Parenting - Parenting Healthy

Learn how to manage emotions with Upside Delivered curated boxes for kids

I am on my summer break and in a few weeks, we start another school year. Whether at school or in the home, social emotional health is such an important topic for the students and adults! Learning to manage emotions can be helped with simple tools like books and gifts. This brings me to this fantastic box called, The UPside Delivered. This is your toolkit, especially for a year like this.

The UPside Delivered are curated boxes for children ages 5-10 years-old were developed by two licensed mental health professionals and educators. They are meant to manage emotions and create calm. Your box has items and guides so you will understand the why and how to use the items in the box.

There are 3 boxes to choose from:

The Begin Box (what I have): This box connects thoughts, behaviors and feelings. The box has Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) lessons for parents and five to seven items. Learn that if we change our thoughts, we can change how we feel. If you order multiple months, this will be your first box.

Standard Subscription Box: These are four boxes that you will receive quarterly: The Begin Box, The Find Your Feelings Box, The Move Your Mood Box, and a Create Your Calm Box.

COVID Coping Box for Kids: This box includes strategies for both adults and children, along with several items for a child to use when coping with different and difficult emotions, including a gratitude journal and worry dolls.

We don’t get a textbook on social-emotional learning as parents so we need all the appropriate help we can get. These boxes are a great tool for us to use as parents to check in with your kids or give some at-home support to learn how to manage emotions.

Visit the UPside Delivered to choose a box that is right for you or send as a gift.

Children's Books, Coronovirus 2020, Education, Parenting

5 Books that Will Help Your Child Transition Back to In-School Learning

December 30, 2020December 30, 2020 Erin Sluka

If you have school-aged children they have had the longest break from the school building ever and learning for them drastically changed suddenly last spring. I know some school remained in-person, but here in Was. state and other areas schools have yet to open since March.

Kindergarteners as a virtual learner are heading to a classroom soon for the first time ever or as a secondary student trying to keep grades afloat in a change into independent learning before they were ready, going back will be an adjustment.

I found some books to help your child transition back to in-school learning. You will want to start reading now to open the discussion about going back, schedule changes and socializing again on the playground with new classmates. These books are great for older siblings to read to younger siblings so all ages are discussing the changes together.

Change is impossible to avoid because it happens ALL the time! In this book, the author speaks on how to cope with and embrace life’s changes by recounting personal stories and asking kids pointed questions.

One of my FAVORITE children’s book Authors’ write for A Kids Book About. If you have not seen these books I highly recommend all of their titles on many common and new topics for kids. For heading back into the classroom I recommend A Kids Book About Change. Buy on Amazon

*An Invisible String made of love. Even though you can’t see it with your eyes, you can feel it deep in your heart, and know that you are always connected to the ones you love.* Does everybody have an Invisible String?

This book is so fantastic! The Invisible String is most popularly known as a best book for loss and grief, it is a great book to have on hand if an unexpected loss does occur in your family. However, it also is a great read for separation anxiety as it touches on the same need to feel connection when apart no matter how ‘apart’ they are. This is great for the child heading off to school for the very first time. Buy on Amazon.

The story is about Kate, a sporty and happy girl who uses her strong mind to tackle her daily challenges with a positive attitude.

My Strong Mind: A Story About Developing Mental Strength is a great book for so many situations to have on hand. For back to school, your child will be eager to start the new change off with a more positive mindset. When anxieties and worries start it’s time to use that brain power to work through change and new situations. Buy on Amazon.

Children love being able to make all the choices for this Superhero-in-Training and control the outcome of the book, while parents and teachers love the lessons the book teaches!

What Should Danny Do? School Day (The Power to Choose Series) brings problems forward. This is a fun read for kids that may have had to be out of structure as they have juggled at-home learning, working parents, siblings home all day. Now your child has to head back to class, sit still, make smart decisions around new kids and Teachers. This book is 7 stories in one and a great conversation book where your child and you can discuss ways Danny’s day should end given his situations he finds himself in. Buy on Amazon.

More and more places are requiring they or the adults around them wear masks, including their schools and pre-schools. This book adds some silliness and laughs around mask wearing to help young children see masks as something funny and not scary.

Many children have not been out and about as much or everyday and going back for many kids will still be while masked. If you have avoided public due to mask wearing anxiety with your child and now they may have to wear one back to school for a bit, this book is a must! Remember to Smile is a silly book that also introduces your child to many heroes and people that have to wear masks in their jobs and other situations making it less scary! Buy on Amazon.

2020 Holidays, Children's Books, Parenting

ABOVE THE CLOUDS – What Really Happens in Heaven During a Thunderstorm Book

December 8, 2020December 8, 2020 Erin Sluka

ABOVE THE CLOUDS – What Really Happens in Heaven During a Thunderstorm book by Stephanie Barton, Carley Barton and Sue Milon

Grace is afraid of thunderstorms. Her mother comforts her by telling her what’s REALLY responsible for the thunder, lightning, wind, and rain – namely heavenly parties complete with jammin’ tunes, selfie stations, paparazzi, and dancing angels.

This story is written by a 14 year old Carley Barton based off of her Grandmother’s explanation to her as a child about the thunder and storms when she was afraid. How fun that this teen Author took her Grandmother’s story and published it so you can also ease your own children’s anxieties during storms.

Buy this book on Amazon today and be prepared for the next ‘scary’ storm!

Visit our Children Book Reviews for more great titles

Healthy Living, Parenting

Encourage Hand Washing with Splatz Natural Hand Soap Bubbles

December 7, 2020December 6, 2020 Erin Sluka

If you have had hand washing battles with the kids and now you have to do hand checks to make real sure they really washed their hands correctly (especially in these times) how about making the task more fun for them? Maybe that will get those germ grabbers clean for once with Splatz hand soap bubbles that will encourage hand washing!

Inside is a ‘basket’ of bubbles. They are in this basket so that grabbing one out of the jar is simple. Each ‘bubble’ is filled with a natural hand soap that is also eco-friendly. The soap is made without: Parabens, BHT, synthetic dyes, phthalates, mineral oil, synthetic fragrances.

Simply grab one bubble and give it a ‘SPLATZ’ and once it bursts open there is soap to wash with. There is a casing my son just tosses in the garbage beside the sink but it is safe for the environment if it ends up washing down the drain.

Splatz is made in the US (Massachusetts) and was developed by Harvard/MIT scientists. It was designed with kids in mind so that they learn good hygiene skills.

Splatz by One Fun is available to order. They make fun stocking stuffers too!