Letter to Parents

Dear Parents,

With the growing number of job losses in the workforce today, new issues are emerging for parents and children. When a job loss occurs, it undoubtedly affects the entire family. While much attention has been focused on helping adults ease their stress; until now little information has been available to help children cope. For example, children often internalize the blame for a parent’s job loss, remembering a time when they interrupted or distracted that parent from work. They also wonder how their world will be different, who will be there to take care of them. Because children often lack the verbal skills to express their emotions, you may instead notice aggressive behavior in their play. At school, a decline in grades or an inability to concentrate is common. Younger children may develop signs of regressive behavior such as bed-wetting, thumb-sucking, or clinginess. Dealing with this kind of behavior is even harder for parents who are financially stressed and emotionally drained.

What Can I Do? My Journal for Caring and Sharing in Tough Times is a tool to help children develop coping strategies. Through the activities in this journal, children will learn to identify, express, and manage feelings of loss and change. The journal will also help them identify their support systems, while reinforcing self-esteem and open communication. By sharing this journal with your children, you will encourage them to celebrate change, growth, and family, and remind them that with every ending comes a new beginning!

Sincerely,