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Children’s Mental Health Week at DECAL is May 2 – 6, 2022!

The early years in a child’s life provide a key opportunity to establish safe and secure relationships and to support healthy social and emotional development.

DECAL is excited to offer a week full of activities to celebrate early childhood mental health including:

Virtual puppet shows about feelings:

Register 3 year old and Pre-K Classes for a virtual Mental Health America of Georgia Puppet Show about Feelings:https://www.eventbrite.com/e/decal-childrens-mental-heath-week-puppet-show-registration-tickets-320641195447.

If you are unable to register for a puppet show this week, you can schedule a FREE show by contacting Lorie Summers at Lorie@mhageorgia.org or visiting the Mental Health America of Georgia Webpage: https://www.mhageorgia.org/kids-on-the-block/.

An early childhood mental health educational opportunity for early childhood professionals:

Register for the Better Brains for Babies Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Webinar presented by Zero to Three: What is Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health and Why Care? – May 5, 10 am Eastern (Speaker: Therese Ahlers, Zero to Three): Registration link: https://bit.ly/BBBWebinarMay522

A new story from a loveable spider:

View the story, Suri the Spider Selects a Solution, on DECAL social media on Monday May 2nd! Download a free copy of the book here: https://challengingbehavior.cbcs.usf.edu/docs/Suri-Spider_Story_EN.pdf

A dance party with CALi:

Join us for Feelings Friday on May 6th and dance with CALi to celebrate your mental health and being you with this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZtODxPC_mBs. Post pictures to DECAL social media using the hashtags: #DECALCMHWeek2022 or #littlekidsbigfeelings to win prizes!

Classroom activities and giveaways:

See activity guides for infant, toddler, and pre-K classes in the tabs below and post pictures on DECAL social media using the hash tags: #littlekidsbigfeelings and #DECALCMHWeek2022 to be entered into a drawing for teacher self -care gift cards, provided by the Georgia Early Education Alliance for Ready Students (GEEARS)!

One grand prize winner will receive a $300 Lakeshore Learning gift card provided by CHRIS 180 to design a Calm Corner or Zen Den in their classroom! This prize also comes with infant and early childhood mental health expert consultation from Kathy Brown-Bragg, MSW, LCSW, MAC of CHRIS 180’s New Generation Project. Kathy is also the Co-President of the newly established Georgia Association of Infant Mental Health (GA-AIMH): https://cld.gsu.edu/ga-aimh/

Activities and Resources:

Resources

  • Children’s Books about Mental Health – all ages
  • Children’s Health Care of Atlanta - building resilience
  • Resiliency Zones – A Guide for Infant & Early Care Settings
  • Resiliency Building Learning Cards
  • Behind Every Child Behavior, There is a Feeling
  • Teaching Social Emotional Skills
  • COVID-19 Parental Resources Kit – Early Childhood
  • COVID-19 Parental Resources Kit – Childhood
  • Nemour’s Kids Health Website
  • Why Is Children's Mental Health Important?
  • Children’s Mental Health Information
  • Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)

Pre-K

  • Georgia's Pre-K Mental Health Week Activities

Infant/Toddler

  • Mindful Monday
  • Talk It Out Tuesday
  • Wellness Wednesday
  • Thoughtful Thursday
  • Feelings Friday

Teachers

  • Self Care for Teachers
  • 4 Quick Self-Care Tips for Frazzled Teachers and Students
  • Box Breathing
  • Taking Care of Yourself
  • Self- Care for Teachers
  • Emergencies and National Disasters
  • Helping Children and Families Cope
  • Fostering Healthy Social & Emotional Development in Young Children - Tips for EARLY Childhood Teachers and Providers
  • 4 Ways Teachers Can Stay Grounded
  • Using Emotional Language: How to Talk to Your Kids About Feelings

A big thank you to the 2022 Children’s Mental Health Week Planning Committee:

  • Kerry Bayens
  • Veronica Thomas
  • Jerry Brown
  • Perri Walden
  • Lori Ballew
  • Megan McGraw
  • Morlinda Dawson
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