Inner Coach vs. Inner Critic 

One of the strategies many students have been exposed to during counseling sessions and Guidance lessons include learning about our thoughts and how sometimes they can be helpful to us and positive (INNER COACH) or negative and hurtful (Inner Critic).  We teach that we all have these thoughts and that we can learn to notice them and change our Inner Critic Thoughts into Inner COACH thoughts :) This is also called re-framing in the counseling world.

For example: 

Inner Critic:  I’m so bored, there is nothing we can do.

Inner Coach:  Finding new things to do is hard but if we work together we can.

Inner Critic:  I will never be able to get this right.

Inner Coach: This is hard but if I keep trying I may be able to do it.

*Check out this video about Olaf and Sven (Frozen characters) and see if your child can say or notice any of their thoughts like, “Oh NO!” (Critic) or “He’s almost there.” (Coach).  Can you think of better thoughts to stay instead when you notice a Critic thought?  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=An2OaIbPSII&list=PLuRkh6DdRwiOGExxs4XJFnw179zM9cklm&index=3&t=0s

This might be something fun to continue to practice at home- noticing these thoughts and changing thoughts that are not helpful, especially during this time when it can get easy to get stuck into a pattern of negative thoughts.

Parent Tip: Please continue to support yourselves.  Take a peek at this popular on-line Yale University Happiness course - which is now free! 

Laurie Santos, Instructor - Interview

https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/23/health/yale-happiness-course-wellness/index.htm

How to Register for the FREE Course:

https://www.coursera.org/learn/the-science-of-well-being?ranMID=40328&ranEAID=EHFxW6yx8Uo&ranSiteID=EHFxW6yx8Uo-.uLuPn2MieBhuQZx7IMA2Q&siteID=EHFxW6yx8Uo-.uLuPn2MieBhuQZx7IMA2Q&utm_content=10&utm_medium=partners&utm_source=linkshare&utm_campaign=EHFxW6yx8Uo

We miss you!

We are missing everyone already!  Hoping you are all doing well and taking care of yourselves.

This is an unprecedented time for all of us and it is natural to feel all sorts of feelings, with so many changes in routines that are a result of COVID-19 (Coronavirus).

Here are some supports we wanted to send your way. . .

First of all please take care of YOU!  As parents we typically want to make sure our children  are ok first, but remember the oxygen mask on the airplane analogy…. you are always told to put yours on first, so that you can then help others.  Taking care of yourself at this time is vital- here are some important reminders and ways to do that while still supporting your child.

CDC-Coping with Stress/Self-Care

The current situation we are finding ourselves dealing with can feel overwhelming for adults, and of course, children too.  There is no magic wand to make you say exactly the right words, so, trust your instincts, remember less is more, and hearing about this from the people who love you the most is the best way to hear this information.

Here are a few articles that may help continue to guide how you are communicating with your child about this and what you can continue to do to support them during this time. 

Supporting Kids During the Covid-19 Crisis  

Helping Kids De-Stress during Corona Virus

NASP-How to Talk to Kids about COVID-19

*Updated Information and Resources from Westford Public School about COVID 19

https://www.westfordk12.us/district/news/covid-19-coronavirus

Activities for Home 

If you are looking for some fun activities and strategies at home we have included some ideas to try!

*INNER EXPLORER: Inner Explorer is an online mindfulness program that allows students to learn about practice mindfulness through 5-10 minute guided lessons.  What a great opportunity to continue to support you child in learning about Mindfulness at home!

Create your own account now :) Inner Explorer

*GLITTER JAR: Glitter jars can be a fun activity with materials you may already have at home!  A glitter jar can help be a calming tool for kids to help visually see how when many feelings and thoughts are swirling in their head it can be hard to focus and feel calm.  Directions

*CONTRIBUTING: Contributing and doing things for others is a helpful way to manage stress.  Try some activities to do things for others: kindness rocks, making notes and sending messages to friends, family or first responders, write kind messages in chalk in your neighborhood, putting signs up in your windows with positive messages, etc.   

  

*MINDFUL WALKING: 

Many of your students have been exposed to this game/ activity through our guidance lessons.  Try it with your family . . . it might be a fun new routine Walk, Stop, Wiggle, Sit

Another type of Mindful Walking- or noticing what’s going on around you, taking the time to notice what you see, hear, smell, feel, etc.  Mindful Walking Exercise

Mindful Speech

Have you ever heard of the 3 Gates? Is it true?, Is it necessary? and Is it kind?.  This is another Mindfulness strategy we have been teaching to students and during some of our Guidance lessons.  These gates/ questions are a helpful guide to help students slow down and think before they speak. If you can answer YES to each of the gates then what you say will most likely be with the best of intentions.  These gates might be a helpful tool to use a home, when someone has used hurtful or unkind words. Review these gates and see if what was said is TRUE and if so, was it NECESSARY to share (and with whom- a parent, teacher, friend sibling, etc.) and then if so was it KIND (to oneself or others)?  Might just be a different approach that may work :) Give it a try! 

Is it TRUE?

Is it NECESSARY?

Is it KIND?