According to the Family Communication Patterns Theory, there are four different types of family communication patterns: consensual, pluralistic, protective, and laissez-faire. These patterns differ in their level of conversation and conformity so wherever your family is at on the spectrum, your family’s communication style will fall in one of the four patterns of communication. Take…
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We know that communication within the family is important because it helps us express our thoughts and to strengthen our relationship with each other. There are multiple fun games and exercises for families to do together to improve their communication skills. “What If?” is one of the games families could play to improve how they…
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Sometimes its hard to advocate for our children when we do not know the right questions to ask. Part of that is because we sometimes feel uncomfortable talking with the teachers about our concerns around our children’s behavioral health. However, teachers are excellent sources of information as they will help you understand your child’s classroom…
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Effective communication skills not only allow us to express our needs and our feelings with others, it helps us improve our self-efficacy, empathy, and effective listening skill. Parents and caring adults are already teaching their kids communication skills and oftentimes, they are teaching kids communication skills without words. Nonverbal communication still allows us to express…
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Giving gifts can be a wonderful way of practicing generosity. For many of us, gift-giving is our love language and can bring us so much holiday joy. Still, sometimes making it through our holiday shopping list can become overwhelming and burdensome. Remember, just as we are looking forward to being with the ones we love,…
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Every year Positive Psychology News gives out Positive Psychology Awards for movies! If you plan to catch up on some movie watching over the holidays, these awards might provide some great discussion points. Please note OKPTA Cultivate hasn’t vetted every single movie and award justification in the list, but it is our hope that this…
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Most Oklahoma adults don’t binge drink, but…among those who do binge drink, Oklahoma is among the top 5 states in the nation for intensity of binge drinking. Binge-drinking in Oklahoma occurs at an average rate of 8 drinks per sitting! (Source: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System) This far exceeds the standard definition of what is…
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Is there a child in your life who has a loved one that is experiencing addiction? It can be hard to know what to say, but here are some guidelines and resources. One easy thing is to memorize, repeat, and teach the 7 C’s as much as possible. Everyone learns through repetition. These mantras need…
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Many of us will go around the table tomorrow and say what we are thankful for. It’s a great practice, but if your family’s version is getting stale, spice up the conversations with these 50 gratitude questions! Pick one or two for everyone to answer, draw questions from a jar, or just let everyone pick…
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We know good relationships maintain positive communication in times of conflict, but did you know that some research suggests that being positive during the positive is almost more important?! When your child shares their good news with you, it is a gift. You don’t have to be excited about all of the same things as…
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