Eagle Counseling Update
A note from Ms. Mason
Hello Eagle families!
Find the calm in the chaos
When everything in life seems uncertain and unfamiliar, we all crave the predictable. Each of your families have different needs and work demands, and I’m here to help you personalize a schedule that works best for you. Here is an example of a schedule that some families are using . If you would like to talk through how to design a schedule that works best with the needs of your family, please give me a call at 972-350-5546, or email me at masone@lisd.net.
There are many ways Ms. Mason can help-
- Helping your child stay motivated to complete assignments
- Troubleshooting at home learning routines
- Helping children process emotions and stress
- Family routines to help siblings in conflict
- Much more!
Here are some quick family connection activity ideas
Belly breathing
Breathing is one of those biological reflexes that we take for granted. It is happening all the time, and we rarely think about it.
Learning to take deep, cleansing breaths is an easy and instant way to inspire a few moments of quiet focus.
- Have your child rest their hands on their belly, eyes closed.
- Encourage them to breathe in deeply through her nose to the count of five, hold it for two seconds, and then count down as they exhales every drop of breath.
- Ask your child to notice how their chest rises and falls as he/she fills her lungs with air and releases it.
If that's too much quiet to expect from your little one, whisper animal sounds on the exhale like the buzz of a bee or the moo of a cow.
Family meeting
Set aside some time tonight to talk about how things are going with at home learning and/or working from home. As a family make a list of what is going really well and what improvements are needed. Try to keep the conversation mostly positive, and come up with 1-2 manageable goals for this week.
- Does snack time need limits or routine?
- Are children interrupting important work meetings?
- Is screen time dragging on too long?
- Is conflict between siblings disrupting the work and learning environment?
Get your children involved in solutions, and don't hesitate to reach out for help.
Coach's fitness challenge
Practice Gratitude
Let’s see if you can name 10 things you feel grateful for in life, and why? Tell one other person all about what you are grateful for. (younger students - adjust the number of thing to fit their ability)
And remember, kindness doesn’t cost any money, and you can use what you already have around the house. Hopefully, it will bring a smile to their face, which might just make you smile, too.
Story-go-round
· Sit around a table, and one person begins a story with a single sentence. Building upon that sentence the next child (or adult) continues the story with his own sentence to continue the story. You can vary this game so that the story is told with alternating words, phrases, sentences or paragraphs. Work together to create hilariously outrageous stories, and celebrate all that you have accomplished this week as a family.