Today’s great post is from the lovely Becky Goddard Hill, author of several wonderful children’s books that I really recommend you take a look at!
Struggling at school
It is so hard to see a child who is struggling at school, especially if it is your child
After such a long time away the return to school has been a struggle for many kids and early starts, friendship troubles, school work, sports teams and a new routine can all add to the pressures school brings
It is so tempting to dive in and solve everything on their behalf.
But, one of the best things we can ever do for our kids is teaching them how to help themselves.
Create Your Own Calm
Create Your Own Calm is a new activity book for 6-12 year olds from children’s therapist and wellbeing author Becky Goddard-Hill
It is a beautifully illustrated and fun activity book that contains 50 calming activities for kids to empower them to manage their emotional wellbeing.
It gives children lot of guidance to help themselves when it comes to dealing with big, uncomfortable feelings and situations. It also contains a variety of practical tips to help kids cope with life’s stresses.
Create Your Own Calm is all about encouraging kids to become problem solvers not problem dwellers.
It tells kids
‘A problem is a chance to do your best’
How to teach kids to deal with school problem
Before kids even I attempt to solve their school problems Becky suggests they do something fun maybe some exercise, watch a funny video or play a game.
Scientists did an experiment with 4 year old splitting them in to 2 groups.
Half were told to think happy thoughts before doing block building puzzles and half weren’t. Those who thought happy thought finished their puzzles faster and with fewer mistakes.
The dopamine that floods our biran when we are happy helps s think more clearly and learn more quickly!
Getting yourself in to a positive frame of mind is the first step to being a problem solver.
A problem solving approach
Then she suggests kids take a 5 step approach to their problem problem
1) Identify problem
2) Explore options
3) Pick one
4) Take action
5) Reflect on how it went and if it failed try again with another option
So for example if the problem is they struggle with maths and aren’t keeping up with their class – here is how they could address the problem using the guide above
- The problem is I find maths too hard
- My options are … tell the teacher, practice more at home, ask my friend to help me
- I am going to tell my teacher
- I told my teacher
- It really helped. He’s giving me a couple of extra lessons at lunch time and now I have caught up and understand it.
It would be so easy as a parent for you to have talked to your child’s teacher on their behalf but your child will learn SO much by learning to be a problem solver and actioning it.
Sure, they might need some help coming up with options and even identifying which one to choose but encourage them as much as possible to take the lead.
They will feel strong, powerful and capable and it will strengthen their problem solving responses.
About the author
Becky Goddard-Hill is a former social worker and psychotherapist as well as being a certified life coach. She blogs at Emotionally Healthy Kids
Create Your Own Calm is published by Harper Collins and is available on Amazon and in all good book shops
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