Counselor's Corner
OVERVIEW
I am excited to connect with you through PTO this year. Each week I will provide updates on ways the counseling team is supporting children and families. Then, I will provide resources that will help all of you navigate school, parenting, and COVID.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me (fkassoy@uaschools.org.)
The Importance Of Sleep
11/9/2020 1:26 pm
As the time changed and the days are getting shorter, we are still navigating this pandemic (with just a little less daylight!). These changes have created disrupted sleep for many of our children and some of us, as well.
This article entitled, Guide to Good Sleep, was written in conjunction with Nationwide Children’s Hospital’s campaign, On Our Sleeves. As many of you know, this is a movement to transform children's mental health through education, advocacy and research. Since kids don't wear their mental health on their sleeves, there is an unprecedented need for evidence-informed resources and support for children.
https://www.onoursleeves.org/guide-to-good-sleep
I hope you find this information as a helpful reminder of the importance of sleep in the lives of our children.
Tools to Teach Kids about Civil Discourse
11/1/2020 8:23 pm
Raising social consciousness by encouraging the school community to examine and act upon complex issues within a democratic society is one of Wickliffe’s Foundational Principles. In addition, at the heart of Wickliffe are our 3 C’s...community, compassion, and civility.
As we prepare for returning to school on November 4th, we wanted to give you some tools to talk with your children about civil discourse in a developmentally appropriate way.
As always, you know your kiddos best. Please let that be your guide for your conversations at home.
What is Civil Discourse?
- Civil discourse can be written or spoken communication in which there is a mutual expression of views or opinions without judgment or repercussions.
- Involves effective communication and active listening.
- It is important for students to learn about developing practices that allow them to be good listeners, to evaluate one another’s beliefs and values, and to embrace empathy, civility, and acceptance.
- Engaging in civil discourse means bringing your mind, heart, and conscience to reflective conversations on topics that matter.
Here are two different infographics that can teach children how to be active listeners.
And here are a few ideas for how to engage in civil discourse:
How To Teach Your Kids To Care About Other People
10/26/2020 11:40 am
As the month of October is coming to an end, I have been reflecting on my classroom visits. One of my favorite lessons is introducing the concept of empathy to our first graders. In my search for new picture books, I found a great list that I wanted to share with you.
https://www.huffpost.com/childrens-books-empathy-kindness
In addition, I found an interesting article that outlined a few strategies that families can use to instill empathy in their children. I hope this list resonates with you.
- Talk About Feelings
- Use Media To Your Advantage
- Set An Example
- Acknowledge Children’s Acts Of Kindness
- Expose Them To Differences
- Own Up To Your Mistakes
- Make Kindness A Family Activity
https://www.huffpost.com/how-to-teach-your-kids-to-care-about-other-people
Parenting Gracefully Through This Pandemic? It's Possible.
10/19/2020 10:00 am
I recently reread an article entitled 'Parenting gracefully through this pandemic? It’s possible'. It was written in the late summer when schools were preparing to go back virtually. Even though we are in hybrid, I thought there were some good reminders that might affirm what we are already doing or remind us of some things we may have forgotten.
So, what is parenting gracefully? As Meghan Leahy, the author of this article says, “to be graceful is to move smoothly, both physically and emotionally, as well as to be gentle and kind. Parenting gracefully through this [pandemic] is no small feat.” She suggests a few simple steps...
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Use family meetings
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Learn to apologize and mean it
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Make as many things visual as possible
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Lower your standards
I invite you to read this article to learn more about each of these ideas. And I hope you find her suggestions to be helpful.
Building Cultural Competence In Our Children
10/12/2020 10:30 am
Cultural competence can be defined as having knowledge of and comfort with people of different racial, cultural and ethnic backgrounds. Perhaps one of the easiest ways to help build cultural competence in our children is our willingness to talk openly and honestly about differences.
This article provides ways to teach children about the heritage and history of Indigenous Peoples. I shared it with the staff, so I thought I would pass it along to our Wickliffe families.
Talking To Kids About The Election
10/6/2020 7:00 am
With the presidential election less than a month away, children are engaging in or overhearing conversations at home and school. Raising children to be civic-minded and informed means talking to your children, even when it feels difficult. This National Geographic article provides strategies to help you start these important conversations at home.
https://www.
Coping With Holidays During COVID
9/28/2020 5:10 pm
The holiday season begins at the end of October with some children celebrating Día de los Muertos or Halloween. Families are starting to wonder about how to do this safely.
We have been having the same conversations for my two granddaughters, so I found this article to be helpful in guiding our decisions. I hope you do, too.
https://www.cdc.gov/
As we are continually challenged to adapt during COVID, I hope that we can find opportunities to enjoy the holiday season in new ways. One of the many things I love about our Wickliffe kiddos is that they are super creative and very curious. So, encourage them to learn about a holiday tradition that is different from their own. Or challenge them to create new fun ways to trick or treat.
Talking To Children About Racial Bias
9/21/2020 9:39 pm
Raising social consciousness by encouraging the school community to examine and act upon complex issues within a democratice society is one of Wickliffe’s Foundational Principles. As we are dealing with a national reckoning of racism in our country, talking to children about race is critical. I hope this article from the American Academy of Pediatrics provides some talking points for those of you who are just getting started on this journey and is validating for those of you who are further along.
How To Discuss Quarantine With Your Children
9/14/2020 10:40 pm
This next week will be a time of transition for many of our students. As we know, some children navigate change easily, while others do not. Please feel free to reach out to us if we can help smooth out some of the bumps for your child.
In addition, I would like to share an article that was written by two doctors at MassGeneral for Children in Boston. It provides helpful tips and language for talking to your children about quarantine. I hope that this information is helpful should you need it.
https://www.massgeneral.org/
Mindfulness and The Mental Health Benefits Of Gratitude
9/7/2020 9:39 am
A special thank you to Jill Hughes, our EIS, for sharing this graphic with the staff. I thought our Wickliffe families would also find this to be a great way to start the day.
Here are two articles if you are interested in learning more about mindfulness and the mental health benefits of gratitude.
"You may have heard the saying attitude of gratitude. It’s a great little rhyme to remind us that we live a life of gratitude – and practice it! When we practice gratitude on a regular basis, it not only impacts our mental and physical health, but those around you."
"Children of all ages can benefit from mindfulness, the simple practice of bringing a gentle, accepting attitude to the present moment. It can help parents and caregivers, too, by promoting happiness and relieving stress. Here, we offer basic tips for children and adults of all ages, as well as several activities that develop compassion, focus, curiosity and empathy."
