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Benchmark Journal Investing and Global Finance News About Economy International Company Focus The Best Of… Who Said It The Daily Take Español Deutsch Blog Jayme Albin Helps You Plan a Gradual Return to Normal for Kids Tom Sanderson | July 20, 2020 July 20, 2020 | Economy , Environment , Uncategorized , Who Said It , Women New York and many other states have lifted the strict lockdown restrictions. After spending months “trapped” indoors, many families are trying to figure out how to transition out of quarantine and resume a new normal in the shadows of the coronavirus. Author, psychologist, and therapist, Dr. Jayme Albin , offers advice on helping kids face these unchartered realities. Dr. Jayme Albin offers tips on helping children navigate their feelings as they develop post lockdown routines. As we begin to venture out for the first time, Dr. Albin says many children might be confused or hesitant about the changes. After spending so much time sheltering in place to avoid infection and contagion, it can be scary to think about heading out. She recommends seven things parents should do to support children: Be open: take the time to explain the changes to the lockdown restrictions. Have age-appropriate conversations about what the new protocols are and why it is OK to change what you’ve been doing so far. Validate their feelings (fear, uncertainty, confusion), but also highlight the new opportunities that are being offered now. Parents do not (necessarily) have to have all the answers to kids’ questions, but allowing them to ask freely gives them a sense of calm and assurance. Let them lead: Have your son or daughter think of ways they can safely interact with their friends. Get them to consider what feels right for them and what they are comfortable with. Simulate a playdate and ask them to consider responses to a peer or adult not following the rules. Give them time: Despite the immediate way corona took over our lives, a re-entry to normal is gradual. They may some time to figure out their comfort levels with the new rules, and that is OK. Don’t rush them to do anything and give them the reigns to decide what they want to do and who they want to meet up with first. Stay connected: Have them check in with peers, cousins, and other family members. These connections with loved ones will remind kids that the people in their lives (outside of immediate family) have not disappeared. Safety first: Remind your kids that rules are designed to protect them and that people in charge are weighing risk factors and evaluating data all the time which is why things change. Eventually, things will go back to the normal they knew, but for now, all the new regulations are focused on their wellbeing. Be together: The last few months have afforded increased quantities of family time. Make sure that some of that is infused with quality interactions as well. Do some of the things your kids love to do together as a family. These meaningful encounters with you assures your kids that even as things change, you are still there for them. It is also a great way to get them talking about their feelings, worries, anxieties. Stay on schedule: Maintaining a regular routine, with consistent mealtimes, bedtimes, play hours, etc. enhances a sense of safety. The pandemic has brought many new challenges to children’s mental health. Dr. Albin reminds you that if your child is experiencing extreme behaviors and is not handling the gradual transition back to a new routine well, reach out to a children’s mental health professional. Giving Tech Longer Life Tom Sanderson | July 15, 2020 July 15, 2020 | Economy , Entrepreneurs , News The pandemic-induced recession has many people looking for different ways to save. One place to start is by investing in our technology. Put differently: we have to take better care of our tech so it lasts longer and serves us better. Before corona, most of us tended to have no patience for mindfully managing our devices. As soon as a tablet or phone started to slow down or discharge quickly, we opted to buy a new one rather than investing in a repair. But now, when so many people face reduced income, making the tech we rely on last longer makes sense. By giving our gadgets a bare minimum of care, we can prolong their life and support the economy. While retail stores for Apple and Microsoft are not offering repair services during the pandemic, local fixers remain an option. Here are a few initial steps to take to breathe more life into phones, tablets, and computers at a minimal cost. Check Your Battery Just like car tires, device batteries need regular replacing. Batteries can only be charged a finite number of times before deteriorating, they are almost always the first thing to go on devices. Most gadget manufacturers have software you can use to check battery health. Clean Up Devices get dirty. Debris, dust, and dirt accumulate in all sorts of places and shorten the life of any electronic device. Use a simple flashlight to see inside charging ports and headphone sockets and clean out anything nasty. Open computers once a year and clean off the fans. Purge Unnecessary Data Clutter isn’t good for your mind or your phone. Use internal apps to gauge how much storage is being used and regularly delete any unnecessary information. If you can’t commit to throwing things out, transfer old information to an external hard drive. Safety First Protective cases for devices are not just fun and fashionable, they also protect phones from damages and drops. Screen protection is also important. Wirecutter, a New York Times site that tests products, recommends protectors from Maxboost and TechMatte. Fixers are Friends If you’re not comfortable doing any of the above yourself, or you fear there is something more complicated going on with your device, seek professional help. Do a search for nearby shops and ask for quotes for the repair. When you find a trustworthy repair shop, share a positive review, return with other devices, and be grateful for good service. Is Pandemic Tech Hurting or Helping Small Businesses? Tom Sanderson | July 6, 2020 July 6, 2020 | Economy , Entrepreneurs , News Small businesses have had to get creative to survive the coronavirus pandemic and the lockdown enforced to curb the spread of the contagion. But the same technologies that sustained these businesses also yielded increased costs and complexities. As our lives are increasingly more digitalized, business owners (of all sizes) are contending with new expenses relating to customer loyalty, relevance, and marketing. Running a small business was never considered an easy undertaking. But technology is presenting emerging burdens to these businesses, making it even harder to stay afloat. Digital services have many associated costs and fees. Credit card companies and online payment providers take a piece of each sale . There’s really no going back to a tech-less life. Businesses must rely on all sorts of technology for personal and commercial interactions. So while the apps and services are essential to most companies, business owners should keep a close watch on what they are spending and getting in return. They should invest time and energy in maximizing their benefit from these services, just as they look to maximize their bottom line. Funding Growth for Oscar Health Insurance Tom Sanderson | June 30, 2020 June 30, 2020 | Company Focus , Economy , News Health insurance company Oscar has raised $225 million in its latest round of funding. Existing investors Alphabet , General Catalyst , Khosla Ventures , Lakestar , and Thrive Capital , renewed their commitments, while new supporters joined the venture, including Baillie Gifford and Coatue . Oscar is making it easier to health insurance. Oscar, the New York-based health insurance provider, has raised a total of $1.5 billion since its founding in 2012 by Mario Schlosser and Joshua Kushner . It is the first direct-to-consumer health insurance company a...