Happy and healthy at home – village14.com

Posted: May 7, 2020 at 6:41 pm


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Particularly because many of us have been spending nearly 24-7 time with our families for weeks and weeks now, Mitchell Lyons from SEL4 Newton thought it might be a good time to share these timely and timeless tips.

By Mitch Lyons, Coordinator of SEl4Newton.org

Here are some plain-speaking social-emotional learning skills to think about and employ in your home. I hope they speak to you.

A smiling face

Does your face light up when your kid walks in a room? Does your expression say, Im so glad you are here?

When they come down from breakfast, either cranky, miserable or tired, do you greet them with a smile? When you do, it creates a safe space for them, where they know they are unconditionally loved.

Mr. Rogers offered children every day when he signed off his show with, Youve made this day a special day, by just youre being you. Theres no person in the whole world like you, and I like you just the way you are.

As psychologist, Dr. Phyllis Fagell says, Your kids have a Ph.D. in you. They are watching everything you do. You children are watching you when you talk to them, when you are waiting in a line, when you react to the news, when you talk on the phone or even watch TV.

It takes self-awareness to think about modeling behaviors and a lot of practice to change or improve upon habits weve fallen into, but today is an opportunity to begin again.

The words above are largely taken from the articles below.

Resources:

https://info.montroseschool.org/blog/does-your-face-light-up-five-words-that-changed-my-teaching-and-parenting

https://www.kqed.org/mindshift/54064/how-parents-can-help-middle-schoolers-build-confidence-and-character

An optimistic and hopeful outlook

Being positive is a skill. It has to be practiced and honed like any skill. Ask yourself several times a day, How am I feeling? to reset yourself if youve slipped into a negative mood. Its easy to feel down in the dumps considering the reality of the situation, but showing hopefulness will reassure your children (and yourself).

The article below employs and Even If strategy.

Resource:

https://apertureed.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Promoting-SEL-at-Home-OT.pdf

The strengths of your child

So often we focus on what needs improving in our children that we forget to mention to them whats so right about them. When we do, we give them confidence. When we start conversations with some statement about what theyve done well, they will be more willing to listen to constructive criticism.

When they are passionate about something, latch on to it as if it was the best thing that ever happened to them. Children are on their own road, and while we can help by setting guardrails on that path, when we spot their intense interest in something, find ways to support it.

In these times when we are all together, its a good time to sit down and list your childs strengths. As the article points out below, these strengths can be personal, social, language, literacy, math, logic, music, sports or machinery.

Commenting about these strengths regularly will help their self-confidence, their sense of hopefulness and their knowledge that they are fully appreciated in their own homes.

Resource:

Identifying Your Child’s Strengths

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Happy and healthy at home - village14.com

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May 7th, 2020 at 6:41 pm

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