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Don’t Judge Yourself, or Others: Managing Stress in this…

Helpful info from the Institute for Disaster Mental Health.
View the full resource here.

This may sound obvious but it’s worth remembering: People will react to this outbreak with different degrees of concern based on factors like their individual situation (for example, do they have kids or other dependents to worry about; does their work expose them to potentially sick people; were they already dealing with financial stress) and their personal characteristics (for example, do they experience anxiety or depression even under more typical life conditions).

It’s easy to slip into criticizing others across both ends of the reactivity spectrum (i.e., “why are you freaking out?” vs. “why aren’t you freaking out?”). That’s especially problematic if family members, especially partners, have different reaction styles and coping methods, causing friction and limiting their ability to support each other during these trying times. Keep in mind that personal coping styles vary and you can’t change other people, but you can make an effort to tolerate different reactions.

Activities for Kids

Space: Boeing Virtual Field Trip

Join Boeing and Discovery Education on a mission to inspire the world through aerospace innovation with an exclusive virtual field trip to historic Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. This behind-the-scenes tour will introduce kids to just a few of the amazing Boeing employees who are preparing to write the next chapter of space history with the launch of the Starliner/CST-100 spacecraft and the deployment of the Space Launch System (SLS).

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Myth-Busters

Helpful info from the World Health Organization.
View the full resource here.

Are hand dryers effective in killing the new coronavirus?

No. Hand dryers are not effective in killing the 2019-nCoV. To protect yourself against the new coronavirus, you should frequently clean your hands with an alcohol-based hand rub or wash them with soap and water. Once your hands are cleaned, you should dry them thoroughly by using paper towels or a warm air dryer.

Can spraying alcohol or chlorine all over your body kill the new coronavirus?

No. Spraying alcohol or chlorine all over your body will not kill viruses that have already entered your body. Spraying such substances can be harmful to clothes or mucous membranes (i.e. eyes, mouth). Be aware that both alcohol and chlorine can be useful to disinfect surfaces, but they need to be used under appropriate recommendations.

Can regularly rinsing your nose with saline help prevent infection with the new coronavirus?

No. There is no evidence that regularly rinsing the nose with saline has protected people from infection with the new coronavirus. 

There is some limited evidence that regularly rinsing nose with saline can help people recover more quickly from the common cold. However, regularly rinsing the nose has not been shown to prevent respiratory infections.

Are antibiotics effective in preventing and treating the new coronavirus?

No, antibiotics do not work against viruses, only bacteria.

The new coronavirus (2019-nCoV) is a virus and, therefore, antibiotics should not be used as a means of prevention or treatment.

However, if you are hospitalized for the 2019-nCoV, you may receive antibiotics because bacterial co-infection is possible.

Featured

Choose Your News Carefully: Managing Stress in this Anxious…

Helpful info from the Institute for Disaster Mental Health.
View the full resource here.

Choose Your News Carefully

It’s important to stay informed about what’s going on, but that should not be your main focus in life throughout the outbreak. There is a lot of misinformation and conflicting news circulating, which just compounds confusion and stress for many people. Part of that is due to the rapidly evolving situation which legitimate news outlets are struggling to keep up with, but part results from people spreading rumors, or using misinformation to try to sell products or advance political agendas.

For accurate scientific guidance, you can’t do better than the Centers for Disease Control website: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/ That’s the most reliable source for current information about the disease itself as well as resources for dealing with its effects.

To keep up with local impacts, choose a single news source you’ve found to be reputable in the past, and set yourself a schedule for when you’ll check for updates. Unless you’re actually in charge of the response, you probably don’t need to be monitoring the news 24/7, and you may find it reduces your stress considerably to limit your exposure to a few intentional news checks a day, rather than keeping the outbreak top of mind by constantly monitoring the latest information.

The same goes for social media: It can be a great way to stay connected with positive sources of social support, but Facebook and the like are not good places to get reputable information. These sites may expose you to a lot of dubious theories and rumors, sowing confusion and stress, so consider limiting your social media use and being selective in what you expose yourself to in all media.

Activities for Kids

Think Like a Programmer Journey with CodeCampKidz (Virtual Class)

For Cadettes, Seniors, and Ambassadors

PLEASE READ FULL EVENT DESCRIPTION: Complete your Think Like A Programmer (TLAP) Journey online and learn to code all from the comfort of your own home on your own schedule! CodeCampKidz will guide you step by step as you work through your projects. No experience or previous knowledge is required! When you finish your journey you will have coded a Take Action Project of your choosing and earned your journey award badge. All under the guidance of a live instructor OR on your own!

The Web Development Edition of TLAP is designed for girls who are interested in a Full Code Immersion experience. You’ll not only Think Like A Programmer but code like one as well while overcoming obstacles, building problem solving skills, and developing confidence as an independent coder. Sign up at any time and experience the latest in online learning.

All you need to participate is a modern browser, high speed Wi-Fi, and a computer with audio capability (CodeCampKidz is no longer compatible with Chromebooks). You will have as long as you need to complete your journey. Once you complete the journey, you are more than welcome to continue the fun and the learning; additional learning plans are available for purchase through CodeCampKidz once you complete your journey.

Confirmations: This program is completely virtual and the registration is rolling, which means we will continue to accept new girls throughout the entire Spring season(January 6th – May 17th). Confirmations for the class, containing a link to create your CodeCampKidz account and details on how to participate, will be sent out every Monday to girls who registered the previous week. Please note that the automatic response containing a receipt that you receive upon registering is not the confirmation email. The confirmation email will be sent from a Girl Scouts of Citrus staff member. We appreciate your patience with the confirmation emails, as this program is rolling admission and we are continuously accepting new girls.

How do you receive your badge?: Once girls complete the journey, they must submit proof of their completed Take Action Project to receive their badge. A badge request form will be provided in your confirmation email. This form will need to be sent to vkatz@citrus-gs.org with the subject line “Think Like A Programmer Journey Badge Request Form�?. Badges will be sent via USPS.

Refunds: Since this is an ongoing registration, we will not be able to offer any refunds or cancellations for this program.

If you have any questions regarding this program, please contact vkatz@citrus-gs.org. Confirmations for this program will be sent from vkatz@citrus-gs.org.

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For Parents: Manage Anxiety & Stress

Helpful info from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
View the full resource here.

Children and teens react, in part, on what they see from the adults around them. When parents and caregivers deal with the COVID-19 calmly and confidently, they can provide the best support for their children. Parents can be more reassuring to others around them, especially children, if they are better prepared.

Not all children and teens respond to stress in the same way. Some common changes to watch for include

  • Excessive crying or irritation in younger children
  • Returning to behaviors they have outgrown (for example, toileting accidents or bedwetting)
  • Excessive worry or sadness
  • Unhealthy eating or sleeping habits
  • Irritability and “acting out” behaviors in teens
  • Poor school performance or avoiding school
  • Difficulty with attention and concentration
  • Avoidance of activities enjoyed in the past
  • Unexplained headaches or body pain
  • Use of alcohol, tobacco, or other drugs

There are many things you can do to support your child

  • Take time to talk with your child or teen about the COVID-19 outbreak. Answer questions and share facts about COVID-19 in a way that your child or teen can understand.
  • Reassure your child or teen that they are safe. Let them know it is ok if they feel upset. Share with them how you deal with your own stress so that they can learn how to cope from you.
  • Limit your family’s exposure to news coverage of the event, including social media. Children may misinterpret what they hear and can be frightened about something they do not understand.
  • Try to keep up with regular routines. If schools are closed, create a schedule for learning activities and relaxing or fun activities.
  • Be a role model.  Take breaks, get plenty of sleep, exercise, and eat well. Connect with your friends and family members.

Learn more about helping children cope.

Activities for Kids

Imagineering!

Imagineering in a Box’ is a free online program that brings together the diverse talents of Disney Imagineers around the world for a one-of-a-kind learning experience and is part of Disney’s commitment to helping today’s youth create the future they imagine. 

The series offers 32 videos in which Imagineers share how they use a wide range of skills – from story development and conceptual design, to math, physics and engineering – to create immersive experiences. The online curriculum aims to ignite curiosity, inspire creativity, and encourage innovation in the minds of students and teachers alike, while creating fun and engaging opportunities to explore new concepts.

Modules range from a tutorial on engineering software, to an interactive exercise where learners are encouraged to gather items around them and create something new. The program’s hands-on components will allow students to relate new concepts to real-world examples to bring treasured Disney stories to life.

Click here to get started!

Featured

Accept What You Can’t Change: Managing Stress in this…

Helpful info from the Institute for Disaster Mental Health.
View the full resource here.

Accept What You Can’t Change

It’s equally important to recognize that some things are simply out of our control during this time, whether we like it or not. For issues you can’t really control or change, think about using emotion-focused coping strategies that help you manage your feelings. For example, you may not be able to talk yourself out of worrying about the health of your elderly parents, but you can consider strategies for how you’ll handle these unavoidable emotions and prevent them from overwhelming you.

We all know the lists of healthy coping methods like mindfulness, exercise, journaling, and so on. These are great ways of maintaining calm if they work for you, but being reminded to follow these practices just adds more stress for some people. Maybe you prefer to manage your emotions by taking a brief break from your worries in the form of a book, game, or TV show, or you like to stress bake, or scream into a pillow. It really doesn’t matter what you do so long as you actively do something that helps you both feel and function better.

Activities for Kids

At-Home Activities from NASA

Looking for hands-on science and engineering fun at home? Find ideas to build, design, launch, and solve with online resources from NASA.

Here’s one example we love: Make an ocean ecosystem you can eat?! Yes, please!


Make an Ocean Ecosystem Dessert

It’s hard to imagine life on Earth without oceans. The air you breathe used to be an ocean breeze. The water you drink was once in a cloud over the ocean.

The ocean is also important to the many species of plants and animals that call the water their home. This community of organisms is called an ecosystem.

Human-caused climate change is warming our planet, and the oceans are
feeling the heat. Plants and animals in the ocean ecosystem are sensitive to
changes in the ocean’s temperature. Some organisms can adapt to the change, but others can’t survive the warmer temperatures. Since so much life is dependent on these waters, it’s important to keep the oceans healthy!

Scientists are monitoring the temperature of the ocean with an instrument called the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Aqua satellite. The satellite measures the temperature of the top millimeter of the ocean’s surface.

With this activity, learn to make a cool and tasty version of the ocean ecosystem at home!

What you’ll need:
• 1 large clear bowl (deep and 10+ cup capacity)
• 2 – 6 oz boxes of blue gelatin dessert mix
• Red licorice twists
• Gummy fish
• Scissors
• Mint leaves
• Hot water
• Cold water
• Measuring cup (not pictured)
• Spoon (not pictured)

What to do:

1. Make the ocean water. Follow the directions on the box of blue gelatin dessert mix by pouring 4 cups of hot water into the bowl with 2 packages of blue gelatin powder. Stir for 2 minutes. Once the powder is dissolved, mix in 4 cups of cold water. Place the bowl in the refrigerator for approximately 45 minutes. (Note: This amount of time should allow the gelatin to become a thick liquid that is only slightly firm.)

2. Make the coral. While the gelatin is in the refrigerator, use the scissors to cut the red licorice strips into short sections that are only a few inches long. The licorice will represent the coral in your edible ecosystem.

3. Make the seaweed. Cut the mint into segments approximately 2 to 3 inches long. The mint leaves will represent the seaweed in your edible ocean ecosystem.

4. Remove gelatin from refrigerator. After 45 minutes has passed, remove your gelatin from the refrigerator. It should be thicker than liquid, but not completely firm. If the gelatin is still very runny, place it back in the refrigerator for 10 minutes and check it again.

5. Assemble your ocean ecosystem. Once the gelatin has become a thick liquid, begin placing your seaweed (mint), coral (licorice), and fish (gummy fish) in the ocean of blue gelatin. Push each item into the gelatin with your finger. Be sure to place some of your fish, coral, and seaweed right next to the glass so that they’re easy to see. When you’re done, jiggle the gelatin a bit to repair the holes.

6. Refrigerate gelatin again. Place gelatin in the refrigerator for another 2 to 3 hours. This will allow the gelatin to become totally firm.

7. Enjoy your tasty ocean-themed dessert!


Check out dozens of activities and project details here: https://www.nasa.gov/stem-at-home-for-students-k-4.html