Instead of becoming a bystander to bullying, youth can become an “upstander” by taking action when they witness bullying occur. Their support can greatly impact their peer who is being bullied. Youth who are supported by upstanders tend to be less anxious and depressed. Upstanders will question the bullying behavior, redirect the conversation, help diffuse…
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There are many resources to cultivate hope in youth and one of them is to help them build resilience. A mandala session is one way to help youth build resilience as they have the opportunity to work through their feelings on their own or with parental guidance. You can access the mandala worksheet here on…
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Apologizing is a tricky thing. Some of us over-apologize, while some of us find it very difficult to say the words. This post is about how to heal relationships when we have truly done wrong. It starts with us as parents. It can be hard to admit when we’ve handled something wrong with our child.…
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Addictive coping mechanisms? That’s right! Much like behavioral scientists understand alcohol and substance abuse as an addiction to a method of coping, they understand a range of other behaviors as addictive as well. This includes gambling, hoarding, and sex addiction. More recently, scientists are viewing anger through the lens of addiction theory as well. Ever…
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De-escalation is an important skill in many situations, but since October is Bullying Awareness Month, we are going to talk about it as it relates to bullying. When a child is bullied, they can take three paths: Return the aggression Respond passively Respond assertively There are a couple of things to keep in mind here.…
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There are many indicators that shows whether a child is being bullied or is bullying others. These indicator or warning signs of bullying could also indicate other issues such as mental illness. It is crucial to talk with your child about the signs of bullying or if you suspect your child is being bullied or…
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Verbal and nonverbal effective communication is the foundation of all relationships and it helps us when we interact with other people. Effective communication fosters our relationship with loved ones and it positively fulfills our need for connectivity. Not only effective communication is very important for children to achieve their need for connectivity, but it also…
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In recognition of Mental Illness Awareness Week, the National Alliance on Mental Illness’ (NAMI) WhyCare? campaign is currently raising the awareness on mental health and the importance of treatment services for everyone and anyone affected by mental illness. Mental illness has a ripple effect on individuals, families, communities, and even the entire world. Did you…
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Today we cultivate HOPE by spreading the message that there is something you can do to prevent and reduce bullying! Did you know that more than half of bullying situations stop when a peer intervenes on behalf of the student being bullied? Take a minute and equip yourself and your child with specific steps and…
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We all know that asking “How was your day?” often gets us a one word response. What if we used this opportunity to ask a more intentional question? If we make a daily or near daily habit of it (perfection isn’t required here!), it will demonstrate to our child that their growth is important to…
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