Even though we are over a month into spring, it’s a great time for a spring scavenger hunt for a couple of reasons. First if you have been outside in the last week or two, you may have noticed all of the bird eggs that have hatched. Baby geese, ducks and robins abound. If you…
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We often confuse mental wellness with feeling good all of the time. While it’s true that practicing optimism, gratitude, and other wellness skills can drastically improve mental health, we will never be exempt from experiencing uncomfortable emotions. Sadness, anxiety, grief, loneliness, and more are all normal during this time. In a recent article for in…
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Most of us are new to homeschooling our children, but even if we’re not, it can be a challenge. What if instead of putting a lot of pressure on ourselves to be perfect, we focused on setting realistic goals and even finding small daily joys in this opportunity to teach our children? In a recent…
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Research has shown children with at least one supportive adult relationship will overcome hardships later in life, regardless of their upbringing. It is important for parents and caregivers to provide them with support along with other skills in order to strengthen their foundation of resilience they need to effectively cope with future possible stress and…
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Teens are already going through important years of their lives and during this time, they cherish their friendships more than anything. COVID-19 is impacting our teens’ mental health and social connectedness. During this time of physical distancing, teens may start to feel sad and isolated as their connection with friends is limited. First, it is…
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In our “Cultivate… COPING and create structure around school at home” post, we discussed the importance of structuring each day for minimal interruptions and to ensure work is being done doing work time. But did you know that daily routines can also help strengthen family relationships? Daily routines offer many benefits to children and structuring…
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Humans are social beings and we are unique individuals. These challenging times are definitely disrupting our normal balance of connection and alone time. Some of us are dealing with isolation, while others of us may be struggling with being in close quarters with loved ones for long periods of time. We’e collected some tips for…
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This week is Brain Awareness Week and for the next few days, we will be posting information about our brains and how they work! Today, we will talk about the core functions of the brain. The brain has three main sections of the brain: forebrain, midbrain, and hindbrain. The forebrain is the largest and most…
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The new coronavirus (COVID-19) is a topic that has overtaken news stations and other social media networks. It is in our daily conversations with coworkers, friends, and family and because it is being talked about on a daily basis, more than likely your child will hear about it and may have questions. Take this opportunity…
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The idea for today’s post came from the pivotal scene in the movie, Her Smell, in which the main character’s struggle with addiction and mental illness leads to the destruction of her successful band, and a rift in her relationship with her daughter. (mild spoiler alert to follow) In this important scene, the main character…
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OKPTA Cultivate 