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An Attitude of GRATITUDE To Address Stress , Peer Pressure and Anxiety
Gratitude, or the concept of living your life with gratitude, is not new. The idea of maintaining the mindset of being grateful for what you have has been around for, well, forever. So why does gratitude continue to be a buzzword? Perhaps it is the fast pace of life and the stress and anxiety that it causes. Being grateful for your life, health, family, and friends can help keep perspective.
Being grateful for your life as it is also keeps you grounded and present in your now. We are not always thinking about what we need to have in the future, what we missed out on in the past, or how much better our lives would be if only...
So, sure, you may agree with all of that. It all sounds good, right? But, it's tough? You bet! Our culture is a more, more, more, more, type thing. We are conditioned to want the newest, best, biggest, fastest of everything. But, what happens when we don’t have and can’t get those things?
The Counselor's will be talking with their students about gratitude, and peer pressure, this month and how it makes us feel.
Here is the million dollar question………………..how do we get to a place of gratitude? How do we help our children wake every day and go to bed every night feeling grateful for the abundance of our lives? Focus on being grateful in the moment. As with any other form of discipline: healthy eating, exercise, this takes a bit of practice and some time to develop a habit. Your life is abundant and full ... you just need to remember it and be grateful!
Credit to Gina Howe
Six Ways for Children to Handle Peer Pressure
1. Say “NO”
Use a firm voice and maintain eye contact. Look the other person straight in the eye. You may have to repeat “NO” if the other person persists.
2. Give a Reason
Tell why you don’t want to do the activity. You probably have lots of good reasons and may be able to talk your friend out of doing the activity as well!
3. Suggest an Alternative
Think of something healthy that you and your friend could do instead. Try to find something that your friend would enjoy. Sound convincing. This is an important way to take charge in a difficult situation.
4. Change the Subject
This may help get your friend’s mind off of the unhealthy behavior.
5. Challenge the Challenger
Reverse the pressure – put your friend on the spot! You might say: “Why are you pressuring me?” or “If you were a true friend, you would respect my right to say no and wouldn’t keep pressuring me.”
6. Leave the Situation
Leaving is a good strategy when none of the other steps work or when you can’t think of what to say. If you can get your friend to go with you, fine. If not, leave by yourself.
So Many Activities, So Little Time
1. Aim for 3 activities
Though every child is different, psychologists often suggest involving a child in no more than three activities at a time: one social activity (like Boys’ Club or a church group); one physical activity (like gymnastics, swimming, or basketball); and one artistic activity, such as an art class or music lessons.
2. Schedule downtime
Children need time to ponder, explore, and play— but an overloaded schedule prevents that. Make sure that when the day is over and the homework is done, there’s still time for your child to be a kid.
3. Limit involvement
To avoid burnout, keep involvement in any one activity to just a day or two a week, unless your child absolutely begs for more. Check with them periodically to make sure they are still eager to attend; if not, scale back.
4. Broaden their horizons
Although following your child’s interests is important, introduce your child to something new, whether it’s a new sport, a musical instrument, or a group like Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts.
5. Change it up
Specializing in one activity— especially a sport—at a very young age can be harmful. Pediatricians discourage the kind of repetitive movements that come from concentrated effort in one sport. Plus, kids who dedicate themselves to a single sport early can burn out later and may regret not trying other sports.
Watch for signs of stress. The stress of trying to keep up with too many planned activities can take a physical toll on your child.
6. Watch for signs of stress
Including stomachaches and headaches, difficulty paying attention, a drop-off in interest in activities he or she used to enjoy, and increased “clinginess” with a parent or other close adult (e.g., teacher, babysitter). If you notice any of these signs, chances are your child needs to cut back on activities and destress.
7. Be supportive, not critical
No matter what your child is interested in, remember that your job as a parent is to be supportive. The point of activities is to expand your child’s interests and abilities, not to transform him or her into a child prodigy or the next sports superstar.
8.Decompress at home
Make sure there’s room in your schedule for family time. Children need to have meals with their parents, hear bedtime stories, share chores, and play games. Extra-curricular activities can help children learn and grow, but remember that what your child needs first and foremost is to feel special and loved.
This Report to Parents, was posted and copied with permission from naesp.org
10 Ways to Help Your Child Stand Up to Peer Pressure
Peer pressure is a natural occurrence in every child's life. It's important to take peer pressure seriously because it has the potential to impact the decisions your child makes. Many children need help standing up to their peers and making the right decision, and that's where you come in.
In order to have influence over what decisions your child makes you'll want to develop a strong bond with them and thus, a strong line of communication. If you want your child to be open and honest with you then, you need to do the same with them. Below are some tips to help your child deal with the stress of peer pressure:
1. Strengthen the bond with your child. He will be more likely to respect your views and values and better able to resist peer pressure if he has a good relationship with you and feels you are a source of support.
2. Promote your child's self-esteem. Children who are confident and have positive self-worth are more likely to pursue friendships with children who are good role models and better able to resist negative peer pressure. Find opportunities to boost your child's self-esteem and enjoy success by involving him in activities that capitalize on his strengths and interests.
3. Set a good example. Your child is a keen observer of what you do and may learn more from what he sees than what he hears. If he sees that you are constantly striving to keep up with other parents, he will likely do the same with his peers.
4. Talk with your child about peer pressure. Let your child know that you understand how hard it can be at his age to do things that make him stand out. Tell him that his peers may respect his decision not to join them in an activity even though they may not express it, and that some may even admire his courage in resisting what they could not. Help him understand that a friend who is pressuring him to do something that may be harmful is not much of a friend.
5. Avoid overreacting when talking about peer issues. Your child may tell you things that may make your jaw drop. If you overreact, you will discourage him from talking with you about these issues again. At the same time use these teachable moments to introduce some cautions without moralizing or lecturing.
6. Choose your battles carefully. Don't make an issue out of your child's wanting to wear the same clothes as his friends or adopt a trendy hairstyle. Make your stand on high-risk peer behavior. Battling your child constantly over minor issues may drive your child toward peers who are similarly alienated from their parents. Not sweating the small stuff will enable you to be more effective when you challenge him on the larger issues.
7. Help your child develop good decision-making skills. If he can learn to trust his own instincts when making decisions, he will be less likely to let others make decisions for him. Encourage him to think through the possible consequences of the decision he is facing, including whether it may cause him harm.
8. Help your child develop responses to peers. Help him figure out what to say to peers who are pressuring him to participate in high-risk activities. Suggest responses that are short and simple and that he can say comfortably. If he is receptive, role-play with him or encourage him to practice in front of a mirror
9. Get to know your child's friends. Make a point of encouraging your child to invite his friends home. Spend some time with them and assess whether they are positive influences.
10. Don't hesitate to set limits for your child. Your willingness to say no to him sets a good example and may help give him the courage to say no to a peer when faced with a potentially harmful situation.
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Website: www.southlakecarroll.edu
Location: Southlake, TX, United States
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