Counselor's November Newsletter

Young children often feel things deeply - - and sometimes they feel VERY BIG! Children often experience emotions in a very physical and immediate way: frustration might feel like heat in their cheeks, sadness like heavy weight, anger like a volcano. Because their brains and bodies are still developing, they may not yet have the words or self-regulation skills to slow down and choose how they respond. See these articles for strategies you can use at home together when your child has big feelings so they have some go-to tools to feel more confident in the moment. "10 Simple Calm Down Strategies for Young Children" https://www.nspt4kids.com/parenting/10-simple-calm-down-strategies-for-young-children ; "Finding Calm: 9 Ways to Help Your Child Stay Steady" First Five California https://www.first5california.com/en-us/articles/finding-calm-9-ways-to-help-your-child-stay-steady/

At Lamar, we teach kids about the Zones of Regulation to help them understand their feelings and body energy. Each color shows a different feeling: blue means sad or tired, green means calm and ready to learn, yellow means wiggly or excited, and red means very upset or angry. Knowing zones helps kids notice their feelings and pick ways to calm down or get back on track. You can use the same colors at home to help our child talk about their emotions! Here are some self-regulation books that reinforce the concepts from the Zones of Regulation program that you and your child can enjoy together. Most of these can be found on YouTube as a read aloud or on Amazon if you prefer...

https://www.theottoolbox.com/childrens-books-for-zones-of-regulation/

In guidance, students learned Stop, Walk, and Talk to handle tricky situations with friends. First they tell the person, "Stop, that's not nice. I don't like that." If it continues, they walk away to a different area. If the problem still doesn't stop, they talk to a teacher or trusted adult to help. Watch this video to see it in action! https://youtu.be/BUx0pxI97lg?si=bRBaLV4rAfRQNFyB&t=1

Stop, Walk, and Talk teaches kids a simple way to solve problems with friends. they first stop and use words to tell someone their behavior isn't okay, then walk away if it continues, and finally talk to a trusted adult if they need help. The strategy helps children handle conflicts safely and practice making good choices. Listen to the song that students learned to help reinforce the idea! https://youtu.be/7v3WumMhRJA?si=mYEPLeBM4P3jXfrR