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For many families, the holidays are the most wonderful time of the year - a magical season filled with bright lights, fun music, and lots of sweet treats. As wonderful as the holiday season is, it can also be overwhelming. For some families, the holiday season brings financial hardship, missing loved ones, or changes in routine that disrupt stability. Additionally, the hustle and bustle of holiday activities can be overstimulating. For children, the excitement and anticipation can be hard to reg …

Most of us can remember feeling dread in the moments before taking a test, and the fears, self-doubts, and what ifs that flourish in those moments: What if I get stuck on a question? What if I don’t know the answer? What if I freeze and forget everything? Today’s students have the same fears and doubts. But they also experience those emotions more frequently and sometimes more intensely. Why? Because in addition to their classroom tests, there has been a steady rise in the number …

H-E-L-P. Four simple letters, yet one of the most difficult words in the English language to say.  From a young age, children are told to “shake it off”, “let it go”, or “get over it”, when they experience minor physical or emotional pain. These messages can come from parents, teachers, coaches, siblings and friends. But what do these messages really teach our children? Do they model compassion? Do they make them feel valued? Do they help them feel supported, safe and protect …

Five tips for teaching kids how to cope with and react effectively to rumors.Have you ever been targeted by a rumor? I have! In seventh grade, I accidentally burned my neck with a curling iron. The burn resembled a hickey. I tried to cover it up with makeup, but it took less than two hours for a rumor to circulate at school that I had made out with someone, was easy and loose and was most likely pregnant! Growing up in an extremely conservative area, I lost most of my friends by the end of …

Teachers / Counselors, Have you ever asked a child how his or her day was and heard the standard response of “good,” but deep down it seems like something is just a little bit off? In my experience as a school counselor, I find that more and more children are dealing with sadness, but it I also find that children can be masters at hiding these feelings. They may feel embarrassed about the feelings, or may not even be aware of what the feelings are – they just might feel different. Her …