Finn Hill Counseling Newsletter
By Gail Lee, Katie Keller, Kirstin Doughty and Camila Larson
Recognizing that the transition back to full time in school learning is a challenge for a lot of our students, know that we are doing everything we can to help your kids with the adjustment. In this newsletter you will find articles we think are valuable, group offerings, things to look forward to, resources, and how to contact us if you have a need. Please don't hesitate to reach out if there is anything you believe we can help with.
Best,
Your Finn Hill Counselors
SHOULD I LET MY KID WATCH THE NETFLIX SHOW SQUID GAME?
I found this fabulous article by Arcadia Kim, founder of Infinite Screentime.
Hi All,
Unless you have been living in a closed off world on a distant unknown island, you’ve probably been hearing a lot about the popular Korean dystopian drama on Netflix. Kids are begging parents to watch it, sneaking off to watch episodes on their own, and those red jumpsuits seemed to be all the rage on Halloween. See photo below.
Parents are concerned about kids mimicking the game on the school yard with many school boards issuing official statements warning parents about the series.
After personally watching the entire series and discussing it with my ragtag crew of other child advocates and screentime experts, here is what you need to know about Squid Game.
The series contains:
- Intense violence, torture, sadistic pleasure from said torture and violence
- Lots of blood, RED blood. Not the fake black colored blood of the typical American action movies… The red oozing kind of horror movies. Cue: blood-curdling scream.
- Content of sex in a bathroom stall, oral sex, organ harvesting, dead people, lots of dead people 455 to be exact, in various states of death... shot in the head, at far range, stabbed, broken necks, falling from great heights, just to name a few.
- Overall fascination and elevation of gambling, conning, secrecy, and winning at all costs.
Additionally, here is what is happening now because of the series:
- 111 million Netflix accounts have watched the show. #SquidGame has been view more than 22.8 billion times on TikTok
- Parents and kids disagree about what age the show is appropriate. Common Sense Media reports that parents say 17+ and kids say 14+.
- The game Red Light, Green Light* (see footnote) is very popular on EVERY schoolyard
- Unless you understand Korean and spent some time in Korea*, you missed the nuance of this truly innovative and thought-provoking series
So, should your kid be watching Squid Game?
If your kid is in elementary school, ABSOLUTELY NOT
Beyond that, it all depends on your family’s values. Deciding to watch a new series should always warrant a discussion, an understanding of the pros and cons, and a deliberate choice to watch or not.
My advice would be to have your child read the reviews about the show and have her come to her own conclusion about what she shouldn’t be exposed to. Having your teen build their own skills to curate their media choices is part of them becoming an adult and crafting their identity. (Remember your Deelite collection of B-sides and vinyl boots? Groove IS in the heart!)
Teach them the tools from the start!
General rule: When he asks to watch something, the simple response of “Have you done the research to see if it is appropriate for you?” Is something that puts the agency back in the kid’s hand. There are consequences of them having seen something inappropriate. (Anxiety worry etc. )
In our house, we ask. “Have you Common Sensed it?” That usually stops them in their tracks.
That being said…
If there is content that is borderline but fits with your family’s values (my youngest has seen most of the Marvel movies since age 7) then watching it together in a safe physical space (lights on, snuggles, comfort, frequent breaks) is the way to go!!!
And for reasons above, resistance to squid may be futile. Trying to block it entirely might not be a battle worth fighting. Instead, think of ways that you can integrate it into your family safely.
My 9 and 12 year old daughters were curious about the show because everyone was talking about it at school and their parents (us) seemed to be rushing them off to bed early to watch it!
So first we explained the reasons why the content was inappropriate, but rather than keeping the show a secret, we decided to do a dramatic storytelling of each episode the next day during dinner. They were riveted for the first 3 episodes, and then they only wanted to hear who won the game. And yes, they were just as disappointed as us with the unresolved ending.
5 Steps to Fighting Stress by D'Arcy Lyness, PhD
Everybody gets stressed from time to time. Different people feel stress in different ways. Some ways of dealing with stress — like screaming, hitting someone, or punching a wall — don't solve much. But other ways, like talking to someone you trust, can start you on the road to solving your problem or at least feeling better.
Try taking these five steps the next time you are stressed:
- Get support. When you need help, reach out to the people who care about you. Talk to a trusted adult, such as a parent, other relative, a school counselor, or a coach. And don't forget about your friends. They might be worried about the same test or have had similar problems, such as dealing with a divorce or the death of a beloved pet.
- Don't freak out! It's easy to let your feelings go wild when you're upset. Notice your feelings, and name them — for example, "I am so angry!" And say or think about why you feel that way. Then, find a way to calm down and get past the upset feelings and find a way to express them. Do breathing exercises, listen to music, write in a journal, play with a pet, go for a walk or a bike ride, or do whatever helps you shift to a better mood.
- Don't take it out on yourself. Sometimes when kids are stressed and upset they take it out on themselves. Oh, dear, that's not a good idea. Remember that there are always people to help you. Don't take it out on yourself. Be kind to yourself and ask for the helping hand or pat on the back that you need — and deserve — to get you through the tough situation you're facing.
- Try to solve the problem. After you're calm and you have support from adults and friends, it's time to get down to business. You need to figure out what the problem is. Even if you can't solve all of it, maybe you can begin by solving a piece of it.
- Be positive — most stress is temporary. It may not seem like it when you're in the middle a stressful situation, but stress does go away, often when you figure out the problem and start working on solving it.
These five steps aren't magic — and you might have to do some steps more than once, but they do work. And if you can stay positive as you make your way through a tough time, you'll help yourself feel better even faster. Ah . . . it feels so good when the stress is gone!
Groups
Peer Mentor Program
Small Groups
Sib Group - for students who have a sibling with special needs.
Family Group - for students who have a family member with significant issues.
Anxiety Group - for students who struggle with managing their anxiety at school.
Resources
Is your family in need of resources or support? Please fill out the attached form or use the link to fill out the online version to request services.
Online link for Resources and Support form
https://forms.office.com/r/0E0rHGPEKm
Here are some additional community resources:
Food Resources
- Hopelink – Provides pre-packed boxes of food available for pickup. Call or check website for hours.
- Pantry Packs
- Redmond United Methodist Church (Open Kitchen) – Meals provided to go every Wednesday from 5 - 6 p.m. Call for more details: 206-601-1531.
- Washington State Department of Social and Health Services – Basic food program
Computers/Internet Access
- 1 Green Planet – Contact Chris Biddle. They are donating computers and laptops for district students in need for online learning. Device inventories vary so reach out to Chris for availability.
- Comcast Xfinity – Wifi hotspots across King County will be available to anyone who needs them for free.
- Emergency Broadband Benefit Program – Free or low-cost internet access for qualifying families
- Everyone On: Low Cost Internet Access – A compiled and regularly updated list of national low cost or free internet access resources.
- Internet Essentials – Visit website or call 855-846-8376.
Economic Resources
- Attain Housing – Provides help with eviction prevention and move-in assistance for families with children through its Stable Home program. Call 425-828-0489 for more information.
- Catholic Community Services (Eastside office) – Accepts calls on Wednesdays from 2 - 4 p.m. at 425-213-1963 ext. 2.
- Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation – Works with financial institutions to help customers with their mortgage. For more information, visit the website or call your mortgage company for more detailed directions.
- Hopelink Rent Assistance – Or call 425-943-7555 for more details
- Muslim Community Resource Center – Offers rent and utility assistance, food assistance, prescription and medication assistance. Call 888-404-6272 for more information.
- Puget Sound Energy COVID-19 Pandemic Assistance Fund
- The Salvation Army – Provides emergency assistance. Call 425-452-7300 for more details.
- St. Vincent de Paul Helpline – 206-767-6449. For help with rent, utilities and food assistance. Open Mondays - Fridays from 8 a.m. - 3 p.m.
- South King County and Eastside COVID-19 Coronavirus Mutual Aid Group – Support for abuse survivors, sick and disabled, immunocompromised, undocumented, LGBTQ+ and communities of color. Fill out this Google doc if you are interested in receiving support.
- Unemployment – Online resources outline what steps to take to get unemployment assistance for people affected by COVID-19 (laid off, in quarantine)
- Washington Assistance for Renters – Housing stability "bridge" July 1 - September 30, 2021.
- Washington Resources Information
- Washington State Department of Financial Institutions – List of resources for Washington consumers impacted by COVID-19
Wellness
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
- Children’s Health Coverage Programs in WA
- Community Health Access Program (CHAP) – Program for people who would like to see a doctor, but do not have one. Call 1-800-756-5437 for a free consultation and connection to free or low-cost medical providers and low-cost health insurance.
- Disaster Distress Helpline – Provides free, multilingual and confidential crisis counseling. Call 1-800-985-5990 or text TalkWithUs to 66746.
- KCLS - Free yoga and meditation streaming videos for stress reduction
- King County Public Health
- TeenLink – Call 866-833-6546 to talk to a trained volunteer.
- Sunshine Behavioral Health – Telehealth and online mental health resources
- Washington Department of Health
- Washington coronavirus response
- Youth Eastside Services
Looking Ahead
January 24/27 - Juanita HS counselors @ FHMS to register 8th graders for high school
February - Registration for 7th and 8th grade
February 24 - Suicide Prevention Presentations in Health classes (7th grade)
Contact Us
Camila Larson (A-K) clarson@lwsd.org
Gail Lee (L-Q) gvecchiet@lwsd.org
Katie Keller (L-Q Intern) kkeller@lwsd.org
Kirstin Doughty (R-Z) kdoughty@lwsd.org
Tara Eason (registrar) teason@lwsd.org
For more information visit us on the FHMS Counseling Webpage
Website: https://fhms.lwsd.org/
Location: 8040 Northeast 132nd Street, Kirkland, WA, USA
Phone: 425-936-2340