavior.

In addition to being physically active together as a family, eating meals together regularly and encouraging healthy eating choices at home can also play an essential role in controlling kids’ weights throughout childhood into adulthood.

Genetics

Genetics is one of the main causes of child obesity. A child’s genetic predisposition, family history, and genetic testing can be factored into their weight gain.

Genetic testing can determine if specific mutations in your genes make it easier for you to gain weight or if there are other genetic conditions, such as Prader-Willi syndrome or Bardet-Biedl syndrome.

Teaching kids about how genetics influence their weight can remove a lot of the shame associated with their size.  Today, doctors stress that obesity is a disease more than it is a person’s own fault.

Genetic counseling is also important when considering having children because it helps parents understand how their genetics will affect their children’s health and development. Genetic counseling may include discussions about:

• Reproductive options such as prenatal screening tests
• Preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD)
• Amniocentesis
• Chorionic villus sampling (CVS)

Solutions for Addressing Child Obesity in America

We’ve already mentioned how important early intervention is, but it’s never too late to make changes and seek help when necessary.  Here are a few solutions you can implement to face the problem of obesity in your family head on.

Lifestyle Changes

The following are some simple steps you can take to ensure that your child is eating a healthy diet:

• Eat more fruits and vegetables.
• Eat less processed foods.
• Eat less sugar, salty foods and saturated fats, and less trans fats. These foods may be tempting because they’re easy to eat on the go and taste good immediately after consumption.

Here’s how it works. When children consume too many calories from these “empty” sources through their diets, those excess calories get stored inside fat cells around their bellies, causing them to look bloated and feel bloated.

Education and Awareness

The more we can teach people about the causes of childhood obesity, the more they will be able to understand how it affects their children’s health. If you know someone struggling with their weight or has a child who struggles with theirs, share this article with them.

Introduce kids to healthy and delicious food habits from other cultures.  There are plenty of examples of how people from other countries remain healthy and lean while enjoying plant based proteins and better choices of non-processed meats.  In many cultures, taste is equally important as nutrition.  No one wants to eat bland food.

Community-Based Interventions

Community-based interventions can be effective in addressing childhood obesity in America. Community-based interventions can target specific populations, such as children or adults of certain races, ethnicities, socioeconomic statuses, and educational backgrounds.

They are also implemented in schools, healthcare settings, and community centers that serve various clients from different backgrounds. Community-based interventions are often used to address other health issues besides obesity, such as smoking cessation programs.

The CDC recommends communities create local school wellness policies and encourage educational institutions to follow them. It also ensures that the food available for students at school is healthy and meets all dietary requirements.

Conclusion

The rise in child obesity in America is a serious issue that needs to be addressed. The consequences of this epidemic are staggering, affecting not only the individual children who are impacted but also our nation as a whole. We hope that by providing information about what causes obesity in children and how we can address it, we will help raise awareness about this problem.

Social workers are essential members of society who work to promote the well-being and social welfare of individuals and communities. They provide a variety of services to support vulnerable populations, including counseling, advocacy, and education. Social workers tackle a range of social issues, such as poverty, homelessness, and inequality.

By working to build a strong and resilient society, these unsung heros understand the unique needs of all people and are able to provide tailored interventions and support. Social workers are also powerful advocates for social justice and policy change, working to influence government policies and promote equality for all seeking available resources.

According to data collected by the National Association of Social Workers, 81% of Americans who had interacted with a social worker agreed that they improved their situation or that of a loved one.  But how?

In this article, we will explore the vital role of social workers, highlighting ways in which they are making a positive impact on individuals and society as a whole.

Addressing Social Issues

Social workers play a critical role in addressing a wide range of social issues, such as family violence, mental illness, and substance abuse. They are trained to support families in crisis with an emphasis on protecting kids.  This is achieved by providing necessary resources or by intervening directly, with the help of law enforcement, if necessary.

Social workers use a variety of approaches, including counseling, case management, and advocacy, to address social issues and promote social justice. They also work closely with educational institutes to raise awareness. Ohio University, for example, organizes an annual domestic violence awareness program designed to sensitize both students and community members about this issue.

Social workers also work with other organizations and community members to provide comprehensive services to those who need them the most. In short, social workers are the unsung heroes making a positive impact in everything they do by addressing social issues head-on.

Building Strong Communities

Social workers understand that communities that are connected, supportive, and inclusive can prevent social problems from arising. This creates a foundation for positive change. Working closely with leaders they create a shared vision of a better future, building trust and collaboration among them.

They also lend their expertise to help with issues that the community might not be able to handle on their own. According to the American Psychological Association, 72% of mental health practitioners are witnessing a higher flow of patients than before the pandemic. In this situation, social workers are picking up the slack, where the mental healthcare industry is falling short.

Social workers are very much like community organizers who bring people together and encourage them to work towards common goals.

Advocacy & Policy Change

Social workers are passionate advocates for policy change at the local, state, and national levels. They work tirelessly to promote social justice and ensure that the needs of vulnerable populations are met. They promote the idea that many social issues are deeply rooted in policy decisions and work to change policies that are unjust or ineffective.

Social workers engage in political advocacy to encourage policies that support the well-being of individuals and communities. They also collaborate with policymakers and other stakeholders. By advocating for policy change, a systemic change can take place and have a lasting impact in the lives of marginalized people groups.

According to research conducted by ‘Social Workin’ there are five different roles social workers play in policy making.

1. They advocate for pressing issues to be noticed by policymakers.
2. They help identify the nuances of the issues that need to be addressed.
3. They help with research and data collection.
4. They monitor the policy-making process to spot any negligence.
5. They take part in policy implementation.

The Future of Social Work

Social work is a dynamic and ever-evolving field that is constantly adapting to meet the needs of individuals and communities. The future of social work is shaped by many factors, including emerging social issues, technological advancements, and changing demographics. Social workers must stay informed about these factors and continue to adapt to meet the changing needs of those they serve.

They must also continue to advocate for policies and programs that address social issues and promote social justice. The impact of social workers on communities is only increasing to meet growing needs.  Their value is also becoming more prominent in the eyes of society. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job market for social workers is growing at a rate of 9% per year, which is much faster than the average.

The critical role of social workers is fueled by their dedication to promoting social justice and improving the lives of those they come in contact with, as well as countless others who need support.  Social workers are an inspiration to us all and should encourage us to do our part, no matter how small.  Let’s continue to support and recognize the vital work they do striving to create a better world for all.