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Parenting Tips

Photo of a child with a santa hat pulled over their face
Parenting Tips, Strengths

Helping Kids Navigate Social Settings This Holiday Season

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Navigating different social scenarios can be challenging for kids, especially around the holidays. With all of the school pageants, family events, and holiday parties, this time of year can be stressful for kids (and mom and dad!). It can be difficult for kids to be around strangers or even family members they rarely see. The holiday party season is a great time to talk to your children about the strength of “social intelligence”; knowing how to fit into different social situations comfortably. Talk to them ahead of each event. Let them know who will be there, how long you plan to stay, and what to expect. Point out their other strengths (humor, curiosity, bravery) and discuss how they may use those to navigate different scenarios. Be mindful of your child’s personality. They may be “the life of the party” and be very comfortable in large groups, or they may be shy and more reserved in these settings. Being the familiar face and helping set them at ease is essential. The holidays should be a time to celebrate and enjoy your time together. A little thoughtful planning, mindful awareness, and focus on strengths can help everyone enjoy the festivities.

White and blue Snowman Mediation graphic with a photo of a little boy smiling with his eyes closed while he stands in the snow
Mindfullness, Parenting Tips, The Character Effect™

Mindful Meditation: The Snowman

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Need a mindful moment this winter break? Try this one! Start by finding a comfortable seat. Place your feet at on the ground, relax your shoulders, and place your hands at on your lap or someplace comfortable. Close your eyes or nd a soft gaze and enjoy using your imagination. Be very still, and imagine that you are a snowman – standing in the middle of a snow-covered yard. All around you is fresh, glistening snow; not a shoe print in sight. The sunshine is warm on your face, yet the air around you is cool. You are a snowman. You have a carrot for your nose, small stones for your eyes, and sticks for your arms. On your head is a colorful hat. A striped scarf is draped around your neck. Being a snowman, you cannot move, focus on your stillness. Be still. Be frozen, throughout your body, still as snow. You are alone, in this yard. It feels good to be alone in the sparkling snow and crisp air. You like the silence. You are quiet, you are still. Take a few moments to feel how peaceful it is on this sunny morning. The rays of the sun are bouncing off of you, making you glisten and shine. Experience the warmth of the sun on your snowy face. Now, gradually feel yourself melting. Beginning from your head, feel the snow melt to water, and drip to the frozen ground. Notice yourself shrinking, getting smaller and smaller, delightfully warm and ready to move again. Melt in the warm sun, until only a small pile of u y snow is left. You feel relaxed, still and no longer a snowman. When you are ready, I invite you to slowly wiggle your fingers and toes. Allow yourself a big stretch, come back to this room, come back to this time and open your eyes. Download this meditation and try it with your family the next time it snows.

Photo of a group of young children on their phones
Parenting Tips, Uncategorized

Messenger Kids: Facebook Releases New iPhone App Aimed at Kids

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This week Facebook, Inc. rolled out a new messaging platform aimed at children ages 4-13. Messenger Kids is available now for iOS and promises safer video calls and texting for kids. Facebook describes the app as such: “Messenger Kids is a free video calling and messaging app designed for kids to connect with close friends and family from their tablet or smartphone. Kids can only connect with parent-approved contacts, which creates a more controlled environment. Group or one-on-one video calls with loved ones are more fun with interactive masks, reactions, and sound effects.” Unlike other messaging apps, Messenger Kids requires authentication with a parent’s Facebook account giving parents full control over the app. You have control of the app’s contacts so you can decide who you allow your children to message with. Also, messages have permanence meaning they do not disappear after a period of time like Snapchat. Messenger Kids promises ease of use and fun ways for kids to interact through photos, videos, and gifs. The app does not employ ads, nor does it offer in-app purchases. The promise of security and the high level of parental controls may be a good way to ease your child into messaging. However, with any interactions, it is important to talk to your children about the technology, establish clear rules and boundaries and also monitor their online interactions. Even with the high level of controls offered to parents, there is no way to control the actual content being transmitted. Bullying and sharing of inappropriate content are still possible through the app, though Facebook allows kids to block other users and report online bullying. If you are a Facebook user and have tech-savvy kids looking for ways to interact online with their friends, Messenger Kids might be a good place to start. Remember to talk to them about online safety, and make sure they feel comfortable sharing anything inappropriate they may encounter when online. Common Sense Media offers a review of Messenger Kids focusing on items that matter most to parents as well some other tips for talking to your kids about online safety. For more information on Messenger Kids from Facebook visit https://messengerkids.com

Graphic about gratitude with a photo of a mother and father standing with their child in the kitchen
Gratitude, Mindfullness, Parenting Tips, Parents

Gratitude

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A child’s gratitude naturally grows from a loving, mindful connection to their parents. When you listen and actively engage with your kids, you are planting the seeds of gratitude. The message is that they matter and that you are grateful for the love and time that you share.

Photo of four people recording a conversation into microphones
Beech Acres, Bullying, Cincinnati Parenting Survey, Natural Strength Parenting™, Parenting Tips, Parents

Discussing Top Parenting Concerns from the Cincinnati Parenting Survey on WVXU

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Today, Beech Acres Parenting Center President and CEO Jim Mason, Vice President of New Business Development Jill Huynh and School-based Services Supervisor Cheryl Riley joined Mark Heyne on WVXU Cincinnati to discuss the results of our Cincinnati Parenting Survey. In the survey, 44% of parents identified Understanding kids’ mental health issues as extremely or very concerning. This was the single biggest concern identified. Here are some highlights from the show: “Our goal at Beech Acres Parenting Center is to shift the stigma from ‘I have to go to Beech Acres’, to ‘I get to go to Beech Acres.’ We are delighted parents want to get help with their children’s mental health.” -Jim Mason “Parenting is one of the most rewarding and challenging jobs we take on in our lives.” -Jill Huynh “We customize our care to our clients and meet them where they are.” -Cheryl Riley “Everyone has innate strengths they were born with; in knowing those strengths parents can understand their kids better, but also understand their own parenting.”  -Jill Huynh “Let’s look at the strengths and resiliency of the family and focus on amplifying that.” -Cheryl Riley “If we can intervene early enough we can build a positive foundation. Our approach is to promote what we want to see, not what we don’t want to see.” -Jill Huynh “Let’s look at the strengths and resiliency of the family and focus on amplifying that.” -Cheryl Riley “We have a saying. Hurt kids hurt kids. We have compassion for people doing the bullying because they are a hurt person.” -Jim Mason “Beech Acres will work with the parents to remove barriers to get them the help they need.” -Cheryl Riley Parents who participated in our survey also identified discipline, drug use and bullying among other top concerns. What parenting concerns do you have? Discover your strengths and unlock your power as a parent today with Natural Strength Parenting™, our unique strengths-based approach to intentional parenting. Call today to learn more. 513-231-6630. http://wvxu.org/post/top-parenting-concerns-among-cincinnati-families#stream/0

Photo of three girls bullying another girl
Beech Acres, Bullying, Cyberbullying, Parenting Tips, Parents, Services

Help! My Kid is a Cyberbully!

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You’ve recently discovered inappropriate treatment directed at other children on your child’s phone. What will you say? Cyberbullying, a form of bullying or harassment using digital contacts such as texts, email, or social media, is a growing concern for parents. The influence of technology on our culture has never been greater. Kids are using digital devices at an earlier age and are spending much more time in front of them. The ubiquitous use of digital technologies has made them an easy platform for bullying to thrive. According to Stopbullying.org, 15% of all U.S. high school students were cyberbullied last year. Sadly, that number is dramatically higher, a staggering 55%, among LGBTQ students. We’ve recently explored ways to address bullying when your child is the victim, but what if your child is the bully? Here are some things to ask if you have discovered inappropriate treatment of other children on one of your child’s devices. Ask your child if she knows what can happen to kids that are cyberbullied. They can get depressed, become anxious, or worse. Ask your child what her intention was. What were they hoping to accomplish? Ask your child what the other child did to prompt their behavior.  Ask your child how else she can manage her feelings towards other children in acceptable ways. Listening to your child and understanding their behavior and their motivations are key to addressing this issue. Working through intention and consequences can lead to better decision making in the future.

White listen graphic with father and son smiling at each other
Bullying, Parenting Tips, Parents

Listening To Your Child Is An Important Step In Addressing and Preventing Bullying

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Listen. 28% of U.S. students in grades 6-12 experience bullying. Listening to your child is an important step in addressing and preventing bullying. Listen with empathy and give your child your undivided attention. Offer reassurance, acknowledge the situation and assure them you are taking them seriously. Ask your child how they see you helping the situation. This gives them some control over something they feel they have no control over. Try saying something like this: “I cannot imagine how difficult it is to worry about what they might say or do next. I have an idea about how I will take action, but I’d like to hear from you about what you would like for me to do”. By taking this approach you are modeling how to stand up for yourself in a proactive and confident way. Dealing with a bully is a delicate and difficult situation for your daughter or son. Simply listening to them is a great way to begin to empower them to address the problem.  

Photo of a male teacher speaking to the mother of a child at a parent teacher conference as her husband and son sit beside her
Bullying, Parenting Tips, Parents

Partner With Your Child’s Teacher and School to Address Bullying

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Partnering with your child’s teacher can offer critical insight in cases of bullying. Ask their teacher How does my child get along with other students? With whom does he or she spend their free time at school? Have you ever suspected my child is being bullied by other students? Work with the teacher and with the school to create a plan for your child. Make sure you know the school’s policy on bullying, bring it to the Administration’s (principal and school counselor) attention and ask what their intention is regarding your child. Let them know you have a plan in place with your child’s teacher and that you want the Administration involved in the solution. Ensure that the plan includes protecting your child from the situation worsening as a result of them bringing it to the school’s attention. Finally, you should meet with the school throughout the process, not just once, until there is a resolution.

Photo of a child's hand writing I Am Being Bullied on a notepad
Bullying, Parenting Tips

How To Identify Potential Signs of Bullying

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Sometimes it may not be obvious that your child is being bullied. And they may not be ready to tell you. Here are a few signs that you can look for that may indicate your child is being bullied. Torn or Ripped Clothing One sign your child may be experiencing physical bullying is torn or ripped clothing. If your child comes home from school with a tear in their hoodie or ripped jeans be sure to ask what happened. This is a good way to start the conversation and let them know you care. Damaged Property If your daughter or son bring any of their personal items home from school damaged, it could be a sign they are being bullied. Broken tablets or laptops, damaged backpacks, torn folders, ripped paper and cracked or missing cell phones can all indicate something is wrong. Make sure you ask questions, especially if you notice multiple or repeated damages to personal items. Unexplained Cuts, Bruises, and Scratches This is important to look for. Any physical symptoms should be addressed right away. When asking what happened, look for details and make sure to offer reassurance. Changes in Attitude or Behavior Watch for changes in attitude towards school, difficulty sleeping, loss of appetite or other noticeable changes in their behavior. If something is happening and they do not know how to deal with it, it can affect their mood. If you notice changes, take the opportunity to sit down and talk to them. Sometimes just taking time to ask the right questions can make a big difference.  

Photo of a girl talking to her father on the couch
Bullying, Parenting Tips, Parents

Listen To Your Child If They Say They Have Been Bullied

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Although 25% of teens report being bullied, there are more that will not disclose out of fear or shame. Younger children do not always recognize this dominating behavior as bullying and may not report it as such. If your child tells you they are being bullied, start by letting them know you are glad they came to you. Then assure them that you take it seriously. You can start by actively listening to their concerns. Ask lots of questions, but without judgment. It is important to make them feel safe talking to you. Finally, offer reassurance that you have heard their concerns and that you take it seriously. Actively listen, take them seriously, ask lots of questions and offer reassurance. If you need assistance, we are here to help with this and other parenting challenges. Call 513.231.6630 to learn more.  

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