GUEST BLOG POST BY:

Kristi Hildebrand, MSN, CPNP-AC
Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
UNC Department of Neurosurgery
NAPNAP – NC Chapter CE Co-Chair

This is a very unique time that we live in – with periods of fear, uncertainty and isolation. During a recent discussion with NC NAPNAP members, we talked about resilience and how much connections matter.

Personally, I have tried to stay focused on my own family throughout this difficult time, and one of the things that has helped is having a nightly routine of reading bedtime stories with my kids. I recently took my baby for his 9 month well child check, and we received a fun book from Reach Out and Read Carolinas. We were excited to add this to our home library!

As a parent, I look forward to each new book. As a specialty provider, I have recently discovered that Reach Out and Read Carolinas has an excellent online learning community for access to FREE CME accredited courses including  Healthy Relationships & Resilience, Making Moments Matter, and Stress and Adversity.

We know that staying connected and engaged matters – and books are a perfect way to do just that! Snuggles and stories create moments every day that help us feel safe and secure. When things feel upside down, reading stories can provide a consistent routine to build resilience and buffer stress.

For tips for parents on how books help children cope with stress, click HERE.