Thoughts from the School
Counselor:
Jenny Harden harden_jenny@dublinschools.net 614-­‐718-­‐8703 •
The following apps are recommended for making parents’ lives easier: 1.) Simply Circle-­‐This app simplifies setting up an online network for teams or scout troops. It also sends reminders about upcoming events. 2.) Privet-­‐ This app allows you to anonymously post parenting questions and get fast advice from users. 3.) Curbi-­‐
This app affords you the power to set limits on your child’s screen time as well as receive a weekly report on usage of your child’s device. (Source: The Week, March 11, 2016) •
What do children need to learn to have good conversation skills? First of all, they must greet a person by saying something like “hello”. Then they need to be able to start a conversation by asking a question or making a statement. Children can hold conversations by engaging in the three following behaviors: answering questions with some detail instead of a very short answer, asking questions (often they can ask the same question that they have answered), and taking turns. If children are to form successful friendships, they m ust acquire two-­‐
way conversation skills. (Source: Helping Your Anxious Child by Rapee, Wignall, Spence, Cobham, and Lyneham) •
There are two statements that kids need to say quickly. The first is “ I’m sorry.” Sometimes children may have an accident at school where they bump into someone. If they fail to apologize, other students may interpret the action as intentional. There are many times w hen students will say there was an accident but admit that they did not apologize. How would the peer know it was an accident? This negligence can result in an angry peer. Learning to say “I’m sorry” rather than just “Sorry” in a nonchalant way quickly helps dissipate potential anger. The second statement that needs to be said quickly is “Thank you.” It should be said loud enough for the person on the receiving end to hear and within 3 seconds! •
A simple solution for helping children have equal time on an ipad or any item is to invest in a time-­‐keeping device. Have your kids agree on a set amount of time (a few minutes usually) and set the device for that amount of time. This will help reduce conflict in your home! (Source: The Big Book of Parenting Solutions by Michele Borba) •
.A reminder: Learning to work out problems with others is a chore for all of us. It is especially difficult for children and requires years of practice. Constant reminders of using techniques such as rock, paper, scissors, having an adult pick a number, picking names out of a hat, and flipping a coin help with conflict resolution. Arguing should not be the first option. Effective problem solving is a skill you want to compliment and reward.