Author Archives: letstalkadmin

  1. Helping Our Kids & Ourselves Manage Anxiety

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    Children show anxiety in lots of ways. How can we support them?

    Mindfulness Practices for Families

    When parents and children are feeling big emotions, it’s good to find some calm. Simple mindfulness activities can help: https://bit.ly/3erMBeA

    Mindfulness is noticing what’s going on outside—and inside—of us with acceptance and kindness. As mindful parents, we can be curious and open to understanding what our children are feeling and experiencing. These mindfulness exercises from Zero to Three are designed to help both parent and child experience a sense of calm connection.

    Want to know more about mindfulness?

    Join Dr. Chris Willard, from the Center for Mindfulness & Compassion at Cambridge Health Alliance, for a FREE live online workshop for parents, “Mindful Parenting in Difficult Times (Part I)” on Monday, June 1st, 9-9:45pm (EDT)! Register here: http://tinyurl.com/yc4f9fbu.

    Need to relax? Try these 5 minute art exercises for relaxation for adults and kids: https://bit.ly/3gtQAt0

  2. Supporting Ourselves & Our Children during COVID-19

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    New online children’s book explaining COVID-19 and why we stay home.
    Click here to read story: bit.ly/2WABPwE

    • Some kids are having a hard time with being online for everything from school to playdates. This article, “Kids Are So Over Zoom. Here’s What To Do About It” talks about tips for helping your child: bit.ly/2T5Ox4k

    • It is easy to feel anxious during this time. Here are some tips for coping with our anxiety.

    • It’s been a challenging time for all of us. Do you or someone you know need low-cost mental health support?  De Novo is currently offering virtual counseling services: https://www.finditcambridge.org/DeNovo. Visits are between $2-$60, but no one is turned away for inability to pay.

  3. Local COVID-19 Resources-5/15/2020

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    There are many resources to help during this time. Here are a few local ones. Sign up for updates where possible to keep up with the latest info.

    • New: Tips for Staying Safe During COVID-19: Grocery Shopping and Take-out Food from Cambridge Public Health Department: bit.ly/361QILq
    • New: The Pandemic – Electronic Benefits Transfer (P-EBT) Program is additional money for families to buy food while schools are closed due to COVID-19. Cambridge Public School families with children who qualify for free/reduced price school meals are eligible. Watch your mail for a P-EBT card or for funds to be added to your current EBT card. Info: bit.ly/362fGKM
    • Cambridge Health Alliance launches COVID-19 testing in Cambridge. Call 617-665-2928 to make an appointment. Details: bit.ly/2WBhNRC
    • Updated 5/7: Food resources compiled by Cambridge in Motion: Link
    • Face coverings must be worn in public places, businesses and common areas of residential buildings. Details including where to get masks or how to make them: https://bit.ly/35k6EIP
    • Pandemic Unemployment Insurance for people who can’t work because of a COVID-19 reason but are not eligible for regular unemployment: https://bit.ly/3aDQv1I
    • CEOC (Cambridge Economic Opportunity Committee) is providing support to people around filing for unemployment and health insurance, in Haitian Creole, Portuguese, Amharic, Spanish & English:  www.ceoccambridge.org or 617-868-2900.

  4. Local COVID-19 Resources, 5/8/2020

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    There are many resources to help during this time. Here are a few local ones. Sign up for updates where possible to keep up with the latest info.

    • New: Cambridge Health Alliance launches COVID-19 testing in Cambridge. Call 617-665-2928 to make an appointment. Details: bit.ly/2WBhNRC
    • Updated 5/7: Food resources compiled by Cambridge in Motion: Link
    • Face coverings must be worn in public places, businesses and common areas of residential buildings. Details including where to get masks or how to make them: https://bit.ly/35k6EIP

    • Pandemic Unemployment Insurance for people who can’t work because of a COVID-19 reason but are not eligible for regular unemployment: https://bit.ly/3aDQv1I
    • CEOC (Cambridge Economic Opportunity Committee) is providing support to people around filing for unemployment and health insurance, in Haitian Creole, Portuguese, Amharic, Spanish & English:  www.ceoccambridge.org or 617-868-2900.

  5. Continuing to Take Care of Ourselves During COVID-19

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    With the news that schools are closed for the year and the stay at home order has been extended, it has been a hard time for many of us. We have to change our expectations from getting through a short term crisis to “reframing our parenting strategy for the long, confusing haul”. Here are a few resources to help:

    “With kids officially home into June, here’s how to cope” – article from the Boston Globe with 8 tips: bit.ly/2WiKBxU

    Sheltering in Place: An Emotional Rollercoaster – article from Zero to Three: bit.ly/2WkKrq1

    Belly Breathing with Rosita – a technique for kids (and adults!) with big feelings. From Sesame Street

    Tune into #MentalHealthMondays virtual forums and submit questions for the panelists here— bit.ly/MHMquestions. The one-hour segment will be available on CCTV on Monday, May 4th, May 11th and May 18th. Links will be available on Facebook and YouTube as well. Your questions will be answered in one of the segments above.

  6. Local COVID-19 Resources, 5/1/2020

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    There are many resources to help during this time. Here are a few local ones. Sign up for updates where possible to keep up with the latest info.

    • New: Face coverings must be worn in public places, businesses and common areas of residential buildings. Details including where to get masks or how to make them: https://bit.ly/35k6EIP
    • Latest news from City: www.cambridgema.gov/covid19. You can sign up to get regular updates.
    • The City is providing information in multiple languages related to important COVID-19 content. A multilingual help resource is now available in Amharic, Arabic, Bangla, Haitian Creole, Portuguese, Spanish, and Simplified Chinese. https://www.cambridgema.gov/covid19/multilingualhelp.
    • Pandemic Unemployment Insurance for people who can’t work because of a COVID-19 reason but are not eligible for regular unemployment: https://bit.ly/3aDQv1I
    • CEOC (Cambridge Economic Opportunity Committee) is providing support to people around filing for unemployment and health insurance, in Haitian Creole, Portuguese, Amharic, Spanish & English:  www.ceoccambridge.org or 617-868-2900.
    • Updated 4/21: Food resources compiled by Cambridge in Motion: Link

  7. COVID-19 Local Resources, 4/24/2020

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    There are many resources to help during this time. Here are a few local ones. Sign up for updates where possible to keep up with the latest info.

    • The topic of collective grief has been coming up a lot recently as we all manage this stressful time. Here are two resources:
      • In the short video, Dr. Perel coaches us through the losses and collective grief we are all experiencing: https://nyti.ms/3cWsPYf
      • Article: That Discomfort You are Feeling is Grief: bit.ly/35266Hn
    • Parents – remember you are doing an amazing job!!

    • New: Pandemic Unemployment Insurance for people who can’t work because of a COVID-19 reason but are not eligible for regular unemployment: https://bit.ly/3aDQv1I
    • CEOC (Cambridge Economic Opportunity Committee) is providing support to people around filing for unemployment and health insurance, in Haitian Creole, Portuguese, Amharic, Spanish & English:  www.ceoccambridge.org or 617-868-2900.

    • Updated 4/21: Food resources compiled by Cambridge in Motion: Link

  8. Supporting Our Children During COVID-19

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    It’s a challenging time for all of us and it can be hard to know how to support our children during this time. Here are a few resources to help.

    #COVIBOOK, a story to support and reassure our children, under the age of 7, regarding coronavirus. Available in English, Spanish, and 20 other languages at https://mindheart.co/descargables

    Children’s book for 6-11 year olds from the World Health Organization: With the help of a fantasy creature, Ario, “My Hero is You, How kids can fight COVID-19!” explains how children can protect themselves, their families and friends from coronavirus and how to manage difficult emotions when confronted with a new and rapidly changing reality. Book: https://bit.ly/2y6zzTU All languages: https://bit.ly/3aUzykF

  9. Virtual Reading Challenge Spring 2020

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    Cambridge moms, dads and kids – Join us for a virtual reading challenge starting March 30, 2020! It’s easy & fun!

    How to participate:

    Read books with your child(ren)!

    Submit a post letting us know the title of the book and something you and your child enjoyed about it. Photos welcome! Choose how to submit your post:

    • Facebook – @LetsTalkCambMA
      • Submit on our Facebook page by writing a post.
    • Twitter – @LetsTalkCambMA
      • Mention us in your tweet using @LetsTalkCambMA.
    • Text Let’s Talk!
      • Text your response to 617-800-9154.
      • (standard text messaging rate apply)

    Participating in the Reading Challenge gives us permission to post and share responses on social media including responses sent via text message.

    Have a chance to win a prize! A submission enters you in a weekly raffle for a chance to win a swag pack and a pack of five books for your child (to be delivered after schools open). Extra posts welcomed! Max 1 entry per week counts in raffle.

    Have fun reading!

    Reading Challenge Flyer 2020 Download

    Dates:

    • Week 1: 3/30-4/5 – Winner announced on 4/6
    • Week 2: 4/6-4/12 – Winner announced on 4/13

    If you have questions, reach out by email: jbaily@challiance.org or call/text 617-800-9154.

    Sponsored by Cambridge Dads, Center for Families and Let’s Talk!

  10. Early Childhood Development Discussion Series

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    Join us for a 2-part series: Thursdays 3/5 & 3/19 from 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM at Peabody School, 70 Rindge Ave. For Cambridge moms and dads with children 1-5 years old.

    Parenting is an intense experience. Children are fantastic, frustrating, imaginative, loving & challenging (sometimes all in 1 hour!). Sharing experiences with others who are raising children can offer relief, new ideas and helps us to see humor in all of it.

    Join us for a time of honest sharing of our stories and hear concrete strategies from Amy Bamforth, a local Early Childhood Specialist.

    To register, call Center for Families at 617-349-6385 or email Christine at cdoucet@cambridgema.gov. Limited childcare is available upon request.

    FlyerDownload

    Sponsored by the Center for Families.