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Strengths

Intentional, Mindfullness, Natural Strength Parenting™, Parenting Tips, Strengths

Parenting is Tough. We Can Help!

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Parenting is Tough! We Can Help! Being a parent is the most important and challenging job you’ll ever do! Natural Strength Parenting™ from Beech Acres Parenting Center can help you navigate these challenging times and help you enjoy parenting your child more. What is Natural Strength Parenting™? Natural Strength Parenting™ is a unique approach to parenting that encourages you to be intentional and mindful while focusing on your child’s innate strengths. Building on their strengths will increase their confidence, self-esteem, and resilience, which can lead to positive well-being. Natural Strength Parenting™ combines intentionality, the 24 character strengths, and the positive psychology of mindfulness into an effective parenting model that can profoundly impact your family. Start By Being Intentional To be intentional is to live a proactive, purposeful life instead of a reactive life on auto-pilot. Here are some simple steps to get started with intentionality: Discover Your Family’s Strengths Did you know everyone has 24 character strengths inside of them? Natural energy comes from using our top 5 – but all are inside! Human 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. Here are some simple steps to get started with strengths: Practice Mindfulness We can only see our child(ren)’s strengths if our minds are open to them and purposely noticing what she/he is doing. Likewise, we can only set a specific intention for the future if we are aware of our current situation. Start with these simple steps to implement mindfulness: Putting It All Together Let’s see how this all works together. Let’s say you’ve set an intention to raise a strong, independent daughter. You can reinforce this intention by making subtle changes in everyday moments. You’re in a hurry to get home after basketball practice. Your default might be to snap, “Get in the car! We’re running late. Instead, you could remember your intention and mindfully engage. You might recall that she was afraid to try out for the team. “You used your strength of bravery when you tried out for the team.” Ask a powerful question in the moment: “What new thing did you learn today that will help you be a better player? I want to hear about it on the way home, but we’ve got to gobecause we’re running late today.” See how a small change can make a big difference? That’s Natural Strength Parenting™ at work.

Photo of a parent's hands over their child's hands as they help them cut cookie shapes out of cookie dough on a floured table
Natural Strength Parenting™, Parent Connext™, Strengths

Use Your Strengths to Navigate the Stressful Holiday Season

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Many families feel stressed around the holidays. There are additional expenses, commitments, and expectations. Many of us have very specific expectations of ourselves and others that are difficult to fulfill and may even be conflicting. The season can be hard for children, especially very young children, or those with sensory and attention issues. Seasonal decorations may be overstimulating, and changes in routines of eating and sleeping can be disruptive. Perseverance One way your family can cope with seasonal struggles is to plan some quiet activities that all family members can participate in. Some families enjoy crafts or cooking. These can be terrific as long as they focus on the process rather than the finished product. It’s also important to understand what children are capable of at their developmental level, so the adults have realistic expectations. For example, baking cookies as a family is a beloved traditional holiday activity. Children of all ages love to help bake! Even the youngest kids can help organize, measure, and stir ingredients. They may not have the ability to roll dough out or use cookie cutters to make shapes. They may also lack the attention span to complete this task. However, they might be able to roll some dough into a ball and place those on the cookie sheet. By carefully considering the abilities of your children and matching your recipe to those, baking cookies can be a family-friendly activity that will create fond memories for everyone. Creativity There are a variety of craft kits available for the holidays to create special ornaments and decorations. These are good activities for older children. You can find these kits at craft stores such as Michaels or JOANN. Make decorations for your use around your own house or make gifts for family, friends, and neighbors. Fun tip: Using a cookie cutter on a potato makes a fun “stamp” to use with tempera paint and decorate plain gift bags with stars, bells, drills, or other seasonal figures. Save money by checking Pinterest or other craft sites for ideas that match your children’s interests, strengths, and abilities. Kindness Many families want to focus on giving rather than receiving during the holidays. A simple way to do this is with a Kindness Chain activity. Cut strips of colorful paper and keep them in a basket with a glue stick or stapler. Every day, ask each family member to think of an act of kindness they did. Have them write it on a strip and then make it a loop with glue or staples and attach to their chain. Each family member can have their own individual chain or maintain one chain for the family with each person having their own color paper. This activity is not a competition, the links are to represent the acts of kindness. The activity works even better when linked to your family values. At the end of every week, take some time to reflect on how the chain has grown. Be sure to ask if anyone wants to share a kindness given or received from a family member, and how it helped them.

Photo of a happy family sharing hot chocolate together in front of a Christmas tree and fireplace
Mindfullness, Natural Strength Parenting™, Parenting Tips, Strengths

Practicing Mindfulness With Your Family During The Holidays Is Important

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Practicing mindfulness with your family during the holidays can be difficult, but it is very important! So many parents report feelings of being stressed during this time of year. There are more holiday-related responsibilities, and with shorter days, managing changes in your children’s school schedule, stress are inevitable. To add to the stress, we are SUPPOSED to be joyful, so we push our more negative feelings aside. Here are some parenting tips for a calm and enjoyable Holiday Season: 1) Intentionally slow down to get more done. When we hurry, we become forgetful and resentful. Focus on one thing at a time, and your to-do list will be more manageable, and you will feel more accomplished. 2) Show empathy towards yourself and say ‘no’. It is o.k. to decline an invitation and replace it with alone time to read, go for a walk or take a lavender-infused bath. Self-care is a great value to model to your children. 3) Create traditions that fit your family. If baking cookies from scratch is not something you enjoy and have no time for, create another tradition that is better suited to your family. Perhaps it is watching a holiday movie and making homemade hot cocoa or chocolate-covered popcorn. 4) Delegate chores according to everyone’s strengths. Does your son love to help with cooking? Let him plan and prepare a simple dinner. Is your daughter creative? Have her help with decorating or wrapping presents. 5) Make room for Mindfulness. Create space to do mindful moments with your family. Before a meal, before bedtime, a few moments of mindful breathing can be relaxing and calming.

Flyer for "Celebrating 24 Days of Strengths!" with the Beech Acres logo and a photo of a mom and dad sitting with their children
character strengths, Strengths

Celebrate 24 Days of Strengths!

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Parenting is Tough! Parenting is the most important (and challenging) job you’ll ever do. Today’s rapidly changing world is creating a lot of stress for families, both parents and children alike. Sometimes it is difficult to find time to really be present with your kids. Discover Your Family’s Strengths Natural Strength Parenting™ is a unique approach to parenting from Beech Acres Parenting Center. Natural Strength Parenting™ encourages you to be intentional and mindful in your parenting while focusing on your child’s innate strengths. Building on their strengths will increase their confidence, self-esteem, and resilience all of which lead to positive well-being. We promise these skills aren’t hard, and more of your conversations will be about what’s going right vs. what they did wrong! Every person has 24 character strengths inside of them. These character strengths once identified and developed, can help individuals build resilience, make better decisions, and lead a happier, healthier life. It’s all about focusing on what’s strong with you rather than what’s wrong with you. Celebrate Your Strengths! This month we will be celebrating the 24 strengths! We encourage you to discover each family member’s unique strengths by completing our free Spotlight on my Strengths survey. Once you’ve discovered your family’s strengths you can begin to develop them by asking what strengths you will use each day. Follow along on social media and share your progress. We’d love to hear what strengths are most prevalent in your family and how you are using them to make your family happier, stronger, and more resilient.

12 days of presence flyer with photos of different families
Natural Strength Parenting™, Strengths, Uncategorized

Twelve Days of Presence

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Be Present This Holiday Season Being intentionally present with your family this holiday season is one of the best presents you can give them. And it doesn’t cost a thing. Wind down 2020 by setting an intention to be present with these twelve ideas that were inspired by Sharon James, favorite Parent Coach, beloved mom, and dear friend. December 20th. Notice the moment. Be here now. Slow down enough to notice what is before you. Don’t miss the moment because you are rushed, thinking ahead of what’s on your task list. December 21st Remember. Make room for the glitter made up of moments from your past. Share a favorite holiday child memory with someone and ask them to do the same. December 22nd Light up your senses. Scented lit candles, the taste of chocolate, a hug, a sunrise, driving around to see decorated homes, homemade soup. Whatever it is for you, be intentional in delighting all of your senses today. December 23rd Let there be peace on earth. Let it begin with me. Tis’ the season for high emotions. Thich Nhat Hanh offers this: when we are in conflict, feeling angry or frustrated, we aren’t inclined to be ourselves as our focus is on the person, triggering the feelings. We can look after ourselves by mindfully deep breathing (peace in, anger out) so they no longer monopolize our consciousness. December 24th. Practice kindness. In what way can you brighten someone’s day? A small gift? Donation to a good cause? Offering your time? Helping in a way that makes the life load a bit easier? Whether it is a person you know, an organization that supports your values, or a stranger in line at the store, let your strength of Kindness show up. December 25th Practice Gratitude. A very powerful and well-researched strength, your overall well-being can improve just from spending one minute today practicing Gratitude. December 26th Celebrate our amazingly diverse world. At a time when our world seems so divided, the season is a time to expand your awareness and appreciation for diversity. You might choose The Comboni Missionary Nativity or visit the Freedom Center.  December 27th Smiling Energy. Smiling has the power to shift your mood. Try smiling at those you know and those you don’t. Notice other people’s smiles. What happens to how you feel? December 28th Let It Go! Try yoga or Tai-chi. Practice deep breathing and always laugh to let go of the stress that accompanies the holiday season. December 29th Mindful Eating Instead of labeling foods ‘good’ and ‘bad’, simply pay attention to when you are hungry and be conscious of how many chips, for ex., you are eating. Enjoy! December 30th Invite your Zest out to play. Embrace the cold and find something happening only this time of year. Consider the Winterfest at Kings Island, a trip around an ice-skating rink, or the Holiday Hike happening today at the Nature Center. December 31st What’s important about this season? However you and your loved ones celebrate, make it count. Today, be intentional in making time for what matters, be mindful in the way you listen and are present with others, and utilize your strengths to make this holiday season one that will become part of your ‘glitter moments’ to remember.

Pink and green shape with a white superhero icon on it with white text that says "strength-based"
character strengths, Natural Strength Parenting™, Strengths

Parent Connext™ Strength Spotting Certificate

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Everyone has their own individual unique strengths inside them (24 to be exact!). Why not set an intention to spot your kid’s strengths and let them know when you see them using them? This strengths-based approach helps your child build resilience and be more confident. Start by learning more about the 24 character strengths by completing the Spotlight on my Strengths survey with your family. Once you know your child’s strengths, take the time to be aware of those strengths and point them out every time you see your child using them. Download and print our Strength Spotting Certificate as an easy way to recognize and celebrate your child’s strengths. Want to learn more about a strengths-based approach to parenting?Want to learn more about Natural Strength Parenting™, our unique approach to parenting? Click here to get started or connect with a parenting coach today.

Pink and green shape with a white superhero icon on it with white text that says "strength-based"
character strengths, Parent Connext™, Parenting Tips, Strengths

Spotlight On My Strengths Parent Connext Edition

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Each of us has an essential strength profile as unique as our thumbprint. When you discover your strengths, you can use them and enjoy life more, as well as handle stress and deal with life’s challenges. Parent Connext™ is available to help you with your everyday parenting challenges. Parent Connext™ is flexible and uniquely positioned to help parents improve protective factors, including; -Building parent resilience-Improving knowledge of parenting and child development-Understanding child social & emotional growth,-Improving social connections-Providing support in times of need. Parent Connext™ can assist with supporting healthy behaviors for you and your family. Your Parenting Specialist is your partner in parenting and wants you to succeed! Get started by completing the Spotlight on my Strengths survey to discover YOUR strengths today!

Beech acres family's strength chart graphic
character strengths, Natural Strength Parenting™, Strengths

What Are Your Family’s Top 5 Strengths?

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What are your family’s Top 5 Strengths? What are your family’s top 5 strengths? How can you mindfully build on them each day? Wisdom Creativity Curiosity Judgment Love of Learning Perspective Courage Bravery Perseverance Honesty Zest Humanity Love Friendship Kindness Justice Teamwork Fairness Leadership Temperance Forgiveness Humility Prudence Self-Control Transcendence Appreciation of Beauty and Excellence Gratitude Hope Humor Sense of Meaning      

Photo of a mom and dad kneeling on the ground with their son and daughter
character strengths, Mindfullness, Natural Strength Parenting™, Parenting Tips, Parents, Strengths

Getting Started With Natural Strength Parenting™

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Getting Started With Natural Strength Parenting NEW! Get started with Natural Strength Parenting™ with this FREE 7-day text course ! “I just can’t do this,” your child sighs in frustration after working on one math problem for a half hour. “Some kids are being mean to me at school,” your child quietly confides to you after coming home with a tear in their favorite hoodie. “I hate you!” Your child shouts as they slam their bedroom door. (They don’t mean it!) Parenting Can Be Challenging! Parenting is the most important (and challenging) job you’ll ever do. Today’s rapidly changing world is creating a lot of stress for families, both parents and children alike. Sometimes it is difficult to find time to really be present with your kids. A New Approach Natural Strength Parenting™ is a unique approach to parenting from Beech Acres Parenting Center. Natural Strength Parenting™ encourages you to be intentional and mindful in your parenting while focusing on your child’s innate strengths. Building on their strengths will increase their confidence, self-esteem, and resilience all of which lead to positive well-being. We promise these skills aren’t hard, and more of your conversations will be about what’s going right vs. what they did wrong! Be Intentional, Focus On Their Strengths, and Be Mindful About Being In The Moment With Them Setting an intention is as simple as asking yourself two questions: 1. Who do YOU want to be as a parent? 2. What kind of person do you want your child to be? Let’s say you set an intention for your daughter to be a strong, independent woman. You can reinforce this intention by making subtle changes in everyday moments. After rushing to pick her up from basketball practice and get home in time for dinner it’s easy to say; “Get in the car! We’re late for dinner.” But imagine what it would look like to mindfully engage with them in the moment. Recall that intention and remember how scared she was to try out for the team. What strength did she use? “Thank you for using your strength of bravery to try out for the basketball team.” Ask a powerful question to get start a meaningful conversation. “What new thing did you learn today that helps you be a better player? I want to hear about it on the way home, but we’ve got to go since we’re running behind today.” See how a small change can make a big difference? Let’s Get Started! Have every member of your family complete the Spotlight on my Strengths Survey. Once you’ve discovered everyone’s innate strengths you can build on those strengths by “spotting” your kids using them every day. Ready For More? Our website has a variety of valuable resources, fun activities, and creative exercises to help you bring Natural Strength Parenting™ to life in your family. Natural Strength Parenting™ is the culmination of over 170 years of parenting experience at Beech Acres Parenting Center. For the first time, intentionality, mindfulness, and character strengths are working together in a fun, seamless framework that can make a big difference for your family. Learn more about Natural Strength Parenting™ by visiting our website or schedule a one- hour Natural Strength Parenting™ coaching session with one of our child development experts. Get started with Natural Strength Parenting today! #NaturalStrengthParenting #ParentPurposefully #ParentMindfully #ParentStrong

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