Counseling

Students should be reading at least twenty minutes every day. This will help them increase their fluency and comprehension levels. Fluent readers focus their attention on understanding the text, rather than, focusing attention on decoding individual words.

Homework should not be a battle. Here are some steps you can take to encourage your elementary-age child to take responsibility for his own homework assignments.

• Establish a homework area – Do homework in a quiet place that does not have distractions. Have supplies readily available for use.
• Establish a routine – Set a specific “homework time” such as right after dinner. Require that homework be complete before your child can watch TV, use the phone, etc.
• Prioritize – Encourage your child to work on the assignments that are due tomorrow. Then tackle the tasks that are due later. Help your child plan his studying so that projects are not left until the last minute. An assignment book can be a big help with this.
• Get organized for tomorrow – Remind your child to pack the backpack before going to bed. Even the best homework effort doesn’t do much good if it’s left on the kitchen table!

Homework Tips for Parents

Talk About Your Feelings

Coping Skills

Feelings management is the ability to effectively respond and act to emotional experiences. Children need to know that all feelings are okay and normal. The way we behave or respond to certain feelings may not be acceptable. Talk to your child about how they are feeling. Help them name the feeling if needed. Discuss why they are feeling a certain way, did anything happen? When reading books or watching movies discuss the different feelings of the characters and how they responded. Work with your child to find effective coping skills.

Anxiety, Worry, Stress and Nervousness

It is normal to feel these ways from time to time. If it begins to affect your child’s functioning at school or at home, there are many things you can do to help your child.

• Listen to your child’s worries and fears and remind them that they are not alone and that other kids have worries too.
• Help children address their concerns and if they are not realistic, help them see/understand what is realistic.
• Help your child gradually ease into new situations that may cause anxiety and provide encouragement when they are in these situations.
• Encourage structured play dates or extracurricular activities if your child has an anxious temperament.
• Help promote your child’s independence and build on their strengths
• Help your child change negative self-talk/thoughts into positive self-talk/thoughts (I can…).
• Help your child focus on the good things that happened that day.
• Help your child relax by deep breathing, a favorite of mine is square breathing. Repeat as many times as needed.

I love The Zones of Regulation and the way it breaks down emotions especially for children. Check out this article.