News From Your School Psychologist
November 2020:An Attitude of Gratitude
The new Gratitude
Research demonstrates that these small gestures can result in tremendous impact in well-being (Emmons, 2007a, Emmons, 2007b, Emmons, 2010, Emmons & Shelton, 2002). While we can impact others by expressing gratitude directly, we can greatly enhance our own well-being by articulating gratitude in written or spoken form, even to ourselves, which allows us to focus in the moment on what we appreciate and brings us joy, happiness, or satisfaction.
Brain Behavior
It's Science
Big Kids
According to a study in the Journal of School Psychology (2008), they found that grateful children (ages 11-13) were happier and more optimistic. They reported more satisfaction with their families, schools, friends, and themselves.
Little Kids
How to talk to kids about Gratitude
According to the Berkley's Great Good Science Center, "kids who practice gratitude are less depressed, jealous of others, and less materialistic" They tend to be satisfied with their community, do better in school, and have better social support."
Watch this video to find out the parts of gratitude to guide your conversation the next time your child gets a gift or someone does something kind for them...
What parents neglect to teach about gratitude
Research suggests that the experience of gratitude has four parts, but we rarely teach all of them to our kids. The 4 parts are listed below. For full article:
https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/what_parents_neglect_to_teach_about_gratitudeGet Your Free Card Pack
Make a Gratitude Heart
This is probably my favorite all time activity to do with students and family members.
This activity promotes positivity, coping, and self awareness. Further, it is interesting to see how everyone's hearts are so different. People all get joy from different places.
All you need is markers and paper.
At first glance, this seems like an easy activity. However, it forces kids to stop and assign an amount or value to their different items and decide how big to make the sections. Before I started, I jotted down a list of the things I love so I knew how many sections I needed. Then I had to decide what things impacted by happiness the most.Also, it is fun for everyone in the family to do their own and compare
Step 2: Decide which items give you a lot of joy and which give you a little joy. In other words, try to rank order how important they are to you.
Step 3: Draw your heart. Break into sections for all that give you joy. If it brings you a lot of joy and is super important, draw as a big section.
3 good things-
3 Good things is App, but you can do this easily in a journal
What the research says:
When studying at Duke University, one of the founders started experiencing symptoms of depression. As an alternative to medication, a counselor told her about some incredible research the university had recently done.
Dr. Bryan Sexton, associate professor in psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Duke’s School of Medicine, found that simply listing three good things each day in a particular way increased happiness more effectively than Prozac! Participants were asked to:
List 3 good things that happened that day, noting their active role in the events (e.g. "I saw a pretty sunset today" rather than just writing "There was a pretty sunset").
Describe the emotion felt in each positive moment.
Results:
Increased feeling of well-being.
Improved sleep quality—when done within 2 hours of bedtime.
Greater mental reslience
Make it visable
Gratitude reduces anxiety
In a study published in The Journal of Positive Psychology, Giacomo Bono and his colleagues found that when high schoolers are taught about gratitude and given opportunities to practice it, they show improved mental health and wellness.
https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/how_gratitude_can_help_with_students_anxiety
9 Box check in
This is a great tool fill out. It is great for kids and adults. Also very interesting to compare your responses, even if you live in the same house. You can print it or just write on a separate paper
Dinner Time Game: My life without...
Imagining life without certain items is a much more concrete and literal exercise that can generate appreciation at the same time. Kids will be in awe of some of the things that weren't around when parents or grandparents were little. It is fun to turn this into a "would you rather" game. See the worksheet from Everyday Speech (below) which lists some of these important modern day luxuries.
Mindfulness
Thanksgiving ABC Table game
Book Corner
A Kid's Book About Gratitude by Ben Kenyon
This book is part of a larger series called the "A Kid's Book About..." series. They cover really important topics in a kid friendly way. Plus, it was featured as one of Oprah's Favorite Things!
Summary
"This book explores what it means to be grateful. Not just for the big things like birthday parties and iPhones, but the small things like dinner, a cozy bed, and a sunny day. This book doesn’t teach kids how to pretend like everything is always ok, but to change their perspective to live bold, influential, and authentic lives."
If you have time, check out all of the "A Kid's Book About...." titles below
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Sprague School Calm Down Kit
Contact Me-Susan Elbaum, NCSP; Sprague School Psychologist
Email: selbaum@d103.org
Phone: 847-634-6463