Counselor Connection
Woodside K-8 * October 2020
Supporting Families with PBIS At Home
Hello Woodside Cougars!
As we enter into another month of distance learning, many families have asked for strategies to support positive behaviors at home. When routines are disrupted, such as dealing with a pandemic and combining school, work, and home lives, it is not uncommon to see challenging behaviors emerge.
Woodside is a PBIS (Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports) school. PBIS is a highly effective way to build children’s social-emotional-behavioral skills and reduce challenging behaviors. PBIS can be effectively used at home too, especially during distance learning. Below are some recommendations for families and caregivers on how to use PBIS to support their children’s social and emotional growth and minimize behavioral disruptions in the home.
Set Routines
Most children thrive when they have routines and structure. When schools are not in session, students may have fewer predictable routines, which can increase their anxiety and challenging behaviors. To cut down on behavior problems, families and caregivers can mimic school routines with their children and set up times for learning, exercise, and play.
Set Expectations
School has a chart with desired behaviors and what those behaviors look like in each setting. For example, “Be Respectful” (what’s expected) in the classroom (where it’s expected) by raising their hand before speaking (the desired behavior). These can be adapted by families to fit the home setting.
Teach, Remind, Reward
Just like schools that use PBIS, doing so at home is much more powerful with a plan to teach, remind, and reward behaviors using positive feedback. Emphasizing respect, responsibility, and a sense of community is important for maintaining a smooth home-school connection.
For more information, visit this resource: PBIS At Home
Mary Lund
Dianne Roenicke
Alex Meyerzon
Counseling Website
Check out our website for more information!
Behavior Limit Setting
Using the acronym ACT will help you remember three simple steps to setting a limit with a child. Setting a limit means redirecting their inappropriate behavior towards a more appropriate behavior. This works well with all age levels, but try to tailor each step towards the child’s development level.
A – Acknowledge the feeling
C – Communicate the Limit
T – Target Alternatives
Acknowledge the feeling. Letting a child know that you know how they are feeling helps them to feel heard and understood. Acknowledging emotions also helps an upset child address their feelings and can help them calm down faster. You are showing the child that you see and understand WHY they are doing what they are doing.
“Anna, I know that you are angry and want to hit me…”
“Johnny, I see that you are feeling very excited and social…”
“Emilia, I see that you really want to play with that toy…”
“Devon, I see you are really enjoying your video game…”
Communicate the limit. It is alright for a child to have feelings, but it is not appropriate for them to behave destructively or inappropriately. After validating their emotions, let them know that what they are doing is not OK. Be sure to word the limit so that you are saying “no” to the behavior and not to the child themselves.
“…but I am not for hitting.”
“…but circle time is not for side conversations.”
“…but your sister is playing with that toy right now.”
“…but right now is for dinner.”
This puts the focus on the child’s action rather than their feeling or person. Behaviors are easier for a child to change than feelings are, which is why the third step is to offer choices of other ways to behave.
Target acceptable alternatives. Simply telling a child “no” can lead them to feeling frustrated. They are trying to deal with their emotions and need to learn how to handle them safely. Offer other ways they can express themselves that are acceptable to you. It is also important that the child feels they have the ability to make their own choice, which helps them learn responsibility and problem solving. Offer one choice for younger children and 2-3 choices for older children and teens.
“You can choose to hit the pillow.”
“You can choose to talk to your friend before class or after.”
“You can choose to ask her to share with your words, or you can choose to play with a different toy until she is done.”
“You can choose to come to dinner now or in 2 minutes.”
It is important that you do not offer a choice that you do not want the child to choose. For example, you wouldn’t suggest that they hit the dog instead of you.
For Teens:
The A-C-T method can also be used with teens. We often want to treat teens as adults, but their brains are not fully developed yet and they need clear communication of concrete limits like children do. Tweak the language slightly so that the teen does not feel talked down to, but can still understand what you are saying. For example, “I know you are upset about not being able to go out with your friends tonight, but school nights are for doing homework and chores. You can choose to see your friends on Friday night or invite them to come over on Saturday.”
Character Trait: Responsibility
Much like adults, children want to feel that they matter to the world and make a positive contribution. How do we teach them to recognize their impact and be responsible for their decisions? Here are some practical tips to use at home!
- Give them opportunities to contribute every day
- Always allow them to "help" or "do it myself" even if it's more work for you
- Let your child do the thinking. Instead of "Brush your teeth!" try "What do you need to do next?"
WANT MORE? Click HERE
October is National Bullying Prevention Month
Every October, individuals from across the nation—and around the world—unite with the powerful message that bullying should never be a part of childhood.
Every day thousands of young people experience bullying from their peers while at school, after school in their neighborhoods, and even when they are at home, through social media and texts. There are many ways to support bullying prevention as an individual or with friends and family, and within your school or community.
What is Cyber Bullying? click here
Anti bullying curriculum for Teachers:
• Elementary click here
• Middle School click here
Parent Information on Covid 19 and Cyberbullying
https://www.pacer.org/bullying/classroom/pdf/covid-infographic-parents.pdf
October 21st is Unity Day!
Students remember to wear Orange on Wednesday October 21st to show we are united against bullying and stand up for kindness!
Red Ribbon Week - October 26-30th
What Is Red Ribbon Week? It is an ideal way for people and communities to unite and take a visible stand against drugs. Show your personal commitment to a drug-free lifestyle through the symbol of the Red Ribbon. This campaign has been going since 1985. Since then there has been a continuing tradition of displaying Red Ribbons as a symbol of intolerance towards the use of drugs. The mission of the Red Ribbon Campaign® is to present a unified and visible commitment towards the creation of a DRUG - FREE AMERICA.
October 26-30th is Red Ribbon Week! This year’s theme is "Be Happy. Be Brave. Be Drug Free". The theme is a reminder that by staying drug free, you are sending a message to yourself and others about how much you value yourself, your overall health, your community and your future. One thing’s for sure...by making healthy choices, like staying drug free, you are much more likely to achieve your goals. So aim for the stars! We believe in you.
Don't forget to show your spirit for dress up days!
- Monday 10/26 - Wear Red – Be Happy, Be Brave, Be Drug Free, Be You!
- Tuesday 10/27 - Mustache Day – We mustache you to be drug free
- Wednesday 10/28 - Be a Super Hero Day – You have the power to be drug free
- Thursday 10/29 - Crazy hair or hat day – It’s crazy to do drugs
- Friday 10/30 - Say boo to drugs! Dress up like your favorite character from a book
Fall 2020 Resource Hub
Get Help
Request for Assistance referral form for social and emotional support, basic needs support and health support.
Virtual Calming Room
Mental Health Resources
If you or your student is experiencing a life-threatening emergency, please call 911 or go to the nearest ER. If you or your student is experiencing a mental health crisis you can visit the Mental Health Urgent Care Clinic during business hours (10AM-10PM weekdays or 10-6 weekends) or call one of the following emergency numbers.
Mental Health Urgent Care Clinic
2130 Stockton Boulevard, Building 300, Sacramento, CA 95817
(916) 520-2460
24-Hour Suicide Prevention Crisis Line: (916) 368-3111
National Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255