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LGBTQ, Uncategorized

International Transgender Day Of Visibility 2023

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Beech Acres Parenting Center joins in the celebration of International Transgender Day of Visibility on March 31. We honor the joy and strength of trans and non-binary people.  The Transgender Day of Visibility was started by Rachel Crandall, of Transgender Michigan, in 2010.  She created this day in reaction to media coverage that focused mostly on transgender violence and wanted to create a day to celebrate transgender people and empower them to live honestly while acknowledging that discrimination prevents some from being visible. “I am transgender and this doesn’t mean that I am unlovable.” Lana Wachowski Today there are more than 1.6 million transgender youth (13+) and adults in the US. As a parenting center, we want to create safe spaces for all people to be fully themselves and empower parents to raise healthy and happy children in line with their values. Science has shown us that there are certain behaviors that caregivers can engage in (regardless of beliefs) that can help their LGBTQ children thrive and certain behaviors that can cause harm.   Here are some ways you can support and celebrate the people in your life who identify as transgender: Engaging in these behaviors can increase mental health outcomes, decrease depression, and lower rates of suicidality.  “To all trans youth out there, I would like to say respect yourself and be proud of who you are. All human beings deserve equal treatment no matter their gender identity or sexuality. To be perceived as what you say you are is a basic right.” Andrej Pejic Check out these resources to learn more about how you can celebrate your transgender family and friends. 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. Additional Resources:

Photo of a woman sitting on a couch looking down as a man hugs their child after telling her about divorce
divorce, Parenting Tips

Helping Your Children Cope With Divorce: Working Through Custody Together

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Helping Your Children Cope With Divorce Divorce involves change…change involves loss…and growth. NEW! Welcome to Talking to Your Kids About Divorce, brought to you by the team at Beech Acres Parenting Center! In this FREE text-based course, you’ll be given a brief introduction to talking to your children about divorce and how to keep them informed throughout the process. Working Through Custody Together Divorce brings with it many conflicting feelings for everyone in your family. It is a considerable change for the family, and each person may experience different feelings at different times. Divorce does not have a beginning, middle and end, rather it is a process, and every person will move through the process at their own pace. A significant milestone during any divorce involving children is setting up the custody arrangement. This part of your divorce may involve much change and upheaval for your child as they become accustomed to their new living situation. Any reaction your child has is common and should be expected. Research on the effects of divorce on children has provided useful information about what can help children through the divorce period and avoid the development of long-term problems for children of divorce. Start With The Details Start by being transparent with the details of the custody arrangement. Assure your child that both of you love them very much and that whatever arrangement you have come up with has taken their best interests into consideration. Having a clear plan that minimizes drastic changes to your child’s routine is best. Involve your child when appropriate in the decision-making process. While there may be legal or other circumstances that are outside your or your child’s control, it is important to give them a voice when possible. Rely on your strengths of Love and Prudence when making any custody plans and decisions. The goal should be that your children have a close and nurturing relationship with at least one parent, but preferably both. Let them know that they are loved and that you are being thoughtful about the choices you are making that affect them. Nurture Positive Relationships Giving your child permission to have a free and ongoing relationship with the other parent is essential. Talk positively about the other parent to your child and encourage that relationship. Never put your child in the middle of your conflicts. This will help prevent the development of emotional problems. Remember, you need to learn to solve problems in a manner that protects your kids rather than expose them to the negative emotions or hostility that may exist between you and the other parents. Expedite transitions between homes and minimize negative discussions when dropping them off or picking them up. Modeling appropriate behavior during these transitions will help your child feel more comfortable. Communicate Finally, communicate with the other parent about issues that affect your child’s life. Make a list of the important things to consider regarding custody. These include time arrangements for holidays and special days, schedules for school events, conferences, sports, and other activities, doctor’s appointments and medical decisions, time with grandparents or other friends and extended family members, and other circumstances. Clearly communicate house rules, expectations, and discipline decisions and, whenever possible, keep these consistent between the two homes. Appropriate, timely communication with each other and with your child is key to having successful relationships post-divorce. Understand that these discussions may become emotional. Always be mindful of this and be prepared to take a break. Talk a walk (alone) and focus on your breathing. Remind yourself that these discussions are in the best interests of your children before continuing. More in this series: Telling Your Kids Tips For Co-Parenting

Photo of a woman taking her wedding band off of her finger
divorce, Parenting Tips

Helping Your Children Cope With Divorce

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Helping Your Children Cope With Divorce NEW! Welcome to Talking to Your Kids About Divorce, brought to you by the team at Beech Acres Parenting Center! In this FREE course, you’ll be given a brief introduction to talking to your children about divorce and how to keep them informed throughout the process. Sometimes, during divorce, we temporarily lose the ability to parent well. Like any other life-changing event, divorce can be dealt with positively and can result in emotional growth. Over the next few weeks, we will share valuable information to help you navigate this difficult time on your parenting journey. The topics we will cover include telling your kids about your divorce, working through custody, and tips for successful co-parenting. Parents, you love your children dearly. These tips will help you continue to show your children that you love them even and especially during this most difficult transition. This series is based on the work of the late Sharon James, a parenting expert who spent 18 years at Beech Acres Parenting Center, helping build stronger families. Sharon helped parents find their own strengths to guide them through their most difficult times, especially through her work with divorced parents, which was her true passion. To sponsor a family for Parent Coaching, make a donation to the Sharon James Parent Coaching Fund. More In This Series  Telling Your Kids Working Through Custody Together Tips For Co-Parenting Additional Resources Layers of divorce FREE download. Our friends at the Cincinnati Public Library put together a reading list featuring books with characters experiencing divorce.  Check out this mindful guide to co-parenting from Custody X Change. 11 Best Moving Companies (2022) from This Old House.

Photo of a young girl holding the hands of her mother as she talks to her
LGBTQ

Coming Out: A Guide for Parents of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and Gender Expansive (LGBTQ+) Youth

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Coming Out: A Guide for Parents of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and Gender Expansive (LGBTQ+) Youth Parenting is full of surprises. From the day your child is born, parenting takes unexpected twists and turns. Parents’ dreams and expectations for their children evolve as families create their own paths. When parents learn their child is lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, or gender-expansive (LGBTQ+), they may experience a wide variety of emotions. Confusion about their child’s sexual orientation, gender identity, and/or gender expression. Worry about how others will treat their child. Concern because they were taught being LGBTQ+ is wrong or even sinful. So, what to do when your child comes out? Let them know you love them. For many LGBTQ+ youths, telling their parents is an act of bravery – the hardest part of coming out. Knowing parents love and accept them for who they are allows all kids – and LGBTQ+ youth in particular – to feel confident they can negotiate the wider world.   Not surprisingly, research shows that LGBTQ+ adolescents who are supported by their families grow up to be happier and healthier adults. Simple sentiments such as, “I love you. I’m here for you. I’ll always have your back” can mean the world to LGBQT+ youth negotiating a scary and uncertain time. Talk and listen. Be intentional about taking time to talk through issues and listen to your child. You don’t need to be an expert on LGBTQ+ issues. Ask open and curious questions about your child’s interests, friends, and experiences. Often, kids and teens have difficulty opening up, so start small and be persistent. Staying connected makes it easier for your kids to approach you with bigger and more complex issues like sexuality, identity, discrimination, or even harassment and violence. Educate yourself. First, clear up any misconceptions you may have about what it means to be LGBTQ+ and learn about the LGBTQ+ community and the issues faced by LGBTQ+ individuals. Becoming educated helps you become more aware of issues that may arise and empowers you to advocate for your child when needed. Parents can access many organizations and online information resources to learn more about how they can support their LGBTQ+ teen, other family members, and their teen’s friends. And because LGBTQ+ teens are more at risk for bullying or violence, it’s important for parents to watch for behaviors that might indicate their teen experiencing any of these types of issues. If bullying, violence, or depression is suspected, parents should take immediate action, working with school personnel and other adults in the community. Visit our website for information on understanding transgender. Stay connected. Being supportive can be challenging when, as a parent, you may experience stress, surprise, or confusion. And teens, by nature, often do not reach out or disclose information. Resist any urges to pull away from each other during these times – your child is experiencing more difficulty with this than you are. And if either or both of you are struggling, reach out for help. Find a counselor, doctor, family member, or community organization to help support everyone through any challenges that may arise. Be proactive about relationships and social media. Positive environments are important to help all youth thrive and develop healthy relationships. However, LGBTQ+ youth face some unique challenges. Some LGBTQ+ youth rely on social media and apps on their phone to meet others. While these can provide support and validation, the content can be inappropriate. And encourage your teen to develop safe and healthy relationships. While dating can be unnerving for any parent, encouraging your LGBTQ+ child to date in an age-appropriate way builds important life skills and sends the powerful message that LGBTQ+ relationships are normal and healthy. Become an ally. What better way to show your child your support than to become an LGBTQ+ ally? Advocate for a gay-straight alliance (GSA) at your child’s school, which have been shown to make schools safer and boost academic performance among LGBTQ+ students. Push for more inclusive sex education. And if issues arise, speak up again and again to the teacher, administrators, or employers, until the concern is resolved. You can also display a supportive image such as a rainbow or transgender flag or sticker. LGBTQ+ youth are quick to pick up on cues they see in their environment, and such displays can make a difference in how they perceive their surroundings. Relevant Links: https://www.cdc.gov/lgbthealth/youth-resources.htm/ https://www.apa.org/pi/lgbt/programs/safe-supportive/index https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/articles-and-answers/ask-the-expert/tips-for-parents-lgbtq-youth https://pflag.org/resource/our-children https://pflag.org/find-a-chapter https://arist.app/orgs/beech-acres/courses/dbad0861-7c42-482a-a0e7-0e48513bd125

Orange graphic with an image of a little girl hiding her face with bullies standing behind her with a text box with information about bullying
Bullying, Cyberbullying, Parent Connext™, Parenting Tips

Information on Bullying From Parent Connext

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Bullying is a Common Parenting Concern Most parents say that one of their greatest fears is that their children will experience BULLYING by their peers. With information and support, parents can take steps to decrease the likelihood of their child being bullied, as well as help their child if they do experience bullying. Bullying is defined as unwanted, aggressive behavior among school-aged children that involves a real or perceived power imbalance. The behavior is repeated, or has the potential to be repeated, over time. – stopbullying.gov Types of Bullying:•Physical – hurting a person’s body or possessions. Includes hitting, kicking, pinching, spitting, tripping, pushing, taking or breaking someone’s things. •Verbal – saying or writing mean things. Includes teasing, name-calling, taunting, or threatening to cause harm. •Social – hurting someone’s reputation or relationships (also called relational bullying). Includes leaving someone out on purpose, telling other children not to be friends with someone, or embarrassing someone publicly. •Cyberbullying – Bullying via the internet and social media. Talk to Your Child Talk to your child about bullying and what to do if they experience or witness bullying. Ask them to name feelings that come up when bullying happens. Develop a Plan Read a book or watch a show or movie together that addresses bullying. Discuss it as a family. Determine how your family will deal with bullying. Talk to your child about what it means to be an Upstander. Role play situations that might happen and try different responses. Encourage Positivity Encourage positive friendships. Arrange play dates & encourage your child to reach out to a friend to get together. Building strong, positive social connections helps prevent bullying and helps build resilience. We’re Here For You! Parent Connext® provides parents with prompt, practical support for a variety of parenting challenges that families face every day. Contact us today.

White and orange graphic with photos of three children walking with backpacks and information about starting back to school
Back To School

Back to School Survival Tips From Parent Connext®

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Summer vacation is wrapping up, and most school-age children are returning to the classroom and to the school year structures and routines this month. Help your child’s transition back to school run more smoothly with a bit of preparation and intentionality! Take Steps to Prepare for the New School Year Start your family back on a routine. Now is the time to incrementally adjust bedtimes if needed. Involve your child in back to school shopping. This gives them ownership of the process and helps you both mentally prepare for the big day. Take advantage of any opportunities to visit the school and meet the teacher(s) if possible. Look for open houses, schedule and technology pick-up days, and other opportunities to connect with your school. Talk to Your Child About How They are Feeling About Returning to School Back-to-school time can bring with it lots of anxiety for your children. Acknowledge their fears and reservations and have conversations with them to help them mitigate their fears. They are probably also feeling excited about seeing their friends and returning to a routine, so encourage them to focus on the positive. Once you get your child’s schedule, help them plan out their day, map their routes to each class, and help them anticipate any roadblocks or challenges in their day. Watch For Changes in Their Behavior. You may notice changes in your child’s behaviors when school starts as they get used to new routines and structure. Plan to provide more downtime as they adjust to school. Perhaps plan a short vacation, a trip to the park, or a day at the movies-do something special as a family to celebrate the start of the new school year. Involve your child in deciding what to do. Review Your Own Self-Care While your kids may be busy and anxious, back-to-school can be a hectic time for YOU as well. Make sure to plan to take care of yourself during this busy time. Are you getting enough sleep? Physical exercise? Time in nature? Do you have time for fun and play? What is one way you can help reduce your stress today?

Orange graphic with a black and white photo of a a father and daughter on their phone and a white textbox that provides information about screentime solutions
Parent Connext™, Parenting Tips, Screen Time

Simple Screentime Solutions from Parent Connext® 

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Parents, pause and take a look around you. What is your family doing right now?  Chances are, everyone is looking at their phone, tablet, laptop, or game console. It can be frustrating when everyone is constantly staring at their screens. While technology is certainly a big part of our lives now, you can find ways to manage screen time and increase face-to-face time with your family.  Start With You Start by assessing your own relationships with screens. It’s very easy to get caught up checking email, doomscrolling through social media, looking at photos, texting your friends, or watching TV. Are you modeling good screen hygiene to your kids? Decide if this is a good use of your time right now or if you have an opportunity to put your phone down or close your laptop and be present in the moment with your family.  Call a Family Meeting Not another family meeting? Your kids may groan about it but setting an intention to talk about screens is the best way to open a productive dialogue on the subject. Work together to set guidelines and expectations about when it is and is not appropriate to use screens. No screens at the dinner table may be a good place to start. Including your children in this conversation will help them feel like they are part of the solution. Revisit Your Family Values  This conversation is a great opportunity to revisit your family’s values. They can help you inform any decisions about screentime you may have. For example, is it important for your family to have dedicated time to discuss your day? Are screens infringing on this important time? If so, this is an opportunity to lean into what’s truly important to your family. Need a refresher on identifying your family’s values? Click here https://beechacres.org/find-your-familys-purpose-values-vision-and-goals Now, make a pro/con list about screen time and internet usage. Take this opportunity to discuss internet safety with your child. https://beechacres.org/revisiting-screen-time-and-online-safety-with-your-kids/. Next, discuss the positive aspects of screens; unwinding with a video game, staying connected with friends and family, as well as the negative; cyberbullying, exposure to unrealistic body images, and negative impacts on mental wellness. This conversation can help you decide on realistic changes to your family’s screen time habits.  Consider the safety and convenience technology affords families. Within 48 hours of getting their first iPhone and being part of Family Sharing, one mom received a message from her daughter… “I can see on Find My Phone you are still sitting at your desk and NOT on your way to pick me up. Love you!” Knowing where your kids are and having a way to contact them when necessary is a big benefit of technology. No more searching for quarters and payphones when your kids are ready to be picked up from the mall.  Finally, decide as a family what are reasonable consequences when someone is not following the family’s plan. The threat of taking away the Xbox, iPad, or Galaxy Note may be enough to keep everyone on the same page.  Establish Realistic Guidelines Some decisions will be easy; no screens at the table, no games until after homework, while others may be more complicated to navigate; when is it ok to get your child a phone, when should they get on social media, should they have their phones at school. Finding a balance here is important. Set priorities based on your family’s values and goals, then set aside appropriate time to be online. Work together as a family to establish these guidelines in order to build consensus and avoid problems down the road. You may want to lean in to your family’s strengths of creativity and teamwork to create a schedule or contract to personify the guidelines you agree upon.  Both Apple and Google offer ways to utilize software to help you enforce rules and monitor your child’s screen use. For example, children of any age can be added to Family Sharing and have parental controls added, including forced downtime, blocking inappropriate content, and enforcing specific limits on apps. Limiting access to web browsers can also help you control and monitor what your child can access on the internet.  For your younger children, you may be hesitant to even give them a screen. This can be difficult especially if all of their friends have a phone or tablet. You can still have these conversations with younger children, just make sure they understand that you have their best interests in mind, whatever you agree on. A good place to start for younger kids getting a phone or tablet is to have them ask permission before they can download an app. You’ll receive a notification when they want to download something and then you can approve, deny, or have a conversation about what the app is and what it does.  Screens dominate our lives. Whether we’re social media addicts, binge-watching streamers, hard-core gamers, or budding influencers, it seems everyone is on their phones all the time. Your family has the power and ability to decide on appropriate screen time for everyone, balancing fun, work, and most importantly, quality time together as a family. 

Photo of a woman looking at her child who is confused about their homework as the father stands behind them both
Parent Connext™, Parenting Tips

Help Your Family Manage The Homework Blues

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Helping Your Family Manage the Homework Blues  Homework can sometimes feel like a 2nd job for your kids…and for you too. Nobody likes bringing work home, your kids included. Managing the Homework Blues  First, try and be intentional with your family’s time. Your kids need downtime to relax and decompress after school. We understand that this is not always possible with after-school sports, clubs, dance, etc., but having dedicated time for your child to process their day can ease some of the stress of homework time.  Next, have an open conversation with your child about homework. What is important to your family about completing homework? This can be an excellent teaching opportunity to help your young student understand responsibility and accountability. Make sure you understand and discuss the school’s and the teacher’s expectations as well. Teachers are likely to focus on learning, practice, repetition, and mastery in terms of homework expectations.  Take Off Your Teacher Hat  You do not have to grade, correct, or even watch over your child while they are doing their homework. Let your child take ownership and make mistakes. Remember FAIL is just a first attempt in learning. The point of homework is not for the teacher to know what YOU know, but to assess what the student knows. You can support your child of course, and provide help when needed, but correcting them can create tension and conflict that is unhelpful. And doing the work for them doesn’t help them learn the content or responsibility.  Try to incorporate fun and play when appropriate and remember your child needs time to be a child and just play. If your evenings are overwhelmed by too much homework, check-in with your child’s teacher and let them know it is too much and problem-solve a plan together to reduce the amount of time your child has to do homework. Handling Frustration and Refusal to do Homework  Sometimes children are just overwhelmed. School isn’t just about learning, your child is dealing with friends, other commitments, and strong emotions as they grow up. It’s a lot! So, it’s no wonder sometimes homework can bring on strong emotions even some tears.  If your child is not wanting to do their homework, instead of getting drawn into a power struggle, connect your child with another activity, then get curious about what is really going on. There is likely an unmet need the child has and if you can meet that need, you get more cooperation.  Have your child do something active before you start, eat a snack, and let them choose the best time for them. Do you want to do it before or after dinner? Make it fun and doable. If your child has a lot of homework, chunk it out, and give lots of breaks with fun rewards like playing a game or going outside.  Homework can cause lots of frustrations, power struggles, and stress within your family. Knowing how to help your child manage that stress can take the pain out of homework time and return some sense of sanity to your busy evening routines. 

Photo of a girl with her hand on her face and her other hand holding a tissue as she looks down with someone else's hand on her shoulder
Beech Acres, Suicide

When Suicide Hits Close to Home: A Guide for Parents to Speak to Their Kids When Tragedy Strikes Close to Home

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When Suicide Hits Close to Home A teen suicide happens in your community. It’s the tragic news you hope you never have to hear. The news spreads quickly throughout the school district, neighborhoods, churches, and online. The immediate reaction that most parents/caregivers experience is fear. Fear that their child knew the teen and may experience tremendous heartbreak. Fear that your child may have some underlying needs/issues that you haven’t seen. Fear that you aren’t sure if your child is really okay. Fear that your child may try to hurt themselves. There are a host of fears that may surface for parents when this tragic situation happens within their community. These fears and worries are an expected and normal response. Even if you did not know the teen or his/her family well, the situation can still shake you to the core. This is so close to home! This teen rode the same school buses, attended the same classes, had the same teachers, sat in the cafeteria at the same time as your child(ren), mowed your neighbor’s grass, or sold you candy bars a few years ago for a school fundraiser. You or your child may have never even seen, met, or heard of the teen. The feelings are still very real.     Just because you didn’t know the teen or family well, there is no exclusive list of who gets to feel and grieve when a teen takes his/her own life. Simply learning about this tragedy can be traumatic and cause strong feelings of sadness and worry not only for you but your kids too.   Give yourself permission to feel and grieve. Reach out and connect with your kids and give them that same permission.  If your kids are not ready to talk or discuss the situation immediately, that is okay. It’s okay to give them space and revisit with them at another time. Just make sure they know you are there for them. Invitations to engage are really important to show that you care and that you are there for them when they need you. Important Facts Related to Teen Suicide  1 in 5 individuals has a mental health diagnosis during their lifetime Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death for teens age 15-19 These facts are really scary for all parents, especially parents of tweens (ages 10-12) and teens (ages 13-19) Parents may avoid talking about sadness or irritability they see because they don’t know what to say. Parents may just chalk up moodiness to unstable hormones that happen during teen years. This summer the national suicide hotline will be updated with an easier to remember and access number, 9-8-8.  What should parents do to support themselves and their kids/families? Be Mindful Take time to practice self-care. Take a few breaths.  Take a short walk.  Call a friend or family member.  Take a bath or read a good book.  Show emotions when you feel them. Your kids learn so many expressions of emotion for you.  It’s okay to be sad in front of them.  Help your kids practice self-care. Give them activities to choose from and do them with your child.  Be Intentional Manage the message. Talk to your kids about what happened.  No details are needed to do this. They will hear about it from others, and it may be shared in bits and pieces which can be very scary for kids.   Reach out to your child about how they are feeling.  It’s okay if they don’t want to talk or share. Keep inviting them to do so. If your child is really struggling with this news, reach out to get them some additional support. Parents often reach out to school counselors, teachers, pediatricians, other professionals.  Your child may benefit from talking with someone outside of the family.  Adults around your child are part of your tribe and will likely be happy to provide support. Rely On Your Family’s Strengths Take some time to think about your own strengths.  What gets you through tough times/tough days/tough news?  How do you promote help within yourself?  What makes you who you are? Talk with your kids about the strengths you see in them.  Do this often and remind them about the great things you see in their character, their success, their attitudes.  Taking time to do this will help you appreciate their uniqueness so much!  Engage in a family activity and review your family’s strengths. Pick and choose the top strengths you see in each other as a family. Parents, we are here for you! If you learn of a tragic event in your community and don’t know where to turn, call us. 

Graphic for the tv series called Squid Games with the cast in the background
Uncategorized

 Squid Game: A Parent’s Guide

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Squid Game: A Parent’s Guide Popular Netflix Show Squid Game Is The Hottest Thing on TV Right Now. Should Your Children Watch It? Squid Game is a Korean television show that became the biggest series launch ever for Netflix and has gotten a lot of attention since its release. You may have seen children dressed in the colorful uniforms of the participants of the titular game or in the garb of the masked enforcers this Halloween and wondered ‘what was that kid supposed to be?’.  Social media and other outlets are flooded with clips, comments, memes, and other discussions about the show. It’s likely your child has encountered these memes and perhaps has even asked you to watch the show. Should they? Here’s what our parenting experts have to say. In a word, no.  While the show is similar in theme and concept to the television show Survivor or the popular YA novel turned worldwide phenomenon The Hunger Games, Squid Game amps up the tension, gore, and explicit content. The show is violent and disturbing even for many adults. The premise of Squid Game is that vulnerable participants are recruited to compete in a game with the potential of huge financial rewards to help them erase their current financial debts. What they aren’t told is there are sinister consequences involved in losing the game.  Familiar childhood playground games are utilized which may heighten the appeal for young children because they can relate to the games being played.  Spoiler Alert Losing participants in Squid Game are killed for losing or not placing high enough in the contests. The games and rules are randomized so success in one contest does not necessarily equate to success in the next. Viewing Squid Game can lead to fear, anxiety, and inappropriate behaviors in children who do not have the brain development or emotional intelligence to understand the layered dynamics that are occurring throughout. Unfortunately, your child may be begging you to watch the show because their friends/peers have seen it and are all talking about it at school or online. The reality is that kids may have secretly watched the show already.  Talk To Your Kids About Squid Game and Make an Informed Decision If you are considering allowing your child to watch The Squid Game, consider watching it first yourself.  Ask yourself if the show fits within your family values. You may determine that the show is not a fit and will choose to “hold the line” by not allowing your child to watch.  If you find that your child has already watched The Squid Game, lean in with them and talk about it.  Open communication about the challenging messages the show sends and the disconnect with your family values can be impactful. Ask powerful questions about what they saw and what they thought about the content. Reinforce that this is fantasy content and should not inform their behavior on the playground, at home, in the classroom, or online.  There have been reports of kids potentially reenacting The Squid Game contests with some inflicting violence on those who “lose”. This is unacceptable behavior and has led to schools banning costumes and intervening when necessary for the safety of the students.  As you know, kids desperately want to fit in with their peers and this is currently one of the “cool” things to do.  Encourage your child(ren) to practice responding to their peers when this topic comes up.  Some kids may pretend to have seen it to fit in.  It’s up to you and your child to determine these steps to manage peer pressure.  You are your child’s first and best teacher.  You have the most influence over their values and decision-making.  Lean in and make an informed decision about The Squid Game that you think is best for you and your family. We’re Here For You Want to talk to a Parent Coach about The Squid Game or other parenting challenges?  We are here for you and can schedule a meeting quickly and confidentially through a virtual connection and from the convenience of your own home.  Contact us –  www.beechacres.org.

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