3 Ways Summer Tutoring Can Get Your Child Ready For The Fall

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Summer is often the time when families work to catch up on things that fell by the wayside during the busy school year. When parents work and kids get behind in school, it is also the time many take to focus on preparation for the coming year.
Some do this with summer school - yet when family vacations and other fun summer events crowd the calendar sometimes the best choice is summer tutoring.  Hiring a tutor is a positive thing, learn more why you should hire a tutor.
The Benefits of Individualized Study
Individualized study is always the fastest way to support any learner in quickly identifying what needs focus, while also being able to create an individualized plan so the time spent one-on-one truly addresses the learning issues your student is most needing support with.
Like with big student numbers in general classroom study - summer school does not always meet with the individual issues that can resolve simple learning confusion or misunderstanding on a topic or subject.
Some of the ways summer tutoring helps to prepare your child for the coming school year include:
1) Understanding the basics of subjects the learner struggled with during the school year.
Sometimes when a child falls behind it is simply due to overcrowded classrooms and the lack of individualized attention. Many students have different learning styles and if a math teacher or a reading instructor uses a style that is difficult for your child to embrace - learning can slow and issues can develop.
This is neither the fault of the student or the teacher - only the learning circumstances - likely due to lack of individual attention and teacher time available.
2) Getting ahead of the class in preparation for challenging subjects.
Many times parents will use summer tutoring to help their learners get ahead of a subject that promises to be a challenge during the coming school year. Especially if your learner is working on college entrance subjects or exams.
Getting ahead of the learning curve is one of the best ways to help support your child in remaining confident in his/her abilities and self-esteem can also be directly connected to how well children perform in school.
Often parents will realize an issue has arisen due to changes in the student's behavior such as:

• Increases in irritability
  
• A heightened resistance to going to school or
  
• An increase in complaints about a certain class, teacher or homework assignment
  

3) Providing a review of basics such as math, reading, and other difficult-to- master concepts that can slow learning if they are not fully comprehended during the year.

Review of Core Principles, Deeper Comprehension of Difficult Subjects

Many times kids will miss a concept or the principle of a subject's core due to illness, overcrowded classes or difficulty paying attention due to other distractions in the classroom. More often than not your child is struggling due to circumstances they cannot control.

When parents use summer tutoring to support the learning process - summertime is usually the best time for kids to go back a bit and re-address challenge areas so they can continue confidently the following school year. Learning is one-on-one and the home tutor who has made an accurate assessment for the child's learning plan can help your child leap forward.

Within one or two visits per week through the summer - your learner can not only catch up to subjects that became overwhelming - they can also move ahead of the other learners so that going to school looses the overwhelming feeling that comes from struggle with various subjects.

Support and Confidence Makes Taking Tests Easier

You may have a college bound student about to go through standardized testing such as the SAT or STAAR exams. College entrance exams can also be a great source of tension and stress for students.

Feeling well-prepared for college entrance exams can make or break the hope for getting into your school of choice. Supporting your student in feeling ready can be one of the most powerfully helpful things a parent can do to help a hard-working student prepare.

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30 things to start doing for yourself

Remember today, for it is the beginning.
Today marks the start of a brave new future.

Here it is, a positive ‘to-do’ list for the upcoming year – 30 things to start doing for yourself:

1. Start spending time with the right people. – These are the people you enjoy, who love and appreciate you, and who encourage you to improve in healthy and exciting ways.  They are the ones who make you feel more alive, and not only embrace who you are now, but also embrace and embody who you want to be, unconditionally.
2. Start facing your problems head on. – It isn’t your problems that define you, but how you react to them and recover from them.  Problems will not disappear unless you take action.  Do what you can, when you can, and acknowledge what you’ve done.  It’s all about taking baby steps in the right direction, inch by inch.  These inches count, they add up to yards and miles in the long run.
3. Start being honest with yourself about everything. – Be honest about what’s right, as well as what needs to be changed.  Be honest about what you want to achieve and who you want to become.  Be honest with every aspect of your life, always.  Because you are the one person you can forever count on.  Search your soul, for the truth, so that you truly know who you are.  Once you do, you’ll have a better understanding of where you are now and how you got here, and you’ll be better equipped to identify where you want to go and how to get there.  Read The Road Less Traveled.
4. Start making your own happiness a priority. – Your needs matter.  If you don’t value yourself, look out for yourself, and stick up for yourself, you’re sabotaging yourself.  Remember, it IS possible to take care of your own needs while simultaneously caring for those around you.  And once your needs are met, you will likely be far more capable of helping those who need you most.
5. Start being yourself, genuinely and proudly. – Trying to be anyone else is a waste of the person you are.  Be yourself.  Embrace that individual inside you that has ideas, strengths and beauty like no one else.  Be the person you know yourself to be – the best version of you – on your terms.  Above all, be true to YOU, and if you cannot put your heart in it, take yourself out of it.
6. Start noticing and living in the present. – Right now is a miracle.  Right now is the only moment guaranteed to you.  Right now is life.  So stop thinking about how great things will be in the future.  Stop dwelling on what did or didn’t happen in the past.  Learn to be in the ‘here and now’ and experience life as it’s happening.  Appreciate the world for the beauty that it holds, right now.
7. Start valuing the lessons your mistakes teach you. – Mistakes are okay; they’re the stepping stones of progress.  If you’re not failing from time to time, you’re not trying hard enough and you’re not learning.  Take risks, stumble, fall, and then get up and try again.  Appreciate that you are pushing yourself, learning, growing and improving.  Significant achievements are almost invariably realized at the end of a long road of failures.  One of the ‘mistakes’ you fear might just be the link to your greatest achievement yet.
8. Start being more polite to yourself. – If you had a friend who spoke to you in the same way that you sometimes speak to yourself, how long would you allow that person to be your friend?  The way you treat yourself sets the standard for others.  You must love who you are or no one else will.
9. Start enjoying the things you already have. – The problem with many of us is that we think we’ll be happy when we reach a certain level in life – a level we see others operating at – your boss with her corner office, that friend of a friend who owns a mansion on the beach, etc.  Unfortunately, it takes awhile before you get there, and when you get there you’ll likely have a new destination in mind.  You’ll end up spending your whole life working toward something new without ever stopping to enjoy the things you have now.  So take a quiet moment every morning when you first awake to appreciate where you are and what you already have.
10. Start creating your own happiness. – If you are waiting for someone else to make you happy, you’re missing out.  Smile because you can.  Choose happiness.  Be the change you want to see in the world.  Be happy with who you are now, and let your positivity inspire your journey into tomorrow.  Happiness is often found when and where you decide to seek it.  If you look for happiness within the opportunities you have, you will eventually find it.  But if you constantly look for something else, unfortunately, you’ll find that too.  Read Stumbling on Happiness.
11. Start giving your ideas and dreams a chance. – In life, it’s rarely about getting a chance; it’s about taking a chance.  You’ll never be 100% sure it will work, but you can always be 100% sure doing nothing won’t work.  Most of the time you just have to go for it!  And no matter how it turns out, it always ends up just the way it should be.  Either you succeed or you learn something.  Win-Win.
12. Start believing that you’re ready for the next step. – You are ready!  Think about it.  You have everything you need right now to take the next small, realistic step forward.  So embrace the opportunities that come your way, and accept the challenges – they’re gifts that will help you to grow.
13. Start entering new relationships for the right reasons. – Enter new relationships with dependable, honest people who reflect the person you are and the person you want to be.  Choose friends you are proud to know, people you admire, who show you love and respect – people who reciprocate your kindness and commitment.  And pay attention to what people do, because a person’s actions are much more important than their words or how others represent them.
14. Start giving new people you meet a chance. – It sounds harsh, but you cannot keep every friend you’ve ever made.  People and priorities change.  As some relationships fade others will grow.  Appreciate the possibility of new relationships as you naturally let go of old ones that no longer work.  Trust your judgment.  Embrace new relationships, knowing that you are entering into unfamiliar territory.  Be ready to learn, be ready for a challenge, and be ready to meet someone that might just change your life forever.
15. Start competing against an earlier version of yourself. – Be inspired by others, appreciate others, learn from others, but know that competing against them is a waste of time.  You are in competition with one person and one person only – yourself.  You are competing to be the best you can be.  Aim to break your own personal records.
16. Start cheering for other people’s victories. – Start noticing what you like about others and tell them.  Having an appreciation for how amazing the people around you are leads to good places – productive, fulfilling, peaceful places.  So be happy for those who are making progress.  Cheer for their victories.  Be thankful for their blessings, openly.  What goes around comes around, and sooner or later the people you’re cheering for will start cheering for you.
17. Start looking for the silver lining in tough situations. – When things are hard, and you feel down, take a few deep breaths and look for the silver lining – the small glimmers of hope.  Remind yourself that you can and will grow stronger from these hard times.  And remain conscious of your blessings and victories – all the things in your life that are right.  Focus on what you have, not on what you haven’t.
18. Start forgiving yourself and others. – We’ve all been hurt by our own decisions and by others.  And while the pain of these experiences is normal, sometimes it lingers for too long.  We relive the pain over and over and have a hard time letting go.  Forgiveness is the remedy.  It doesn’t mean you’re erasing the past, or forgetting what happened.  It means you’re letting go of the resentment and pain, and instead choosing to learn from the incident and move on with your life.
19. Start helping those around you. – Care about people.  Guide them if you know a better way.  The more you help others, the more they will want to help you.  Love and kindness begets love and kindness.  And so on and so forth.
20. Start listening to your own inner voice. – If it helps, discuss your ideas with those closest to you, but give yourself enough room to follow your own intuition.  Be true to yourself.  Say what you need to say.  Do what you know in your heart is right.
21. Start being attentive to your stress level and take short breaks. – Slow down.  Breathe.  Give yourself permission to pause, regroup and move forward with clarity and purpose.  When you’re at your busiest, a brief recess can rejuvenate your mind and increase your productivity.  These short breaks will help you regain your sanity and reflect on your recent actions so you can be sure they’re in line with your goals.
22. Start noticing the beauty of small moments. – Instead of waiting for the big things to happen – marriage, kids, big promotion, winning the lottery – find happiness in the small things that happen every day.  Little things like having a quiet cup of coffee in the early morning, or the delicious taste and smell of a homemade meal, or the pleasure of sharing something you enjoy with someone else, or holding hands with your partner.  Noticing these small pleasures on a daily basis makes a big difference in the quality of your life.
23. Start accepting things when they are less than perfect. – Remember, ‘perfect’ is the enemy of ‘good.’  One of the biggest challenges for people who want to improve themselves and improve the world is learning to accept things as they are.  Sometimes it’s better to accept and appreciate the world as it is, and people as they are, rather than to trying to make everything and everyone conform to an impossible ideal.  No, you shouldn’t accept a life of mediocrity, but learn to love and value things when they are less than perfect.
24. Start working toward your goals every single day. – Remember, the journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.  Whatever it is you dream about, start taking small, logical steps every day to make it happen.  Get out there and DO something!  The harder you work the luckier you will become.  While many of us decide at some point during the course of our lives that we want to answer our calling, only an astute few of us actually work on it.  By ‘working on it,’ I mean consistently devoting oneself to the end result.  Read The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.
25. Start being more open about how you feel. – If you’re hurting, give yourself the necessary space and time to hurt, but be open about it.  Talk to those closest to you.  Tell them the truth about how you feel.  Let them listen.  The simple act of getting things off your chest and into the open is your first step toward feeling good again.
26. Start taking full accountability for your own life. – Own your choices and mistakes, and be willing to take the necessary steps to improve upon them.  Either you take accountability for your life or someone else will.  And when they do, you’ll become a slave to their ideas and dreams instead of a pioneer of your own.  You are the only one who can directly control the outcome of your life.  And no, it won’t always be easy.  Every person has a stack of obstacles in front of them.  But you must take accountability for your situation and overcome these obstacles.  Choosing not to is choosing a lifetime of mere existence.
27. Start actively nurturing your most important relationships. – Bring real, honest joy into your life and the lives of those you love by simply telling them how much they mean to you on a regular basis.  You can’t be everything to everyone, but you can be everything to a few people.  Decide who these people are in your life and treat them like royalty.  Remember, you don’t need a certain number of friends, just a number of friends you can be certain of.
28. Start concentrating on the things you can control. – You can’t change everything, but you can always change something.  Wasting your time, talent and emotional energy on things that are beyond your control is a recipe for frustration, misery and stagnation.  Invest your energy in the things you can control, and act on them now.
29. Start focusing on the possibility of positive outcomes. – The mind must believe it CAN do something before it is capable of actually doing it.  The way to overcome negative thoughts and destructive emotions is to develop opposing, positive emotions that are stronger and more powerful.  Listen to your self-talk and replace negative thoughts with positive ones.  Regardless of how a situation seems, focus on what you DO WANT to happen, and then take the next positive step forward.  No, you can’t control everything that happens to you, but you can control how you react to things.  Everyone’s life has positive and negative aspects – whether or not you’re happy and successful in the long run depends greatly on which aspects you focus on.  
30. Start noticing how wealthy you are right now. – Henry David Thoreau once said, “Wealth is the ability to fully experience life.”  Even when times are tough, it’s always important to keep things in perspective.  You didn’t go to sleep hungry last night.  You didn’t go to sleep outside.  You had a choice of what clothes to wear this morning.  You hardly broke a sweat today.  You didn’t spend a minute in fear.  You have access to clean drinking water.  You have access to medical care.  You have access to the Internet.  You can read.  Some might say you are incredibly wealthy, so remember to be grateful for all the things you do have.

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12 Great Motivational Quotes for 2013

This set of inspirational thoughts for the new year will galvanize you into action.

 

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1. "Cherish your visions and your dreams as they are the children of your soul, the blueprints of your ultimate achievements."
   Napoleon Hill


2. "The key to success is to focus our conscious mind on things we desire not things we fear."
   Brian Tracy


3. "Success is getting what you want. Happiness is wanting what you get."
   Dale Carnegie


4. "Obstacles are necessary for success because in selling, as in all careers of importance, victory comes only after many struggles and countless defeats."
   Og Mandino


5. "A real decision is measured by the fact that you've taken a new action. If there's no action, you haven't truly decided."
   Tony Robbins


6. "If you can't control your anger, you are as helpless as a city without walls waiting to be attacked."
   The Book of Proverbs


7. A mediocre person tells. A good person explains. A superior person demonstrates. A great person inspires others to see for themselves."
   Harvey Mackay


8. "Freedom, privileges, options, must constantly be exercised, even at the risk of inconvenience."
   Jack Vance


9. "Take care of your body. It's the only place you have to live."
   Jim Rohn


10. "You can have everything in life you want, if you will just help other people get what they want."
    Zig Ziglar


11. "The number of times I succeed is in direct proportion to the number of times I can fail and keep on trying."
    Tom Hopkins


12. "You have everything you need to build something far bigger than yourself."
    Seth Godin

Girls with ADHD--

Girls with ADHD often have quieter, less obvious symptoms than boys. How can you help your daughter succeed at school, form healthy relationships and get the proper ADHD treatment?
Everyone thinks running around, fidgeting and interrupting others are typical symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). And they are – in boys.

But girls with ADHD often behave differently. They’re forgetful, distracted and may sit quietly in class but not listen to the teacher. They tend not to follow directions and may make careless mistakes.

Symptoms of hyperactivity in girls are often expressed through constant talking rather than running about,
“Since they’re often less defiant and cause less trouble than boys, [girls are] more likely to be overlooked and not get the help they need,” says Kathleen Nadeau, Ph.D., director of the Chesapeake ADHD Center of Maryland in Silver Spring.

About half of girls with ADHD have the “predominantly inattentive” type, compared to 20% of boys, Dr. Vitiello says.

And students who struggle with attention problems are more likely than hyperactive kids to fail in school, says Stephen Hinshaw, Ph.D., a professor of psychology at the University of California, Berkeley, who has conducted long-term research on girls with ADHD.


Tutoring is a great option for children with ADHD.   Tutor Doctor Longmont  is  one-on-one interaction and able to foster a strong personal relationship. Our strength is finding a qualified tutor who is a good match for child. Call us today!!

the meaning of Memorial Day....

Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation's service. It is not important who was the very first, what is important is that Memorial Day was established. Memorial Day is not about division. It is about reconciliation; it is about coming together to honor those who gave their all.

Memorial Day was officially proclaimed on 5 May 1868 by General John Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, in his General Order No. 11, and was first observed on 30 May 1868, when flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery. The first state to officially recognize the holiday was New York in 1873.

Traditional observance of Memorial Day has diminished over the years. Many Americans nowadays have forgotten the meaning and traditions of Memorial Day. At many cemeteries, the graves of the fallen are increasingly ignored, neglected. Most people no longer remember the proper flag etiquette for the day. While there are towns and cities that still hold Memorial Day parades, many have not held a parade in decades. Some people think the day is for honoring any and all dead, and not just those fallen in service to our country.

There are a few notable exceptions. Since the late 50's on the Thursday before Memorial Day, the 1,200 soldiers of the 3d U.S. Infantry place small American flags at each of the more than 260,000 gravestones at Arlington National Cemetery. They then patrol 24 hours a day during the weekend to ensure that each flag remains standing.

"National Moment of Remembrance" resolution was passed on Dec 2000 which asks that at 3 p.m. local time, for all Americans "To voluntarily and informally observe in their own way a Moment of remembrance and respect, pausing from whatever they are doing for a moment of silence or listening to 'Taps." The Moment of Remembrance is a step in the right direction to returning the meaning back to the day. What is needed is a full return to the original day of observance. Set aside one day out of the year for the nation to get together to remember, reflect and honor those who have given their all in service to their country.

Why red poppies?   The idea to wear red poppies on Memorial Day in honor of those who died serving the nation during war was begun by Ms. Molina Michael. She was the first to wear one, and sold poppies to her friends and co-workers with the money going to benefit servicemen in need. Later a Madam Guerin from France was visiting the United States and learned of this new custom started by Ms.Michael and when she returned to France, made artificial red poppies to raise money for war orphaned children and widowed women. This tradition spread to other countries. In 1921, the Franco-American Children's League sold poppies nationally to benefit war orphans of France and Belgium. The League disbanded a year later and Madam Guerin approached the VFW for help. Shortly before Memorial Day in 1922 the VFW became the first veterans' organization to nationally sell poppies. Two years later their "Buddy" Poppy program was selling artificial poppies made by disabled veterans.

'Big Bang Theory' Star Talks STEM. See how Tutor Doctor can spark your interest in STEM-- advanced science-- with in home tutoring!

Actress and neuroscientist Mayim Bialik interacts with local high school students at a HerWorld event in New York City.

'Big Bang Theory' Star Talks STEM

 Do you need a tutor to help you in your STEM classes?   We have great, qualified  tutors for  one on one learning in home in  Firestone, Frederick, Erie, Niwot, Lyons & Mead. Call us today!!  Summer help is available.
 

 By Kelsey Sheehy 
Art imitates life for Mayim Bialik. The former child star (see: "Blossom") earned a Ph.D. in neuroscience from the University of California—Los Angeles in 2007, and now plays neurobiologist Amy Farrah Fowler on the CBS sitcom "Big Bang Theory."
But Bialik doesn't just hold a degree or play a role. The actress teaches science to home-schooled students, and just wrapped up a monthlong stint as the face of National HerWorld Month, an initiative designed to educate high school girls about opportunities in science, technology, engineering and math.
[Find the best high schools for STEM.]
High School Notes talked with the actress, scientist and teacher about her experiences as a woman in a male-dominated STEM field and her advice for aspiring female scientists.
Q: You credit a former tutor with sparking your interest in science. What was it about that tutor's style or approach that made you view the subject differently?
A: The first thing that was special about her, that spoke to me, was that she was female. Growing up in a really boy-centered schooling system, where I thought science and math were for boys and the boys were happy to agree, it really helped for me to see someone female.
Also, the fact that she was so young and so enthusiastic; it seemed like that could be me. I think for a lot of girls that's something that's missing.

Q: What was the biggest challenge you faced as a woman studying in a male-dominated field?
A: I was really shocked that grown-up female professors that I was so honored to be working with and learning from were still whispered about by people, in terms of what they look like and how they dress. You really do have to ignore that.
I looked especially to the "classically attractive" female professors to see how they handled it. A lot of it involved really trying to be appreciated for your work, and not getting into it about all the other aspects of your physical appearance.
Q: Some critics say the "Big Bang Theory" perpetuates some of the stereotypes about both men and women in science. What's your take on this?
A: I'm very proud to play a female scientist. Obviously, Amy is much more of a frumpy, quirky, social misfit, but she's in a really interesting and emotionally satisfying relationship that is not sexual, which I think is fascinating for a sitcom to show.
We also have the Bernadette character, that's really more adorned - she always wears flowery dresses - but she's also a woman who loves being a scientist. There's a line in an upcoming episode where she talks about the first time she looked under a microscope, and it was so neat to have a female character saying, "I loved it. I fell in love with science."
Q: What do you hope young girls take away from the show?
A: One of the greatest fears for anyone who's ever been a nerd is that you'll never find someone - to live with, to be friends with and to have that kind of social community. I think it's really awesome to see a show depicting a "Friends" sort of cast, where all of them are quirky and enjoy Dungeons & Dragons and all sorts of things that "aren't cool."
Q: What is your advice for high school girls who are worried they'll be deemed "nerds" or "geeks" because of their interest/ability in STEM subjects?
A: There's no better population of young people to reach with the message: You don't have to be one thing. If there are things that interest you, it's in your best interest to pursue them. To get this kind of training, and to have this kind of knowledge and wisdom, really makes for a more creative and a more exciting possibility for all those other arenas of your life.

Q: Many students have that "I'm never going to use this" attitude toward advanced science and math. Acting isn't exactly a STEM career, but you've made it into one.
A: The training, and the knowledge and all of the things that come from learning about these subjects never leave you, no matter what you do. I view the world differently as a scientist now than I ever could have imagined I would.
It's not that you have to pursue a life in a STEM career if you train in it, though the fact is, the journey of this knowledge will likely make you want to pursue one of these fields. Even if you don't … math is everywhere. Science is everywhere. Having that knowledge is a wonderful, wonderful way to look at the world.

10 Ways to Talk to Kids About Events in the News

 

By Samantha Cleaver

Exposing kids to current events isn’t necessarily bad, says Eric Rossen, PhD, National Association of School Psychologists director of professional development and standards, but make sure you control your child’s interpretation of that event. Before you turn on tonight’s news, here are 10 ways to talk to your kids about current events.When kids learn about current events, whether they overhear a conversation, catch a glimpse of the evening news, or see a newspaper photo, they may feel overwhelmed. It’s difficult to predict what images will come on the evening news and when an image of war or natural disaster flashes across the screen, you can’t always change the channel.

1. Limit Exposure to Images and Sound Images and Sound. When an important event occurs, news channels often replay the same event over and over. But, says Rossen, “very young children may not recognize that they’re watching replays of an event.” Instead of images of one earthquake played again and again, young children may think that earthquakes are a daily occurrence. Turn off the TV if a traumatic event is being played over and over. Limit your child’s exposure to graphic photos, as kids are more affected by images than words. And turn down the volume, as loud noises, such as shooting or explosions, may startle kids.
2. Explain What Happened. When your child sees an image and wants to know more, explain the basics and add some context. Through early adolescence, says Margret Nickels, PhD, director of the Erikson Institute Center for Children and Families, kids perceive all events as happening nearby. If they see a picture of a plane on fire, or people fighting, they may not realize that they’re seeing a conflict that’s halfway around the world. Use a map or globe to give your child some perspective.
3. But Don’t Over-Explain. Avoid giving kids too much information, advises Knorr. If your child sees an image of a wounded soldier returning from the war in Iraq, for example, you can tell her that it’s a soldier who’s going to the hospital to get better. You don’t need to explain where the soldier was, or that our country is at war.
4. Take Their Fears Seriously. If your child’s behavior changes, from talkative to quiet and thoughtful, for example, he may be processing information. Encourage any communication about what they’re thinking. If your child brings up a news event, ask him open-ended questions. What did you see? How did you feel when you saw that? Letting him tell you what he saw ensures that you won’t overwhelm him with too much information. Then, normalize his feelings by sharing how you felt when you learned about the event.
5. Learn Together. Older children, says Knorr, may want to research an event; learning more about hurricanes or earthquakes may relieve their fears. Research natural disasters online, or check out books about a location that’s been in the news.
6. Be a Calming Reference. When there’s upsetting news, your child will look to you for guidance. Keep calm, no matter what images are flashing across the screen. If your child seems upset, acknowledge her feelings and reassure her that your family is safe; “I know it was scary to see pictures of the war in Iraq, but there is no war here.”
7. Keep Your Schedule. If your child is upset about an event, keep the daily schedule as normal as possible. Still, if she needs extra support going to bed or transitioning to school, take time to help her for a few days.
8. Encourage Play. Kids often play through their worries or fears as a way to cope, says Nickels. If your child is re-enacting the news, pretending to be a firefighter running into a burning building, or using toy helicopters to rescue people from a tsunami, encourage it. Only intervene if his play becomes aggressive towards other children.
9. Emphasize the Positive. After some events, like a terrorist attack, there’s the risk of immediately focusing on the negative, by talking about the “bad people” who attacked us. Rossen suggests focusing on the positive instead. Talk with your child about people and organizations that are helping the people who were hurt.
10. Be Part of the Solution. In response to any event, from a local emergency or a national crisis, ask your child if they’d like to help. Then, find a way for them to donate money or time, or raise awareness about a cause, selling lemonade to raise money for cancer research, for example.

Regardless of what today’s top headline is, don’t try to explain it away. Take the opportunity to encourage your child to build her connection to the world, one newscast at a time.