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September 2018

Photo of a child preparing to go back to school as her mom packs her backpack
Back To School, Beech Acres, Parenting Tips

Tips To Get Your Family Back Into A School Routine

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Back to School, Back to Routine Now that school is back in session and the summer is winding down, are you having trouble getting your family back into a routine? The transition from a lazy summer of riding bikes, lounging by the pool, playing video games, and hanging out with friends to a busy school schedule full of homework, practices, and early mornings can be a tough one. Here are some tips to help get your family back on track. Use Mindfulness To Ease Back to School Anxiety The realization that school is about to begin often hits children when they make that first trip to get school supplies. For children that are anxious about returning to school, this event may have triggered some of those feelings. This might have been the first time you noticed them behaving differently. Perhaps they’re more quiet than usual or they display bigger or different emotions than they typically do. While this may make you feel anxious as well, you can this as an opportunity to help your child grow into a resourceful and confident student. It is important to take your child’s feelings seriously. Normalize uncertainty and anxiety so they do not feel alone.  Showing empathy for whatever it is that is troubling them gives them the space they need to sort their feelings out. You do not want them to struggle with whatever it is they are feeling and thinking their feelings are not warranted. Experiment with different mindful activities to help them relax. You might try a body scan with them so they can identify where they noticing the anxious feelings in their bodies. Deep breathing can easily be done anywhere and anytime. Here is an exercise you can download and use anytime! Practicing some simple yoga moves before going to bed or when they wake can also help them feel less anxious. Get Playfully Curious During Your Morning Routine If your routine during the summer has been anything but, settling back into one can be unnerving for the entire family. Discuss with your child in advance what mornings will look like and get their input where appropriate. Get curious with them about what reminders they may need to stay on schedule. Be creative! Posters, love notes, a personalized bus schedule, and colorful handmade calendars can all help. Even if there are lots of things to do in the morning to get everyone out the door, it can be a time where you are playful.  “Last one out the door has to walk to the car on one foot!” Morning can also be a great time for everyone to set one intention for the day and will provide a great way to check in later in the evening. Strength Spotting Can Help With Homework Few children are excited about doing homework. Knowing your child’s temperament and what they need to focus on can influence your child’s success. For example, do they need quiet? Do they work better with others around? How do they need you to be present? How long can they sit before they get antsy? Do they need shorter breaks more often or can they sit still and get it done in one stretch? A great way to offer encouragement is to strength-spot them. “Your strength of Appreciation of Beauty and Excellence is what helps you do your best. I am proud to see you are using it to do such a great job on your science project”.  If you notice your kids having a little too much fun when they are working on their homework, help them refocus; “I love your zest and humor, but let’s try to use a little bit of your self-regulation right now.” Plan for something fun today after homework is complete.  Healthy snacks are a great way for your child to keep their energy level up. Be Intentional During Your Evening Routine A consistent evening routine is just as important as morning routines. Be intentional in winding down so your children can ease into the transition of going to sleep. If there are things to do for the next day (picking out clothes, getting their backpack ready, preparing and packing their lunch), try not to do that right before bedtime. It’s important to make time for the things that help them to relax; perhaps a mindful activity like the body scan, deep breathing or a warm calming soak in the tub. Evenings are a great time to read together to encourage curiosity and a love of learning. Parents that are fully present for this part of their child’s day can more easily wind down from their day as well. Sometimes some snuggling is what some children need to transition from their busy day to a good night’s sleep.        

White graphic with a maroon icon of three people with hearts for bodies and "Social Intelligence (Friendship)" written below it
Back To School, Natural Strength Parenting™, Parenting Tips, Strengths

Developing the Strength of Social Intelligence

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By Guest Blogger Jaimi Cabrera, Director of New Business Development at Beech Acres Parenting Center While preparing for Back to School with my daughter for the first time, as she begins Kindergarten in a few days, I have Beech Acres Parenting Center unique approach to parenting on my mind, Natural Strength Parenting™ and the specific tools of Intentional, Strength-Based and Mindful that may be helpful. Specifically, I am thinking Strength-Based and the Character Strength of Social Intelligence(Friendship) and how important that this strength is to help our daughter form healthy relationships with the other children in her classroom.  Honestly, no matter what age your child is, this strength is important and can often be overlooked……thinking that other strengths or academic areas were more important. Research shows that Social Intelligence is one of the early emerging strengths that can be formed during early childhood.  It is very important for parents and other adults in a child’s life to help teach them this strength.  Our children need help and support to learn how to make friends and keep friends.  Children who use their strength of Social Intelligence are friendlier and have the skills to form healthy, age-appropriate relationships.  For example, they have the skills to introduce their self to “new” friends and engage in appropriate conversations with other children on the playground or during lunchtime without prompting.   These children have good interpersonal skills and are able to notice other children who are feeling sad or scared and are able to provide a comforting smile or invite them to join them at their table at lunch or a game at recess. The strength of Social Intelligence can help decrease the likelihood of bullying or other negative peer behaviors.  Social Intelligence can help create a positive school culture and community where all “children” are welcome and able to utilize their own strengths.  The key to instilling Social Intelligence in our children is to model the strength for them and give them opportunities to practice the strength at home and other social opportunities. One way to help your child practice using their strength of Social Intelligence is to first give them the definition; Getting along with others, being a friend those can count on.  Then provide the opportunity for your child to practice these skills at home with you and your family is a great place to start.  When you see them using this Strength in action, spot it by saying “Hannah, thank you for being such a nice friend, and using your strength of Social Intelligence, by asking your sister to play Candy Land.” Parenting is a journey and no one is perfect at it!  As you prepare for the transition Back to School, I invite you to practice the strength of Social Intelligence with your child……just as I will this week and throughout the year with my daughter!  

Photo of a family bill of rights document
Beech Acres, Natural Strength Parenting™

Family Bill of Rights

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Today is Constitution Day, a celebration of the ratification of the Constitution of the United States of America. On this day in 1787, all of the delegates of the constitutional congress met for the final time to sign the Constitution. While the Bill of Rights would not come for a few years after you can have fun with your family by downloading and completing a Family Bill of Rights. What is most important to your family? How do the members of your family expect to be treated and how should they treat one another? What would your family’s Constitution say? Discuss your family’s values and lean into your family’s strengths when coming up with your unique Bill of Rights. Download your form and get started here. When your finished be sure to snap a photo and share on our Facebook page!

Beech Acres

The Spirit of Construction Foundation’s Outreach Program At Sayler Park School

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“I loved this project!” – Cameron, 7th Grader at Sayler Park Strategic partnerships are critical to building stronger communities. These collaborations enable Beech Acres Parenting Center to reach even more individuals with our mission. Recently, Beech Acres partnered with The Spirit of Construction Foundation, Allied Construction Industries, and Pipe Fitters Local 392 to bring a special construction related project to students and families at Sayler Park School. “Applied Mathematics in Construction” is part of The Spirit of Construction Foundation’s Outreach program. Thanks to The Spirit of Construction Foundation, fifty students at Sayler Park were able to participate in the project. This year, students worked with volunteers from Allied Construction Industries and Pipe Fitters Local 392 to learn the skills to build a PVC chair. This exciting project spanned 6 weeks and included two review sessions and four weekly, hands-on build sessions. Outreach programs like “Applied Mathematics in Construction” are important in connecting tangible, real-world applications to school curriculums. Students are able to see how the skills they are learning in the classroom can apply directly to skills they can use in a real-world career. Beech Acres presence at Sayler Park allowed this connection of the community and the school to extend to parents as well, reinforcing and strengthening an important connection that is critical to student success. Staff at Sayler Park School and Leah Dickman, Beech Acres on-site Therapeutic Service Provider reported increased student engagement among those that participated. Over half of the participating students reported that the project helped them with fractions and 100% of them said they were “confident or very confident with measuring”. “This project helped me understand fractions because we worked with them a lot.” Kayley, 8th Grader at Sayler Park  Our sincere gratitude goes to Lydia Burns and Anne Mitchell from The Spirit of Construction Foundation and Allied Construction Industries for funding and support of this program. Additional thanks to volunteers from Pipe Fitters Local 392 Jerry Cack, Steve Belosky, and Jim Higgins for bringing this project to life at the school. And of course, thank you to principal Jaimie Sowders and mathematics instructor Brandi Henderson at Sayler Park for welcoming this program into their building and providing additional complimentary opportunities to their students. Links: Home http://www.aci-construction.org https://www.local392.com https://saylerpark.cps-k12.org Home

Photo of five kids holding various white and red drawings of faces
Back To School, Bullying, Natural Strength Parenting™, Parenting Tips, Strengths

Making Friends Can Be Difficult At Any Age. Help Your Child Strengthen Their Social Skills

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Developing strong social skills is critical to your child’s success in school. It can also be very challenging during the first few weeks of a new school year. New classrooms, different teachers, and new friends can ramp up the anxiety this fall. There are many different ways that you might notice your child is struggling with their social skills. Recognize your child is struggling. During the first few weeks of school, things can be very hectic at home. Take time to talk to your kids and look for clues. They may tell you they are having trouble making friends, spending recess or lunchtime alone, or struggling to get organized with their new classes. For intellectually gifted children, it may be that they are introverted socially or prefer to be around older children or adults. Talk to them about their love of learning and curiosity. Encourage them to talk to other kids that may have similar interests. Shefali Tsabary, the author of The Conscious Parent, asks us to be mindful of what our unconscious agenda is for our child and recognize that it may be different from our child’s agenda. Out of love and concern, we ‘want what’s best’ for our child. Because of this, we want them to have the same or better skills that we have that have been helpful to us in life. Since every child is unique, their personality may not need or want the same thing. Talk to your child and get on the same page about their goals for the year. Then you can lean into their strengths to help them develop their own natural skill set Normalize the situation. When we are struggling socially or having trouble fitting in, we often believe that we are alone or that we are the only one experiencing what we are feeling. In development, this is called “Imaginary Audience”. Teenagers believe that they are the only ones in the world that are struggling with something. Of course, that is not the case. Empathize with them and let them know they are not alone. Show compassion. Tell them, “It must be challenging to be experiencing that…”Explain that other teens are struggling with their own issues and may think they are also alone. Share your own experiences with them. Encourage them to look at their situation from a variety of different viewpoints by helping them develop their strength of perspective. Model engaging ways to connect. You may feel like you want to come up with solutions for them. Instead, partner with them. They are the ones having different experiences every day; finding ways to partner with them and offer encouragement is a healthy approach. Explain to them scenarios you have dealt with at work. “It was not easy initializing the conversation with a co-worker this week, but I ended up getting helpful information from them I would not have otherwise known”. Be curious with them. Ask them, “What would you find most helpful?”  “If you felt more confident in those skills, how might your day be different?” “One of your strengths is……how might you use that to help in this situation?” Another way to support your child’s growth in this area is to discover with them things they enjoy doing. Getting them involved in activities outside of school can be a great way for your kids to expand on their skills and connect with more and different people than they do at school. Adjusting socially at school is challenging for kids of any age. Equipping them with the skills they need by identifying and developing their strengths can help ease challenging social issues and help them have a successful school year.    

Beech Acres, Suicide, Suicide Prevention

World Suicide Prevention Day

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If you are currently in crisis please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255). According to the National Institute of Mental Health, suicide is among one of the leading causes of death in the United States. And it is on the rise. Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death resulting in around 40,000 deaths per year. Suicide is the 3rd learning cause of death among people ages 10-14 and second among those 15-34 years old. Fortunately, you are not alone. There are resources to help those in crisis. Suicide risk can be reduced if you know what signs to look for. Early intervention can be the key to prevent someone from dying by suicide. It may not always be obvious when someone is in pain. Watch for sudden or unexplained mood changes. Reckless behavior, anger, and withdrawal from social circles are other warning signs. More obvious signs to watch for include talking about suicide or expressing a desire to die, severe anxiety, and giving away important possessions. If you suspect someone is hurting, offer to help or if you cannot help yourself, connect them with appropriate resources. There is evidence that simple interventions can sometimes be effective in preventing suicide. Knowing the right words to say, and knowing when to say them can make a huge difference. Offer reassurance and kindness. “I understand how you are feeling. Can you recall a moment when you were happy? Maybe you can feel that way again.” While it is critical to never put yourself in harm’s way, removing dangerous items including weapons, drugs, and alcohol is important. If you know a loved one has a plan to harm themselves it is important to intervene and let them know there is hope. If your child is suffering, let them know they are not alone. Understanding and building your child’s strengths can develop resilience in them that reduces the chance of them considering suicide. Focus on perspective to help them understand the issues they are facing. Use hope to redirect their feelings to more positive thoughts. Be aware and watch for warning signs. Have resources available in case of a crisis. At Beech Acres Parenting Center we believe the best way to help children is through their parents. You have the strengths you need to raise capable, caring, contributing children and we’re here to help. To learn more about addressing mental health issues or other parenting concerns schedule a parent coaching session today Additional Resources: https://save.org https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org https://afsp.org Ohio Crisis Text Line Text “4hope” to 741741

Photo of a mother holding books and looking annoyed at her unwilling child
Back To School, Beech Acres, Natural Strength Parenting™

From The Pool To Back To School, Get Your Family Back To A Routine

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Back to School, Back to Routine After spending the summer lounging by the pool, you’re starting to dread getting back in that drop-off line at school. That’s right; it’s time to start thinking about going back to school. Here are some ideas to make the back-to-school transition a little less bumpy. If you need additional support this year, why not connect with a Parent Connext® parenting specialist?  Use Mindfulness To Calm Those Back to School Jitters Your kids probably realized that school is about to begin when that trip to get some ice cream turned into an all-day shopping trip for new school shoes. Back to school shopping can trigger anxiety in kids who are already not looking forward to heading back to the classroom. You may also notice them behaving differently as the start of school draws nearer. They may be more agitated than usual when you ask them to stop playing Fornite and finish their summer reading assignments. While you may be getting agitated yourself, use this as an opportunity to help your child grow into a resourceful and confident student. Take your child’s feelings seriously. Normalize uncertainty and anxiety, so they do not feel alone.  You do not want them to struggle with whatever it is they are feeling and thinking their feelings are not valid. Experiment with different mindful activities to help them relax. Have them put down their smartphone and try a body scan with them. This activity can help them identify where they are noticing anxious feelings in their bodies. Have them get off the couch and head outside, after all; breathing exercises can easily be done anywhere and anytime. The fresh air will do them good. Make sure they put their electronics away at least an hour before bedtime. Instead, try practicing some simple yoga moves before going to bed to help them feel less anxious. Be Playfully Curious During Your Morning Routine If your morning routine during the summer has included sleeping in until noon and Pop-Tarts for breakfast, getting back into your school routine can be a bit unsettling for the whole family. Talk with your kids in advance about what school mornings will look like. Get curious with them about what reminders they will need to remember to brush their teeth, remember their homework, and wear matching socks. Be creative with them! Create fun posters, notes for their lunchbox, or handmade calendars. A little preparation and some teamwork can ensure that not every morning involves a last minute run through the Starbucks drive-thru for breakfast. Morning can be a great time for everyone to set one intention for the day and will provide a great way to check in later in the evening. Strength Spotting Can Help With Homework Let’s face it; your kids are likely more interested in Snapchatting with their friends after school than doing their homework. Knowing your child’s temperament and what they need to focus on can help you influence your child’s success. For example, do they need quiet? Do they work better with others around? Do you need to hide the remote so they can focus? How do they need you to be present? How long can they sit before they get distracted by their phone? Do they need shorter breaks more often, or can they sit still and get it done in one stretch? A great way to offer encouragement is to strength-spot them. “Your creativity helps you with your writing. I am proud to see you are using it to do such a great job on your research paper”. If your kids are quick to grab for Doritos or juice boxes after school, make sure to have some healthy snacks on hand to keep their energy level up. Be Intentional During Your Evening Routine A consistent evening routine is just as important as your morning routines. Be intentional in winding down so your children can ease into the transition of going to sleep. Try to complete preparations for the next day (picking out clothes, getting their backpack ready, preparing and packing their lunch) as early as possible. It’s important to make time for the things that help them to relax. Rather than binging on Netflix, try a mindful activity like the body scan, deep breathing or even a warm calming soak in the tub. Evenings are a great time to read together to encourage curiosity and a love of learning. Parents that are fully present for this part of their child’s day can more easily wind down from their day as well. Sometimes snuggling is all children need to go from their day to a good night’s sleep. Download our back-to-school quick tips today!

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