 |
| My hallway window is decorated with ways to be Bucket Fillers for recess, the cafeteria, the classroom, when a friend is sad, and during specials. |
 |
| Found this game on pinterest. Students sorted examples of Bucket Dippers and Bucket Fillers. |
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
AISD Communication to Parents Regarding Friday's Tragedy
Dear Austin Independent School Community,
We are deeply troubled to hear about the shooting in a Connecticut elementary school. This tragedy is heartbreaking and our thoughts and prayers are with the families of Newtown, Connecticut. Your child may have many questions for you regarding why this horrible incident occurred. Our Districts Learning Support Department recommends the following tips for parents as they discuss this tragedy with their children. This guidance is provided from the American School Counseling Association.
What Can You Do?
Reassure your child or teen that he or she is safe, and that you are also okay by doing the following:
Listen!
- Maintain routines.
- Turn the television off or allow your child to only watch shows that aren’t covering the incident. (Adolescents may need to watch because, like adults, they have a need to know. Keep it to a minimum – no more than a half-hour and be sure to discuss what your child saw and heard by asking questions and listen carefully to responses and opinions.)
- Do not criticize any regressive behaviors, such as a child’s need for comfort food. Allow your child to be sad or afraid. Reassure your child that you will be there to take care of them. Tell your child that the sadness, hurt, or fear that may be felt now will change in time.
- Encourage your child to exercise some sense of control for the next few days by letting them make decisions about what they want to eat and wear.
- Spend time together. This means together, not you in one part of the house while your child is in another part of the house.
- Encourage your child to engage in physical activities as well as activities that let them feel better.
- Explain that it is normal to feel sad or worried but the United States is a strong country and officials are working hard to keep everyone safe.
- When needed, help separate fact from fiction. Fiction tends to escalate one’s fears.
- Do not speculate or exaggerate.
- Since research shows elementary students are not old enough to process tragic events such as shootings, terrorist attacks and other violent incidents, it is best to limit media exposure.
- Please be cautious in your conversations and it is advised to not discuss the media coverage in front of them
- Please be cautious in your conversations and ensure and reiterate that there are many caring adults at their school working hard to keep them safe.
Points to Remember:
- In all aged children it is essential that caregivers attempt to keep a child’s daily schedule as close to their own routine as possible. Children become easily agitated when they do not know what to expect next. If there is a change in their routine, let them know before it happens if at all possible. Communicating with children helps to restore their trust in you as a caregiver.
- Children grieve intermittently. Children’s grief is similar to a ping-pong ball; you never know which direction they are headed. Therefore, follow children where they lead you. Allow them to tell their story, on their terms, magically or seriously, let them lead!
- Ask your child to put their hand on an 8 1/2" x 11" piece of paper and spread their fingers. Then ask the child to trace their hand print. On the fingers of the hand print ask them to write the names and phone numbers of people your child can call for help should he or she need it.
- On another piece of paper help your child make a safety plan. Have your child write down all the things he or she can do to feel safe and happy.
This activity can be creative and many children enjoy coloring the image. Younger children may need help identifying phone numbers, but try to help the child list as many people as possible; list the people or phone numbers on the fingers of the hand. You might also consider helping your child develop a “ home safety plan”—how to run to a neighbor’s house or dial 911.
Austin Independent School District School Counselors, Child Study System, and the District's Crisis Response Team which is comprised of Licensed Social Workers and Licensed Counselors are trained and prepared to provide support for students during their school day.
If you have questions or concerns please contact your child's school or you may contact the AISD Learning Support Services Department.
Learning Support Services Department
512-414-0873
Please access the additional links for more information and guidance.
http://www.schoolcounselor.org/content.asp?contentid=672
http://www.aacap.org/cs/root/resources_for_families/talking_to_children_about_community_violence
A National Tragedy: Helping Children Cope
Tips for Parents and Teachers from NASP Resources:
Whenever a national tragedy occurs, such as terrorist attacks or natural disasters, children, like many people, may be confused or frightened. Most likely they will look to adults for information and guidance on how to react. Parents and school personnel can help children cope first and foremost by establishing a sense of safety and security. As more information becomes available, adults can continue to help children work through their emotions and perhaps even use the process as a learning experience.All Adults Should:
-
Model calm and control. Children take their emotional cues from the
significant adults in their lives. Avoid appearing anxious or frightened.
-
Reassure children that they are safe and (if true) so are the other
important adults in their lives. Depending on the situation, point out factors
that help insure their immediate safety and that of their community.
-
Remind them that trustworthy people are in charge. Explain that the
government emergency workers, police, firefighters, doctors, and the military
are helping people who are hurt and are working to ensure that no further
tragedies occur.
-
Let children know that it is okay to feel upset. Explain that all
feelings are okay when a tragedy like this occurs. Let children talk about
their feelings and help put them into perspective. Even anger is okay, but
children may need help and patience from adults to assist them in expressing
these feelings appropriately.
-
Observe children’s emotional state. Depending on their age, children
may not express their concerns verbally. Changes in behavior, appetite, and
sleep patterns can also indicate a child’s level of grief, anxiety or
discomfort. Children will express their emotions differently. There is no right
or wrong way to feel or express grief.
-
Look for children at greater risk. Children who have had a past
traumatic experience or personal loss, suffer from depression or other mental
illness, or with special needs may be at greater risk for severe reactions than
others. Be particularly observant for those who may be at risk of suicide.
Seek the help of mental health professional if you are at all concerned.
-
Tell children the truth. Don’t try to pretend the event has not
occurred or that it is not serious. Children are smart. They will be more
worried if they think you are too afraid to tell them what is happening.
-
Stick to the facts. Don’t embellish or speculate about what has
happened and what might happen. Don’t dwell on the scale or scope of the
tragedy, particularly with young children.
-
Keep your explanations developmentally appropriate. Early
elementary school children need brief, simple information that should be
balanced with reassurances that the daily structures of their lives will not
change. Upper elementary and early middle school children will be
more vocal in asking questions about whether they truly are safe and what is
being done at their school. They may need assistance separating reality from
fantasy. Upper middle school and high school students will have
strong and varying opinions about the causes of violence and threats to safety
in schools and society. They will share concrete suggestions about how to make
school safer and how to prevent tragedies in society. They will be more
committed to doing something to help the victims and affected community.
For all children, encourage them to verbalize their thoughts and feelings.
Be a good listener!
- Monitor your own stress level. Don’t ignore your own feelings of anxiety, grief, and anger. Talking to friends, family members, religious leaders, and mental health counselors can help. It is okay to let your children know that you are sad, but that you believe things will get better. You will be better able to support your children if you can express your own emotions in a productive manner. Get appropriate sleep, nutrition, and exercise.
What Parents Can Do:
-
Focus on your children over the week following the tragedy. Tell them
you love them and everything will be okay. Try to help them understand what has
happened, keeping in mind their developmental level.
-
Make time to talk with your children. Remember if you do not talk to
your children about this incident someone else will. Take some time and
determine what you wish to say.
-
Stay close to your children. Your physical presence will reassure them
and give you the opportunity to monitor their reaction. Many children will want
actual physical contact. Give plenty of hugs. Let them sit close to you, and
make sure to take extra time at bedtime to cuddle and to reassure them that they
are loved and safe.
-
Limit your child’s television viewing of these events. If they must
watch, watch with them for a brief time; then turn the set off. Don’t sit
mesmerized re-watching the same events over and over again.
-
Maintain a “normal” routine. To the extent possible stick to your
family’s normal routine for dinner, homework, chores, bedtime, etc., but
don’t be inflexible. Children may have a hard time concentrating on
schoolwork or falling asleep at night.
-
Spend extra time reading or playing quiet games with your children before
bed. These activities are calming, foster a sense of closeness and
security, and reinforce a sense of normalcy. Spend more time tucking them in.
Let them sleep with a light on if they ask for it.
-
Safeguard your children’s physical health. Stress can take a physical
toll on children as well as adults. Make sure your children get appropriate
sleep, exercise, and nutrition.
-
Consider praying or thinking hopeful thoughts for the victims and their
families. It may be a good time to take your children to your place of
worship, write a poem, or draw a picture to help your child express their
feelings and feel that they are somehow supporting the victims and their
families.
- Find out what resources your school has in place to help children cope. Most schools are likely to be open and often are a good place for children to regain a sense of normalcy. Being with their friends and teachers can help. Schools should also have a plan for making counseling available to children and adults who need it.
What Schools Can Do:
-
Assure children that they are safe and that schools are well prepared
to take care of all children at all times.
-
Maintain structure and stability within the schools. It would be best,
however, not to have tests or major projects within the next few days.
-
Have a plan for the first few days back at school. Include school
psychologists, counselors, and crisis team members in planning the school’s
response.
-
Provide teachers and parents with information about what to say and do
for children in school and at home.
-
Have teachers provide information directly to their students, not
during the public address announcements.
-
Have school psychologists and counselors available to talk to students
and staff who may need or want extra support.
-
Be aware of students who may have recently experienced a personal
tragedy or a have personal connection to victims or their families. Even a
child who has merely visited the affected area or community may have a strong
reaction. Provide these students extra support and leniency if necessary.
-
Know what community resources are available for children who may need
extra counseling. School psychologists can be very helpful in directing families
to the right community resources.
-
Allow time for age appropriate classroom discussion and activities. Do
not expect teachers to provide all of the answers. They should ask questions
and guide the discussion, but not dominate it. Other activities can include art
and writing projects, play acting, and physical games.
-
Be careful not to stereotype people or countries that might be associated
with the tragedy. Children can easily generalize negative statements and
develop prejudice. Talk about tolerance and justice versus vengeance. Stop
any bullying or teasing of students immediately.
-
Refer children who exhibit extreme anxiety, fear or anger to mental health
counselors in the school. Inform their parents.
-
Provide an outlet for students’ desire to help. Consider making get
well cards or sending letters to the families and survivors of the tragedy, or
writing thank you letters to doctors, nurses, and other health care
professionals as well as emergency rescue workers, firefighters and police.
- Monitor or restrict viewing scenes of the event as well as the aftermath.
Modified from material posted on the NASP website in September 2001.
© 2002, National Association of School Psychologists, 4340 East West Highway, Suite 402, Bethesda, MD 20814, (301) 657-0270, Fax (301) 657-0275; www.nasponline.org
Friday, December 14, 2012
A Girls Guide to Dealing With Digital Dilemmas and A Girls Guide to Friendships, Friendemies and Feeling Good About YOU!
|
The Talking Room presents two new and exciting weekend workshops
for your daughter. With an emphasis on proactive empowerment, girls will learn
how to be confident in future
situations, manage feelings, and know how to handle tricky situations. Each workshop will be taught by Emily
Roberts MA, LPC and Jane Flynn MA, LPC creators of The Talking Room. Emily,
The Guidance Girl, o has lead and created girls groups across the country and
is a recognized expert in building self-esteem. Jane is a psychotherapist who
specializes in working with young girls, women, and parents.
Your daughter will be empowered, inspired, and on her way to developing her true self, armed with
skills and her own “tool kit” to take home. She will be able to feel safe and
ask questions while gaining support and tools from new friends.
|
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)