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Author name: Brooke Rouse

What's On Your Plate? graphic with an image of a plate on a blue tablecloth
Natural Strength Parenting™, Parenting Tips

What’s On Your Plate?

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Parents Are Busy Parents lie you are busy. Really busy. Sometimes it can be difficult to be intentional about your parenting. The “What’s on Your Plate?” activity provides a visual way to conceptualize all of the things that fill up your life and helps you find ways to be more intentional about the things you want to fill up your life. Download the activity here and get started today. How To Use This Activity Use the front of the plate to show all the things that fill up your life. Then, like a pie, draw slices representing areas of your life. Some “slices” will be bigger and some smaller, depending on how much of your life they fill. Some examples you might choose are below – be sure to add your own.• Fun/personal enjoyment: family fun, time with friends, attending church, hobbies, volunteer activities• Home/family: house chores, parenting, managing family schedules, paying bills• Work: work activities, commute time, training or educational activities Once you’ve finished filling in your plate, take a moment to look at it and reflect on what you see. Ask yourself:• What activities do I want more of? • What activities do I want less of? Flip It Over Now use this side of the plate to show the things and people that support you in your life. Consider the areas of life you have listed on the front side. Who or what supports that area of your plate? How do you take care of yourself? Some examples you might choose are below – be sure to add your own:• Time with family or friends• Being outdoors• Playing games• Other hobbies such as puzzles or crafts Now, take one more look at your plate. Ask yourself:• What stood out to you as you completed your plate?• What “slices” of your plate would you like to explore further? • What would happen if you changed your plate? Activities like this can help you prioritize things in your life to help you lead more of the life you envision. Ready to go further with your parenting? Why not schedule a parent coaching session with one of our Parenting Specialists today?

character strengths

Announcing The 2023 Character Strength Spotting Tournament!

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Too much basketball? Try this bracket for your family instead! Did you know everyone has 24 character strengths inside of them? Natural energy comes from using your top 5 – but all of them are inside every one of us! A Human’s reflex is to fix what’s wrong… but brain science has taught us that encouraging your children’s strengths builds the resilience and skills to resist the negative influences surrounding them. Tally up your strengths each week and discover which rises to the top. In the end, you’ll know which is strength is the champion in your house! Download this popular activity and get started today!

Uncategorized

Foster Parent Appreciation Dinner Sponsorship Opportunities Available!

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Date: Friday, May 12Location: American Sign Museum Foster parents create a loving and safe home for children in our community placed into foster care. These individuals open their homes for some of our region’s most vulnerable children, and we are so grateful for their service. Beech Acres is proud to support these families. Each year, we honor and thank our foster parents with an appreciation dinner and gifts to celebrate their dedication and hard work. We hope to provide an extra special celebration to show our foster parents just how much we appreciate all their commitment to the vulnerable children of our community.You can help us celebrate and sponsor our foster families by becoming a sponsor of our 2023 Foster Care Appreciation Dinner. Your sponsorship for this event will help over 200 children in Hamilton County who are placed into our foster homes, as well as support critical prevention services for families at risk of losing their children. Thank you for considering support for this event that provides a safe, loving, and supportive home environment where all children can thrive. Sponsorship Opportunities Become a Sponsor Please provide your organization’s logo and any additional information needed by April 1 to receive all sponsorship benefits, Thank YOU! Questions? Contact: Donial Curry, Events and Stewardship Specialist (0) 513.233.4826 (C) 513.362.0080 Thank You to Our Sponsors

With All Families

National Day of Giving 2023

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Our With All Families Prevention Services team Shantell Hankerson, Rebecca Widmeyer, Krissi Gale, and Melissa Hadley, has been working with the Family Centered Treatment Foundation to bring the Family Centered Treatment program to the families that we serve. As part of our partnership with the Family Centered Treatment Foundation, we were able to participate in their national Day of Giving with other organizations that facilitate this programming as well. Our team chose to make Mindful Office Self-Care Baskets to share with four organizations that help us in the work we do every day to support the families in our communities. We chose Jack’s Closet and Give Like a Mother, which are both amazing local clothing closets, Tikkun Farm, which provides food resources and spiritual opportunities, and the YMCA in Warren County because they provide a wonderful meeting space and child care that enables us to bring our support groups and classes to the community. This was a fun and rewarding experience for our team and the recipients!

Mental Health

A Family Specialist Reflects on the Importance of Therapy

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Guest Blogger: Jessie Broach, Family Specialist Beech Acres Parenting Center When I was a child, I didn’t see a therapist that looked like me or that could help identify what I was going through. My daughter was starting therapy, so I knew that if I was helping her get help dealing with her big emotions, I knew I needed to lead by example. The older I got, the more I needed to talk to someone about my issues, but I couldn’t find the right therapist because I didn’t feel as though the therapists that were available to me would be able to understand where I was coming from. I didn’t fully understand the things I needed. Growing up biracial puts a lot of stress on you coming from two different worlds. When I finally found a therapist through Poppy’s Therapeutic Corner. I chose this organization for two reasons; one was that it was the same name as one of the most influential people in my family, my dad’s uncle Poppy and two was that they are black-owned. When I saw the name, and it was black-owned, I knew it was a sign that I was looking at the right place for therapy. My uncle Poppy always had a way of speaking to my heart with his words that always uplifted me and gave me strength, and gave me so much ancestral information about my beautiful black culture. I have been going to therapy with them for years, and my therapist has helped me to unlock some strengths and skills that I didn’t think were there. This has strengthened me to be the best specialist, coworker, friend, mother, and partner. Therapy can be good for anyone, even when we are not in crisis.

Natural Strength Parenting™, Parenting, Parenting Tips, Parents, Uncategorized

The Parent Test…Pass or Fail? Beech Acres Parenting Center Reviews The Parent Test

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The parenting experts at Beech Acres Parenting Center work with thousands of parents every year.  Fundamentally, we believe:  A show recently premiered in prime time called The Parent Test. Based on the beliefs stated above and after viewing the show, we encourage parents to watch The Parent Test with caution. Or, better yet, avoid it altogether.  First and foremost, parenting is hard…like really hard. Beech Acres approaches parents as unique human beings with a host of innate character strengths. We avoid judging parents as judgment is often rooted in the fact that different is wrong. Our approach is to honor the wide variety of parenting styles and combinations of these styles. Viewing particular parenting styles as right or wrong is fairly judgmental. Each style can be leveraged to raise healthy and happy children.    Family values matter and can enhance parenting styles. Many parents tell us that they have never thought about or identified their own family values. Family values serve as the core of what family members do and explain how you want to live your family life. They may be passed down through generations or new to your family system. Identifying family values can help define expectations and actions for all family members. Once you choose your family’s values, think about how they align with your parenting style.  Examples of family values may include holding doors open for others; no phones at the dinner table; homework guidelines; volunteering to help others; family chores; etc.   The goal of The Parent Test is to find the most effective parenting style with an aim to “crown” the winner. Parents who watch this show may be feeling very vulnerable in comparison to other parents on the show. They may be interested in building their skills within one of the parenting styles defined on the show.  Some parents might not be able to identify with any of the named styles.  This can be really confusing and may cause some parents to feel discouraged or defeated.   Our aim is different.  We are driven to promote positive parenting by utilizing Natural Strength Parenting™, a model created at Beech Acres Parenting Center grounded in Mindful, Intentional, and Strength-based parenting.    Parents who utilize Natural Strength Parenting™ create better confidence, are more satisfied in their parent role, practice self-care routinely, and build a better parent-child relationship.  We believe that these are key drivers to being your best self as a parent.    The Parent Test claims they would like to “make kids emotionally whole.”  Children learn the most from their parents. Parents have a fantastic opportunity to serve as an example and inspiration for how you shape your child’s emotional well-being and skills to self-manage, self-determine, and self-regulate.  There is a host of parenting styles, strengths, and family values that can support your parenting journey.  There is no single approach that can be “crowned” as the best.  Set some intentions that will push you to parent on purpose and with a purpose.  Be in the moment with your kids whenever you have the opportunity to do so.  Put the phone down and play, talk, dance, and be together. Identify your top strengths and name strengths that you see in your child.  Notice how those strengths are used and build that muscle even more.  There is no specific rule book, guide, roadmap, or path to follow that guarantees healthy and happy children.  Just be you!     If you are looking for some help with Natural Strength Parenting™, Beech Acres is always there, and we always care.  Reach out to us to meet with a Parenting Specialist for some individualized coaching.   

Parent Connext™

Introducing Parent Connext® Problem Solving Packages

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Parenting is challenging…like really challenging. From potty training to phones, it’s not getting any easier. Parent Connext® from Beech Acres Parenting Center works with you to find a parenting path that works for your family. The Challenge Children face more complex issues today than at any other time in history. Depression. Bullying. Social media. School shootings. Peer pressure. And parents are struggling to keep up.   The Solution Introducing Parent Connext® Problem Solving Packages! Each $150 package includes a 45-minute virtual individual session with an experienced Child Development Expert, plus additional materials & tools to use immediately. Problem-solving package options are: Minimizing Screentime Battles, Big Emotions, Big Behaviors, Co-Parenting Through & Beyond Divorce, Supporting Your Child with ADHD, and Sleeping Through the Night… please! Where Do I Begin? Ready to get started? Fill out this form, indicate which package you are interested in, and someone will reach out to you to schedule your coaching session. About Parent Connext®? Parent Connext®’s goal is to connect families to resources plus provide one clear next step for their parenting journey. Our Child Development experts have worked with thousands of parents on various challenges. Why google when our specialists can help you strengthen your relationship with your child in just three sessions with compassionate, judgment-free ideas grounded in science.

Online Safety, Parenting Tips

Is The App “Gas” Good Fuel For Your Child’s Well-Being?

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What Is Gas? Social media apps rise and fall. Remember MySpace? Friendster? Some catch fire quickly and burn hot for a while before fading into obscurity in the vast junkyard of the app store. Others, like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat, seem to develop large followings and retain users. Gas is the latest social media app catching fire in middle schools across the country.  Gas is an app for iOS rated for ages 12+. The app is free but offers in-app purchases. Users join their school on the app, add friends, and answer online polls. Users get “gassed up” and receive “flames” when they are chosen as an answer in the poll. The app store advertises the game with the tag “See who likes you.” The idea is someone could ask something like “who do you have a crush on?” and list the names of their friends on the app. Responses are anonymous, which can reduce the potential for bullying. Ideally, the app is designed around positivity, meaning you’re supposed to feel good when you are chosen and receive flames. Problems may arise if a user has few friends or if they are never selected. Questions may also not be so innocuous.  Is Gas Popular? Gas is currently the number 50 app in the “lifestyle” section of Apple’s App Store. The Android version is still in beta. Professional reviews have focused on the positive aspect of the app, and there have been several news stories about the app. There are nearly 250,000 user reviews of the app, with a 4.6 average rating.  Should I Be Concerned? Social media can connect people wherever they are in the world and disseminate news and information quickly. Early sites focused on college students and young users empowering users to have a space on the internet to be themselves. As smartphone use has exploded, so has social media. It’s estimated that 4.26 BILLION people actively use social media regularly. Many of these apps, like Gas, are either aimed at younger audiences or have features that appeal to younger users. As with any internet-based technology, it is critically important for parents to know what their children are doing on the internet.  What Can I Do? This should be an active conversation, not a passive one. Start by getting curious with your kids about their phone use. You may think they are just on Minecraft, but they may be spending time elsewhere in darker corners of the web. Ask them what apps they use, how they use them, and what friends they connect with. Ask probing questions that encourage dialogue. Encourage them to use their strength of Honesty during these conversations. Be intentional with these conversations and have them where your kids are comfortable – at the dinner table, on the way to a practice or a game, or whenever you can find time to have these important conversations. Research the apps your children are using and make decisions based on that. Gas does offer a safety page with details about the app. Take advantage of built-in parental controls. iOS and Android offer robust parental controls that give parents confidence. These controls can offer as little or as much freedom to your child as you are comfortable with. At the very least, enable the ability for them to have to get permission to install a new app. When the request comes through-THIS IS YOUR CHANCE TO HAVE A CONVERSATION! It’s so easy to hit “approve” and wonder (or, more likely, forget) later. Take this chance to ask what the app is, why they want to use it, and who else they know is on the app. Keep the conversation going. Periodically check on their use and see what apps are installed. You may be surprised by what you find. Use your own family’s values to determine what apps are right for your family.  Gas is just the latest app to catch fire with kids. It won’t be the last. As a parent, you can control this by having an open, honest conversation with your children about their smartphone use. Take this opportunity to give your child your own positive “gas.” Pick out one of their strengths and strength and spot them using it. This will help them build their self-confidence; no smartphone needed. 

Photo of a group of women standing together and holding up a "Thank You! From the Leadership Team" sign
Uncategorized

Thank You For An Amazing 2022

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As we reflect on a year filled with extraordinary accomplishments, we would like to take a moment to thank you for your generosity, kindness, and support.  Your support provides comprehensive mental health support and wrap-around services to children in schools. Your generosity equips parents with powerful tools and valuable skills through parent coaching in pediatric offices. Your gift inspires parents, grandparents, and other loving adults to care for children other than their own through foster and kinship care. Thank you for your incredible generosity this year. Click here to watch a special message of thanks from Beech Acres. As a champion for children, your support makes all the difference for children, parents, and caregivers. Your compassion makes our community stronger.  You can help us continue to empower children and caregivers to thrive by making a year-end gift today.

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