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February brings Valentine’s Day, which we all know as the holiday about love! But
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February brings Valentine’s Day, which we all know as the holiday about love! But healthy relationships aren’t just for adults. We can start teaching our children as young as elementary school what it means to have healthy friendships.
The first step for parents is helping your children understand the difference between healthy and unhealthy relationships.
1.Point out that a good friendship (which is one of our first relationships!) includes someone who:
You can be yourself around.
You can be honest with and is honest with you
Respects you and never threatens you
You are able to communicate with, even if you disagree
2. An unhealthy friendship might include:
Someone who pushes you on the playground (with the intent to hurt you) or takes/destroys your things
Someone who calls you names or makes you feel bad in front of other friends or kids
Someone who gets angry at you and you don’t know why
Remember the best way for your children to learn is by modeling positive and healthy relationships! Give your children to the confidence to know they never have to stay in an unhealthy relationship or friendship.
It’s December, and we all know what that means. Everybody is getting ready for the holidays
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It’s December, and we all know what that means. Everybody is getting ready for the holidays and the kids are bouncing off the walls!
The excitement that kids feel this time of year can actually become overstimulating and lead to difficulty regulating emotions and possible outbursts. This can be confusing and frustrating to children (and the adults around them!). We look forward to the holidays all year long. Aren’t we supposed to be happy?
In truth, this season can bring a whole host of difficult emotions, including anxiety, stress, worry and even sadness.
Here are a few recommendations from experts on how parents can help their children manage emotions during holiday breaks:
Provide a Routine: Kids manage their emotions better when they have a regular, predictable routine, making sure that getting enough sleep is part of that routine. This doesn’t mean that parents need to be drill sergeants with a whistle around their neck! It just means that if certain parts of the day (bedtime, meals, a chore time, maybe a reading time) are put into the day, with the fun and relaxation filled into the spaces in-between, everybody’s break will be more relaxing in the end. Your student will also adjust back to school in January much more successfully.
Make and Share Plans: The holidays are full of things that children look forward to. Whether it is getting the Christmas tree, going shopping, visiting relatives, friends visiting or making cookies, kids feel less stressed if they know the who, what, when, where, etc… of holiday events. Remember that young children are still developing their concept of time, so a visual calendar is best. These plans also provide social opportunities for your kids, which they’ll need, especially if you live in a more secluded area, as well as an opportunity to break up the vacation so that boredom doesn’t set in. By the way, 2024 calendars are on sale now at Dollar Tree.
Model and/or Practice Emotional Coping: The holidays are a time that adults are stressed and excited as well. So, it’s the perfect time to model how you cope with emotions. Maybe you focus on planning and organization and have a color-coded to-do list. Seeing everything that needs to be done in one list, rather than wondering about it, is a great way to relieve anxiety for some people. Movement and exercise may be what works for others. We all need to have healthy coping mechanisms that we use to help us make it through our days. Use the holidays to show what works for you. Or, take the opportunity to connect with your child, by trying out coping strategies together. (See Image from the web site Strong4Life.)
Slow Down and Connect: Most importantly, spending quality time with close family in and of itself is a great calming strategy for kids. Having a snowball fight, playing games and just laughing together are some of the best ways to relieve stress while creating lasting memories.
May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Mental health includes psychological, social and emotional
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May is Mental Health Awareness Month.
Mental health includes psychological, social and emotional well-being. Mental health affects how you feel, think and act. Experts stress that now is the time to focus on healing, reaching out, and connecting in safe ways by acknowledging that it’s okay to not be okay. Our mental health plays a part in how we handle stress, relate to others and make choices. When you are mentally healthy, you are able to enjoy life and the people around you, keep good relationships, feel good about yourself and it helps you deal with stress. Mental stress can impact the immune system in many different ways and increase physical illness. This is a good time to pause, reflect and recognize a difficult truth. Nearly one in five Americans lives with a mental health condition, according to the According to the National Institute of Mental Health there are nearly one and five Americans that live with mental illness disorders. It is a good time to focus on healing, reaching out, and connecting in safe ways by acknowledging that it’s okay to not be okay.
Activities that can help you stay mentally healthy:
My Body
My Mind
My Social Life
When your physical health is feeling off, it might be hard to know where to start. It's important to take care of your body
When yourmental health is struggling, it can be really hard to feel in control. It's important to take the steps to relax your mind.
When you don't feel connected or heard, it's hard to remember that we don't have to do this alone. It's important to socialize with others or reach out for help.
When I'm feeling...
When I'm feeling...
When I'm feeling...
Tired
Pain
Exhausted
Lifeless
Hungry
Lethargic
Sad
Hopeless
Panicked
Frustrated
Angry
Numb
Isolated
Lonely
Disconnected
Left out
Anti-social
Alone
Here's what I can do to take care of my body:
Here's what I can do to take care of my mind:
Here's what I can do to take care of myself socially:
Eat a snack
Drink a big glass of water
Exercise (walk, run, bike ride, stretch, yoga, dance, lift weights)
February brings Valentine’s Day, which we all know is the holiday about love! But healthy
Read More...
February brings Valentine’s Day, which we all know is the holiday about love! But healthy relationships aren’t just for adults. We can start teaching our children as young as elementary school the difference between healthy and unhealthy relationships and friendships.
Point out that a good friendship (which is one of our first relationships!) includes someone who:
You can be yourself around
You can be honest with and is honest with you
Respects you and never threatens you
You are able to communicate with, even if you disagree
An unhealthy friendship might include:
Someone who pushes you on the playground (with the intent to hurt you) or takes/destroys your things
Someone who calls you names or makes you feel bad in front of other friends or kids
Someone who gets angry at you and you don’t know why
Remember the best way for your children to learn is by modeling positive and healthy relationships! Give your children the confidence to know they never have to stay in an unhealthy relationship or friendship.
New Year’s resolutions aren’t just for adults! It’s the perfect time to start
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New Year’s resolutions aren’t just for adults! It’s the perfect time to start goal setting for kids. Help your child kick off the New Year right with these easy tips.
January is the perfect time for a fresh start. Have you discussed with your child what his goals are for the New Year? Allow them to set their own goals, so they can truly experience the satisfaction of seeing them through to the end.
If your child is self-motivated, they are likely to have a vested interest in achieving their personal goals. Having individual goals to work towards brings purpose to the actions in our daily lives. Having a conversation with your child about what they would like to improve and accomplish can open doors to expand their horizons.
Here are some tips on discussing goal setting with your child and keeping up with goals all year long.
1. Keep the goals realistic, specific and measurable.
It’s important to not overwhelm your child with too many goals. Help narrow them down to a couple and make sure they are realistic and measurable. We want our kids to learn the importance of following through on every goal.
2. Create a plan of action.
After deciding on the goal, plan the necessary steps needed to achieve success. There is a big difference between wanting to achieve something and actually doing it. Parents play an important part in helping children get there.
3. Help your child stick with it.
Have your child commit their goal to a family member, teacher or friend in order to develop accountability and stay on track. Check in periodically to see how their doing and if the plan to achieve the goal(s)needs to be adjusted.
4. Keep the goal in mind.
Displaying a goal in a visible place like the wall in the kitchen can serve as a good reminder. Reflecting on how far your child has come and where they want to go next is an invaluable activity. Consistent encouragement will also go a long way.
Setting goals with your child can be fun and exciting, a time for growth, and an opportunity for family bonding.
Happy December! Hard to believe it is already the last month of 2022. I hope this year has brought
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Happy December!
Hard to believe it is already the last month of 2022. I hope this year has brought lots of fun and happy times. As we transition into the holidays, it can be lots of excitement, but also big changes for our kids. Between not being in school and having different holidays events happening, it can be very difficult for our kids to cope with the changes happening.
There are a few tips you can use in order to make the transitions to break easier as well as ways to cope throughout the break:
Try to keep somewhat of a schedule. While this does not need to look the same as it does during a typical school week, having some sort of schedule will make everything easier.
Let the kids know what events and/or plans are coming up. Kids like to know what to expect and having an idea of things that are coming up can help. Also, it gives them things to look forward to!
On the topic on events and plans, let the kids help plan one or a few of the break activities. This will give them a sense of responsibility while also getting to incorporate things they enjoy.
Have grace! Have grace for yourself and your kids. Breaks can be hard for everyone, but if they are approached with empathy and grace they can be some of the best times to make memories.
Look at your family to decide what will work best and make the breaks as much fun as they should be!
The upcoming holidays are the perfect time to teach young children a very important life lesson
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The upcoming holidays are the perfect time to teach young children a very important life lesson about gratitude that will last well past the season.
As children grow with gratitude, they become more understanding of the needs and feelings of others.
So, how do we teach our children to be grateful? One way is to talk with them about being thankful. Not only for material things, but for acts of kindness from others, too.
Here are some tips for teaching children gratitude:
Teach them to say thank you to the people who do things for them. That can be their server at a restaurant, a brother or sister who helps them pick up toys, or a friend who gives them a birthday gift.
Tell your kids why you are grateful for them. Be specific in letting your children know they are special and loved. For example: ‘I appreciate the way you help your brother tie his shoes.’
Talk about the things you are grateful for. This can be done in many ways, from a blessing before dinner to keeping a family gratitude journal.
Support a charitable event or organization. Whether you are donating clothes or toys, participating in a food drive, or baking cookies for a new neighbor, talk to children about what those actions mean to those who receive the kindness.
Be consistent. Like all skills, gratitude is not learned in one lesson.
This video "What Does it Mean to be Thankful?" will help children understand the meaning of gratitude. https://youtu.be/PcVQGoalfnk
Your child’s first five years are a great opportunity to help them develop the skills they need to be successful later in life. Research shows that thankful people are usually more optimistic. They’re also less depressed and stressed. So, when we teach our children to appreciate what they have, and what others do for them, we are helping them become happier, healthier adults.
Suicide Awareness Month September is National Suicide Prevention Month. All month, mental
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Suicide Awareness Month
September is National Suicide Prevention Month. All month, mental health advocates, prevention organizations, survivors, allies, and community members unite to promote suicide prevention awareness. -988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
Welcome back to this school year of 2022-2023! Your Social Emotional Learning team is geared up and ready to go. We are ecstatic to be able to care and connect with all students and families. At this time, we would like to remember those that need our help, love, and support more than ever! Remember to ask someone in a caring manner if they are okay, listen to them without judgment, keep them connected, and always support them. We never know what an individual has been through or has experienced, but we can be their person.
Be someone’s person!
Warning Signs:
Talking about wanting to die or to kill themselves
Looking for a way to kill themselves, like searching online or buying a gun
Talking about feeling hopeless or having no reason to live
Talking about feeling trapped or in unbearable pain
Talking about being a burden to others
Increasing the use of alcohol or drugs
Acting anxious or agitated; behaving recklessly
Sleeping too little or too much
Withdrawing or isolating themselves
Showing rage or talking about seeking revenge
Extreme mood swings
Suicide is not inevitable for anyone. By starting the conversation, providing support, and directing help to those who need it, we can prevent suicides and save lives.
Mental Health Awareness May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Mental health includes
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Mental Health Awareness
May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Mental health includes psychological, social and emotional well-being. Mental health affects how you feel, think and act. The past two years living through the pandemic with quarantine, working from home, doing online schooling and lack of social interaction has taken a toll on our well-being. Our mental health plays a part in how we handle stress, relate to others and make choices. When you are mentally healthy, you are able to enjoy life and the people around you, keep good relationships, feel good about yourself and it help you deal with stress.
Some signs and symptoms may include:
Feeling sad or down
Confused thinking or reduced ability to concentrate
Excessive anxiety, worries or fears
Extreme mood changes of highs and lows
Social withdrawal, loss of interest, difficulty interacting
Dramatic changes in eating
Low energy, change in sleeping pattern
Easily angered
Suicidal thoughts
Activities that can help you stay mentally healthy
My Body
My Mind
My Social Life
When your physical health is feeling off, it might be hard to know where to start. It's important to take care of your body
When yourmental health is struggling, it can be really hard to feel in control. It's important to take the steps to relax your mind.
When you don't feel connected or heard, it's hard to remember that we don't have to do this alone. It's important to socialize with others or reach out for help.
When I'm feeling...
When I'm feeling...
When I'm feeling...
Tired
Pain
Exhausted
Lifeless
Hungry
Lethargic
Sad
Hopeless
Panicked
Frustrated
Angry
Numb
Isolated
Lonely
Disconnected
Left out
Anti-social
Alone
Here's what I can do to take care of my body:
Here's what I can do to take care of my mind:
Here's what I can do to take care of myself socially:
Eat a snack
Drink a big glass of water
Exercise (walk, run, bike ride, stretch, yoga, dance, lift weights)