Social Emotional Newsletters

with Ms. Brennet

Happy May, Huckleberry Heroes!

I hope you all had a wonderful April break and are ready for these last couple of months of the school year! I am looking forward to hopefully less rain this month, and spending more time outdoors. I am enjoying the later sunsets and taking my dog on walks in the evening! What are some activities you enjoy doing in the Spring?

During the months of May and June, we will be celebrating a new Huckleberry Hero theme! The new theme is: Perseverance. Students will learn about what perseverance means and discuss how they have persevered this year. Students will listen to books, engage in discussions, and participate in activities with their teachers and peers. There will be an at-home connection activity coming home, so make sure to be on the lookout for that! I can't wait to hear about how all of our Huckleberry Heroes have shown, and continue to persevere.

Check out the resources below for all things SEL!

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Lynn Lyon's Podcast on Helping Your Kids with Self-Hatred and Self-Blame

Lynn Lyons is an international speaker and psychotherapist based in Concord, New Hampshire who helps children and families manage anxiety disorders. In this episode, Lynn discusses how parents can react when children jump to self criticism and self hate. Lynn suggests "the traps to avoid and the family skills to promote" when kids get in this negative thinking pattern.

Podcast Link

School Mornings Without the Stress

School Mornings Without the Stress - Child Mind Institute

During the school year, a cry is heard from parents across the land: Getting kids out the door Monday through Friday is a killer. What makes school mornings so hard? "They're kind of like a perfect storm," says David Anderson, PhD, a clinical psychologist at the Child Mind Institute.

childmind.org

Managing Problem Behavior at Home

Managing Problem Behavior at Home - Child Mind Institute

One of the biggest challenges parents face is managing difficult or defiant behavior on the part of children. Whether they're refusing to put on their shoes, or throwing full-blown tantrums, you can find yourself at a loss for an effective way to respond.

childmind.org

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Activity: DIY Sensory Weighted Lap Belt

Both children and adults find weighted objects on their body to be really helpful! They provide a sense of security and calmness, especially when feeling fidgety. This fun DIY sensory tool can be customized to fit your style and needs. It can be used on your lap or around your shoulders, to provide a little big of extra weight and compression. Pick out some fun socks and you're ready to get started!

Instructions

Benefits of Weighted Items

Benefits of Weighted Items - Happy Dots

Weighted items are becoming popular nowadays and have been proven to provide benefits for children with Sensory Processing Disorder, Autism, ADHD, ADD, Anxiety, Restless Leg Syndrome, and some mental health issues. So what is it really and what are the benefits?

happydots.com.au

Helping Kids With Executive Functioning Skills

Helping Kids Who Struggle With Executive Functions - Child Mind Institute

The first time you hear that your 7-year-old son is weak in "executive functions" it sounds like a joke. No kidding-that's why he's a first grader, not a CEO. But executive functions are the essential self-regulating skills that we all use every day to accomplish just about everything.

childmind.org

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"Good Inside" Podcast with Dr. Becky: “She Can’t Play With Us!” and Other Tricky Friendship Moments

Dr. Becky Kennedy is a clinical psychologist, parent, and founder of the podcast, Good Inside. In this episode, Dr. Becky hears from parents about the challenging peer dynamics their children are navigating - from leaving someone out on the playground to disliking a family friend's daughter. Dr. Becky explains why curiosity is the most valuable social skill, and also shares practical strategies on how to model it. Remember: We want to teach kids how to think, not what to think.

Mindful Apps

Headspace

Calm

Breathe, Think, Do

Parent Resources

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School Adjustment Counselor Website

Looking for more resources? Check out the Adjustment Counselor website for SEL information, resources, and more!

School Adjustment Counselor Website

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I'm On Twitter!

Ms. Brennet is officially on Twitter. Follow my page for SEL updates, articles, and other helpful tips throughout the school year.

@msbrennetHHS

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WILLIAM JAMES INTERFACE REFERRAL SERVICE

The Interface referral service is a mental health and wellness referral help line. Callers from Lynnfield are matched with licensed mental health providers from their database and are matched by location, insurance and specialty needs of the caller.

The number to reach is 888-244-6843 and they can be reached Monday-Friday from 9-5.

https://interface.williamjames.edu/

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A HEALTHY LYNNFIELD MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCE LIST

We are including this comprehensive list as it is a great resource for mental health resources in our area.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-xLJDUNz7g-oD6e-3Rmclvw75nmSWzQJ/view

Hand Hold

"You might be noticing your child is struggling in new ways, or that old problems are getting worse. We’ve curated a collection of resources that you can try at home today and organizations that we know can help."

Therapy Matcher

"Therapy Matcher provides free, personalized, and confidential referrals to licensed social workers across Massachusetts."