This podcast episode is all about turning negative self-talk into positive self-talk. I discuss two of my go-to strategies when working with clients to help manage the negative things they say to themselves. When we let those negative thoughts fester, it can impact how we see ourselves and interact with the world.
Four Games I Love that Work on Social Skills
How to Use the Feelings Thermometer
Creativity & Imaginative Play
I've been doing a lot of reading and watching about creativity and imagination recently. I watched Sir Ken Robinson's ted talk about creativity and schools. He identifies creativity as an essential skill for children. He said that "creativity is as important now in education as literacy, and we should treat it with the same status."
Open-Ended Play, Loose Parts, and Playdates
Small Body Movement Coping Skills
Five Big Body Movement Coping Skills
The Power of Movement as a Coping Skill
Create a Calm Down Spot at Home or School
Where do you go when you want to calm down? What’s the spot that you go to? For me, it’s my bedroom. It’s painted a calm color, I have my aromatherapy set up in there, and my favorite ways to de-stress - quilting, my 3ds, soft lighting. Kids and teens benefit from having a space where they can calm down and chill out too.
How to Make a Coping Skills Toolkit
A coping skills toolbox is an actual physical container that houses items kids can use to help calm down and express their emotions in healthy ways. There are a ton of strategies your child can use to calm down, and having a toolbox is one way to keep several of these tools readily available to use.