One Mom and Educator’s Methods for Promoting Her Own Son’s Social and Emotional Development As a parent and an educator, I believe strongly in the power of social and emotional learning (SEL), and in the power I have as a parent to help my child develop into a healthy and kind person. There are several …
There’s a new children’s book that explores what questions arise in an individual about their own self-perception and how others react when one looks different than others. I’m a Different Butterfly was written for ages 4-8 and is the story of Lulu Noire, a black butterfly who feels unsure at first about looking different from …
“Mooooommmmm, I don’t want to go to the sitter’s,” seven-year-old Elaina says in a high-pitched, sing-song (as in a fingernails-on-a-chalkboard, not melodic) way. The powerful whine is wielded to get her Mom’s attention. And it works every time. How can you not hear, turn toward, and grimace at that tone? In fact, research confirms what …
It’s flu shot day. I have a feeling that today will go smoothly. But two years ago, it didn’t. And I notice a sense of dread creep up on me like a zombie in a haunted mansion. A few years back, E asked about whether shots would be involved with his upcoming doctor’s appointment well …
Category: Building a Positive Family Environment Tags: anxiety and anger, Empathy, Helping kids deal with fears, Kids, kids and anxiety, kids facing fears, kids' feelings, parenting and fears, parents and anxiety, Patience, Self control, Self-management
“I had a dream that I told the girl I have a crush on that I liked her and seconds later, I watched as the whole world exploded,” my ten-almost-eleven-year-old told me as he was getting ready for bed last night. This morning, I noticed him spending time fixing his hair in the mirror, an …
Category: Building a Positive Family Environment Tags: Compassion, Empathy, kids and social anxiety, social and emotional learning in middle school, Social awareness, tweens, tweens and social anxiety, tweens and social awareness, understanding middle childhood, understanding middle school students, understanding tweens
“It is high time the ideal of success should be replaced by the ideal of service.” – Albert Einstein Parents, by the very nature of our roles, serve in a leadership position while we raise our children. A servant leader realizes that his or her ability to significantly influence others and achieve any vision comes …
Benefits and Simple Ideas for Summer Enrichment “Mom, come quickly!” E says practically jumping up and down. “There’s a bluejay in our yard!” And this scene has played out over and again but with varying creatures – bunnies, beetles, and butterflies – oh my! If you have a patch of grass outside your door, there’s …
Category: Building a Positive Family Environment Tags: appreciating nature, Caring, Cooperation, Empathy, Exploring nature with kids, Family connectedness, Motivation to learn, nature and kids, Parenting, Perspective taking, sense of awe and wonder, summer enrichment
For Promoting Social and Emotional Skills in the Home or Classroom Mandy is having a tough day because each friend or relative she meets can’t play. But the narrator of this story asks good questions of Mandy to learn more. It turns out her friend got in trouble and wasn’t allowed to play. Another friend …
Category: Building a Positive Family Environment Tags: "The Grit Up Series", Abbie Kelley, Care to repair, Empathy, negative self-talk, Relationship skills, Responsible decision-making, Self awareness, Self-management, Social and Emotional Learning, Social and emotional skill building, Social awareness
Perhaps you volunteer in your child’s classroom as I do and are helping plan the annual Halloween party. Maybe you are a teacher looking for ways to both entertain, celebrate, and build skills on the holiday. Or you could be planning a costume party for family and friends. Whatever your role or goal, the following …
Category: Building a Positive Family Environment Tags: Active listening, classroom cooperative games, Collaboration, Collaborative games, Creative thinking, Empathy, halloween cooperative games, halloween games, halloween party, Negotiation, Nonverbal communication, Perspective taking, Problem solving, Social awareness
THE GHOST OF A FLOWER “You’re what?” asked the common or garden spook Of a stranger at midnight’s hour. And the shade replied with a graceful glide, “Why, I’m the ghost of a flower.” “The ghost of a flower?” said the old-time spook; “That’s a brand-new one on me; I never supposed a flower had …
Category: Building a Positive Family Environment Tags: Ages and Stages, Cognitive flexibility, Empathy, Executive function, Halloween, Kids and Halloween, Parenting and Halloween, Perspective taking skills, perspective-taking development, Relational Frame Theory, school readiness, Self-regulation, Teaching kids empathy, Theory of Mind
