Earl Explorers Counselor Corner
Unity Day Recap
Kindness and Gratitude
November is a perfect time of the year to reflect on and practice gratitude. Gratitude is the feeling of being thankful for the things that surround us in our everyday lives. Thankfulness is being grateful for what we have. It is appreciating the little things that happen around and within us every day.
Building Character: Kindness
Parents play an important role in helping instill kindness in their children. Parents can show their children how to be kind through their own personal actions and words. Something as simple as holding the door open for someone else can model the importance of showing kindness toward others. Below are some ideas about how parents can help their children understand the importance of one of our SEEK character traits: "Earl Explorers are Kind. "
• Have discussions with your child about kindness. When reading or watching movies or television with your child, discuss how characters showed kindness toward others.
• Participate in service activities as a family. Work together to donate outgrown clothing to a local collection agency, volunteer at a community organization as a family, or make cards for residents at a local assisted living residence.
• Reward children for acts of kindness. If you witness your child doing something kind for someone else, reward them for their efforts. Rewards do not have to have monetary value. A simple “good job” or “I’m proud of you” will motivate and instill a sense of pride and accomplishment which, in turn, helps raise confidence and self-esteem.
Toolbox Tool of the Month: Listening
I listen with my ears, eyes, and heart.
Listening with one's heart is key to strong relationships and conflict resolution, leading us to empathy and deeper understanding. We hear things all the time, but we don't always stop to listen. Hearing is simply receiving information with our ears, but Listening is paying attention to that information. It is when we pay attention (listen between the lines) to the information we hear, that we make sense out of it. It becomes meaningful to us and we get the message.
Find time at home to talk with your child about the importance of using our Listening Tool.
Good Listeners practice four skills:
1. Good listeners talk less, and listen more. Help your child understand that it is important to concentrate on what another person is saying and have the patience to wait until it is their turn to talk.
2. Good listeners use their eyes to help them listen. When someone is talking, encourage your child to look at the person who is speaking. It can be difficult to concentrate on what your ears are hearing if you aren't paying attention with your eyes.
3. Good listeners keep their hands and feet still. Making noises with your hands or feet distracts you and others around you from using your ears to listen.
4.. Good listeners are able to repeat back what the other person has just said. Make a game to see how much your child can repeat back what they have just heard.
School and Community Based Support for your Students
Both Tree House and Jessica's House have returned to Earl School this year. Please click on either link if you would like to complete a permission form for your child.
*Look for a new group to begin sometime around January.
*6 week group curriculum to help students whose families have gone through change or divorce.
*Enrolling now.
*Supports students who are experiencing grief from the loss of a loved one.
Contact me if you'd like any more information about either of these programs, or check out our Schoolwide Social Skills program on our website.
We currently have several school-based groups that are helping students with social and coping skills, anxiety, study skills, and friendships. If you feel that your child might benefit from small group counseling at school, we will have new groups beginning when we return to school in January. Individualized counseling services are ongoing, and can begin at any time throughout the year. Please complete our Student Support Referral, and we will connect with you when we receive it.
Feel free to connect with me at any time with questions or concerns! If you have anything you would like to see in future newsletters, we'd love to hear your suggestions!
Mary Duffy, M.Ed, PPS
(209)634-1090