Counselor's Corner
Couselor's Corner - March 2024
March Madness
Happy. Sad. Angry. Disgust. Surprise. Fear.
So many human emotions. All feelings are normal. All feelings are temporary. They deliver a message. If we listen to that message, they move on. If we do not listen, they tend to come back.
Let’s talk about anger. What message is anger trying to give us? Did we have expectations that were not met? Did we feel unsafe? Are we tired, hungry, uncomfortable? Hurt? Feeling powerless? What is hiding behind that anger?
There are many ways that we can support kids as they are learning how to handle anger (beyond my favorite: “take a deep breath.”)
First off, it is important to let them know that it is ok to be angry. It’s normal. It just is not ok to hurt themselves, others or property when they are angry.
As adults, we need to keep ourselves calm if we are going to help them.
Take a moment. Take a breath. If we can stay calm, we can help them get there too.
The special connections we have with kids is our most powerful tool.
“Where in your body do you feel your anger? What clues is your body giving you?”
This can help get the “thinking” part of their brain back in charge. It also helps them learn to pay attention to what is going on inside of them.
“What happened before that angry feeling started?” We can help them start to notice the events or thoughts that brought on the angry feelings.
Here are a few of my favorite books on the subject:
Happy. Sad. Angry. Disgust. Surprise. Fear.
So many human emotions. All feelings are normal. All feelings are temporary. They deliver a message. If we listen to that message, they move on. If we do not listen, they tend to come back.
Let’s talk about anger. What message is anger trying to give us? Did we have expectations that were not met? Did we feel unsafe? Are we tired, hungry, uncomfortable? Hurt? Feeling powerless? What is hiding behind that anger?
There are many ways that we can support kids as they are learning how to handle anger (beyond my favorite: “take a deep breath.”)
First off, it is important to let them know that it is ok to be angry. It’s normal. It just is not ok to hurt themselves, others or property when they are angry.
As adults, we need to keep ourselves calm if we are going to help them.
Take a moment. Take a breath. If we can stay calm, we can help them get there too.
The special connections we have with kids is our most powerful tool.
“Where in your body do you feel your anger? What clues is your body giving you?”
This can help get the “thinking” part of their brain back in charge. It also helps them learn to pay attention to what is going on inside of them.
“What happened before that angry feeling started?” We can help them start to notice the events or thoughts that brought on the angry feelings.
Here are a few of my favorite books on the subject:
- Hello, Anger by Jessica Sinarki (Grades 2-5)
- A Little SPOT of Anger: A Story About Managing BIG Emotions (Inspire to Create A Better You!) by Diane Alber (Grade K-3)
- Roaring Mad Riley: An Anger Management Story for Kids by Allison Szczecinski, MEd and Dean Gray (Grades K-1)
- What Should Danny Do? (The Power to Choose Series) by Adir Levy, Ganit Levy (Author), Mat Sadler (Illustrator) (Grades K-3)
- Good Inside, by Dr. Becky Kennedy (parents)
Counselor's Corner
We cannot turn on the television or social media these days without reminders that we live in a world too often impacted by tragedy and violence. As adults, we often struggle to handle world events in healthy ways, and despite our efforts to shelter children from these events, at times they will be impacted.
I thought it would be timely and helpful to share a few tips on how we can handle troubling times with children:
Mrs. Hurst
School Counselor
Source: https://www.commonsensemedia.org/articles/how-to-talk-with-kids-about-violence-crime-and-war
I thought it would be timely and helpful to share a few tips on how we can handle troubling times with children:
- Explain the news to them in an age-appropriate way. Give them space to share their feelings and reactions. A helpful guide: https://www.commonsensemedia.org/articles/explaining-the-news-to-our-kids
- Tell them they're safe, and offer hope. Whether the violence is taking place near home or far away, it can be scary for kids. Reassure them that they're not in immediate danger. Build on their resilience by balancing the scary news with stories of hope. You can also talk about meaningful and positive ways that your family can get involved to support a cause.
- Encourage them to take breaks from screens. Like adults, older kids and teens may want frequent updates on breaking news. But constant exposure to negative news can take a toll on us. So while it's important to stay informed, setting limits on how often kids see violent media coverage is best for their well-being.
- Focus on what connects us all. When individuals and communities are victims of tragic events, hate speech can be an extra burden to bear. Kids may encounter cruel language and false information, on- and offline. They may see or hear things meant to harm groups of people based on their religion, ethnicity, sexual identity, gender, or race. Standing up against hate speech, questioning sensationalized news, and celebrating your family's culture and the beauty of diversity are all ways to combat messages that are meant to divide us.
- Create a self-care routine. Routines can be comforting and let kids feel more in control. Help them make time for relaxing activities during times of uncertainty. That can include reading, taking walks, journaling, listening to music, or anything else that grounds them.
- Seek connection and support with your community. Knowing they're not alone and spending time with people who share similar experiences can help kids feel valued and accepted.
Mrs. Hurst
School Counselor
Source: https://www.commonsensemedia.org/articles/how-to-talk-with-kids-about-violence-crime-and-war
Open Parachute
The beginning of October is a nice time in elementary school. For the most part, we have recovered from the shock of returning to school from summer vacation. We have hopefully settled into our new routines. The nervousness that comes with anything "new" has relaxed and we have become more comfortable in our new classrooms, with our teachers and classmates. We are ready to take on the year ahead.
This year will be another busy year in the Beechwood School Counseling office. Lunch groups will be starting. Classroom lessons have begun. Individual supports are always available for whoever needs them.
In the classroom, we will be using Open Parachute as our tool to teach social-emotional learning lessons. From kindergarten through fifth grade, students will participate in this program that includes videos and discussions to address a wide variety of topics. From self-esteem to friendships, we will cover topics that are all part of growing up and strengthening personal and interpersonal skills.
Open Parachute also offers “Caregiver Resources” to support families at home. A broad range of topics are offered including empathy, building resilience, supporting mental health, and bullying. Resources can be accessed using this link: https://learn.openparachuteschools.com/parent/login?id=US_2pwCySks
I hope families know they can reach out to me if their child or family could benefit from some support. They say “it takes a village to raise a child.” I would like to be counted as part of your village.
Wishing you all the best this school year. Happy October!
Mrs. Hurst
School Counselor
Open Parachute
This year will be another busy year in the Beechwood School Counseling office. Lunch groups will be starting. Classroom lessons have begun. Individual supports are always available for whoever needs them.
In the classroom, we will be using Open Parachute as our tool to teach social-emotional learning lessons. From kindergarten through fifth grade, students will participate in this program that includes videos and discussions to address a wide variety of topics. From self-esteem to friendships, we will cover topics that are all part of growing up and strengthening personal and interpersonal skills.
Open Parachute also offers “Caregiver Resources” to support families at home. A broad range of topics are offered including empathy, building resilience, supporting mental health, and bullying. Resources can be accessed using this link: https://learn.openparachuteschools.com/parent/login?id=US_2pwCySks
I hope families know they can reach out to me if their child or family could benefit from some support. They say “it takes a village to raise a child.” I would like to be counted as part of your village.
Wishing you all the best this school year. Happy October!
Mrs. Hurst
School Counselor
Open Parachute