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As summer approaches, I want to share some things to help your children continue to succeed , along with some fun activities. It is important to continue to help your child practice the academic, social, and emotional skills they have learned at school. Here are some things you can do to help with transitions into summer, and a more successful start to the next school year.
Here are some words and ideas from Big Life Journal to help us reframe our thinking about the way we talk about ourselves and others.
Here are some great ideas from Big Life Journal to get your kids talking and connecting with others more.
Studies say kids should have a maximum screen time (not including school) of one hour a day. When kids are on social media, video games, tablets, movies, phones, etc. for more than one hour a day, our brain starts to change. Below are the effects of technology on the brain along with ways to encourage your children to reduce screen time.
Here is a fun dice game from CounselorKeri to teach and practice some strategies to help your child with anxiety, anger, sadness, or other emotions, and to help your child add to their coping skills toolbox. You can use the strategies given, or think of some of your own!
Sleep stories and meditations are a great way to help get a better sleep. Here are some apps and different links to try if you or your child is struggling to get to sleep, waking up often, having nightmares, or struggling with sleep in any way:
Everyone has some negative thoughts at one point or another, and as we know, those negative thoughts can affect our emotions and make us feel bad about ourselves. Here is the recording along with an overview of the parent class that I did during parent teacher conferences. The recording (link below) is 30 minutes long. Overcoming Negative Emotions Parent Class Recording (30 Minutes): https://www.loom.com/share/1a323e1744944ef1882600b37014e383 Here is an overview of the class if you would rather read about it instead of watching it:
Here are some tips from Big Life Journal on responding to your child's negative self-talk.
You might have heard the saying, “Kindness is contagious.” research shows that this is actually true. Have you ever noticed how good it feels when someone does something kind for you, or how good you feel when you do something kind for someone else? Even the smallest acts of kindness have a ripple effect and can have a great impact on both the giver and receiver. Here are some of the benefits of kindness backed by science:
Here are some tips by Liana Lowenstein, MSW to explain death to your child:
Many adults find it difficult to talk about death with children and it can be tempting to shield them from the pain. However, children need clear and comprehensible information about an impending death (whenever that is possible). and certainly after a death has occurred. Even young children need an explanation about what has happened to someone who is important to them. Below are some tips for explaining death to children: Here are some resources from Big Life Journal on ways to help your child have a growth mindset, along with some growth mindset conversation starters.
We can teach children to use healthy coping tools to use when they are feeling angry, worried, sad, or upset in any way. It is good to practice these coping tools, even when we aren’t feeling upset, so they can be reinforced in our brains. There are many other coping tools in the mindfulness section of this blog, but here are a few that I have taught the kids in school:
Teaching your child to identify and express their feelings at a young age is important. Young children experience many of the same emotions that adults do, however they often don’t have the words or tools to express/cope with what they are feeling. This often leads the child to act out their feelings in inappropriate ways. Children who understand their emotions are less likely to act out. A child who can express, “I’m mad at you” is less likely to hit. A child who can express, “I’m feeling worried,” is better able to find solutions to help them feel less worried and face their fears. It may also help parents understand the occasional unexplained stomach ache or headache that often come with feeling anxious. Remember, you are the most important teacher in your child’s life. Below is a video on identifying emotions, along with some tips to help your children identify their own emotions:
Attached are some charts (colored and black and white) from Big Life Journal to help children identify their emotions. Helping children identify their emotions is a great tool to start feeling better!
Here are some great tips from Big Life Journal on raising a resilient child with strong coping skills
Here is a 30 minute video explaining some tips to manage emotions for you and your child. This is the same class that I gave during parent teacher conferences. It explains what's happening in the brain when we have strong emotions, tips for parents, and techniques to manage emotions. I hope this can be helpful for you and your families!
https://uetn-org.zoom.us/rec/share/rCotpSv0sfte_zBkpQ--jN1lFMA6At3hjMMzUp3vJeRnvgFI4z5Id064GG_9w_a2.9bRdo-vdQJQUiKRd?startTime=1604675884000 Passcode: c5.vGnbd Mindfulness can help with depression, anxiety, anger, building relationships, and more! This Mindfulness Toolkit comes from the free app Smiling Mind. You can use the toolkit and the app with your families or in your classrooms! For more help and resources, visit the Smiling Mind website: https://www.smilingmind.com.au/at-home.
Grief can be experienced with the loss of a loved one, divorce (see below), school closure, moving, or any loss in someone's life. There are different stages of grief that we experience. These stages can be mixed together, and aren't always in the same order as someone else. No one experiences grief the same way, and there is no time limit on grief, but there are ways to cope and feel better. You can check the "Grief" and "Mindfulness" sections of this blog for some helpful tips and ideas to cope with grief.
Although we often think that suicide is for teens and adults, there are children who also struggle with suicidal thoughts. Here are some things to look our for and some resources to help if someone you know (child, teen, or adult) is struggling:
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