{"id":1412,"date":"2025-02-10T20:49:09","date_gmt":"2025-02-10T20:49:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/web.risd.org\/counselingservices\/?page_id=1412"},"modified":"2025-02-10T23:39:41","modified_gmt":"2025-02-10T23:39:41","slug":"creating-safety","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/web.risd.org\/counselingservices\/creating-safety\/","title":{"rendered":"Creating Safety for Students During Difficult Times"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"1412\" class=\"elementor elementor-1412\" data-elementor-post-type=\"page\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-03b9d62 elementor-section-full_width elementor-section-height-min-height elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-items-middle\" data-id=\"03b9d62\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-background-overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-no\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-8b31f21\" data-id=\"8b31f21\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d7360c8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"d7360c8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d8c8d6e elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"d8c8d6e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h1 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Creating Safety for Students During Difficult Times<\/h1>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0d1c3d1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"0d1c3d1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-ecc2bda elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"ecc2bda\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-f766ddd\" data-id=\"f766ddd\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-6f802fd elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"6f802fd\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-9421ed2\" data-id=\"9421ed2\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cac788e elementor-icon-list--layout-traditional elementor-list-item-link-full_width elementor-widget elementor-widget-icon-list\" data-id=\"cac788e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"icon-list.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<ul class=\"elementor-icon-list-items\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#overview\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-check\"><\/i>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text\">Overview<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/web.risd.org\/counselingservices\/resources-for-families\/\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-times\"><\/i>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text\">Resources for Families<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/web.risd.org\/counselingservices\/school-counselors\/\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-dot-circle\"><\/i>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text\">Campus Counselors<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-9c9a94c\" data-id=\"9c9a94c\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ce6075e elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"ce6075e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" id=\"overview\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Overview<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-703b7f4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"703b7f4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCreating a safe and supportive environment for students during difficult times is essential for their emotional and academic well-being. Children and teens may experience distress in various ways, including anxiety, mood swings, withdrawal, and difficulty concentrating. By fostering open communication, maintaining consistent routines, and providing stress management strategies, educators and caregivers can help students navigate challenges more effectively. This guide outlines key approaches to recognizing signs of distress, creating a secure space, and offering age-appropriate support to ensure students feel heard, valued, and emotionally safe.\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2531c13 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"2531c13\" data-element_type=\"widget\" id=\"resources\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Common Symptoms of Children\/Teens in Distress\n<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a5b5ea1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"a5b5ea1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul>\n \t<li>Difficulty focusing in school<\/li>\n \t<li>Aggressive behavior\/outbursts<\/li>\n \t<li>Headaches &amp; stomachaches<\/li>\n \t<li>Mood swings<\/li>\n \t<li>Clinginess<\/li>\n \t<li>Eating and sleeping changes<\/li>\n \t<li>Crying<\/li>\n \t<li>Feeling afraid<\/li>\n \t<li>Anxiety<\/li>\n \t<li>Withdrawal<\/li>\n \t<li>Feeling angry<\/li>\n<\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-85fe1e5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"85fe1e5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Strategies for Supporting All Students<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4d6f55c elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"4d6f55c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul>\n \t<li><strong>Create a Safe Space<\/strong> &#8211; Have an open environment where students feel comfortable discussing their concerns without fear of judgment.<\/li>\n\n<\/li>\n \t<li><strong>Acknowledge Their Feelings<\/strong> &#8211; Let students know that you hear their concerns, demonstrating empathy for their experiences and worries.<\/li>\n\n \t<li><strong>Maintain Usual Routines<\/strong> &#8211; Routines give students a sense of safety and security. Offer as much consistency, predictability, and stability as you can.<\/li>\n\n \t<li><strong>Stress Management<\/strong> &#8211; Give students activities to help them manage stress, such as taking deep breaths, journaling, exercising, talking to a friend, drawing pictures, and spending time with family and friends.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-41cfef0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"41cfef0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Tips for Younger Students<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-51f8fd4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"51f8fd4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul>\n \t<li><strong>Encourage Healthy Play<\/strong> &#8211; Healthy play is crucial for young children to process their feelings.<\/li>\n\n \t<li><strong>Answer Questions Simply<\/strong> &#8211; When children ask questions, respond honestly but at an age-appropriate level, using simple language. Reassure them of your presence:\n<em>\u201cSometimes scary things happen, and we are here to support each other.\u201d<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ddabedc elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"ddabedc\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Tips for Adolescents<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f589bb0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"f589bb0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul>\n \t<li><strong>Share Facts<\/strong> &#8211; Proof of U.S. citizenship is not required to enroll in Richardson ISD; therefore, school employees do not have access to this type of information.<\/li>\n\n \t<li><strong>Encourage Students to Talk<\/strong> &#8211; Talking to a trusted adult or a school counselor can help teens learn to manage their emotions in healthy ways.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b4477e0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"b4477e0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Additional Support for Adults<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4e67542 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"4e67542\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul>\n \t<li>Check in with students regularly to see how they\u2019re feeling and if they need additional support.<\/li>\n \t<li>Reach out to your school counselor for additional support for your child\/student.<\/li>\n \t<li>Make your own well-being a priority. Children and teens often feel anxious when the adults around them are worried. They do much better when the adults in their lives are healthy and calm.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Creating Safety for Students During Difficult Times Overview Resources for Families Campus Counselors Overview Creating a safe and supportive environment for students during difficult times is essential for their emotional and academic well-being. Children and teens may experience distress in various ways, including anxiety, mood swings, withdrawal, and difficulty concentrating. By fostering open communication, maintaining [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"site-sidebar-layout":"no-sidebar","site-content-layout":"page-builder","ast-site-content-layout":"full-width-container","site-content-style":"unboxed","site-sidebar-style":"unboxed","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"disabled","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"default","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"default","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"set","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1412","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/web.risd.org\/counselingservices\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1412"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/web.risd.org\/counselingservices\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/web.risd.org\/counselingservices\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/web.risd.org\/counselingservices\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/web.risd.org\/counselingservices\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1412"}],"version-history":[{"count":19,"href":"https:\/\/web.risd.org\/counselingservices\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1412\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1436,"href":"https:\/\/web.risd.org\/counselingservices\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1412\/revisions\/1436"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/web.risd.org\/counselingservices\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1412"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}