Here are some examples of some positive growth mindset affirmations from Big Life Journal. Saying positive affirmations to your self and others can help manage emotions. You can have your child use some of these positive affirmations each day, or make their own! You can model it to your children, by saying something like, "I'm going to say these to myself so I can strengthen my brain to be more positive and loving towards myself."
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 Everyone feels anxiety. Here is a 15 minute video explaining what anxiety is, what is happening in our brain and body when we feel anxiety, and some simple tips to help conquer it, whether you're a kid or an adult. This video can also be applied to other emotions like anger or sadness. When you talk with kids about anxiety, or any other unwanted emotion you can use the same language and names as the video. Ex: "Is your safety brain or your smart brain in control right now?," "What is something you can do right now to get your smart brain back in control?" Let's work to get our smart brains in control and conquer anxiety!
Check out this back-to-school care package from Big Life Journal! It's full of tips and resources to help children and adults cope with coming back to school whether you are at home, online, or in person at school. It focuses on tips for parents, mindfulness, feelings, etc. It also has activities and a back-to-school interview for kids.
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.
Here are some tips from the Love and Logic program on how to turn your words into gold involving children's behaviors. The words we say to children and how we say them can make a big difference! Research has shown that the techniques taught through the Love and Logic program are ver effective with changing children's behaviors. Here are some examples of phrases to use for parents and teachers. Parents Version:
Here are some great tips to help change your child's behaviors. These wins are helpful for any type of negative behavior that a child may have.
This is a reward chart you can use with your child for behaviors. Every time your child hits a star, they can get a small reward. When they finish a big block, or all 4 big blocks, they can get a bigger reward. You can use this chart for bad habits, emotional behaviors, potty training, and more!
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:
Here is a tool kit from The National Alliance of Grieving Children to help kids, teens, and parents respond to life changes or loss.
When we hear the word grief, we often think of death. Although these two words are associated, there are many other events that can lead to grief in a child; Moving, loss of a parent's job, school closures, a friend moving, a teacher moving or unable to complete the school year, and death are just a few example of events that can bring grief to a child. Below are 10 ways to help a child cope with grief from The National Alliance of Grieving Children (There are many other helpful resources on their website).
Here are 40 Positive things you can say to kids to pump up their self-esteem and happiness. The more true kind things we say to each other, the better we will feel.
Here are some fun mindfulness exercises for kids to help with stress, anxiety, depression, anger, and any other emotions!
During this time of uncertainty, confusion, job loss, illness, ect. There is an increase in depression and anxiety. This is a normal reaction to very stressful situations. It is important to reach out and ask for help if you or anyone you know is struggling with anxiety or depression, even during social isolation. Mental health providers are offering services via phone and internet. Throughout the State of Utah there are several resources being offered for both adults and children who may be needing mental health assistance. Please remember if a person is life threatening to call 911 or take them to the nearest emergency department. Below are some of the resources available during COVID-19:
Self-Care is one of the best ways to feel good emotionally. There are many types of self-care, and you can read more about it here. Here is a fun activity for adults or kids to practice self-care. You can download the poster or the bingos below, or you can think of your own activities for self-care!
I often use these workbooks in the office with kids, but they are also great tool for parents! They have many tips to help with specific topics. There are a wide variety of subjects to choose from. There are many workbooks out there, and you can find others that you like, but these are the ones I prefer the most:
Using I feel statements are a great way to practice communication with kids for resolving conflicts with friends or family.
I feel__________ because________ I need you to please___________. |
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