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Welcome to my Blog!

1/1/2024

 
Here I will post news and resources for families and teachers from a school counselor's perspective. 

Random Acts of Kindness

3/6/2023

 
Welcome back! Before the break we celebrated Random Acts of Kindness Week. Next time you are at school, check out our Kindness Tree. Each leaf represents an act of kindness. Pretty cool! Here are some ideas you can do to be kind to yourself and others:

When our kids are sad...

2/15/2023

 
When our kids are sad, our immediate response is often to "fix" and change our child's hard emotions. However, being given the right and space to experience an emotion without pushing it down is an incredible way to start raising emotionally intelligent children. Check out the following ways to validate their feelings of sadness:
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Resilience

2/15/2023

 
We all fall, its how we get up that matters!

Responding to Anger

2/15/2023

 
Do you ever wonder what to say in the moment when your child is feeling angry? Often, when we jump in a try to soothe and make things better, we miss the mark in having them advocate for themselves and tell us what they need - building those problem solving and resilience skills. With this in mind, check out the following suggestions:
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mealtime conversation starters

2/9/2023

 
Mealtime can be a great time for everyone to come together and talk about their day. Even if kids are too young to talk, it can be a way to build positive associations with mealtime. With my students, my favorite check-in starter is rose, bud and thorn: 
  • Rose: A highlight, a success, or something positive that happened
  • Bud: Something you are looking forward
  • Thorn: A challenge you experienced, or something you can use more support
For more conversation starter ideas, check out the slides below:

Parenting an Anxious Child

2/8/2023

 
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When supporting an anxious child, it can be challenging coming up with the right words at the moment. Below, you'll find common scenarios between parents and kids and the 3Cs co-regulation process for approaching these challenging situations with love and connection.
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Santa Claus, Part II

12/19/2022

 
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In the last post I shared the importance of imagination for a child's healthy development. You may wonder, "Is my child too old to believe in Santa?" Or "When do I need to tell my child that Santa isn't real?" If you can relate to this, swipe through the slides below for practice advice from Little Otter Health. 

Santa Claus, Part I

12/19/2022

 
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Imaginary figures like Santa Claus, the Tooth Fairy or the Easter Bunny are more important than you might think! They serve as a function for healthy child development. For more info, swipe through the slides below about why imaginative characters like Santa Claus play an important role in childhood. 

Gratitude

11/22/2022

 
Did you know that children (and adults!) feel happier, more loved and more connected to others in their lives when they practice gratitude regularly? Today I am sharing writing and conversation prompts to help your child express appreciation and cultivate positive emotions. What other prompts would you add to the list?
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    Jason Stevenson

    School Counselor - Avid Hiker - Reader - Lego Enthusiast 

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  • LEAD @ MES
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