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Past Newsletters

Anticipating summer with your kids? They're out of school and don't have as much structure. How do you make summer meaningful without resorting to SCREENS? Check out this this article for some fun and helpful tips!
Mental and emotional strength and motivation can be a matter of simply recognizing our thoughts, putting them to the test, and choosing thoughts that are true and helpful. Check out this kid-friendly 5-minute video to learn more!
 
Problem solving through a stressor in a positive way can be challenging when emotions are too heightened. Guiding or directing your child to a Grounding Exercise can help them to regain a sense of physiological and emotional control, so problems can then be solved in a more logical way. Check out these two options!
 
Slow Down Calm Down
 
Grounding Exercise

The pandemic, on top of typical life stressors, are taking a toll on mental health for youth and adults alike. Add in the “January slump” with its cold weather and post-holiday adjustment, and a further dip in mood and motivation is common. In times like these, it is vital to recognize and accept the mental and emotional struggle, and lean into HOPE.

 

It is OKAY to feel down. It is OKAY to struggle. What is important is how we choose to move forward.

Working through the slump can be broken down into three simple steps:

  1. Recognize the feelings you are experiencing.
  2. Identify what you need.
  3. Make a simple action plan.

For example:

  1. Recognize the feeling: “I feel overwhelmed and unmotivated.”
  2. Identify what you need: “I need a break… some time to get my work done… a snack… some family/friend time… something to look forward to.”
  3. Make a simple action plan: “I will give myself a 5-minute brain break… chat with a friend/family member for a little while… set aside 30 minutes in my schedule today to focus on homework… schedule myself something to look forward to (an event, a hobby, etc.).”

Low mood can make it challenging to get through the day and accomplish what you want to accomplish. Cut yourself some slack and set smaller, more manageable goals. Focus on one small step at a time. For instance, instead of telling yourself “I need to clean my house,” start with something small, and tell yourself you CAN do it, rather than you MUST do it. “I can pile up the dirty laundry.” Take a breath. Once that’s done, “I can put this pile in the washing machine.” Check in with yourself. Do you need a little break? Take a minute to have a sip of water or tea. Check in with yourself again. What’s another small step that feels manageable?

As you practice these smaller steps, consider how breaking things down can help your child or teen as well. How are they feeling? How are they coping? What can you do to validate their feelings and help them to make overwhelming tasks more manageable?

Working through a low mood can be challenging. Remember you are not alone. Reach out for support through trusted leaders and friends in your church and community. Seek counseling support to give yourself space to process and gain coping strategies. Reflect on who God is to you and what meaning He is making even in the struggle. Lean into hope!

 

Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)

“‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’”

Isaiah 40:30-31 (NIV)

“Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”

Romans 15:13 (NIV)

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

 

If you have questions and/or are looking for non-emergency resources, please reach out to me by calling the school or emailing [email protected] to set up a time to touch base.

Blessings and hope be yours in abundance!

Mrs. De La Cruz

 

Note: I am not an emergency contact. If you are in need of emergency services, please call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room.

Help your child develop self-awareness and choose healthy behaviors by practicing Dr. Garry Landreth's ACT Method of Limit Setting! See this practical example of using the ACT Method with elementary ages, taken directly from the manual for Dr. Landreth and Dr. Bratton's Child Parent Relationship Therapy model.
 
ACT Method for Limit Setting
 
Positive social and emotional health starts with self-awareness. This awareness includes:
 

1) The ability to identify and put words to personal emotions, and

2) Recognition of emotions as natural and important, whether they match how another person might feel or not.

Consider the Psalms – David practiced emotional awareness. In fact, he put his feelings into poetry! And Job – Job recognized and shared his feelings with God.

You can support your child’s social and emotional health by encouraging them to put words to their feelings and letting them know it’s natural to have them. (This does not always mean their reaction or behavior is okay – we will get to that in a later month.) Check out the Emoji Emotions Chart and the Wheel of Emotions below. How many emotions do you recognize? Can you think of more? Feel free to use these charts at home to increase your student’s emotional vocab!

Emoji Feelings

Wheel of Emotions