Match Events

We have learned that positive and negative experiences during childhood can shape and reshape the brain. Research suggests more exposure to chronic stress creates more neuron connections in the brain that lead to fear, anxiety, and poor impulse control, and fewer neural pathways are made in brain regions that impact reasoning, planning, and behavior control. The good news is a supportive adult can be an essential factor in building new neural pathways to prevent or reverse the effects of childhood trauma. Here are five everyday gestures cited in Changing Minds Now that act as protective factors against trauma:  

1. Celebrate – compliment and applaud a child’s efforts. When we celebrate a child’s achievements and challenges (big and small), we support the development of their self-identity and remind them of their value, competence, and lovability.  

2. Comfort – be patient and stay calm with children. To comfort is a gesture of making one feel safe and secure. Show compassion, provide reassurance, and demonstrate a commitment to consistently being there for a child without judgment. 

3. Listen – show interest in a child’s passions. If you actively listen to kids, you can help them feel safe and valued. Listening attentively shows you care and that their thoughts matter. Whether children share happiness, sadness, anger, or fear, having someone listen to them without judgment is critical. Help children identify their feelings, connect words to experiences, and learn healthy strategies to problem solve and cope. 

4. Collaborate – ask children their opinion. You can help teach collaboration and problem solving by modeling those behaviors, helping children build trust. Encourage kids to express their views and ask for help when needed. 

5. Inspire – explore new ideas. You can help inspire and build resiliency by identifying a child’s strengths and natural talents and exposing them to new opportunities. 

Watch “Changing Minds: Science of Childhood Trauma” for more information on the science of trauma to a child’s brain and the five healing gestures.

Want to be a supportive adult for a child in our community? Become a volunteer mentor and empower a child to reach their fullest potential with just a few hours each month. Attend a Virtual Big Orientation & Training to get started and learn about Big Brothers Big Sisters mentoring programs.

 

Do you need some ideas for things to talk to your Little about? Check out our Conversation Starters & Activities to help you and your Little learn about new topics and discover new hobbies and interests.

Do you want to learn what it takes to become a mentor and be a consistent friend for a kid in our community? Learn more at our Big Orientation & Training info session. View the schedule.

Conversation Starters

If you haven’t done so already, talk your Little about their goals for the school year, academic, behavioral, and social.

The first quarter ends at the end of October. Ask your Little how they feel like they are doing in school so far. What could they do to bring grades up next quarter?

October 1 is World Smile Day: What makes you smile? Draw a picture of something that makes you smile. What do you to do make others smile?

October 8 is World Egg Day: Do you like eggs? How do you like to eat them? They are healthy and full of protein. How many animals can you think of that lay eggs?

October 14 is National Dessert Day: What is your favorite dessert? Ice cream, pie, cake, cookies?  Do you know someone who loves to bake? Do you like to help? What is your favorite thing to bake? Design a cake or a new, crazy flavor of ice cream.

October 17 is National Pasta Day: Spaghetti, Fettuccini, Ravioli, Macaroni. Do you like pasta? What is your favorite? Learn the history of pasta and teach your Little about it.

October 25 is International Artist Day: What kind of art do you like to do? Drawing, painting, making jewelry, music, poetry? Who inspires you to make art? Who do you know that makes art? Do you have a favorite artist? Show your Little your art and ask them to share their art with you!

October 31 is Halloween: Is your Little participating? If so, how? Dressing up? Trick or Treating? Remind your Littles about Halloween safety, such as staying with a group or adult, checking candy before eating, food allergies, safety while carving pumpkins, etc.

• Talk about your favorite candy! Invent your own candy bars. Draw a picture of the wrapper design.
• This is a spooky time of year with scary images and movies etc. What are some things that scare you? Spiders, snakes, ghosts, heights, the dark?  Ask your Little if they are afraid of anything. Share your fear with your Little

 

Activities

Backpack Organization: Assist your Little in getting organized. Have your mentee bring their backpack on your next outing and map out a homework/study/reading schedule.

Pumpkin Carving: Take your Little to a pumpkin patch and pick out a pumpkin so that you can both carve, paint, or decorate it in a new creative way together.

The Simple Things: Notice and savor the small stuff!  You can help your Little become aware of daily good by pausing to notice and “take in” the beauty of a sunset, appreciating a stranger holding the door open for you and your Little, stopping to admire a vibrant tree in the park, listening to birds sing, etc.

Send & Receive Postcards: Postcrossing is a project that allows you to send and receive postcards from people around the world. These are real postcards, not electronic!  Individuals from over 212 different countries are represented.

Zip-Lock Bag Water Refraction Halloween Activity: The Zip Lock Bag Water Refraction is a simple and easy but amazing experiment. You can make the picture disappear by just putting the zip lock bag into the water. The required material can be found in every home.

Homemade Caramel Apples: Make homemade caramel apples with your Little…fun to make but even better to eat!

Gratitude Journal: Listing out a few things we are grateful for each day can have a positive impact on our mood, attitude, and relationships, so start a “Gratitude Journal” with your Little for 30 days. Each day, list three to five things you are grateful for. Share with each other when you get together or periodically ask your Little, “How do you feel after you’ve written what you are grateful for?” Another idea is to simply integrate a “Gratitude Practice” by sharing things you are grateful for, either at the beginning or end of each outing, to create a ritual and opportunity to recognize, practice, and strengthen your gratitude muscle.

Make a Bird Feeder: Research birds in our area and what they eat; make a bird feeder and fill it up!

 

Free & Low-Cost Community Events

Virtual Cooking Classes: Christopher Kimball’s MILK Street (from PBS) is offering a series of free hour-long virtual cooking classes for you and your Little! Please email cookingschool@177MILKSTREET.com for more details

Fall 2021 Schedule:

• October 16th: Pasta Perfect
• November 21st: Vegetables That Taste Great
• December 12th: The World’s Best Banana Bread (and Brownies)

October 1-3 – Hillsborough County Fair: 215 Sydney Washer Rd, Dover, FL 33527. Welcome to the Hillsborough Coun-ty Fair! Our annual county fair is held every fall. It is a celebration of community, agriculture, education, and exhibits! Livestock, rides, delicious food, live music, rodeo, derby, and lots more!

October 7 – Music on the Beach: Sunset Beach Concert Series: 1411 Gulf Road, Tarpon Springs, FL 34689. Join us for a great new Sunset Beach Concert Series. Concerts are once a month on Thursdays, February through November. You can park at the High School, catch the complimentary shuttle to the beach, enjoy the music and take the shuttle back. Concessions are available for purchase, or you can bring your own. Remember, pets and alcohol are not allowed, but your own food, drink, and chairs are. The music starts at 7 pm. Concerts are subject to change or cancellation due to weather.

October 16 – Multicultural Family Day: 1710 N. Highland Ave, Tampa, FL 33602. A free event for the entire family with live multicultural entertainment, food trucks, vendors, and much more!

October 16 – St. Petersburg Science Festival: Poynter Park, St. Petersburg, FL 33701. St. Petersburg Science Festival is a FREE community celebration of the wonders of hands-on science, technology, engineering, art, and math (STEAM). The 2021 public festival will be held on October 16 from 10 am-4 pm, at the waterfront campus of the USF St. Petersburg and Poynter Park along Bayboro Harbor. The event is held in conjunction with MarineQuest, the annual open house of the FWC Fish and Wildlife Research Institute.

October 16-31 – Riverwalk Halloween Hunt: The Tampa Riverwalk, Tampa, FL 33602. The Riverwalk Halloween Hunt is a family-friendly not-too-spooky virtual scavenger hunt along the Tampa Riverwalk. Individuals and teams will compete to be the first place Winner! Solve riddles, puzzles, and tasks while exploring the beautiful Riverwalk in this safe, outdoor Halloween activity fun for all ages. This event is free to the public. You must download the mobile app Mobile Adventures to participate (iOS & Android). Once the app has been downloaded, you will need to scan the QR code provided at the event to get started.

October 23-24 – Tarpon Springs Sponge Docks Arts & Craft Festival: Sponge Docks, Tarpon Springs, FL 34689. Arts & Crafts Festival in Historic Tarpon Springs Sponge Docks. More than 90 of the nation’s top artists and crafters with Made in the USA creations. From jewelry to ceramics to plants to photography to paintings and homemade soap, something to please everyone.

October 26 – Owl-O-Ween: McGough Nature Park-11901 146th St, Largo, FL 33774. Stroll along the spooky, haunted trails at McGough Nature Park in search of bats, owls, ghosts, and goblins. Join us for crafts, games, and scary stories by the campfire. Preregistration and prepayment are required. Call 727-518-3047 to reserve your spot.

by J.S. Cooper, BBBS Marketing Intern

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October is Children’s Health Month, and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay believes it takes everyone working together to keep youth healthy and active. Since good health practices are most likely to succeed when they begin during childhood, taking the steps towards a healthy childhood is important. Children’s Health Month reminds us of the importance of protecting our children’s health from environmental hazards in places where they live, play, and learn.

Ways to Improve Your Child’s Health

1. Nature Is Your Friend

Many researchers agree that kids who play outside are smarter, happier, better at paying attention, and less anxious than kids who spend more time indoors. Spending time in nature can build their confidence. There’s a lot less structure than most types of indoor play, and they can choose how they interact with the nature around them. This gives them practice managing their own actions and encourages creativity and imagination.

2. Eat Healthy

Children need the same nutrients as adults — such as vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates, protein, and fat. Children, however, need different amounts of specific nutrients at different ages. Encourage your child to eat a variety of fresh, canned, frozen, or dried fruits — rather than fruit juice. Serve a variety of fresh, canned, frozen, or dried vegetables. Aim to provide a variety of vegetables, including dark green, red, and orange, beans, peas, starchy, and others. Fruits and vegetables contain essential nutrients needed for growth and good health.

3. Instill Oral Health Habits

Taking good care of your child’s teeth helps freshen breath, improve gum health, and helps build strong and healthy teeth. Prompt your child to brush their teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste. If your child is younger than 6, watch them brush. Make sure they use a pea-sized amount of toothpaste and always spit it out rather than swallow. Help your child brush until they have good brushing skills. Ask your child’s dentist to apply dental sealants when appropriate.

4. Prevent the Spread of COVID-19

Although fewer children have been infected with COVID-19 compared to adults, children can be infected with the virus that causes COVID-19, get sick from COVID-19, and spread COVID-19 to others. CDC recommends everyone 12 years and older should get a COVID-19 vaccination to help protect against COVID-19. People who are not fully vaccinated and children under 12 years who cannot get a COVID-19 vaccine should continue taking steps to prevent getting sick. To maximize protection from COVID-19 and prevent possibly spreading it to others, everyone, regardless of vaccination status, should wear a mask indoors and in crowded areas like restaurants and movie theaters.

5. Build Trusting Relationships with Kids

A caring adult’s presence is related to numerous positive outcomes for young people, including greater resilience and lower stress. The caring and consistent relationship you build with a child is a vital protective factor that will help them develop self-esteem throughout life. You can be a positive, supportive mentor for a kid in our community by becoming a Big. With only a few hours each month, you can make a difference by being a consistent friend and trusting adult. Learn how at one of our Big Orientation & Training info sessions. View our schedule get started!

Additional Resources

Center of Disease Control and Prevention: Promoting Health for Children and Adolescents

Children’s Home Network
Children’s Home Network is a leader in innovative programs and services in Tampa Bay in the field of child and family well-being and as an exemplary model for the governance, management, and operation of non-profit entities. Unlocking the potential of at-risk children and families by providing compassionate and effective services that create opportunities for success.

Search Institute introduces the Five Elements of the Developmental Relationships Framework based on decades of research. 

These elements are critical to forming and strengthening positive relationships that young people need to grow and thrive. 

“Pretty much everyone who works with kids and interacts with them knows that relationships matter, incredibly, for how they develop, for how they perform in school, for where they end up in the future. But that doesn’t mean you know how to build a relationship with a young person that you work with or that you just care about,” says Dr. Kent Pekel, Former president and CEO of Search Institute

The five elements that adults can take to create lasting developmental relationships include: 

1. Express Care: let kids know that they matter to you. 

2. Challenge Growth: pushing kids to continually get better no matter how well they are already doing.

3. Provide Support: helping kids complete tasks and reach their goals.

4. Share Power: treating kids with respect and giving them a say.

5. Expand Possibilities: connecting kids with people and places that broaden their worlds.

When kids experience relationships characterized by these five elements, they are more likely to possess critical social-emotional skills like motivation, a sense of belonging, empathy, and much less likely to be involved in risky behaviors. 

When interacting with kids in your life, whether it’s your Little or a child you care for, use these five elements to build a relationship to help kids be and become their best selves. 

Do you want to express care, challenge growth, provide support, share power, and expand possibilities for a child in your community, become a mentor, or Big, with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay? Attend a Big Orientation & Training session to get started. 

Today marks the beginning of Hispanic Heritage Month! Hispanic Heritage Month occurs annually from September 15 through October 15, offering an opportunity for Bigs, Littles, and families to explore the beauty of the Hispanic culture together. 

National Hispanic Heritage Month seeks to recognize the contributions and influence of Hispanic Americans to the history, culture, and achievements of the United States. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay encourages our Matches to learn about Hispanic cultures in various ways, such as cooking a Latine dish, reading a book that celebrates Hispanic heritage, or creating fun crafts together. Check out these ideas and activities you can do with a child in your life! 

1. Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month at Home: scholastic.com 

2. 8 Kid-Friendly Hispanic Heritage Month Recipes: inspiredbyfamilymag.com

3. Latin American Crafts for Kids to Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month: growingupbilingual.com 

4. 15 Picture Books that Celebrate Hispanic Heritage for Kids: readbrightly.com 

5. 9 Fun Activities to Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month: extendednotes.com

6. Hispanic Heritage Month History Video: Youtube.com 

7. Hispanic Heritage Month- Poetry for Teens: colorincolorado.org

8. Hispanic Heritage Month- Song and Dance for Younger Littles: beccasmusicroom.com 

9. Additional Resources: elcentronc.org 

Want to ignite the potential of a child in your community? Become a mentor or Big, and be a positive role model and friend to a kid who needs one.

Domestic violence, parental neglect or mental illness, physical, emotional, or sexual abuse are all examples of ACEs (Adverse Childhood Experiences). Unfortunately, 45% of kids in America will endure exposure to one ACE before they turn 18. Alarmingly, one out of ten has experienced multiple ACEs.

Household dysfunction can have long-term effects on children, especially if no one is there to help them heal from the after-effects of trauma. ACEs are linked to anxiety, depression, chronic pain, diabetes, liver disease, and stroke. Experiencing multiple ACEs can lead to toxic stress and subsequently long-term damage to the brain and body.

That’s why Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay offers training to its volunteers and parents so they can familiarize themselves with the effects of ACEs.

Part of the strategy to building resilience in a child is providing a formal mentoring relationship. Harvard studies show that positive relationships with a parent or caregiver can help buffer a child from the effects of stress. (And the BBBS program model tracks the outcomes of the mentees in our programs.)

Want to show support but are afraid of doing or saying the wrong thing? Remember the acronym CLICC, representing the five supportive gestures: Celebrate, Listen, Inspire, Comfort, Collaborate.

Learn more about healing gestures to affirm children’s experiences here.

Become a Big and be a positive, supportive mentor for a child in our community. Join us for one of our upcoming Virtual Big Orientation & Training info sessions. View our schedule.

 

Additional Resources

How To Reduce Stress and Anxiety

Harvard Infographic and FAQ Guide

Toxic Stress and its Effects on Brain Development

CDC Fast Facts

Neglect and the Early Years of Life (Video)

CDC-Kaiser ACE Study

Now that school is out, kids spend more time in front of their phones and computer screens. Our youth have grown up with the internet and various kinds of technology, but it’s still crucial to remind them about online risks and how to avoid or report unsafe behavior.

Talk to kids about online safety issues, such as inappropriate websites to avoid, malware, fraud, phishing scams, and sexual predators. Keep an open dialogue with your kids about their safety and what they are doing on the computer and smartphone.

Set clear rules about internet and phone usage. Some examples are:

• • Do not give out personal information. Avoid using birthdates, legal name or other identifiers in handles
  • Do not post your photo on public sites.
  • Do not open emails, texts, or DMs from someone you don’t know. If they claim to know you but the message seems strange, show it to a trusted adult.
  • Always report inappropriate messages to a trusted adult
  • Ignore or delete hurtful, insulting, or bullying messages and comments
  • Never agree to meet up with someone you’ve only chatted with online
  • Set time limits for being on the computer

Other guidelines for improved internet safety include:

• Keep kids’ computers in a common area to monitor activity
• Check your child’s browser history
• Activate privacy features within the internet browser and all devices
• Know your children’s passwords and change them regularly. Again, avoid using birthdates or easily guessed information.
• Watch for changes in behavior that may indicate cyberbullying or contact with an online sexual predator.
• Monitor chats within live streams on Twitch, YouTube, and gaming platforms

Technology has enhanced the way we learn and communicate, but we also have to adapt the way we keep our kids safe while online. We’ve included some online safety tips below:

CDC: Information on Safety in the Home & Community

Child Safety Tips & Resources

Internet Safety for Kids

June is LGBTQ Pride Month! BBBSTB is proud to be an inclusive and diverse organization supporting the LGBTQ community. If your Little comes out to you during your match, it’s very important to support and care for them through their journey. First, learn what coming out means. “Coming Out” is a commonly used phrase we hear when describing an individual’s LGBTQ journey. “Coming Out” refers to the process an LGBTQ person goes through as they work to understand and accept their sexual orientation or gender identity — and share that identity openly with other people. Someone who is coming out might not ever come out to certain family members or individuals, and it’s critical to always respect this choice.

Below are some helpful tips on how you can respond as a good Ally:

Acknowledge your own feelings (internally!)
Thank them for disclosing to you.
Reinforce that you are trustworthy (acknowledge the risk they are taking by confiding in you.)
Tell them that you care about them.
Ask what you can do to support them.
Ask who else knows.
Keep it private and confidential.
If you are unsure of how to respond, simply say, “Thank you for sharing this with me. This is new to me but I care about you and I will continue to be here for you.”

You don’t have to have all the answers if your Little discloses being LGBTQ, just make sure they walk away feeling like they made the right decision by coming out to you. Click here for some important information and resources for LGBTQ+ Youth and Friends/Supporters.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay supports diversity. We support the LGBTQ community and encourage volunteers from all walks of life to apply as a mentor for youth in our community. Do you want to learn how to become a Big? Attend our Big Orientation & Training info session. View the schedule.

 

Do you need some ideas for things to talk to your Little about? Check out our June Conversation Starters to help you and your Little learn about new topics and discover new hobbies and interests. 

LGBTQ Pride Month: Remind your Littles that BBBS is inclusive and welcoming of all people. Do you or your Little know anyone who identifies as LGBTQ? What challenges have they had in their lives? What can you or your Little do to help support an LGBTQ person who may be struggling? 

National Candy Month: Invent a new kind of candy. Draw a picture of what it would look like. Come up with a crazy flavor together. Chocolate-covered Skittles, maybe?

National Fresh Fruit and Veggie Month: What are your favorite fruits and veggies? What are your favorite recipes or favorite ways of eating them? Check out this list of lesser-known fruits and veggies. Which would you choose to try? 

June 1st is Say Something Nice Day: What was the last compliment you received? What was the last compliment you gave? Here are 7 reasons why you should pay a compliment to someone every day. 

 June 4th is National Cheese Day and National Donut Day: If you had to eliminate cheese or donuts, which would go? What is your favorite kind of donut? What is your favorite type of cheese? What kind of crazy donut would your make?

June 8th is National Best Friends Day: Who is your best friend? How did you and your best friend meet? How long have you known your best friend? Who was your best friend when you were a kid? Why is it important to have a best friend?

June 14th is Flag Day: Learn about flag day. Try this Flags of the World Game. If you had your own flag for your family/neighborhood/ community, what would it look like? Draw a picture of your flag.

June 18th is National Picnic Day: What is your idea of the ultimate picnic? Fresh seafood on a mountain? Dessert buffet in a treehouse? Gourmet hot dogs at the top of the Statue of Liberty? Be creative! 

June 19th is Juneteenth: Do you or your Little Celebrate Juneteenth? If so, how? Check out this video. 

June 20th is Father’s Day: Do you or your Little celebrate Father’s Day? What traditions do you have? If you had all the money in the world, what would you do for your dad (or father figure) to show him that he is special? 

June 21st is World Day of Music: Listen to some music samples from around the world and discuss. Check out these exciting instruments from around the world. 

June 23rd is National Hydration Day: Do a water drinking challenge. Can your Little drink 6 glasses of water in the day? Here are some facts about drinking water. 

June 27th is Helen Keller Day: Learn about Helen Keller together. Here are 8 incredible facts about Helen Keller.

June 30th is Social Media Day: How much time do you/your Little spend on Social Media every day? Every week? Discuss internet safety. Challenge your Little to cut out an hour of social media a day or week and do something creative or read instead.

 

Do you want to learn what it takes to become a Big? Learn more at our Big Orientation & Training info session. View the schedule.