Pupil Services Department
May 2019
5 Fun Ways to Keep Kids’ Social Skills Fresh
According to a recent study, American educators re-teach about a month of material lost to summertime inactivity every fall. Schools tend to focus on reading and math proficiency, but sustained development in Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) is arguably just as important. A better sense of responsibility, respect, compassion, and perseverance naturally enhances academic performance.
Summertime doesn’t have to mean a slide in personal growth. These fun activities can help kids keep their Social-Emotional Learning fresh over the summer, and learn more about themselves and others along the way.
The complete article can be found here, including supporting research.
-Holly Schneider, Barlow Park Elementary /Journey Charter Schools Counselor
Social and Emotional Learning: Strategies for Parents
Murray Park/ Quest staff members have been focusing their professional development on Social and Emotional Learning (SEL), in an effort to better understand and more effectively work with students. If you’d like to understand more about SEL and what you can do to work with your child at home, to enhance these skills, check out this excerpt from an Edutopia article:
Parents have a dual role to play in raising a self-aware, respectful child who knows how to manage his or her emotions, make responsible decisions, and resolve conflicts non-violently. At home, you should strive to create an environment of trust, respect, and support. Modeling "emotionally intelligent" behavior at home is the first step in nurturing emotionally intelligent children. Here are some specific steps you can take.
Be a good listener. Listening is a "core competency skill." Unfortunately, it's not always practiced by parents or children. Look for opportunities to listen to your child intently, free of distractions.
Model the behavior you seek. Whether it's apologizing when you're in the wrong or treating others with respect and kindness, children learn a great deal about relationships from observing the behavior of their parents.
Nurture your child's self-esteem. A child with a good sense of self is happier, more well-adjusted, and does better in school. Strategies for fostering self-esteem include giving your child responsibilities, allowing her to make age-appropriate choices, and showing your appreciation for a job well done.
Respect differences. Every child has his or her own unique talents and abilities. Whether in academics, athletics, or interpersonal relationships, honor your child's accomplishments and provide support and encouragement for the inevitable challenges he faces.
Take advantage of support services. Seek the advice and support of school counselors or other social services during times of family crisis, such as a divorce or the death of a close friend or family member.
The complete article, as well as additional resources you can use to learn more about SEL can be found at: https://www.edutopia.org/social-emotional-learning-parent-resources
-Emmy Marvin, Murray Park/Quest Counselor
Do You Focus on #4Mind4Body?
Mental health is essential to everyone’s overall health and well-being, and mental illnesses are common and treatable. So much of what we do physically impacts us mentally – it’s important to pay attention to both your physical health and your mental health, which can help you achieve overall wellness and set you on a path to recovery.
Did you know that Mental Health America (MHA) founded May is Mental Health Month back in 1949? That means this year marks MHA’s 70th year celebrating Mental Health Month!
This May is Mental Health Month and we are raising awareness about the connection between physical health and mental health, through the theme #4Mind4Body. We are exploring the topics of animal companionship, humor, work-life balance, and recreation and social connections as ways to boost mental health and general wellness.
A healthy lifestyle can help to prevent the onset or worsening of mental health conditions, as well as chronic conditions like heart disease, diabetes, and obesity. It can also help people recover from these conditions. For those dealing with a chronic health condition and the people who care for them, it can be especially important to focus on mental health. When dealing with dueling diagnoses, focusing on both physical and mental health concerns can be daunting – but critically important in achieving overall wellness.
There are things you can do that may help. Finding a reason to laugh, going for a walk with a friend, meditating, playing with a pet, or working from home once a week can go a long way in making you both physically and mentally healthy. The company of animals – whether as pets or service animals— can have a profound impact on a person’s quality of life and ability to recover from illnesses. A pet can be a source of comfort and can help us to live mentally healthier lives.
We want everyone to know that mental illnesses are real, and recovery is always the goal. Living a healthy lifestyle may not be easy but can be achieved by gradually making small changes and building on those successes. Finding the balance between work and play, the ups and downs of life, physical health and mental health, can help you on the path towards focusing both #4Mind4Body.
For more information, visit www.mentalhealthamerica.net/may.
-Angie Meilahn and Rob Toepel, School Psychologists
Your Students and Technology
Summer break is right around the corner! We know that this may increase free time and screen time for many students. The following excerpt from the American Academy of Pediatrics outlines some helpful tips for families regarding healthy technology use.
Make your own family media use plan. Media should work for you and within your family values and parenting style. The following link will help you create goals and rules that are in line with your family’s values; make your plan at HealthyChildren.org/MediaUsePlan.
Treat media as you would any other environment in your child's life. The same parenting guidelines apply in both real and virtual environments. Set limits; kids need and expect them. Know your children's friends, both online and off.
Screen time shouldn't always be alone time. Co-view, co-play and co-engage with your children when they are using screens—it encourages social interactions, bonding, and learning. Don't just monitor them online—interact with them, so you can understand what they are doing and be a part of it.
Be a good role model. Teach and model kindness and good manners online. Because children are great mimics, limit your own media use.
Create tech-free zones. Keep family mealtimes, other family and social gatherings, and children's bedrooms screen free. These changes encourage more family time, healthier eating habits, and better sleep.
It's OK for your teen to be online. Online relationships are part of typical adolescent development. Social media can support teens as they explore and discover more about themselves and their place in the grown-up world. Keep lines of communication open and let them know you're there if they have questions or concerns.
Warn children about the importance of privacy and the dangers of predators and sexting. Teens need to know that once content is shared with others, they will not be able to delete or remove it completely, and includes texting of inappropriate pictures. They may also not know about or choose not to use privacy settings, and they need to be warned that sex offenders often use social networking, chat rooms, e-mail, and online gaming to contact and exploit children.
Remember: Kids will be kids. Kids will make mistakes using media. Try to handle errors with empathy and turn a mistake into a teachable moment. But some indiscretions, such as sexting, bullying, or posting self-harm images, may be a red flag that hints at trouble ahead. Parents must observe carefully their children's behaviors and, if needed, enlist supportive professional help, including the family pediatrician.
The full article can be viewed at https://www.healthychildren.org/English/family-life/Media/Pages/Tips-for-Parents-Digital-Age.aspx
-Rebecca Maas and Sam Daun, Ripon High School and Lumen Charter High Counselors