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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.        

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

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!

Photo of two happy parents and their child
Back To School, Beech Acres, Parenting Tips

Lunchables, Library and Learning

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Back to school can be a stressful time for the entire family. Lazy summer days are abruptly replaced by hectic mornings packed with new classes, practices, homework and a variety of other stressors. Being unprepared for this time of the year can impact your child’s mental health and their performance in school. Arm yourself with these tips to help your kids, and you, ease into the new semester. Enjoy the last days of summer. Summer is a time for kids to relax and recharge; enjoy the last few days as a family. Take time to have a “reset” for you and your kids. This could be an extended road trip over a long weekend or a nice “staycation” where you visit local places for fun and adventure. You can dedicate time to complete a family project. Organize old school projects into a “forever box” for your kids to keep. Clean out the spare room and donate some unused items. Take this moment to practice gratitude by being thankful for what you have and discuss how grateful another kid may be to receive these items. Everyone needs down time and a chance to recharge themselves, restore their sanity and be refreshed for the new school year. Prepare for school and reinforce a love of learning by keeping your kids’ minds engaged. Set a goal together to complete at least 10 minutes of activities that stimulate their brains. For example, pick up some workbooks for classes they will have next fall. Stop by the library and check out the new release shelf. Read the first page of a few books in the library together. Once you find one that sounds interesting check it out. Take time to make sure the first few weeks are successful. Give your kids (and yourself) 30 more minutes than you think they’ll need in the mornings – a relaxed morning routine establishes the foundation for a successful day. Save time and maybe a little sanity in the morning by letting your kids pick out some fun Lunchables for lunch or an after-school snack. Intentionally set aside time at the end of the day to talk. Ask your kids for specifics of their day.  Use powerful questions such as “What are your thoughts about school so far? or what possibilities are you looking forward to this year?” Have them share one thing they learned in school that day. Focus on their mental well-being by asking about their friends or discussing topics they may have seen on the news or on social media. Be mindful and actively listen as they share. These few shared moments together each night will provide unique perspectives into your children’s day to day lives. Back to school doesn’t have to be stressful. Focusing on enjoying the last days of summer, keeping their minds engaged, being prepared for the new year and taking the time to engage with them daily can reduce stress and make this back to school season the best one yet!

Photo of a back to school planner and various school supplies on a table
Back To School, Beech Acres, Parenting Tips

Back to School!

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Can you believe it is already time for Back To School?! All month long we’ll be sharing tips, information, and links to help you prepare your family to head back to school, get back into a routine, and deal with social issues that come with a new school year. Of course, our tips are based in Natural Strength Parenting™, our unique strengths-based approach to parenting. Once you get your back to school shopping finished and get your calendars updated, be sure bookmark our blog, like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and sign up for our parenting newsletter. Be sure to share these tips with your friends and family!

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

Mentally Prepare Yourself and Your Family To Head Back To School With Natural Strength Parenting™

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Believe it or not, it’s already time to start preparing your family to head back to school. Back to school season can be incredibly stressful for kids and parents alike. Stress and anxiety begin to mount as fun summer days fade away and new class schedules, homework, practices, and games start to fill your calendar. An abrupt change in routine can be challenging. Fortunately, you still have some time to utilize Natural Strength Parenting™ to mentally prepare your family before that first chilly morning at the bus stop. State an Intention Start by setting an intention with your child for the new school year. Ask, “what can you do to make this year your best yet?” It may be as simple as building independence to get ready on their own in the morning or something more aspirational like balancing academic achievement and extracurricular activities by developing and using time management skills effectively. Whatever the intention work closely with them to develop the skills, provide encouragement, and celebrate with them when they are successful. Critical to their success is the specifics of the intention they set. Get curious with them and ask “What do you need from me to succeed?” Then make sure to build in accountability. “What steps will you take to succeed?” “How will you know if the intention you set is working? How will your experience at school be better?”    When your child sets an intention, with your support and encouragement, they will be focused and more confident as they move into the new school year. Build On Their Strengths Change can definitely be a trigger. Consider how you felt your first day at a job or on a new team at work. It’s ok to acknowledge your child’s fear and anxiety and offer the idea that these feelings subside as you become familiar with what was once ‘new’. You may help them to remember a time when this has happened for them in the past and how it felt better over time. This is a great time to focus on your child’s innate strengths and which of those they may have used to manage a new situation in the past. Every person has 24 character strengths inside them. You can discover your family’s strengths by taking the VIA Character Strengths Survey located on the bottom of this page. Back to school time is a great opportunity to lean into your child’s strengths of Bravery, Love of Learning, Leadership, and Curiosity. “It’s very brave of you to sign up for a new club this year.” “I am excited that you used your Love of Learning to try an honors class this year.” Focusing on your child’s strengths rather than trying to “fix” something helps them feel valued. Take a Mindful Moment Sometimes, despite your best intentions your kid is going to be anxious about going back to school. This is your chance to be fully engaged with them in the moment. Actively listen to their concerns and let them know you are listening. “I hear that you are worried about your first day of school, but you smiled when you talked about seeing your friends again?” Offer them a different way to envision the first day of school. “What would it look like if you spotted a friend and were able to walk in together on the first day?” If necessary take a moment just to breathe with them. These calming moments can deepen your relationship and have a positive effect on their mental health heading into the chaos of back to school. Take Time For Yourself Remember this time of year is just as stressful for you as it is for your kids. Back to school shopping, coordinating carpools, rearranging schedules, and doing your regular everyday responsibilities can be overwhelming. Set an intention for yourself to be prepared and ready to help your kids succeed (or at least appear to be prepared!). Lean into your own strengths of Love, Fairness, Judgment, Leadership, and Perseverance. Your kids are going to be looking to you for guidance and your tone sets the tone for the family. Take a moment for yourself. Sit outside and take a moment to appreciate the beauty of these final summer days. Back to school time can be chaotic but it doesn’t have to adversely affect your family’s mental health. Setting a clear intention for your kids, discovering and building upon their strengths, and taking meaningful time to be present and engage with them will go a long way in relieving some of the stress of this busy time of the year.  

Colorful high $5 graphic with two hands clapping
Beech Acres, Donate, National Parents' Day, Parents

National Parents’ Day is NEXT SUNDAY!

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Parenting is challenging. Parents told us so in a recent survey. But it’s also very rewarding. They told us that too. July 22nd is National Parents’ Day. This year we’re raising money to help support our mission of inspiring and equipping today’s parents, families, and communities to raise capable, caring, contributing children. Do you know another parent that’s doing a great job? Give them a “high five” on Facebook or Twitter and let them know you helped another parent be awesome by donating $5 to Beech Acres Parenting Center. If every parent shared with five other parents we would be even closer to our vision of a world where all children are nurtured to discover, cultivate and apply their natural gifts.  Share this on Facebook or Twitter: “High five! You’re doing a great job as a parent! I gave $5 to Beech Acres Parenting Center so they can help other parents be awesome just like you! Please give 5 other moms and dads a “high five” by sharing this post and letting them know you appreciate them!”   

White equip a kid 2018 graphic with a blue backpack full of school supplies
Beech Acres, Equip-a-Kid

Send a Kid Back to School Prepared for Success. Equip-a-Kid 2018 is live!

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Can you believe it is already time to start thinking about heading back to school? Many of the parents we serve are focused on strengthening their families this summer and may not have the time or resources to adequately prepare their kids for the upcoming school year. Equip-A-Kid helps you take that worry away. Your gift will inspire hope and gratitude in the family that receives your generous donation. To learn more, download a shopping list, or make a donation visit our website https://beechacres.org/donate/seasonal-giving-opportunities/

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