School Counselor Newsletter
Ms. Davenport School Counselor -September 16th, 2020
School Counselor Contact info/ Bitmoji Classroom
Hello My School Families! I hope you are all doing as well as can be expected during these difficult and trying times. I wanted to reach out to you and let you know that just because we aren't in school right now doesn't mean your kids no longer have access to their school counselor. I'm still here, just working in a little bit different capacity now! I'm meeting and checking in with kids via text, phone, and Zoom appts, and doing Lunch bunch Zooms as well as a host of other things to support families.
https://sites.google.com/asdk12.net/msdavenport/home
Helping Kids Cope with Big Feelings
Helping Children Cope
Children can have the same big
feelings that we do. The difference for
adults, though, is that we have more life
experience to know how to deal with difficult emotions. When our children feel fear, anxiety, or anger, they need our help to learn how to cope. Here are some tips:
Name the feeling(s)
Help your child figure out which feeling they are having/were having. Putting a name to it can help validate their experience. Having a feelings poster or reading children’s books about feelings can be helpful to identify their own feeling.
Normalize the feeling(s)
It can be confusing for a child who’s feelings take over and lead to behaviors they may not usually have. Explain that all people have these feelings sometimes, and we all have to learn how to manage them.
Talk about the brain
Our brains and our bodies are connected, and our brains send out signals when we experience certain “big feelings.” Explain that we have a part of our brain (thinking brain) that’s in charge of making decisions, thinking things through, and managing our emotions. Explain that
another part of our brain (emotional brain) is in charge of important things like breathing, digesting food, and holds onto big feelings like anger or anxiety; this part of our brain also reacts to any threats, and can make us feel like we need to run (flight), fight back, or freeze. Sometimes this part of our brain overreacts, and we need to try strategies to calm it down. (For a full script of the brain conversation, visit https://imperfectfamilies.com/what anxious-and-angry-kids-need-to-know-about-their-brain/)
Practice self-regulation skills
When children are calm, their thinking brain is on, and this is the best time to come up with a plan for when their emotional brain tries to take over. Encourage taking a break (not a timeout), deep breathing, releasing angry energy by exercising, and relaxation strategies such as progressive muscle relaxation, coloring, calm down jars, music, etc. Practice these repeatedly when they are calm. Helping your child begin to recognize their body’s early signs of a big feeling (heart racing, clenched jaw, etc.) can help them learn when to employ their self-regulation skills.
School Counselor
Brandy Davenport
MSCP, M.ED
Abbott Loop/ Tyson Elementary 742-5468 (Leave a message and I will be notified immediately by email)
Tyson AEA rep
Alternating every 2 weeks at each school.
Abbott Weeks 9/21-10/2, 10/19-10/30, 11/16-11/27, 12/14-12/18
Tyson Weeks 9/7-9/18, 10/5-10/16, 11/2-11/13, 11/30-12/11
Email: Davenport_Brandy@asdk12.org
Website: https://sites.google.com/asdk12.net/msdavenport/home
Location: Abbott Loop/Tyson Elementary
Phone: (907)742-5468