OASD Family Support Series

Gratitude (05.25.21)

Giving thanks and expressing gratitude is one of the oldest concepts in society. The concept of gratitude has been especially important during this unpredictable school year. We are grateful for your continued support, your ability to learn technology and strategies to support your child during at-home learning, and your perseverance throughout the school year.

Research shows that an attitude of gratitude can help build your resilience. Give it a try with these ideas:

Write a thank you note, text, or email. It allows you to focus on what you appreciate about the other person.
Start a gratitude journal. Keeping track of things you are grateful for is shown to improve wellness.
Make it a daily habit. Think of 3 things you are thankful for each day.
Use technology. Apps such as Gratitude Plus allow you to build a habit of positivity.

To read more about gratitude and the health benefits, read more here: How to Practice Gratitude and Improve Your Family’s Mental Health

Thank you for joining us on this journey!

Procrastination (05.18.21)

To a certain extent, procrastination is normal—many of us have a tendency to put off until tomorrow what we don’t want to do today. There is a difference, however, between the infrequent delayer and someone who has an established pattern of procrastination. There’s a common misconception that kids who procrastinate are lazy or have low motivation. While low motivation may be a contributing factor, there are many other reasons why a child might procrastinate.

Ideas to Try

Ask Your Child Questions - Ask questions like, “What do you think we expect of you?” “What will really happen if you don’t accomplish the task based on the expectations you’ve set for yourself?” Understanding how your child is currently viewing the situation will help you develop appropriate responses.
Clarify Your Expectations - Kids tend to overestimate parental expectations, so make sure you are clear and realistic in what you expect from your child.
Teach Problem Solving Skills - Kids who fear failure often spiral into a series of unrealistic, irrational, worst-case consequences. It’s called catastrophic thinking. You can help your child by teaching effective problem-solving techniques. Try breaking tasks up into more manageable chunks or setting smaller, more attainable goals.
Use Your Experience to Relate - By acknowledging your imperfections and struggles, you may prevent your child from feeling frustrated—like s/he is the only one who can’t effectively manage tasks.

Resources

Forgiveness (05.11.21)

Forgiveness might seem like an impossible feat for a child who doesn’t yet have all the tools in his or her toolbox that adults do to handle emotions like anger. But a wide range of studies have found that teaching forgiveness can help kids of different ages feel better, strengthen their relationships, and improve their academic performance.

Ideas to Try

Model Forgiveness - Kids notice that we sometimes feel hurt by others, too. Although our emotions can feel intense in those moments, our kids are looking to see the range of responses that are possible. Being able to talk them through your decision to take steps toward forgiveness can be especially powerful after they see you face adversity.
Use Pretend Play - Try role-playing or encourage kids to use their imaginations to be different characters. This allows kids to practice becoming aware of and responding to various emotions - which in turn may help them deal with intense emotions and consider forgiveness when someone offends them.
Realize Accidents Happen - Whether kids forgive may depend on their interpretations of others’ intentions. In everyday situations—reading picture books, watching movies, people-watching, or playing at the park—people’s intentions can be ambiguous. You can help by narrating possible explanations in which others aren’t being mean—for example, suggesting that the boy who took the one empty playground swing didn’t know their child was waiting for it. This may help counteract a kid’s tendency to see the world as a hostile place.

Resources

Communication is Key (05.04.21)

Communication is the process where we try as clearly and accurately as we can, to convey our thoughts, intentions and objectives. The act of communicating not only helps to meet our needs, but it also helps us to connect with other people. Without effective communication, a message can turn into error, misunderstanding, or frustration.

Ideas to Try

Be a model - Kids are more likely to “do as you do” regardless of what you say. Modeling good communication skills allows children to observe, learn, and strengthen their own communication skills.
Create communication expectations - Teach children how and when to communicate. Chronic interrupting and volume control are common communication disruptors. Set boundaries for kids to know when to interject with their opinion.
Stay patient - Kids, just like adults, will make mistakes in their communication. Gently correcting errors in private will help guide children in a calm and productive manner.

Resources

Give Yourself a Pep Talk (04.13.21)

Give Yourself a Pep Talk

When negative events or mistakes happen, positive self-talk seeks to bring the positive out of the negative to help you do better, go further, or just keep moving forward. The practice of positive self-talk is often the process that allows you to discover the obscured optimism, hope, and joy in any given situation.

Ideas to Try

Practice Positive Affirmations - watch this video for an example: Powerful Affirmations
High-Five Yourself - Or give yourself a pat on the back because you deserve it. We tend to rarely acknowledge ourselves in this way. Try it out and add a “Way to go” along with it!
Practice Positive Self-Talk - It is a great way to relieve stress, increase your self-esteem, and gradually strengthen your mind. It will train your brain to think positively, which will be the source of your future attitude. Not sure where to start? Try these:
- I’m awesome because __________.
- I’m proud of myself because __________.
- Even though _______ didn’t work out, I am moving forward.
- One of my strengths is _________.
Write out Lists - List your talents, passions, interests, or strengths. This can help not only to regain focus but also maintain a positive mindset
Treat Yourself - Sometimes we can be really hard on ourselves, so make a change and do the opposite. Give yourself some “me” time and get back in tough with what makes you smile.

Resources

Priorities (04.06.21)

Prioritizing simply means determining what is important and what is not. Teaching children to identify and determine what truly is vital, important, and optional, can help make their lives easier into their adulthood.

Ideas to Try

Look at each day individually - children can often struggle to see long-term priorities. Focus on each day as it is and prioritize the tasks.
Write it down - make a list of “must, should, and want to” dos to help organize items.
Tackle and prioritize “must do” first
Make some free time a “must do” - prioritizing free/down time is just as important as accomplishing tasks. Find a balance and build it in your day.
Don’t overschedule.

Resources

Seek Out Wonder and Beauty (03.23.21)

Seek Out Wonder and Beauty

We are all born with an innate sense of wonder - a feeling of awe and amazement over the world around us and a sense that anything is possible. It means that we can be wowed and fascinated by even the littlest things and to see their particular uniqueness.
Unfortunately, our sense of wonder tends to wither away as we get older. A sense of wonder is like a muscle of the mind; if we nourish it right, it will grow stronger, and if we neglect it, it will become weaker. ~Linda McGurk

Things to Boost a Sense of Wonder:

Ample time to explore the world around us hands-on
Not having a particular plan or agenda when playing outside
Adults acting as “co-discoverers” who ask questions and encourage the child’s inquisitiveness by gentle guidance
Open-ended “toys” found or made in nature; sticks, rocks, leaves, nuts, water, mud, secret hideouts
Limit technology
Read and explore together; notice the small things
Go for a walk in your neighborhood
Talk about your day to discover moments of joy

Resources

Active Listening (03.16.21)

Active Listening

Active listening is a specific form of communication that lets another person know that you are “with them,” aware of what they are saying, accepting of their perspective, and appreciative of their situation.

Resources

Empathy (03.09.21)

Empathy

Empathy is our ability to identify and understand other people’s emotions. It is a way of connecting and shows kids that you know they’re experiencing something - even if you don’t exactly understand how it feels. Empathy says: “I want you to know you’re not alone. And I want to understand how this feels to you.”

Ideas to Try

Talk about others’ feelings
Be a role model
Use “I Messages”
Read stories about feelings
Label and validate difficult feelings to help children learn how to handle them
Provide children with the support they need to develop strong self-regulation skills
Seize everyday opportunities to switch on your child's empathy mode
Help kids discover what they have in common with other people

Quick Tip: Rethink the use of “I’m sorry”. Many young children don’t fully understand what these words mean. It may feel right for them to say, “I’m sorry,” but it doesn’t necessarily help them learn empathy. Instead, focus on the other person’s feelings.

Example, “Oh look, she is sad. She is crying. She is rubbing her arm where you pushed her. Let’s see if she is ok.”
This helps children make the connection between the action and the reaction.

Resources

Friendship (03.02.21)

Friendship

Friendships create a foundation for developing social skills. These close relationships are connected with greater happiness, self-esteem, and sense of purpose. While social distancing makes it a little more difficult to stay connected, check out some of these ideas to try. If you feel like your child is struggling to form or maintain friendships, reach out to their classroom teacher or school counselor for additional support.

Ideas to Try

Stream a movie together
Host a virtual club
Play online games together
Set up a virtual playdate or virtual activity date
5 Ideas for Social Connection

Resources

Value of Play (02.23.21)

The Value of Play

Allowing children to play has many benefits that go beyond just fun and physical activity. Play inspires our youngest community members to take risks, try new things, and form new relationships. “Play allows children to use their creativity while developing their imagination, dexterity, and physical, cognitive, and emotional strength.” (American Academy of Pediatrics)

Play isn’t just for our youngest children. “Through play teens develop their executive function skills and their creative thinking. It is through play that adolescents discover what interests them and where their competencies or natural abilities lie. Play improves memory and enhances the decision-making skills of an adolescent.” (Heather R. Hayes)

Ideas to Try

Play virtually using ideas from Top 6 Games to Play Virtually
Jump in the game with the kids. It is both inspiring and important to play alongside children, to model how to “get out” gracefully and to familiarize them with the positive language that keeps the space feeling safe
Leverage the power of play for resolving disagreements (i.e., Rock/Paper/Scissors)
Create opportunities for kids to own and lead their own play (i.e., nominate games to be the “game of the week” or create their own modification to existing games)
Organize a “Family Game Night”

Resources

Random Acts of Kindness (02.16.21)

Random Acts of Kindness

Wednesday, February 17, 2021, is Random Acts of Kindness Day. We know that everyone can use more kindness in their lives. Scientific evidence shows us the positive effects of doing kind acts for others as well as receiving or even witnessing kindness. ~Random Acts of Kindness Foundation

Be the I in Kind!

Ideas to Try

Start a Kindness Jar
Compliment the first three people that talk to you Phrases in multiple languages
Send a positive message to five different people
Send a gratitude message or email to a friend or coworker who deserves more recognition
Practice self-kindness by doing something you love for 30 minutes
Find opportunities to give compliments
Create a thank you note for essential workers
Hold the door open for someone
When you hear that discouraging voice in your head, tell yourself something positive — you deserve kindness too!
Kindness Bingo

Resources

Managing Emotions (02.09.21)

Managing Emotions

ESPAÑOL | HMOOB | KISWAHILI | عربى | ESOL Summarized

None of us were born knowing how to control big emotions. As our children learn and grow, our job is to help nurture their ability to manage their emotions in healthy, adaptive ways.

Ideas to Try

Make sure your child gets enough sleep - fatigue increases problems with emotional control
Give your child coping strategies - children can verbalize the need for a break, use a familiar stuffed animal to help calm, or listen to relaxing music
Validate your child’s emotional experiences - listen to what your children say and acknowledge their feelings
Help identify triggers - when calm, create a list of what causes upset and some coping strategies to try when these times happen
View emotions as an opportunity for connecting and teaching - emotional reactions can provide “teachable moments” to help children understand emotions and learn effective ways to manage them
Share how to cope - use stories to model characters with big emotions and their responses; talk through your own big emotions and coping skills with your children

Resources

Conflict Resolution (02.02.21)

Conflict Resolution

Conflicts happen - they are a natural part of life. The important thing is how we handle it. “Conflict is an opportunity to teach children a better way to communicate, resolve problems and meet their needs.” - Becky Bailey

5 Steps to Help Kids Resolve Conflicts

Calm Down - give everyone a chance to take a breather from each other
State and understand the problem - once everyone is calm, talk to each child and help them state their problem. Encourage the use of “I” statements (“I felt _____ when _____ happened.”)
Apologize Well - encourage each child to come up with a good apology which includes a solution to the problem
Promote solution building - empower children to brainstorm solutions to their conflict
Follow up - check-in to see how everyone is getting along and if the solution is working

Resources

Compassion (01.26.21)

Compassion

ESPAÑOL | HMOOB | KISWAHILI | عربى | ESOL Summarized

“Compassion” literally means “to suffer together”. Although compassion relates to empathy, compassion is when those feelings and thoughts include the desire to help. When we feel compassion our heart rate slows down, we secrete the “bonding hormone” oxytocin, and regions of our brain linked to empathy, caregiving, and feelings of pleasure light up, which often results in our wanting to approach and care for other people (greatergood.berkeley.edu). It’s often not enough to just be compassionate with your children, if you want them to learn how to be compassionate, you must model it - including showing yourself compassion for getting through challenging times.

Ideas to Try

Practice Self-Compassion - Modeling compassion for yourself will show your child how to also be compassionate with themselves.
Practice Compassion Towards Others - Model that others are also deserving of compassion.
Show Compassion Toward Your Child - This is where your child will feel compassion in action.
Practice Compassion in the Car - Notice the little moments that occur when you can point out what others are doing and offer a compassionate lens for the situation.
Draw Attention to Compassionate Moments - There are good things happening around us all the time. Take a moment to pause and reflect on them with your child.

CLICK HERE to learn more about these ideas.

Resources

Caring for Each Other Bingo (PreK-K)
Compassion Tips (K-2)
13 Ways to Raise a Caring and Compassionate Child (PreK-12)
How to Strengthen Your Child’s Self-Confidence with Self-Compassion (PreK-12)
OASD Virtual Calming Room (4K-12)

Resilience (01.19.21)

ESPAÑOL | HMOOB | KISWAHILI | عربى | ESOL Summarized

Resilience

All children are capable of working through challenges and coping with stress. Resilience is the ability to bounce back from stress, adversity, failure, challenges, or even trauma. It’s not something kids either have or don’t have; it’s a skill that children develop as they grow. (psycom.net)

Ideas to Try

Build a strong emotional connection
Promote healthy risk-taking
Resist the urge to fix it and ask questions instead
Teach problem-solving skills
Label emotions
Demonstrate coping skills
Embrace mistakes - theirs and yours
Promote the bright side (every experience has one)
Model resiliency

To learn more about these tips and more, click here.

Resources

Resilience Guide for Parents and Teachers (4K-12)
Resilience in Uncertain Times-video (4K-12)
What is Resilience-short video (4K-12)
Building Resilience in Children (4K-12)
How to Be a Resilient Parent (4K-12)
Three Ways to Boost Your Resilience as a Parent (4K-12)
OASD Virtual Calming Room (4K-12)

Persistence and Growth Mindset (01.12.21)

Persistence & Growth Mindset

ESPAÑOL | HMOOB | KISWAHILI | عربى | ESOL Summarized

We know that intelligence is a muscle that needs exercise to get stronger. Children learn best when we focus on their efforts and how they are trying to learn. A growth mindset views mistakes as opportunities to learn and try something different. Having a growth mindset sees the power of “yet”. It changes “I can’t” to “I can’t yet”.

Ideas to Try

Praise the steps your child(ren) are taking to learn something new. Pay attention to effort over results.
Help children “try again” by saying, “Let’s talk about what you tried and what you can try next time.”
Model a growth mindset in yourself - let your child(ren) hear you verbalize your belief in learning.
Tell children over and over that brains get stronger. It’s a reminder that we all need often.

Resources

Article: Keep Calm and Carry On to Success (4K-12)
Developing a Growth Mindset - 5 Tips for Parents (4K-12)
How Parents Can Encourage Growth Mindset in Children (4K-12)
Parent's Guide to a Growth Mindset-graphic (4K-12)
Teaching Persistence-short video (4K-2)

Tips for Returning to In-person Learning (01.05.20)

Tips for Returning to In-person Learning

ESPAÑOL | HMOOB | KISWAHILI | عربى | ESOL Summarized

Routines may have looked different over the past few months. As we prepare to return to hybrid learning on January 11, here are a few tips and resources to help with the transition.

Ideas to Try

Re-establish morning, bedtime and mealtime routines (especially breakfast)
Build safety into daily routines. Review mask wearing, handwashing, social distancing and schoolwide expectations with your child/teen.
Allow some extra time in the morning; rushing can create anxiety in an already high-stress situation.
Concentrate on short-term goals to keep your child focused and engaged.
Validate your child/teen’s feelings. Listen to what they are excited or worried about and reassure them that having a range of emotions is natural.
Check in with your child’s teacher to see what materials are needed when they return.

Resources

Visual Model 3: Hybrid Schedule from OASD (4K-12)
Updated OASD School Year Calendar (4K-12)
In-person School-wide Expectations-Elementary (K-5)
In-person School-wide Expectations-Middle/High School (6-12)
Teenagers and Transitioning Back (6-12) | Spanish translation
Transition Back to School Guide for Parents (4K-12)
OASD Virtual Calming Room (4K-12)

Self-care (12.22.20)

Self-Care

ESPAÑOL | HMOOB | KISWAHILI | عربى | ESOL Summarized

When you’re a parent/guardian/caregiver, self-care often slips to the bottom of the list. But taking care of yourself isn’t a luxury. It’s essential. And during this difficult time, when children are home and stress is running high, it’s more important than ever. Here are five tips that can help from Rae Jacobsen at the Child Mind Institute:

Make time for yourself
Prioritize healthy choices
Be realistic
Set boundaries
Reconnect with things you enjoy

Resources

OASD Virtual Calming Room - Find tools and strategies that can help manage emotions and stress. This calming room is based on a similar one shared by Riverview Middle School in the Kaukauna Area School District.
Self-Care for Parents
15 Self-Care Strategies for Parents
Parenting Through Coronavirus: You are Enough
Self-care for Stressed Parents
Self-care Bingo

NOTE: The next post will be on Tuesday, January 5, 2021.

Student Motivation and Engagement (12.15.20)

Student Motivation and Engagement

ESPAÑOL | HMOOB | KISWAHILI | عربى | ESOL Summarized

Now that schoolwork is “home” work, staying motivated and engaged is becoming more trying for some of our children and teens. As a parent or caregiver, you can’t make your child become engaged in their learning, but you can create and support conditions that can help your child stay engaged.

Things to Look For

Your child may tell you or show you that they are disengaged in their learning. Pay attention to their words and actions that may show additional support is needed.

Frustration
Anger
Stress
Anxiety
Refusal to engage or complete tasks
Difficulty moving from one task to another
Statements of “I can’t,” “It’s too hard,” or “It doesn’t matter.”

Ideas to Try

Use disengagement as an opportunity for growth. Consider asking your child where they are stuck and what help they need. You can also:

Reduce distractions
Give students choice in where, when, and how they learn
- Mastering the Art of Controlled Choices (4K-12)
Allow your child to have the time and space needed to complete their work
Reach out to your child’s teacher
Provide a sense of purpose - think about how school work fits into the “bigger picture”
Use a checklist for focus that can be checked off as tasks are completed
Make a plan for what your child.teen will do to get help if they get stuck so they are less likely to give up.

You can find this information and more in the article Building Positive Conditions for Learning at Home.

Checking in With Your Child (12.08.20)

Checking In With Your Child/Teen*

ESPAÑOL | HMOOB | KISWAHILI | عربى | ESOL Summarized

Checking in with your child/teen at the beginning and end of each day can help build and sustain positive connections. These short conversations matter. Using these check-in routines help develop skills related to self-management, organization, attention, perseverance, and flexibility and can help families feel less overwhelmed with the virtual learning process.

Before you start your day, you may want to plan with your child/teen:

When they can expect to spend time with you.
When they should avoid interrupting you.
What they can do in their downtime.
Come up with a list of “must-do” tasks as well as other optional activities to choose from.

In the morning, you could ask:

What class do you have today?
Do you have any quizzes or tests?
How are you going to spend your time today?
What resources do you need?
What can I do to help?
Give a compliment about one of their strengths followed by a suggestion on how they can use that strength in their work today.

At the end of the day, you could ask:

What was the best part of your day?
What is something you did today that makes you feel proud?
Did you accomplish all of your work for the day? If not, what help do you need?
How can we make tomorrow better?

ESOL / Multi-lingual Resources

(*Used with permission from the Green Bay Public School District’s Behavior Support Management team.)

Re-establishing Routines (12.01.20)

Re-establishing Routines

ESPAÑOL | HMOOB | KISWAHILI | عربى | ESOL Summarized

If you’re struggling to get back into a routine and maintain some consistency, you’re not alone. When starting or changing a routine, start small - think about one thing your family can do to add structure to your day.

Ideas to Try

What’s the easiest task or step to start with? Start there!
Try using the natural breaks in your day to build from - what should happen right before and after those breaks?
Offer choices to your child and let them help build the routines you are creating.
Check-in with yourself and your child. Ask what is working well and what needs improvement.
Give yourself grace, but stay consistent - it’s ok to cut yourself some slack as we navigate these challenging times.
Children think in pictures. Creating a picture schedule for your child will support their independence and increase their understanding of the organization and the expectations of the day. You can print or draw pictures for your students. Check out examples here and here.

Resources

Conscious Discipline At-Home Morning Meeting (4K-2)
Quick Tips for Creating Structure and Rules (4K-5)
Morning routine tip sheet (4K-12)
A Healthy Day (4K-12)
Keeping a routine with multilingual translations (4K-12)
8 Ways to Take Control of Your Time (6-12)

Take a Minute to Breathe (11.24.20)

Breathing Breaks

ESPAÑOL | HMOOB | KISWAHILI | عربى | ESOL Summarized

Navigating the current challenges of our new normal can feel overwhelming. When we feel overwhelmed, our mind does not stay connected to the present moment. As we head into Thanksgiving Break this week, it's a good time to step back to reconnect and reflect on what has gone well and not so well. Take some time to take a break and just breathe. It’s important to validate the feelings each family member is feeling.

Get into a routine and ground that routine in how you want yourself and your family to feel. You and your child(ren) can try some of the strategies below to bring your focus back to the present.

Ideas to Try

Intentional Breathing: Breathe in through your nose, let your belly fill with air. Breathe out through your nose. Repeat.
5-4-3-2-1 Senses: 5 things you see, 4 things you hear, 3 things you smell, 2 things you can touch, 1 thing you taste
- 10 Grounding Exercises (4K-5)
Drawing your Feelings: Encourage younger children to drawn their big feelings
- Drawing Your Feelings (4K-2)
Meditation: Bedtime/rest time is a chance to reconnect and reset: A good night’s sleep or a nap for younger children is critical for self-regulation. It’s difficult to fall asleep after a tough day or if you are emotionally dysregulated.
- Try this guided meditation song to help your child calm and relax each part of their body and drift off to sleep. (4K-5)
Journaling: Boost self esteem, confidence, through self reflection.
- Journal Prompts for Teens (6-12)

Resources

English
- Deep Breathing Exercises (4K-5)
- Stress Busters for Parents (4K-12)
- At-Home Feel Good Plan (4K-12)
- Coping Skills for Secondary Students (Video) (6-12)

Screen Fatigue (11.17.20)

Screen Fatigue

ESPAÑOL | HMOOB | KISWAHILI | عربى | ESOL Summarized

As the way we connect requires more and more screen time, we know the screen fatigue struggle is real. It is normal for you or your child to feel tired and need a break. Please give yourselves grace and take breaks as needed. You know your child, every child’s needs are different. If the need for an unscheduled break arises during live lessons, please be sure to communicate that need with your child’s teacher.

Ideas to Try

Blink, Breathe, Break. Remind yourself to blink more often. Staring at a digital screen can affect the number of times you blink, causing eyes to dry.
Stand and stretch or “walk in place” while watching class
Get up and get a drink - stay hydrated!

Resources

English
- Brain Breaks for Kids (4K-12)
- At Home Brain Breaks and Active Calming (4K-5)
- Eye Safety and Care for Students (Short Video) (4K-12)
- Digital Eye Strain (6-12)
Spanish
- Razones para darles a los ojos de su hijo un descanso de las pantallas
- Fatiga visual: cómo aliviarla y prevenirla
Hmong
- Luj Kev Saib TV thiab Siv Computer Nrog Kev Ua Si
Arabic
- 7 تمارين فعالة لاراحة العينين من اجهاد وتعب شاشة الحاسوب والهاتف !!
- ٧ طرق لتجنب إجهاد العين

New Resource: OASD Virtual Calming Room

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