As a school psychologist, I have often heard teachers and parents express concerns about students’ abilities in the area of social skills, emotional regulation, and self-control. I am often given the task of making recommendations to support these students’ needs. Upon researching the topic, I came across three research-based programs that aim to help children improve these kinds of social-emotional …
How Does Physical Activity Impact Academic Performance and Behavior?
How does physical activity impact academic performance and behavior? Find out what the research says on this interesting topic.
15 Ideas to Build a Child’s Self-Esteem
1) Children should not be torn down before they have a chance to fly. Be kind to them. Compliment them. Let them know when you are proud and when they are doing well! Refrain from insulting, sarcastic, condescending, or passive aggressive remarks. 2) Children deserve to be heard (they have concerns which feel very real to them just like we …
Hands-On Social Studies Curriculum Also Helps Build Social Skills for Students with Emotional and Behavioral Needs
This hands-on social studies curriculum can make this subject exciting students. Research supports the use of hands-on learning in instruction.
Interactive Book Helps Kids Understand the Power of Positive Choices!
The book What Should Danny Do? contains nine stories in one. It is an interactive book that helps kids understand that their choices will shape their days, and ultimately their lives. Written in a “Choose Your Own Story” style, the book follows Danny, a Superhero-in-Training, through his day as he faces choices that kids face daily. As your child/student navigates …
Why Positive Behavior Support is Way More Than A Sticker Chart!
Positive behavior support and positive parenting are methods that work to teach kids right from wrong using natural and logical consequences (e.g., you make a mess you clean it up; you take something without asking, you give it back; you break something on purpose, you work to earn the money to fix it; you are disruptive in the movie theatre, …
5 Effective Anger Management Tips for Kids (or Adults)
It’s natural to get angry when you feel misheard, misunderstood, treated unfairly, or wrongfully accused. When you are angry, you often feel stuck with a problem that you can’t solve. Rather than yelling, screaming, hitting or hiding, here are some problem-solving strategies to help you make the most out of a difficult situation. There problem-solving strategies are based on the …
How School Counselors and Teachers Can Work Together to Promote Social-Emotional Learning
School is about more than learning academics. It is also a prime environment for promoting social and emotional learning (SEL). In recent years, the Every Student Succeeds Act has called attention to this need. This act requires that states measure school success with at least one non-academic indicator, such as communication, empathy, or conflict management. In order to effectively teach children important …
An Interactive Story to Teach Kids About Restaurant Behavior
Social stories are a research-based tool used to help children prepare for real-life events. They can be used to teach someone what to expect or how to behave in a particular setting. Because no situation is the same, it may be helpful to talk to your child about how their restaurant experience might be different from the story below. For example, in this story …
The Benefits of Including a Self Defense Program in Middle School Physical Education
Original Source: Teaching Self-Defense to Middle School Students in Physical Education; Journal of Teaching in Physical Education Bullying is an epidemic. It is widespread and cause for serious concern. Approximately out of ten middle school students in the United States are bullied weekly. To minimize school violence, some schools have taken steps to raise awareness about bullying, by implementing programs that …
When Should a Child Be Evaluated for an Emotional Disturbance in School?
The information in this article applies to public schools in the United States. If your child attends school in a different type of setting, talk to your child’s school to see what they recommend for children with behavioral and/or social-emotional needs. What is Emotional Disturbance? Emotional Disturbance (ED) is considered one of the 14 disabilities under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) …
American Academy of Pediatrics Explains Why Recess is Crucial for Children and Shouldn’t be Withheld
Introduction Policy makers, educators, and parents often talk about the role of schools in promoting the development of the whole child (e.g., physical, social, and academic development). A growing trend toward putting more emphasis on academic subjects and less on recess time, has put this important part of a child’s school day at risk. When recess is provided, children get …
10 Fun Activities to Do with Your Child at Home
Doing things with your kids is a great way to make time fly while spending quality time together! It also keeps behavior problems down. An engaged child who feels good and is having fun, will be more likely to behave than a child with idle time on his/her hands who is trying to figure out what to do next. Recommended Article: 10 …
Responsive Classroom: Evidenced-Based Approach Improves Academics & Behavior
What is Responsive Classroom? Responsive Classroom is an evidence-based approach to teaching elementary and middle school students. Responsive Classroom stresses the importance of fusing social-emotional learning with academic learning to create the optimal environment for success. Research finds that the Responsive Classroom approach is associated with higher math and reading achievement, an improved school climate, and higher-quality instruction. Responsive Classroom …
Theatre Teacher Shares Three Techniques to Increase Empathy in Students
As a theatre teacher and teacher educator, I believe empathy is central to building a respectful, caring, and compassionate community. Scholarly work on empathy reveals that empathy must be explicitly taught and practiced. In clinical psychologist Baron-Cohen’s book, Zero Degrees of Empathy: A New Theory of Human Cruelty and Kindness (2012), he identifies two types of empathy: cognitive and affective. …
Top 5 Reasons Why Physical Education is As Important As Schoolwork
Find out why physical education is needed in schools in this research-based article.
3 Effective Research-Based Bullying Intervention Programs
In my elementary and middle school years, I was a target for bullying and endured severe bullying from 5th through 9th grade. My confidence was not strong, my family was different from the average kid’s family in my school district, and I dressed a lot differently than the other girls in my school, due to the influence and style of …
5 Great Books to Teach Young Children About Empathy
As a behavior specialist and mobile therapist, I always loved using books to teach kids about a variety of social-emotional skills such as how to understand your feelings, how to be a friend, how to accept differences, how to develop empathy, how to solve a problem, how to be a good citizen, etc. Research also supports the benefits of using …
Try These 5 Great Activities With Your Social Skills Group (Adolescents/Teens)
Are you looking for research-based social skills ideas for teens or teen groups? Check out these five social skills activity ideas.
How to Talk to Kids to Improve Behavior
I can tell you from over 19 years of experience, that being calm, encouraging, positive, patient, and consistent far outweighs yelling, punishment, and threats in any situation with any child, regardless of what you believe has or hasn’t worked in the past. Research and experience show that positive parenting/teaching strategies win every time and why is that? Just like adults, kids …
A Message for All Kids
• You are more than just a kid. You are special for being alive. You are light and hope. You are priceless and worth more than you could ever imagine! • What other people say doesn’t change who you are. • You are at your best when you love and believe in yourself. • When you feel that no one …