Looking for a little mindfulness to pair with your morning coffee? Starbucks wants to help with that.

On Wednesday (February 3), Starbucks announced an exciting new partnership with Headspace. For those who haven't heard of Headspace, it's a company that offers guided meditations for its users through a subscription service. With this new partnership, Starbucks rewards members will get access to some of those guided meditations.

According to a press release, Starbucks will "offer customers a series of new meditations to transform their coffee routine into a mindful experience centered around the coffee ritual, along with a free 60-day Headspace Plus trial." The meditations will be narrated by Headspace's Director of Meditation, Eve Lewis, and will focus on acknowledging your senses while drinking your coffee from Starbucks.

In order to access the meditations, you must be a Starbucks rewards member and have the app download on your phone. Your rewards account will receive a personalized code that will give you access to Headspace for 60 days. This can be found in the new "Mindful Moments" section of the Starbucks app.

Will you be giving this new mindfulness practice a try?

Photo: Getty

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Starbucks Offers Rewards Members Free Meditations To Go With Their Coffee | 106.7 Lite fm - iHeartRadio

When Cindy Crawford is asked about her long-time spokesperson association with skin-care brand Meaningful Beauty, she politely corrects you and stresses that she is actually co-developer of the linea position she has taken seriously since MB launched some 15-odd years ago. What started as an in-office, vitamin-based treatment has now evolved into a full portfolio of products, with an antioxidant-powered lineup that Crawford credits for being the secret behind her glowing complexion. The 54-year-old recently chatted with us to share her new under-eye must, why she cant stay in sweatpants all day and whats top of mind as she turns 55 later this month.

You have tested everything out there. What makes Meaningful Beauty different? When we started the line, we named it Meaningful Beauty because thats exactly what I wanted the line to beproducts that make a meaningful difference in the look and health of your skin. It all began because of my relationship with Dr. Jean-Louis Sebagh, my go-to skin guy for more than 20 years. He would do these vitamin treatments on me that transformed my skin. They contain SOD, discovered from rare French melons in the south of France. Its one of the most powerful antioxidants out thereit delays signs of aging while restoring youthfulness and radiance to skin. This exclusive technology is at the heart of all our products and what makes Meaningful Beauty special.

Is there one dream product youd love to create? As Ive gotten older, when I have an early photo shoot, Ill joke that I can show up that early, but my face might not be awake yet. Thats why I was excited to make our newYouth Activating Smoothing and Refreshing Eye Serum ($58), a cooling eye product to help awaken tired eyes. Its a gel-serum that instantly hydrates andsmoothsfine lines and wrinkles. It has a metal tip, so I like storing it in the fridge to get an extra cooling effect when I apply it!

Besides MB, what are some products youve used forever? When I find products that work, I definitely stick with them.I love the Elemis Body Brush, Neutrogena Body Oil, Klorane Dry Shampoo, Charlotte Tilburys The Sophisticate eye palette, and aneyebrowpencil with a brush end by Anastasia.

What was the last beauty-related thing you did for the first time? In the last few years, Ive had facials done by Thuyen Nguyen. He does massage, but also cupping on the face, which feels amazing and leaves you with a rosy glow.

Is there anything youve learned about yourself during the time spent at home? Ive learned that I cant stay in sweatpants all day. I like getting dressed as if everything is normal. It has helped me to feel normal.

Is there anything youve been doing differently for wellness during the time spent at home? Ive been able to build and maintain my meditation practice.Weve also been cooking more as a family.I bought the Breville Electric Wok, which has been something weve all enjoyed using.

Youll be 55 next month. Is it something you think about? Yikes! I hadnt even thought about that. I thought this year didnt count. Oh wellits just a number.Im still me.I think Ive realized over the years that the buildup to a big birthday is worse than the actual event.I feel blessed to have my family and healththis year more than ever.

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Cindy Crawford on Turning 55, Upping Her Meditation Game and the Under-Eye Product She Stores in the Fridge - NewBeauty Magazine

Comprehensive Market Research Study 2021 on Global Meditation Chime Sales Market with Industry Statistics, Facts and Figures, Trends and Forecast by 2026.

The Global Meditation Chime Sales Market report offers actionable data through the SWOT analysis, Porters Five Analysis, Competitors Analysis, Products and Sales Analysis. It also includes the major market situations across the globe such as the product profit, price, production, capacity, demand, supply, as well as market growth structure. The report on the Global Meditation Chime Sales Market has been prepared after conducting a comprehensive research through a systematized methodology. This report will help you to make your business decisions in upcoming years as report data is forecasted precisely to 2026 by applying all the matrices.

The report covers market shares, CAGR, sales, gross margin, value, volume, and other important market statistics and figures that give an exact picture of the growth of the global Meditation Chime Sales market.

Get The Sample Report PDF with Detail TOC & List of Figures@https://www.apexmarketsresearch.com/report/global-meditation-chime-sales-market-by-product-type-876224/#sample

The report also provides detail study on the trending innovations, business models, growth factors and every information about the big companies that will be present in the future market insights. Every market consists of set of manufacturers, vendors and consumers that gives a definition to the market, its each and every move, achievements. All these important subjects are covered in this report.

The report covers following Top Companies Data:

Woodstock Chimes, TM Thamelmart For Beautiful Minds, Ehome, Stargoods, TreeWorks Chimes, Ohm Store, Andoer, Juccini, MUSICUBE, Mudra Crafts, Blue Orchid, Eastar, Ammoon

The Meditation Chime Sales Market report has been segregated based on distinct categories, such as product type, application, end user, and region. Each and every segment is evaluated on the basis of CAGR, share, and growth potential. In the regional analysis, the report highlights the prospective region, which is estimated to generate opportunities in the global Meditation Chime Sales market in the forthcoming years. This segmental analysis will surely turn out to be a useful tool for the readers, stakeholders, and market participants to get a complete picture of the global Meditation Chime Sales market and its potential to grow in the years to come.

Market Segmentation by Product Types:

Solo Double Trio Five Tone Others

Market Segmentation by Applications:

Yoga and Meditation Studios Religious Centers Households Others

This research report is segmented into several key regions, with the market production, consumption, revenue and market share.

North America (U.S., Canada, Mexico) Europe (Germany, U.K., France, Italy, Russia, Spain, and Rest of Europe) Asia Pacific (China, Japan, India, Russia, and Rest of Asia Pacific) Latin America (Cuba, Brazil, Argentina, and Rest of Latin America) Middle East & Africa (South Africa, GCC and Rest of the Middle East & Africa)

FAQS in the report: What is the growth opportunities of the Meditation Chime Sales market? Which product segment is leading in the market? Which regional market will dominate in coming years? Which application segment will grow steadily? What are the growth opportunities that may come in Meditation Chime Sales industry in the upcoming years? What are the key challenges that the global Meditation Chime Sales market may face in future? Which are the leading players in the global Meditation Chime Sales market? Which are the key trends boosting the market growth? Which are the growth strategies considered by the players to sustain hold in the global Meditation Chime Sales market? What will be the post COVID-19 market scenario?

For More Queries and Customization in The Report@https://www.apexmarketsresearch.com/report/global-meditation-chime-sales-market-by-product-type-876224/#inquiry

TOC for the Global Meditation Chime Sales Market:

Chapter 1: Market Overview, Drivers, Restraints and Opportunities, Segmentation Overview Chapter 2: Market Competition by Manufacturers Chapter 3: Production by Regions Chapter 4: Consumption by Regions Chapter 5: Production, By Types, Revenue and Market share by Types Chapter 6: Consumption, By Applications, Market share (%) and Growth Rate by Applications Chapter 7: Complete profiling and analysis of Manufacturers Chapter 8: Manufacturing cost analysis, Raw materials analysis, Region-wise Manufacturing expenses Chapter 9: Industrial Chain, Sourcing Strategy and Downstream Buyers Chapter 10: Marketing Strategy Analysis, Distributors/Traders Chapter 11: Market Effect Factors Analysis Chapter 12: Market Forecast Chapter 13: Meditation Chime Sales Research Findings and Conclusion, Appendix, methodology and data source

About Us: We at Apex Market Research aim to be global leaders in qualitative and predictive analysis as we put ourselves in the front seat for identifying worldwide industrial trends and opportunities and mapping them out for you on a silver platter. We specialize in identifying the calibers of the markets robust activities and constantly pushing out the areas which allow our clientele base in making the most innovative, optimized, integrated and strategic business decisions in order to put them ahead of their competition by leaps and bounds. Our researchers achieve this mammoth of a task by conducting sound research through many data points scattered through carefully placed equatorial regions.

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Meditation Chime Sales Market Projections, Growth Rate, Challenges, Opportunities and Forecast by 2026 | Woodstock Chimes, TM Thamelmart For Beautiful...

Updated / Monday, 1 Feb 2021 08:30

A ten-year-old boy with Down syndrome is spreading tips and advice on how to stay positivewithhis weekly motivational "paudcast".

Pdraig O'Callaghan, from Knockainey in Co Limerick, began working on the video series with his father Brian lastyear. Brian says it was away to"help Pdraig with his communication skills and confidence".

"I do a bit of work with Special Olympics Ireland and Down Syndrome Ireland and their positive mental attitude is very, very important so that's how we came up with the 60-second 'Monday Motivation Paudcast'," explained Brian O'Callaghan.

Pdraig's "paudcasts" are published on EcoStraw Ireland's social media platforms. It is Brian's business; one he has focused on since losing his job in aviation last March.

"I suppose it's been hard for kids during lockdown. We found, number one, it was a way of keeping him entertained, keeping him out of trouble and I got to spend some time with him. If there's one good thing that came out of this lockdown, it's that families got to spend more time together," explained Brian.

Perhaps because we all need a little extra motivation right now, Pdraig's "paudcasts" of positivity are attractinga worldwide audience.

"It's been phenomenal. We've had messages of support from all over the world, quite literally, America, Australia. Reading comments back to Pdraig, he's a man that loves praise. So when I read back the comments, to see his eyes actually light up in response to his videos, it's reward enough for me I guess," said Brian.

Pdraig feels his audience are "very happy and excited to see me".

Pdraig's tops tips for staying safe but also upbeat include allowing yourself to make mistakes because "you can't learn anything from being perfect", "try and tackle those jobs you don't want to tackle" and "stay home and keep busy".

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Ten-year-old spreads positivity with weekly 'paudcast' - RTE.ie

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It has been almost a year since we had to start adapting life to work around a global pandemic. Since then, many jobs have become available remotely, and schools have switched to either a virtual or take-home-packet based model.

While this has been great in keeping ourselves and others safe, what is the long-term impact of these changes?

With the recent snow and ice blowing through the tri-state, we have seen several counties declare Non-traditional Instruction or NTI days. This means students have either a snow packet that was sent home earlier in the year with worksheets to complete or where they log on to the schools online system to complete work. Essentially, we have erased snow days.

With several employers making remote work an option these days, are we setting up to never have a sick day again? When you can work from home, will employers expect employees to do just that when they call in? This also erases possible mental health days that some While the remote option is ideal for keeping citizens safe, I worry about what it means for the future, ideally to mental health.

We currently live in a culture that is on-demand with an instant gratification attitude. We expect things to be done right away. We have articles and studies showing the damage to mental health with the prevalence of smartphones and work never stops.

We are constantly checking emails, talking to clients via text and call, keeping up with business accounts on social media. We are available almost 24/7. Will the increase in remote availability make this worse?

According to the CDC, 40% of adults in the United States reported struggling with mental health issues or substance abuse due to the stress factors of COVID-19. 13% of those surveyed started or increased substance use, and 11% seriously considered suicide.

These are alarming numbers in a world that already struggles with mental health.

It is the opinion of this writer that snow days are good for the childs soul. Not only do they get a break from school, but they have the opportunity to make childhood memories that will last a lifetime.

I also believe mental health days are good for the adults soul. Sometimes life just weighs us down, and we need a moment to sit on the couch in our pajamas all day, binging Netflix and eating ice cream.

In a world that never sleeps, I think it is important that we slow down sometimes and give ourselves grace when we need a break, both mentally and physically.

While I have no idea what the future holds in terms of a global pandemic, virtual schooling and remote work, I do hope we bring back the snow days and enjoy the occasional mental health day because those things are just as important to ensuring we are the best and kindest people we can be.

Brittany Hively can be contacted at [emailprotected]

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The unknown impact of living a virtual life - MU The Parthenon

Its been a hard year, so we forgive you for giving up so soon xx

Wed been waiting to say Goodbye and good riddance to 2020 for a while now, hadnt we? Now its Hello 2021. The New Year is always the perfect time for a fresh start; we entered 2021 without the New Me attitude and our expectations flying high. So far, not much has changed, were still in lockdown and uni work carries on, but just because things havent changed on a larger scale, doesnt mean they cant change on a smaller scale.

Enter new years resolutions. You know those things that you make at the start of every year, you hold onto them for a few weeks, until they slowly start to slip through your fingers, and though you try to hold on, you eventually realise that its dead weight and you may as well let go? Yeah, we all forget about them in the end, but theyre fun to remember. We asked Lancs students what some of their New Years resolutions were and whether theyve kept them or not.

Chlo, a second year County student, told us that her goal was to be kinder to herself, and shes stuck to it so far. She said: I made the resolution because I noticed I wasnt being very kind or forgiving with myself, like I put a lot of pressure on myself all the time and it just really got me down.

To achieve this, Chlo told us that: I started doing stuff like meditating and eating better and generally being more positive towards myself so I feel like I can be happier. When asked about how she stayed motivated, Chlo said that Ive noticed how positively its affecting all aspects of my life, and that was enough for her. Congrats Chlo, were so proud!

Next we asked Madeline, a second year Furness student, what her resolution was, and she has gone for the classic fitness route. She wants to work out twice a week at least. Lockdown one is what inspired Madeline to pursue this as working out in lockdown one definitely made a difference to my mental health, so I wanted to do that again.

However, Madeline expressed that sticking to her resolution has been quite hard because of her living situations, which is totally fair enough. She said: Its been hard because of my whole family being around all the time, theres no space to work out. Despite that, Madeline is still proud of herself for trying, she said: A few years ago I did absolutely nothing.

Chez, a first year Pendle student, has been mighty ambitious this year and gone for a triple threat of eating breakfast every day, cooking for herself and avoiding takeout, and taking care of her mental health. And on top of that, shes stuck to all three. Look at you Chez, you absolute legend. Shes got her best interests in mind for this one: Its important and encourages me to wake up before noon regularly, and cooking is a great habit for mental health and creativity.

Its not been without difficulty, but Chez is pushing through and is really proud of her effort. Its better for my body and my bank account. We should all be more like Chez.

Weve got another fitness guru on the list with Ami, a first year Lonsdale student, who has taken up a daily yoga practice, as well as adding an academic twist with daily reading for her course. She said: The promise of getting fitter and looking better is enough motivation for me, and Id do anything to get those boring texts done.

Sadly, Amis struggled with keeping her efforts up lately and said: Im an essential worker and work lots of long shifts. Im exhausted most of the time, but Im trying my best. Its not your fault babe, youre doing Gods work.

Anna, a first year student from Lonsdale, has decided to put us all to shame and direct her New Year, New Me attitude towards her studies. My resolution was to start having a schedule with my uni work and so far so good!

Once again, mental health is at the forefront of Annas motivation: I want a balanced study schedule, so I keep on top of my deadlines and dont burn out. Its shame we dont have a no detriment policy that could help out with that Good luck Anna, we hope this routine stays strong.

First year student Helena from Cartmel has made doing 20 press ups a day her goal for the year. This stemmed from the short walks around campus she would do with a group of her flatmates. She said: At the end of a busy day it is such a great way to destress.

To stay motivated and keep the tradition going, Helena and her friends will go for a walk and pop by Central on their way, sort of as a goal. It is something Ive missed over my time away, and I look forward to getting back into it when I return in a few weeks.

Finally, Katie, a second year from Cartmel, has taken on the tough challenge of fixing her sleep schedule. So far its not going too well, she told us. Katie has expressed that she has no motivation: Uni just sucks the life out of you, which we can all relate to. To be fair, who needs sleep anyway when all the days blur into one? Keep trying Katie, were proud of you.

We switched rooms with our flatmates and heres everything we found out

Heres how to stay motivated to actually do some uni work this term

Im worries my degree will suffer: Lancs students react to lockdown extension

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What were Lancaster students' New Year's resolutions and have they kept them? - The Tab

Many psychology experts say it is essential to have a positive mental attitude when it comes to maintaining good physical and emotional health. Still, having such is quite challenging, but the good news is that it only takes a few seconds to switch gears.

So, how do we trick our brain into becoming more positive, and why does such an approach work? The first thing to do is to address our negative thoughts, which experts say are normal.

Humans actually gravitate towards negativity. According toRick Hanson, PhD, a neurologist, the human brains are reacting more strongly to negative thoughts and feelings, and better brain lessons learned from unwanted experiences against the good ones.

Meaning, painful stuff marks itself more simply on the human brain. This negativity bias kept people alive during their hunger-gatherer times, which is great.

ALSO READ:Science Behind Expression of Gratitude and Its Impact on Wellbeing

(Photo : S. Hermann & F. Richter on Pixabay) Spend at least 12 seconds thinking back a positive event, image or relationship in the past. Sit with the recollection and think about all the reasons your brain is classifying this past event, image or relationship as something positive and happy.

The human brain is quite an incredible organ. According toPureWow, definitely, the brain'' hard-wiring pushes us to "indulge in negative thoughts," although they respond well too, to revamping or rewiring.

Dr. Hanson, founder of theWellspring Institute for Neuroscience and Contemplative Wisdomsays, our brain needs only 12 seconds to develop new connections between neurons.

Commenting on this 12-second trick, Hanson, who's also written six books, which include the bestseller "Hardwiring Happiness: The New Brain Science of Contentment, Calm and Confidence," adds that neurons are the brain's communicators.

They deliver messages from one part of the brain to another and form it to other areas of the nervous system.

Essentially, the 86 billion neurons in our noggin tell us how to respond to specific situations and interpret entering information. More so, neurons are connecting good experiences with positive feelings.

For instance, Hanson explains, one conquers Mt. Everest, and he feels happy and proud.Neurons, then, will link such an experience of conquering the mountain to positivity or happiness and pride.

Say you climb to the mountain top regularly, and your brain then will keep on associating "climbing" with "being happy."

Now, as Hanson puts it in his talk onTexMarin, "Neurons that fire together, wire together." If you want to trick your brain into becoming more positive, all you need to do is develop new neural connections between an emotion and an experience through the 12-second scheme.

When you're stressed, your cortisol levels increase. Cortisol activates the emergency, "fight-or-flight" reaction. Again, ideal for short periods of hunting and gathering.

Not ideal, though, for 21st-century citizens who experience life, work, and eight straight hours of "House Hunters." Excessive cortisol raises one's chances of falling victim to depression or anxiety.

Say you experience some delays, or you're feeling sad, jealous, trying to use the 12-second tactic to bring yourself back to a more positive position.

To do this, allot at least 12 seconds thinking back a positive event, image, or relationship in the past. Sit with the recollection and think about all the reasons your brain is classifying this past event, image, or relationship as something positive and happy.

Keep on doing this each time you're feeling stressed out or find yourself swerving into a negative area. Over time, your brain will be able to train itself to always look on the bright side instead of surrendering to the negativity of the particular moment.

RELATED TOPIC:Your Happiness Might Very Well Be Inherited, Says Scientists

Check out more news and information onPsychologyin Science Times.

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12-Second Tactic: How to Train Your Brain To Be More Positive - Science Times

by Natalie Tryon, Staff Reporter February 3, 2021

Aries:This week is sure to bring many surprisesmore surprising than the snowstorm that recently brought over a foot of snow to campus. With the uncertainty of these unprecedented times, make sure to take care of yourself, Aries. Try incorporating mindful movements like yoga or a walk.

Taurus:Whether you like to relax by sipping hot coffee while listening to music or taking an extra-long nap, make sure to incorporate self-care into your week as self-care isnt selfish, its important. Take care.

Gemini:Dear Gemini, you may feel beyond stressed about work or college at the moment. Remember that all through the times may be hard right now, that this too shall pass, and each day brings new beautiful opportunities.

Cancer:Although this week will bring many challenges your way, you are stronger than you give yourself credit for and can make it through these unexpected obstacles. Go grab your favorite mug and enjoy a hot cup of coffee or tea this morning. I cant -espresso- how important it is to allow yourself time to relax.

Leo:This morning, start your day with a well-balanced breakfast. Not only does food taste delicious, but it also helps one to concentrate better (which is incredibly helpful for those dreaded 8 a.m. courses). Make sure not to restrict certain foods or food groups, as all foods are good for you in moderation.

Virgo:Start your week off to a positive start by writing down three or more things youre grateful for. With that attitude of gratitude, youre sure to start your week off with a smile and heart glowing with thankfulness.

Libra:Life has been more challenging than you ever imagined was possible. Although it can be challenging, this week, I encourage you to ask for help. Reaching out for help is not a sign of weakness but strength. You are important. You are enough. You are perfect just as you are. You truly matter and deserve to heal.

Scorpio:Pay attention to nature this week on your walks to class. Take a deep breath of the crisp, fresh winter air. Feel the slight warmth of the sun on your face. Notice that just like the environment, people change through the seasons as well. Keep going, keep growing.

Sagittarius:Be kind to your mind. College tends to be a very challenging, stressful part of life (especially during a pandemic). Remember that you are doing the best you can and that perfection doesnt exist. You can, and you will tackle this week like the champion that you are. You got this.

Capricorn:You may not be where you hoped you would be, but every day is a new chance to tackle your goals. Stop beating yourself up over things you cant control, and recognize just how far you have come and how much you have grown. Like plants, we also need water to grow, so go hydrate yourself and make it a good week.

Aquarius:Sip sip hooray for snowy Zoom days. Change up your location & brighten your mood. What better way to relax than sipping on a homemade hot coffee or tea beverage in front of a fireplace with a beautiful view of the winter snow while staying warm and cozy at Holy Grounds coffee shop on campus?

Pisces:Staying connected to friends and loved ones is important for many reasons, including being vital to improving your mental well-being. Staying connected with these people is more challenging than ever due to the global pandemic. This week try calling, FaceTiming, sending a text message, sending funny TikToks and more to these individuals.

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Horoscopes The Simpsonian - The Simpsonian

A new report on Oregon's mental health care access shows that Spanish speakers make up 10% of licensed mental health providers and Latinx providers make up only 3%. As of 2016, Latinx people made up 12% of the state's population.

The report, released Thursday by theOregon Commission on Hispanic Affairs, analyzes 30 years of data and offers suggestions on how to improve equity and access to mental health services for the Latinx community.

It reveals that the licensed mental health providers who speak Spanish are also not equally spread throughout the state, leaving some areaswithout any.This makes it challenging for Spanish speakers to seek quality care where they can effectively communicate their needs.

Even ifa provider speaks Spanish,Latinxs may still run into cultural barriers because the community is so diverse, and depending on what region of a country they're from, words and body language may have different interpretations, making it harder for them to deeply connect with a therapist and effectively improve their mental health. Plus, many websites in Oregon are only written inEnglish.

Even for those whocan access a Spanish-speaking professional, they may still run into other cultural differencesand struggle with communication because of the diverse community within the Latinx population.

A majority of these Oregonians' country of origin isMexico, where many Indigenous languages are spoken. Other countries and regions of origin include Cuba, Central America and Puerto Rico, all countries with varying historical backgrounds.

An Oregon mental health care provider quoted in the report says: "The experience of accessing mental health services through a translator really impacts the accessibility of the services. Many choose to not even start services, or if they do try it, they will only go once or twice and then disengage."

Another provider says: "I have to lean more on my culture to understand how to talk to elders, what kinds of words are triggering. We don't use the word 'anxiety.'It does not make sense to families."

The Latinx population has experienced unique trauma as a result ofthe political climatefor the past four years, with children being separated from their families and the constant fear of deportation, causing lasting devastation. This means equitable access to mental health services is more critical than ever.

However, the report points out one reason the Latinx communitymight be hesitant to try and access mental health care is the fear that someone may discover their immigration status and they could risk deportation or detention, which in turn increases stress levels even more.

"This unjust and possibly illegal detainment will leave lasting psychological scars on the children and their families," the report concludes. "It brings together the virus and justice catastrophes of 2020."

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Mental Health Access Is Lacking for Oregon's Growing Latinx Community, Study Shows - Willamette Week

As parents face almost a year imprisoned with their families, things at home are getting ugly, and thats entirely normal.

We cant prevent emotional storms at home, but we can learn to relate more skillfully to these challenging moments when they arise. Being a parent is difficult, imperfect and messy: Families are going to fight at the best of times. Its especially difficult to be an effective parent during COVID-19.

As a psychiatrist who teaches courses for parents about how to raise resilient kids, the most valuable skill I suggest is what child psychiatrist Daniel Siegel calls the power of showing up learning to be emotionally and mentally present with our kids during the storms of life.

Siegels review of the research shows that having at least one person show up in a predictable and emotionally present way predicts not only childrens happiness, but their social and emotional development, leadership skills, meaningful relationships, and even academic and career success.

And now, more than ever, our kids need this protection. The pandemic has not only exposed families to the risk of illness and death, but also the consequent distress of widespread inequality, uncertainty and fear, financial hardship and mandated social isolation, including school closings.

What we know from the science is that having a supportive, healthy relationship with at least one caregiving adult is the best protection any child has against later emotional difficulties, says Vancouver child psychiatrist Ashley Miller.

Since the pandemic began, 50 per cent of Canadians have reported worsening mental health, more than 60 per cent of youth have reported feeling distressed about school closings and social restrictions and 59 per cent of parents say theyve noticed behaviour changes in their kids, from outbursts and irritability to major changes in mood, conduct and personality.

Yet even without a pandemic, distress in the family is a normal part of development. Kids dont mature in a straight line; they make leaps that abruptly disorganize their behaviour and emotions, such as acting out or temper tantrums.

As I said, this is normal.

Then this messiness in childrens behaviour causes their caregiver to be a mess too.

This is also normal.

Miller says thats why she wrote her new book, What to Say to Kids When Nothing Seems to Work.

If we can help strengthen the parent-child relationship, thats really protective for mental health, she says. What lets you feel like you can stay in it is knowing that you can resolve it.

These skills are especially relevant now. When were under stress, were more prone to conflict. When we feel threatened, we see the other persons intentions as negative, says Miller.

And a lot of people often cope with family stress by avoiding it, she says. But with the restrictions, everyone is having to look around the living room or kitchen table and be like, Oh, now were stuck together. And we dont necessarily have the skills for conflict resolution.

Miller, who is also a clinical assistant professor at the University of British Columbia, had vowed never to write a parenting book: The fundamental thing for parents is really to have some confidence in themselves, and the idea of a book can give the misperception that theres an expert out there who knows how to do parenting better than you do, she says. I was really hesitant to join my voice to that chorus that could inadvertently increase parenting anxiety.

But then she discovered Emotion-Focused Family Therapy (EFFT). Developed by her co-author, Denver psychologist Adele Lafrance, EFFT both empowers parents to have more confidence and teaches them to see the good in their child and themselves even when things are getting very ugly at home.

We are giving tools, but we never want anyone to go against their better judgment because it says so in a parenting book, says Miller.

Miller and Lafrance provide a road map to manage the difficult moments.

The first step is to build a bridge between upset child island and frustrated parent island by imagining what your child may be thinking and feeling.

In many cases, kids havent yet learned to understand and name their feelings and needs, or they are too distressed to communicate them effectively: This is also true for adults. Kids may not be comfortable talking about feelings or are too angry to talk also true for adults. So we can view difficult behaviours as how kids try to communicate their underlying emotions and get their needs met.

It doesnt matter if youre accurate: Youre simply trying to brainstorm possible guesses of why the child may be feeling or acting this way. This communicates that the child is important not bad and youre willing to try to understand.

The next step is to validate, or to put these guesses about the childs inner experience into words.

Sometimes people think validation means just praising or saying everything is good and actually thats not helpful, says Miller. Real validation is being able to put yourself in the other persons shoes, seeing where theyre coming from makes sense and then putting that into words to share that you get the issue.

Validation and feeling understood calms our nervous system and gets us out of fight-or-flight mode, Miller says. Its most effective when done over and over Miller recommends offering three different guesses as it takes time before we feel that someone is there with us.

For example, if your child refuses to do his homework, you could offer three validations, such as: I can see why you wouldnt want to do it because its boring, and Youd rather be playing video games, and It doesnt seem fair that your sister doesnt have to do it.

Many parents worry that this approach wont toughen their kids up for the real, cruel world. But Miller disagrees. Validation is saying, I always have your back, says Miller. When kids feel and grow up with that sense of my caregiver has my back, they can handle the tougher world better.

We can also acknowledge when we make mistakes. One of the greatest gifts we can give our kids is to show that we dont do everything perfectly, says Miller. Its actually modelling and teaching that healthy relationships involve missing the mark, messing up and then repairing it.

"Its the ultimate show of strength that we can say, I messed up here, says Miller.

Validation helps children regulate their emotions and get into a zone where they can take in the next step of helping with problem-solving and other practical supports, Miller says.

While we often focus on problems, its also important to share joy, says Miller.

Right now, we need to look for small moments to celebrate.

If your kid comes in and says, I just made it to the next level of my video game, pay attention to them. And really joining in their enthusiasm is going to help promote their overall positive attitude, their mental health and strengthen your relationship. Those are just as important as being there in the times that your child is down, says Miller.

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