Virtual Hugs this Holiday Season

Thanksgiving will look different for many American families this year because of the uptick in Covid cases.

The traditions that have been carried on for many years may look quite different as we all adapt to this new way of life. Gone are the large family get-togethers, where you all take part in different home-cooked dishes and share food over stories and laughs at the dinner table. 

Many local and state governments are asking families to refrain from getting together with loved ones this year during the holiday season. Some are limiting it to only a set number of friends and family that can get together. These requests on the surface look easy enough as we try to slow the number of infected people and keep everyone safe. When you start to look deeper however, it is tearing people’s emotions to the core and creating an enormous amount of stress by asking them to forgo traditions that have been passed down forever. The mental and emotional toll this virus is taking on this country and the world will have forever lasting effects.

What are some things we can do to try to stay grounded during the holidays this year? How do you replace that deep in-person connection with friends and family? The quick answer is you don’t. I think the first step is to simply admit that you will not be able to see family members and friends as you have in the past. Once you accept this fact, you can move forward in looking at other creative ways to touch those you care about.

HuggyBox - All Occasions Sending Hugs Heart Card

$12.89

HuggyBox - NEW!!! Happy Birthday Wishes For Her

$12.89

Quantity:

Add to Cart

HuggyBox - NEW!!! Happy Birthday For Him

$12.89

Elena, the founder of HuggyBox offers a brilliant solution in my opinion. Her product allows you to send a virtual hug and heartfelt message to friends and family, allowing you to stay connected. To send a virtual hug gift is the next best thing to wrapping your arms around someone you care about. We all have to do our part to place an end to this virus, and I think this solution speaks miles when it comes to connecting loved ones across the miles without any physical touch.

Elena donated proceeds from each sale to the Dave Thomas Foundation to help children in foster care find forever homes. So if you are looking for a way to connect with your family and friends this holiday and are also looking to give back to a great cause, look no further than this wonderful invention. 

Guest Blogger

Emotional Support Needed!

If you have a child in school in this day and age, know a teacher, or even have a loved one that works in the school district, give them a virtual hug as this can be a very trying time for them.

Currently, many schools across the country are taking things day by day with an understanding that everything you did today could look different tomorrow. Many districts began the school year offering choices for full-time virtual, a hybrid approach, and then for some grade levels full time on-site learning. Each choice brings along its own set of unique challenges, and many districts have already moved to be all virtual due to the uptick in the Covid-19 virus.

School districts, parents, and students alike are trying to navigate the sea of Covid the best they can, but let's face something, and be honest with one another. These times are very trying and it’s tough, it just is…. There is an educational piece and a larger emotional piece that is starting to take its toll on both adults as well as many students. Learning how to be there for each other and how to support one another is just as important now as learning to read or write. If we don't get the emotional piece correct, and recognize that people are suffering on many different levels, the rest sadly may not matter. 

As teachers adapt their learning environment and revamp everything they have ever known about teaching, students are doing the same. Things like class participation scores are going obsolete as the bandwidth in many districts is not allowing children to unmute or unlock cameras inside of the virtual platform they are using, thus not allowing them to participate in the way you would in person. Little things like this have lasting effects on both teachers and their students. Not only is virtual connection lost, but human connections between teachers and students also suffer. By nature, humans are social creatures and need interaction, when that does not come sadness, depression and a feeling of isolation can set in.

HuggyBox - All Occasions Sending Hugs Heart Card

$12.89

HuggyBox - NEW!!! Happy Birthday Wishes For Her

$12.89

Quantity:

Add to Cart

HuggyBox - NEW!!! Happy Birthday For Him

$12.89

According to a study by Annenberg Brown University, students who returned to school in fall 2020 had approximately 63-68% of the learning gains in reading relative to a typical school year and with 37-50% of the learning gains in math. Our children are falling behind and the strains can feel like added pressure on students as well as teachers to fill these gaps.

So what can we all do to help one another through these times? The first is to be understanding that the ways you used to do things in the classroom have changed. Understand that both teachers and students are affected equally. You are no longer able to have some of the fabric that once held the classroom model together, you need to improvise and try and understand what one another is going through and understand the challenges for both sides.  

Help those needing emotional support by reaching out to have a kind conversation and let them know you are there if they need anything. Everyone understands in this day and age you are not able to give hugs but a virtual hug goes a long way. Every little thing we do to let people know that you are here to support them helps with the mental side of this pandemic. Instead of using the new classroom environment as a crutch to not getting to know your teacher or student, think of it as a way to connect in a whole new light. If done correctly, it can create strong, long-lasting bonds between student and teacher. These bonds can help excel learning and get these students who have lost ground back to where they should be within their education.

Virtual Hugs

So let's start by defining what a virtual hug actually is, a virtual hug is a way to express your emotions to someone you care about when an in-person hug is not possible.

Even though the physical act of giving a hug is not achieved, the emotional piece the virtual hug provides creates a similar if not the same effect on the body.

Now that we understand that sending a virtual hug can achieve the same benefits as an in-person hug, let's explore the benefits of hugs.  

1. Immune System Benefits - Multiple studies are showing that hugs stimulate the thymus gland which helps the body regulate white blood cells, in return fighting off disease.

2. Lower Blood Pressure and Heart Rate - A study found here showed the more frequent hugs directly related to higher oxytocin levels that help support a more healthy heart.

3. Stress Relief - How many of you growing up have received a hug from a parent or loved one and instantly felt better. Whether it was a bump of cut from playing with friends, or if your best friend in school left you in the dust for another classmate. How about having a bad day at work and coming home to get a hug from your husband or significant other. You instantly feel better than you did prior to receiving that magical hug.

HuggyBox - All Occasions Sending Hugs Heart Card

$12.89

HuggyBox - NEW!!! Happy Birthday Wishes For Her

$12.89

Quantity:

Add to Cart

HuggyBox - NEW!!! Happy Birthday For Him

$12.89

These are just a few of the many benefits that can be realized by receiving a hug either in person or virtually.  

So what are some of the best options for sending a virtual hug, let's explore:

1. Online GIF creators. Many exist for you to choose from such as Giphy, and Tenor.  You simply go to one of these sites and choose the best option for the occasion. Once you have made your selection you can imbed it into your HTML email or send that special person a link. Super easy and free.

2. Ecards. You can send them an ecard that includes a hug, some of the more popular sites include JibJab, typically more on the funny side to cheer someone you care about up. Also, check out Kisseo for more great hug related ecards.

3.  HuggyBox - This one is one of my favorites and I will explain why. It is super easy to send a hug and it leaves the recipient something tangible to keep so they can continue to get hugs from you anytime they choose. Head over to HuggyBox, choose your design, and let them know the message you want on the card. They take care of the rest.

As you can see there are so many benefits to sending someone a virtual hug. Many methods can be used to achieve sending these virtual hugs, and the benefits far out-way the difficulty in doing so. I hope you find this article useful and that your kind actions in sending a hug will greatly impact someone you care about positively. Please feel free to share below in the comments any stories you may have on how receiving a hug made an impact on someone you know.

10 Fundraising Ideas for Schools - During COVID

As teachers, students, and school districts struggle to go back for this coming school year, one thing has not changed. Fundraising has always been and will remain a critical way for both staff and students to raise the money needed for different activities.

Here are the best fundraising ideas for kids to try while we continue to wear masks and social distance:

• Facemask Fundraiser - Given the time we are in with COVID everyone will be interested in purchasing a mask. Get creative and design one using your school colors, logos, etc. Your design will not only promote your school but it will be providing people in the community with a much-needed resource. There are many sites you can use including Zazzle, Custom Ink, and Spreadshirt to name just a few.

• Text-To-Give - Many of you have probably not heard of this service as it is fairly new. The process is instant and works by creating a keyword that potential donors text to the nonprofit’s number (everyone has a cell phone these days). Once the keyword is sent the donor will receive an acknowledgment text that will include a link to the donation form. They then process their contribution. Many services out there to look at, one of my favorites is Snowball. They have a complete guide on their site that can be found here.  Makes for great fundraising ideas for nonprofits like schools.

• HuggyBox - Sell a virtual hug. The fundraiser that HuggyBox provides brings fundraising for a cause to a whole new level. Not only do you not have to pay anything upfront but for every HuggyBox your school or club sells, proceeds from each sale get donated in your organization's name to the Dave Thomas Foundation to help children in foster care. They have a whole page dedicated to how it works. Check it out here.  

• Partner with a Local Restaurant for a Restaurant School Fundraiser - With many restaurants now allowing limited dine-in services and take out, it might be a great way to not only raise money for your school but to also help a local business by sending them, customers. Meet with a local restaurant and work out a night where you promote people ordering food from their establishment for a small dollar return on each order. You will find with every meal sold your raising money to help support your school. Everyone loves to eat, why not make it fun by offering a restaurant fundraiser. 

• Cookbook Fundraiser - This is one of my favorites as long as you can get enough kids to participate. Teachers have each child submit electronically (no paper during COVID) a family recipe that they love to eat. Once you have collected all the recipes go have them made into a cookbook, make sure to decorate the cookbook with school colors. Even get the kids involved in coming up with a name for the cookbook as well as having art class come up with some illustrations drawn by the students to be included in the book. You can then head over to CreateMyCookbook to have hard copies and electronic copies created to sell. What parent would not want to buy a cookbook with their child's favorite recipe in it?

HuggyBox - All Occasions Sending Hugs Heart Card

$12.89

HuggyBox - NEW!!! Happy Birthday Wishes For Her

$12.89

Quantity:

Add to Cart

HuggyBox - NEW!!! Happy Birthday For Him

$12.89

• Virtual Races 2020 - This one works great for sports teams looking to raise money. You can run alone or create virtual teams that run together (individually), they add their points together for the miles they log. Parents and family really get into this as it is a way to stay fit all while supporting the sport they love. It’s super easy to do, all you need is a team fundraising page where members join and pledge money. Many sites are out there you can use including Pledge It. Give it a try, a great way to bond with family, friends, and loved ones.

• Read-a-Thon- Read as a class or set individual student goals having family and community members pledge money based on how many books are read. It encourages students to review and read books that they may not have otherwise picked up. Great way to encourage reading and education, all while raising money for a great cause.  

• Principal Challenge - See if your school principal or teacher will be willing to shave their head or dye their hair a wild color if you raise a set amount of money. This can be set up online in the way of a website of a pledge site to make it safe for everyone during this pandemic. This is so much fun for not only the students but for the staff and helps with school morale. The more drastic of an event they are willing to do the more money you will typically raise.  

• Food Truck Percentage Day - This is similar to number five above but with a twist. Work with one of your local food truck services and advertise within the community the location, date, and time of where the food truck will be. The food service will then pay you a percentage of all the business they do that day from your advertising efforts. Everyone loves food so this one should go over pretty well within your community.

• Teacher in Jail Fundraiser- Challenge the class and school to raise a specific amount of money. If the students succeed, their teacher will be taken to a “Jail!!”. This may just mean that the students get a free class period to work on homework or to play games. This helps team building within the class and brings some smiles with both staff and students. Great morale builder.

I hope you find these fundraising event ideas helpful. All of these ideas can be done while meeting the current COVID guidelines that most schools have in place. Please remember safety first if you attempt any of the above ideas, remember to social distance and wear a mask. If anyone has other suggestions please comment below, happy to add them to our list, and keep this post growing with great ideas.

Author:

HuggyBox Guest Blogger

Happy Birthday Card Messages

I so enjoy the fan mail I receive, please keep it coming! A few customers have written asking for suggestions on what to write in their HuggyBox to help someone know how special they truly are on their birthday. I put together a list of some of the messages I have seen coming in from orders, as well as some I came up with that I thought were pleasant.  

Happy Birthday Messages For Her:

1. The happiest wishes to the one who completes my life! 

2. I feel so fortunate, sweetheart, that I have you in my life. Enjoy your Special Day, may it carry lots of happiness! 

3. You are the most amazing thing that has ever happened to me. Have an awesome birthday today, my angel! 

4. I love you! Let your Big Day be full of boundless joy and real happiness! 

5. Buying a present for you is challenging, sweetheart. Just for you, I want to give you the whole planet. Wishing you a nice and healthy birthday. 

6. My darling, on your birthday I wish you all the best and I will do anything to keep you happy. Hugs & Love! 

7. Your birthday is a really special day but for me, as we share it together, every day is unique. 

8. A smile here, a smile there, a thousand smiles everywhere! Have a good day so everyone will see that beautiful smile! 

9. Happy Birthday for the girl who told me life is so much larger than I thought! I really love you! 

Happy Birthday Beautiful Wife:

1. Happy Birthday my beloved wife. You're so nice to me and so precious to my spirit. You're a fantastic lady. I'm one fortunate guy. 

2. Happy Birthday To My Wife. You are blinding me. I'm so glad we get together to share this wild, wonderful life. I love you most. 

3. Happy Birthday To My Lovely Wife. Your presence is such an unforgettable blessing to me. I am so grateful to be celebrating with you another year. May your day be packed with all the peace, happiness, and affection that your heart could possibly contain! 

4. Happy Happy Birthday. Some say their best day of life was when they said "I do." For me, it's my best day every morning that I get to wake up alongside you. I absolutely love you. 

5. Happy Happy Birthday. Your daily life is worth enjoying! Yet we are going to dance a little bit more today. You're awesome, and I love you so much!

HuggyBox - All Occasions Sending Hugs Heart Card

$12.89

HuggyBox - NEW!!! Happy Birthday Wishes For Her

$12.89

Quantity:

Add to Cart

HuggyBox - NEW!!! Happy Birthday For Him

$12.89

Happy Birthday Best Friend:

1. Every year, birthdays come along but friends like you arrive just once in a lifetime. I'm so grateful to see you coming into my life. Wish you luck on your big day. 

2. Happy Birthday beautiful girl.

3. I admire our great relationship. Hope your birthday is great because you are my best friend! 

4. I promise the more you blow birthday candles, the more I'll be here to celebrate every special occasion in your life. Happy birthday! 

5. Happy Birthday beautiful friend.

6. Happy Birthday beautiful lady.

Happy Birthday, Husband:

1. I know any time I have a tough day I can count on your love and devotion to cheer me up. Every single day you make me feel different. I want to take advantage of this chance today to make you feel extra special. Happy Birthday!

2. You have taught me what true love entails. Happy birthday on earth to the greatest, most compassionate, and most caring husband! 

3. If I am not with you the sun does not rise. It's long days when you're not with me. I'm lost and terrified not getting your presence. You are my husband who I will love forever. You deserve the happiest birthday ever today!

4. You carry on being by my side through the good and poor times. I really couldn't wish for a better husband. Happy Birthday, honey, and thanks for what you do. 

5. You are the spouse that any woman needs. You're the dad every child likes. You become the person who no one else might have. You are what I have. Thank you so much for all my affection. Have the best party in history! 

Happy Birthday to Him:

1. Sweetheart, you have given so much fun to my life. Thanks for helping me feel protected in your arms forever. Have a happy celebration. 

2. Getting a guy like you makes me the luckiest woman in the world. Happy Birthday!

3. Sending the most romantic birthday wishes of my existence to the most gorgeous and caring guy who always gets the best out of me. Happy Birthday to my favorite man. 

4. I only want you to realize on your special day how much you mean to me, and how much that soul of mine loves you. Happy Birthday, sweetie. 

5. My life has never felt as amazing as you now do inside it. You have added happiness to my existence beyond comparison, and I just want to thank you for that, and convince you of my eternal love for you. Happy Birthday, my darling!

As you can see this list can go on forever!! So many great messages have been sent to loved ones and friends over the years. I can’t wait to hear your creativity and what kind of messages you have written on your Happy Birthday Cards!! Please comment below and we can keep this list growing.

How to Cheer Someone Up

The stories about coronavirus can leave some people feeling worthless, like we can't do anything but prepare for something worse. However, this is not the truth. In fact, there are more than enough actions you can take to support yourself and those around you and feel like you're really trying to make an impact.  

Right now, it is fair to say that some people are having a hard time and they need some cheering up. Here are a few ways on how to cheer someone up:

1. Send a funny meme.     

Make someone’s day by sending out a random text with a photo that puts a smile on their face.  Here is a good article to walk you through how to do this.  It is a great way to cheer someone up over text.

2. Send a hug in a box.

HuggyBox offers a great way to send someone you love and care about a virtual hug.  Not to mention everytime you send one, you're helping a child in foster care.  

3. Just Listen to them. 

Contact your friend or loved one who has been suffering through a stressful time. Just knowing that someone cares and would like to talk to you can play a huge part in one's mental health. 

4. Volunteer.

Offer to pick up things for the people who can't leave their house. For instance,  mow their lawn, rake your neighbors leaves, etc.   Your work and time could make an incredible impact to those in need.

HuggyBox - All Occasions Sending Hugs Heart Card

$12.89

HuggyBox - NEW!!! Happy Birthday Wishes For Her

$12.89

Quantity:

Add to Cart

HuggyBox - NEW!!! Happy Birthday For Him

$12.89

5. Watch an upbeat movie.

A movie is a perfect way to help someone who is depressed clear their mind off their problems for a while.   I created a whole review of movies and the list can be found HERE.

6. Be nice and just smile. 

An easy little gesture like this will also place a smile and warm feeling on someone else's face, and make their day a little happier. Even your eyes brighten when you smile with your mask on!  

7. Donate something you don’t use anymore.

Drop things off at a donation, others will find good use for the things you don't use.  Clothes, shoes, books, toys, etc.  It will make not only you feel better but also the person that is lucky enough to get them.

8. Drop off a good book.

Have you read anything lately that you thought was uplifting and inspiring during the times you were isolated?  Order that special friend a copy and drop it off on their front porch.  Send them a text and let them know it is there.

9. Send someone flowers.

    It’s really easy to go online or call your local florist shop to order a quick bouquet for your friend or family member.  The five minutes you put into doing this will last the recipient a day full of happiness. 

10. Have takeout delivered.

    Food has magical powers when it comes to putting a smile on people’s faces.  Every town typically has at least a few great food options.  Call one of the restaurants up and see if they can deliver it to that special someone.  Let it be a surprise, but make sure you know they are going to be home.

There are many options when it comes to cheering people up.  Whether you are looking for ways on how to cheer someone up who is depressed or just how to cheer up your best friend,  this list should be a great start.  It comes down to just caring about someone else,  understanding how they feel,  and doing your part to try to stay connected.   Remember sometimes we all just need a hug,  even if that hug is in the form of something other than the traditional in person squeeze.

Now I’d like to hear some of your suggestions. What have you done to cheer someone up?  Please leave a comment below.

Lots of hugs,

Elena

Lifelong Friendships

Sporting activities are fantastic places for making friends, not only for the players, but for the parents as well. In my experience of playing team sports, being an athlete, connecting with the players I train with, and depend on in games have resulted in those individuals becoming some of my closest friends. You instantly have a bond and a connection because you both already have so many things in common.  

As a team, you spend hours and hours on a sports field or in-game scenarios and you're connecting those moments with only a couple of people with the same interests and goals as you.

You struggle together, compete with each other, battle against each other for places, and game time.  You even love and respect your coach for what they've put you through.  

This bond in my opinion fosters deep relationships that last a lifetime.  Sports is teaching you not only about the game itself, but it is also teaching you how to be a true friend, to be disciplined as well as instilling work ethic that will help advance you through life's most difficult times.

HuggyBox - All Occasions Sending Hugs Heart Card

$12.89

Quantity:

Add to Cart

HuggyBox - NEW!!! Happy Birthday Wishes For Her

$12.89

Quantity:

Add to Cart

HuggyBox - NEW!!! Happy Birthday For Him

$12.89

Quantity:

Add to Cart

Sports Parents also create relationship bonds with other parents through sports, sometimes even forming into strong lifelong friendships.  Parents spend countless hours together waiting for their children to get done with practice, they find themselves traveling together to competitions, carpooling, etc.  I sometimes wonder how my parents do it? They run me to practice nightly and they come to all of my games.  When I ask them they smile and tell me they are the ones benefiting from all this travel as it allows more time to have discussions and conversations with me.  Maybe there is a bigger picture here that leads to an even greater parent/child bond when your child plays sports.  I guess that is a topic for another blog down the road.

Maybe you moved to a new town, or maybe you're having trouble fitting in or finding people to connect with.  I would strongly suggest playing a team sport.  I think every child should experience playing for a team as the benefits will be long-lasting.  Every parent should want to foster this as it gives them moments they would not otherwise have to spend more time talking and getting to know their child.  In a 2008 report titled “Go Out and Play: Participation in Team or Organized Sports” conducted by the Women’s Sports Foundation, it was found the 69 percent of girls and 75 percent of boys in the United States participate in organized and team sports,   That is a lot of potential connections for both players as well as parents.  So, get out there and take up a new sport! You just never know when you might meet that person that will turn out to be a lifelong friend.

Lots of Hugs,

Elena

Parent Connect - Can watching movies help?

As a teenager myself,  I know it can be difficult for a teen parent connection. 

I also know how hard my parents sometimes work to try and appreciate my interests and find ways to connect with me.  One of the things I enjoy is our Sunday night family TV time.  This is a time when we all get together and vote on the next movie or series to watch as a family.  Over the years, I have found this bonding time to be relaxing. It is a time when we can all escape the realities of school and work and just be a family for a few hours.  All while diving into a make-believe screen that melts away the stress of everyday life.

I wanted to share with you some of our favorite family movies and series.  I tried to rate them the way I felt to give you the perspective of how a teenager would like the movie.  My parents may feel different as you may feel different after watching them but I think it gives you a peek into what your son or daughter may be interested in during their teenage years to help you connect in a way that builds lasting memories.  Every teenager loves TV!!

My top movie pics (rated by me, your favorite young entrepreneur):

Before I Fall (Elena Rating = 4 stars)- February 12 is yet another cursed day in Sam's world, until it comes out to be her last day. Stuck replaying her last day over and over, Sam untangles the mystery surrounding her death and realizes everything she loses. Streamed on Netflix

Brain on fire (Elena Rating = 5 stars)- A young, able professional is unable to describe her newly irrational behavior. Streamed on Netflix

Charlie ST. Cloud (Elena Rating = 4 stars  )- The brother of Charlie, Sam, dies in a car crash, but Charlie lives. Charlie is given the privilege of seeing his dead brother and those he 's lost, including his friend who died in the army Although he has to choose between his girlfriend and his brother when the girl he's in love with, life is in danger. Streamed on Netflix

Dangerous Lies (Elena Rating = 5 stars )- A rich old man dies, he leaves his money to his helper, she is forced into a web of lies and murder. If she wants to live then she will have to doubt the intentions of the ones she loves the most. Streamed on Netflix

Fractured (Elena Rating = 5 stars )- Ray and his family stop at a resting place, where their daughter slips and fractures her wrist. Ray go to a doctor after a hurried rush to the emergency room. The wife and daughter head downstairs for an MRI,  Ray,  passed out in a lobby chair. When he woke, they had no documents of Rays family being checked in. Streamed on Netflix

Freaks (Elena Rating = 3 stars )- After fleeing the protective and paranoid influence of her father, a brave girl discovers a strange, dangerous, and mysterious new world outside her front door. Streamed on Netflix

Lost in Space (Elena Rating = 4 stars)- The Robinson family is struggling against all odds of survival and connecting with each other while attempting to survive to an alien planet after a crash landing. They are therefore bound along the way by potential hazards and pitfalls. Streamed on Netflix

Room (Elena Rating = 3 stars)- Taken hostage in an isolated room for 7 years, a mother and her son finally gain their freedom, allowing the boy to interact with the world outside for the first time. Streamed on Hulu, Sling TV

The 100 (Elena Rating = 5 stars )-Set ninety-seven years after a nuclear attack, when a spaceship containing the last survivors of mankind sends one hundred teenage delinquents back down to earth in hopes of possibly re-populating the world. Streamed on Netflix,The CW, Hulu, Youtube TV, FuboTV

Time Trap (Elena Rating = 4 stars)- A professor goes into a cave and is lost. Many of his students try to contact him and get stuck in the cave, too. Streamed on Netflix, Tubi, Crackle

HuggyBox - All Occasions Sending Hugs Heart Card

$12.89

Quantity:

Add to Cart

HuggyBox - NEW!!! Happy Birthday Wishes For Her

$12.89

Quantity:

Add to Cart

HuggyBox - NEW!!! Happy Birthday For Him

$12.89

Quantity:

Add to Cart

Top Series Pics:

All American (Elena Rating = 5 stars )-Once a South Central star high school football player is selected to play for Beverly Hills High School , two distinct universes collide. S1- E16, S2- E16, Streamed on Netflix 

Frequency (Elena Rating = 4 stars )- In 2016, a police officer learns that she can interact with her father over a radio transmitter, regardless of the fact that he died in 1996. S1- E13, Streamed on Netflix

Riverdale (Elena Rating = 4 stars)- While exploring the difficult waters of dating, school and home, Archie and his friends get involved in the dark secrets of Riverdale. This is based off of the Archie comics. S1- E13, S2- E22, S3- E22, S4- E19, Streamed on Netflix, The CW, FuboTV

Stranger Things (Elena Rating = 3 stars )- When a young boy is gone, his mother, a policeman and friends must fight against supernatural powers in order to get him back. S1- E8, S2- E9, S3- E8, Streamed on Netflix

The 4400 (Elena Rating = 4 stars)- As the arrival of 4,400 missing people on a single day confuses the global community, federal agents on the case are gradually discovering ways of how the survivors have changed. S1- E6, S2- E13, S3- E13, S4- E13, Streamed on Netflix 

I hope this list in some way benefits your bonding process between you and your child.  I know these movies and series will always have a special place in my heart.  Perhaps at the end of the day,  it is not the show itself, but the fact that we watched them as a family,  that brings so much meaning to me.   

Comment below with our favorite movie or series that you watch together as a family.

Lots of Hugs,

Elena

Stay in Touch

During this time we hear a lot about flattening the curve, for most people this means isolation. People are generally social and like to interact with friends, family, and other loved ones.

This leads us to become creative and sometimes think outside of the box with ways to try and stay connected to others.

I wanted to share some of the things I have found helpful in my journey during the pandemic to stay in touch with those people I treasure.

• Listening to music over the phone with friends- make a playlist together

• Monopoly Online, I used this site

• Netflix party

• Play board games over zoom with your friends and family

• Write a story together over the phone

• Create music and share it with friends and family, I use Garage Band.  

• Tell funny stories from the past using freegoconference. 

• Create a recipe together with family and friends over the phone.

• Challenge your friends to a daily workout, add up points for different exercises, and award the winner with a gift.

• Talk to google assistant or Alexa, Some fun games are Song-Quiz, Escape the Room, and the Magic Door

The suggestions are endless if you allow your mind to explore all the possibilities. None of these will ever replace our need for in-person social interaction but they definitely help. Keeping our sanity during this time and taking care of our mental health is critical and essential. Treat yourself to experimenting with different ways to connect. It really does help pass the time and make the isolation we all feel just a little more bearable. We all need to stay in touch!!

Effects of Social Isolation on Mental Health

As our country battles against the Covid-19 virus, children and adults are fighting against isolation, anxiety, fear, and depression. We all need to feel connected, safe, and cared for during this very difficult time.

The HuggyBox is one simple way for us to share a personal connection with our children and the important adults in our life.

This box filled with hugs and a special message will provide your special person a sense of comfort, hope, and support.

We all (adults and kids) need social connection and inter-personal relationships to learn, grow, and feel secure. We need human interaction to ward off fear, loneliness, anxiety and depression. While we must socially distance ourselves from one another to ensure our physical health, this distance is negatively impacting on our and our children’s mental health.

All people’s basic need for social relationships has been taken away and replaced by computer screens and sporadic impersonal electronic communications. They only way we can “see” our extended families and friends is through our phone or computer screen or by competing in an on-line video game. If we are lucky we may get a wave hi and bye from someone walking by our window or maybe an occasional shout hello from another family walking on the other side of the street. Our children are learning by sitting alone in front of a computer for hours trying their best to meet academic expectations. And the adults are working hard to complete their work long distance through computer tasks and video chats. When not studying or working, we are spending a tremendous amount of time by ourselves playing video games and watching Netflix and Hulu. Kids and adults need to be connected with one another; our new reality of “stay home, safe lives” prevents us from getting what we need – human contact.

Kids are confined to their homes where parents are working, parents are teaching, and parents are stressed. Now more than ever, parents connecting with their children is critical to ensuring everyone’s good mental health. Play a game, take a walk, watch a movie together, make a craft, sing a song …give a HuggyBox to your child today.

We know that one caring adult makes all of the difference for a child or an adult experiencing adversity and stress; we are all now stressed. Everyone needs someone and now we need more than one. During this time of heightened need for personal connection, our kids, friends, aunts, uncles, cousins, parents, and grandparents need other caring adults. As we are all isolated from the outside world, we have lost important connections with loved and trusted adults – grandparents, aunts/uncles, teachers, coaches, mentors, and counselors. These individuals can provide support, guidance, and encouragement through on-line meetings or phone calls but nothing can replace the in-person face-to-face connection. The HuggyBox can give a child or adult a “in-person” feeling from an important person in their life outside of the walls of their home.

The gift of a HuggyBox can help a child, a friend, a co-worker, or a family member feel connected to the important people in their lives. Receiving this special gift from a family member or valued person can give a the individual something to hold on to that can bring feelings of intimacy and connectedness. You can send a message to a person that you care about, that they are special and worthy, that there is hope, that they are safe and loved, and that you are “with them” no matter how far apart you are. Sending a child or adult a special message and a “hug” with a HuggyBox can bring you closer to them. Connect with a special person in your life and help support the Center for Disaster Philanthropy (all proceeds will be donated to this important charity) by sending a HuggyBox to an important individual in your life.

By: Renee Hettich, LMSW