Welcome to the second installment of this 4-Part series:

In last week's episode, we discussed: How Knowing Their History Can Improve Your Child's Mental Health.

In this week's installment, I am sharing a framework that parents and caregivers can use to begin discussing race, racism, and social justice with children and adolescents.

In this intimate conversation, we cover the following:

• How adults prepare mentally and emotionally for these difficult conversations.
• The key to having developmentally appropriate conversations with your children about race, racism, and social justice.
• How families who do not identify as Black can advocate for social justice.

This episode aims to ensure that all children feel safe, seen, and heard.

Feature episodes in this series include:

• Why representation is crucial for your child's mental health
• The importance of breaking the stigma around mental health for Black Children and Adolescents
• [00:01:20] Upcoming episodes on race and mental health
• [00:03:10] The note of the week and the fantastic resources on PBS.org
• [00:06:35] Children listen to what you say, but what they really focus on is your behavior. Listen as I share tips that adults can use to check their personal biases and prepare to have meaningful dialogue.
• [00:07:21] Strategies to navigate and process your emotions before engaging with your child(ren).
• [00:09:31] Techniques for age-appropriate conversations and
• [00:11:51] Modeling authenticity and several conversation openers that you can use to initiate the discussion
• [00:13:44]The importance of validating your child's emotional response.
• [00:17:38] Why authenticity matters
• [00:18:19] How can non-black families talk about race, equal treatment, anti-racist behavior? Here I discuss the importance of teaching children about the complexities of people to promote equal treatment.
• [00:25:48] Using the resources provided in the show notes and ways that children and families can get involved

Resources:

PBS Article

Recommended Black History Month Reading List for Children:

Connect with Dr. Tasha Brown:

Website- https://www.drtashabrown.com/

Email Address- [email protected]

Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/dr.tashabrown/

Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/dr.tashabrown7

Support the show

Welcome to Episode #2 of the Back to School and Your Child's Mental Health Series
Back-to-school can be an exciting time for many parents, caregivers, and their children
and for some parents/caregivers and their children, it can be an anxiety-producing time. With the start of the new school year, it is SO important that we talk about what your child needs to succeed. We know that success looks different for EVERY child. One major way we set children up for success during the school year is to think critically about the many ways that we can support their Mental health, and that's what this series is about.
This week’s episode is an interview with Ms. Odessa Sam. Odessa Sam is a licensed NYC educator with over 10 years of classroom experience. I love this episode because Odessa gives great examples of how parents of younger children can help their children build a strong educational foundation. In this episode we talk about learning gaps, how to promote early learning, building a healthy collaborative relationship with your child’s teacher, and taking into consideration “the whole child." We also talk about ways to support your child who is doing well or excelling academically. This episode is a must!

• Notes of the week- https://www.psycom.net/build-resilience-children
• Website- https://www.drtashabrown.com/
• Email Address- [email protected]
• Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/dr.tashabrown/
• Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/dr.tashabrown7

Links Provided By Odessa!

• Website: www.akwaabaakademy.com
• Writing Workshop: https://akwaabaakademy.teachable.com/p/writing-workshop
• Instagram: instagram.com/akwaabaakademy
• Facebook: facebook.com/akwaabaakademy
• Twitter: twitter.com/akwaabaakademy
• TikTok: tiktok.com/akwaabaakademy
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdJ9_GzF9NfiNDGM7n9qXaA
• TeachersPayTeachers to purchase education worksheets;
• https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Akwaaba-Akademy
• BOOK CLUB WAITLIST: https://hustling-mover-5122.ck.page/47d664f98b
• Here’s a website for virtual math manipulatives. It’s great for all grades elementary grades:
• https://www.didax.com/math/virtual-manipulatives.html
• This site has ELA and Math worksheets(K-5):
• https://www.worksheetfun.com/

Support the show

Did you know that May is Mental Health Awareness Month? This year Mental Health America is bringing it back to basics. With mental health entering mainstream conversations, it is critical that we all have a solid understanding of how mental health impacts the everyday lives of children and adolescents.
Each week I will be discussing common mental health diagnoses that are given to children and adolescents. This week I am discussing Attention- Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). In this week's two-part series you will learn about the core symptoms of ADHD and we will discuss how you can manage your child's ADHD.
Note of the Week- ADHD Parenting Tips
Website- https://www.drtashabrown.com/

Email Address- [email protected]

Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/dr.tashabrown/

Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/dr.tashabrown7Resources I Recommend:
Thriving with ADHD workbook for kids

Thriving with ADHD Workbook for Teens: Improve Focus, Get Organized, and Succeed

Support the show

Structure is a huge part of our everyday lives; as humans, we crave systems in the form of routines. Routines ease anxiety, reduce confusion, and make us feel confident and safe. Routines are equally important for children and families. In previous episodes, we discussed the importance of creating safe spaces for discussions and establishing parenting values to guide decisions. Today, we're taking the conversation further by exploring how routines can:

• Support your parenting values
• Build closer bonds and reduce stress
• Create space for children to learn organizational skills
• Help you children feel safe and secure

By the end of this episode, you will have a deeper understanding of how to create and support the routines in your home based on your family's values.

Episode Highlights:

• [00:02:18] Children love routines - even when they pretend they don't
• [00:02:38] How parenting values -which we discussed on last week's episode- and routines work together
• [00:03:19] How routines support the family unit through structure and much more!
• [00:03:54] The article of the week, Routines for families: How And Why They Work
• [00:06:16] Routines are about creating peace and reducing stress, but they can also build deeper familial relationships
• [00:08:50] Establishing routines that support your parenting values can help you reduce stress as a parent/caregiver while introducing your child(ren) to important life skills
• [00:11:11] The importance of allowing your child to have a voice in the creation process and a few real-world examples
• [00:11:21] How to get buy-in from school-age children and adolescents and tips for balancing the needs of multiple children
• [00:16:19] Reviewing the schedule regularly for better communication between caregivers and minors
• [00:22:31] Why being flexible will lead to better results and tips for handling changes in the routines

Resources:

Website- https://www.drtashabrown.com/

Email Address- [email protected]

Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/dr.tashabrown/

Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/dr.tashabrown7

Note of the week - Family Routines: How and Why They WorkFree download that will get you started thinking more about your parenting values

https://drtashabrown.ck.page/307eace068⠀⠀

Support the show

As we wrap up the school year, we can all finally find the time to slow down and prepare for the summer months ahead! Summer entails endless possibilities and opportunities for parents, caregivers, and children alike. No matter your family’s plans for the summer, we know that paying attention to your child’s mental health during the summer months is super important.

Whether they are attending a summer camp, participating in a summer school program, or spending time with family and friends, it is important to take care of your child’s emotional and mental health needs.

Join me, Dr. Tasha Brown, on the “Notes From a Child Psychologist” Podcast for our summer series entitled “ It’s Summertime: Summertime and your child’s mental health !” . During these episodes, I will be covering how you can support your child emotionally this summer. Congratulations on the end of another successful school year, and I hope you can follow along with me!