💕 How to Reconnect.
It's been a week of upheaval and as we look to get back into the groove, we have some ways to help - both with our families and in our communities.
👋 Intro
What a week - filled with even more emotion, anxiety and uncertainty. Many of us clung to the small comforts of less than healthy food, drink and media consumption choices. But it’s time we return ourselves to “regularly scheduled programming”, if you will.
And though we now have more clarity on the new leadership of the country, it’s hard to ignore the massive divisions this election has revealed in our country and communities. As we pick up the pieces, it’s time to remember how to connect; with ourselves, our families, our communities, and our earth. This week, we’re focusing on reconnecting - both within our families and within our broader communities.
The key? Pick just a couple of small things that speak to your family and feel good about these small wins.
🤓 Connection 101
🧩 Play: Put your phone in a drawer and get down on your kid’s level, even for a few minutes.
🤚🏼Physical Touch: Wrestle with your kids, snuggle or dance with a partner, hug your dog a little too tightly.
🦻🏽 Listen: When people you love don’t share your views, 1. take a breath, 2. remember to share your own perspective rather than attacking others with “I statements” and 3. don’t try to take it on all at once.
A quick refresher about “I statements”: Instead of saying "you're crazy for thinking that", say: "I have a hard time understanding your view".
📚 Read Together: Read a new book or series aloud or listen to an engrossing audiobook with a kiddo or another adult (we have a list of options below)
💕 Give back: Spend time, energy, or resources on causes you care about in your community.
🍂 Get out: Step outside, find nature, and watch the changing seasons.
✨ Your options
Family Dance Party: Let each family member pick a few songs, and add them to a playlist. Clear a little space and let it all go! Swing your kids around, slow dance with your partner, and make some good contact. Connect with your own body and let yourself feel whatever comes.
Nature Walk: There’s a whole world out there! Get outdoors on your own or with your family. Let the kids lead, even if you never get anywhere. Listen to the sounds you hear - you can try holding out the fingers on one hand, closing your eyes, and putting one finger down each time you hear a new sound, until you’ve made a fist. It might be nice to collect some special objects to bring home as a reminder of what lies beyond the four walls of your home.
Independent Study: With your family, pick an issue you care about (homelessness, hunger, racial justice, climate change) and make some small goals around how you will engage with it. Think about three activities: learning (what can you read/watch/listen to to learn more about this topic?), sharing (how can you get your friends and community interested?), and contributing (how can you spend time or money supporting this cause?).
🧰 Tools
Family Involvement Plan
Issues we care about (brainstorm):
Our one focus issue:
Where can we learn more?:
How can we share with others?:
Where can we volunteer or donate?:
When will we work on our plan each week?:
Here are a couple of ready to use examples:
Our one focus issue: 🌍 Climate Change
Where can we learn more?: Watch the documentary Before the Flood
How can we share with others?: Kids: Share with class in a short presentation Parents: Post on social media
Where can we volunteer or donate?: Sign the pledge and donate at The Climate Mobilization. Kids are interested in a Fridays for Future Strike
When will we work on our plan each week?: Sunday morning meetings
Our one focus issue: 🗳 Voter Rights
Where can we learn more?: Read the picture book “Equality’s Call: The Story of Voting Rights in America” or watch a read-aloud
How can we share with others?: Print out the 5 Myths About Voting poster and hang it in our window
Where can we volunteer or donate?: Donate to the Brennan Center for Justice
When will we work on our plan each week?: Every Friday night, with pizza!
Our one focus issue: 🌽 Hunger in our community
Where can we learn more?: Adults and older kids read/view this photo essay on hunger in America. Younger kids watch Lulu and The Hunger Monster
How can we share with others?:
Where can we volunteer or donate?: Set up a family fundraiser through Feeding America
When will we work on our plan each week?: Tuesdays and Thursdays at dinner
🧐 Worth Reading/Listening to
PowerOf easily connects you to all kinds of volunteer and donation opportunities, including local and virtual
Four Current Affairs Podcasts for Curious Children to help your family learn about big issues
Mutual Aid 101: A Handbook from Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Mariame Kaba on how you can create a neighborhood pod that helps each other out
Best family audiobooks from Book Riot
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