As we continue going though the 5 steps for helping someone struggling with suicidal ideation during National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, we will be discussing how to ask someone if they are they are thinking about suicide. And just as a friendly reminder, the #BeThe1To campaign has adjusted their steps this year to help us…
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Schools either have started or will be starting classes over the next few weeks and some students will be starting in a virtual classroom this Fall semester. We understand that there are some concerns around distance learning and how it may not be the same as in-person learning but if we want our kids to…
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During a meltdown or tantrum, the rational part of the brain is not in the driver’s seat. So it’s no surprise that the behavior we observe appears to be so irrational. When a child experiences extreme fear or anger, the reptilian/survival part of the brain takes over. Sometimes our instinct is to reason with someone…
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Motivational interviewing is a patient-centered, communication technique that is commonly used by counselors to help motivate clients change behaviors and to help them explore and resolve conflicts. Motivation interviewing is backed by research, showing its effectiveness to increase motivation in individuals who may have been unwilling to change in the first place. Motivational interviewing is…
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If age appropriate, consider showing this clip to your child and having a conversation about active listening! Active listening is defined as: a pattern of listening that keeps you engaged with your conversation partner in a positive way. It is the process of listening attentively while someone else speaks, paraphrasing and reflecting back what is…
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It’s never too early to start planting seeds about body autonomy and consent. Even if your child is too young to hear the word “sex”, the first part of this short video can still lay the groundwork for later conversations. If you have already discussed consent with your child, this video might be a great…
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Did you know that taking a moment of silence in between statements is actually an important skill to mindful communication? Children (and adults) who don’t have the skills to control their impulsive behaviors tend to be more reactive (immediate and without conscious thought) than responsive (longer, thoughtful action) in a stressful situation. So when kids…
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We usually post bite-size tips and tools for busy parents, often with the opportunity to “Deep Dive” (look for the pineapple!) for people who want to learn more. Today, however, we are posting this broadcast from Life Kit for Parents as part of NPR.org. This listen is a little more time-consuming than our normal posts…
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Are you curious to how your child is feeling but he or she struggles with communication? This can be very frustrating to parents and caregivers to not know how their child is feeling during difficult times such as experiencing a loss in the family, stay-at-home orders due to the pandemics, or even bullying situations. That…
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National Prevention Week incorporates daily themes to focus on substance abuse topics and today, we will be talking about preventing illicit drug use and youth marijuana use. Did you know individuals between the ages of 12-25 years who use marijuana could potentially experience opioid misuse, heavy alcohol use, and major depressive episodes (SAMHSA 2019)? As…
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