I use my iPad as my laptop. It is extremely convenient, user friendly, and has internet everywhere. It makes my life so much easier as I travel from location to location for work. I can complete my documentation anywhere. I sure used it on the long car trips this holiday season!
I love the app store. I love it almost as much as I like Pinterest! Here are my top apps for 2012. Enjoy :)
Professional
Numbers (Like Excel for Mac)
Decibel 10th (Reads decibles. So I can reward my group if they keep the noise "below the red")
30/30 (Time tracker... can set alarms at different intervals for different activites. Perfect for groups, classrooms, or cleaning the house)
Haiku Deck (Free slide creator for presentations. Beautiful and easy)
Evernote (Allows your to add photos, voiceover, and text to notes as well as store them in journals)
Skitch (Allows you to add arrows, text, and draw on pictures. Syncs with Evernote)
Docusign (Attach your actual signiture to any document)
You Tube
Personal
Holy Bible
iHeart Radio
iBooks
Kindle
UnStuck (Enter some information about a problem you are facing and it will help you to become "UnStuck"
Treat Cards (Create and mail actual custom cards with from your device. Birthday reminders)
Find iPhone
Score Center
Facebook
Pinterest
eBay
Zillow (Real estate tracker)
Big Oven (Enter the ingredients in your pantry and it will give you recipes with those items)
Calming
Art Circles (Browse art by collection. Fun interface)
Fluidity (Relaxing lava lamp like background)
Fluid (Water movement background)
Games
The Room (1 person puzzle game)
Blokus HD (2-4 person puzzle game)
Stack the States (State trivia)
Wheel HD (Wheel of Fortune)
Trivial Persuit
Pictureka
Train Conduct (1 person very fun and complicated, time-sensitive, train conductor game)
Train Conduct 2, USA (Version 2)
Towers hd (1 person puzzle game)
Magic Piano (Become a concert pianist by the time it takes to download this app)
Art
Paper
For my 2 year old
LunchBox (Puzzles, colors, big/small)
Playtales (Interactive books)
eflash English (#1 app for growing vocabulary. We started this at 12 months)
eflash Spanish Cards (Same for spanish vocab)
eflash2 Spanish (Dito)
Mickey Mouse Road Ralley (Not really educational. My son just loves Mickey)
Potty Time (Very fun and efficient potty training app. Reward system. Can call "Rachel" when he goes in the potty. Also potty songs and books)
Letter School (Practice learning letters, sounds, and what words start with what letters)
I know this post is a little off the beaten path for me, but it is inspired by two of my friends that received an iPad for Christmas. They wanted a list of my favorite apps, so here ya go girls!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year Y'all!
"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."
Isaiah 9:6
"When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy."
Matthew 2:10
Thursday, December 27, 2012
Sunday, December 16, 2012
Travel Play Therapy and Sand Tray Bag
I travel from school to school with a rolling tote bag. It contains all of my materials for play therapy and sand tray therapy. I am lucky that all of my schools allow me to keep my actual sand tray in my room so I only have to transport the miniatures and accessories. I used one of the 40% off coupons online to purchase this bag from Hobby Lobby. The bag was made for scrap booking, but it meets my needs for play therapy perfectly. Plus, it is cute!
My travel tote bag includes the following items (and yes... they all fit!)...
Dress up that boys and girls are interested in
Sand tray miniatures and accessories
Puppets
Sensory and calming objects
Kanoodle, my all time favorite puzzle game)
Slinky
2 PlayStation Controllers
Tennis Balls
Stress Balls
Cell Phone
Playing Cards
Sheet
Masking Tape
Art Supplies
Construction Paper
Pipe Cleaners
Flash Light
Band-Aids
Genotoons
Baby, Bottle, and Swaddle
Super Soft Teddy
2 Swords and Shields
Magic Princess Wand
Wizard Wand
Stickers
Realistic Medical Kit
Play-Doh
Bendable Family (Multicultural)
Trucks/Cars/Planes
Army Men
Toothbrush
Even though I travel, I try and set up the items with as much consistency and organization as possible.
My travel tote bag includes the following items (and yes... they all fit!)...
Dress up that boys and girls are interested in
Sand tray miniatures and accessories
Puppets
Sensory and calming objects
Kanoodle, my all time favorite puzzle game)
Slinky
2 PlayStation Controllers
Tennis Balls
Stress Balls
Cell Phone
Playing Cards
Sheet
Masking Tape
Art Supplies
Construction Paper
Pipe Cleaners
Flash Light
Band-Aids
Genotoons
Baby, Bottle, and Swaddle
Super Soft Teddy
2 Swords and Shields
Magic Princess Wand
Wizard Wand
Stickers
Realistic Medical Kit
Play-Doh
Bendable Family (Multicultural)
Trucks/Cars/Planes
Army Men
Toothbrush
Even though I travel, I try and set up the items with as much consistency and organization as possible.
| |||||||||||
Sunday, November 25, 2012
The Importance of Nutrition
More and more kids are being diagnosed with ADHD and related symptoms. This is also a common secondary diagnosis to trauma-related and genetically-influenced diagnoses. I have always said that if someone suggested medication to treat hyperactivity, inattention, or impulsivity that I would try everything before medication for my child. I work with many parents that feel the same way. Counseling is an important step in this process. Nutrition is another factor to consider.
How we eat is and important part of our culture. It is our "comfort food." It is Thanksgiving Dinner.
However, do you know how much sugar and caffeine your child ingests every day?
Sugar = Sugar
High Fructose Corn Syrup = Sugar
Carbs = Sugar (once in the body)
"Fake Sugar" contains many concerning chemicals (look up aspartame)
Dyes in Food are a common allergen that may be linked to ADHD and Autism
A few weeks ago, I sat across the visitor's table in a local school cafeteria from a mother and her two children. She introduced herself and her two year old daughter before her third grade son came to sit with them. She opened up her soft drink and poured half of it into her two year old daughter's sippy cup. Later during the meal, I heard the 3rd grader ask his mother, "What are those red things?" He was pointing to three tomatoes on top of his side salad. He only chose to eat his pudding and chocolate milk.
I will be the first to admit that I am not a perfectly healthy person, but I certainly am very involved in what my two year old son consumes. Since he started eating solid foods, I have had a little voice of guilt in my head. Why feed your son healthy meals and not his mother? Why would I expect him to eat fruits and vegetables daily and not hold myself to the same standard? It is this constant, annoying need to "walk the walk." We still make mistakes, but as a whole our family tries to align with the "Living Clean Diet." It basically encourages eating real food, organic and local when available. We cook mostly everything ourselves from ingredients that we can understand. We try to be aware of how many products contain sugar so that we can avoid them (except for moments of weakness... Thanksgiving dessert!).
So what does all of this have to do with my blog? That nagging feeling has been bugging me lately about the after-school snacks that we give to our group clients. They are donated by a local business, and we are grateful for this generosity. However, I would not feed my son the same snacks.
That is my line.
I try and provide services that I would expect others to provide for my child.
We have 20 school days until Christmas break. During this time I will ensure that my group has a healthy snack that I would be proud to serve my family. We have a budget of around $10/week so I will have to be creative (and may have to throw in a few bucks of my own) to make it work. My hopeful self will be looking for improved attention span, attitude, and compliance among children during group therapy.
Some of the snacks will include: Apples, Bananas, Grapes, Celery with Real Peanut Butter, Dried Fruit, Brown Rice Cakes, Unsweetened Apple Sauce, Carrots, Green Bell Pepper Slices, Cucumber, Oranges, Peaches, Plums, Cantaloupe, and Edamame.
Worst case scenario... provide a few vitamins during the sugar-coated holiday season. My other fear is that the kids will refuse the snacks and be upset with the change.
Whatever happens, it is sure to be interesting. Here's to good health for all!
Genesis 1:30
And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds of the air and all the creatures that move on the ground --- everything that has the breath of life in it --- I give every green plant for food. And it was so.
How we eat is and important part of our culture. It is our "comfort food." It is Thanksgiving Dinner.
However, do you know how much sugar and caffeine your child ingests every day?
Sugar = Sugar
High Fructose Corn Syrup = Sugar
Carbs = Sugar (once in the body)
"Fake Sugar" contains many concerning chemicals (look up aspartame)
Dyes in Food are a common allergen that may be linked to ADHD and Autism
A few weeks ago, I sat across the visitor's table in a local school cafeteria from a mother and her two children. She introduced herself and her two year old daughter before her third grade son came to sit with them. She opened up her soft drink and poured half of it into her two year old daughter's sippy cup. Later during the meal, I heard the 3rd grader ask his mother, "What are those red things?" He was pointing to three tomatoes on top of his side salad. He only chose to eat his pudding and chocolate milk.
I will be the first to admit that I am not a perfectly healthy person, but I certainly am very involved in what my two year old son consumes. Since he started eating solid foods, I have had a little voice of guilt in my head. Why feed your son healthy meals and not his mother? Why would I expect him to eat fruits and vegetables daily and not hold myself to the same standard? It is this constant, annoying need to "walk the walk." We still make mistakes, but as a whole our family tries to align with the "Living Clean Diet." It basically encourages eating real food, organic and local when available. We cook mostly everything ourselves from ingredients that we can understand. We try to be aware of how many products contain sugar so that we can avoid them (except for moments of weakness... Thanksgiving dessert!).
So what does all of this have to do with my blog? That nagging feeling has been bugging me lately about the after-school snacks that we give to our group clients. They are donated by a local business, and we are grateful for this generosity. However, I would not feed my son the same snacks.
That is my line.
I try and provide services that I would expect others to provide for my child.
We have 20 school days until Christmas break. During this time I will ensure that my group has a healthy snack that I would be proud to serve my family. We have a budget of around $10/week so I will have to be creative (and may have to throw in a few bucks of my own) to make it work. My hopeful self will be looking for improved attention span, attitude, and compliance among children during group therapy.
Some of the snacks will include: Apples, Bananas, Grapes, Celery with Real Peanut Butter, Dried Fruit, Brown Rice Cakes, Unsweetened Apple Sauce, Carrots, Green Bell Pepper Slices, Cucumber, Oranges, Peaches, Plums, Cantaloupe, and Edamame.
Worst case scenario... provide a few vitamins during the sugar-coated holiday season. My other fear is that the kids will refuse the snacks and be upset with the change.
Whatever happens, it is sure to be interesting. Here's to good health for all!
Genesis 1:30
And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds of the air and all the creatures that move on the ground --- everything that has the breath of life in it --- I give every green plant for food. And it was so.
Sunday, November 4, 2012
"I Need to Initiate a Crisis"
I knew this was coming. I felt the calm before the storm. In the past few weeks, two clients have come to me that are going to be extremely challenging and will need all of the resources that our team can offer. I have spent the past week completing trainings, reading everything relevant I can find, consulting, studying, putting together material for my team, purchasing tools, and preparing myself for how these next couple of months are going to unfold.
In grad school I learned something very valuable from one of my instructors. I had a client during my first semester of practicum that was rebellious, resistant, unmotivated, verbally disrespectful, aggressive, and not interested in applying any change to his life. He was court-ordered to attend our sessions and unwilling to participate or interact with me. I struggled through this for two sessions before bringing it to my supervisor and mentor. I was hopeful that she would recommend that he be transferred to another student.
She told me that this would be the client that would transform me into the therapist that I needed to be. She said that not every client will work with every clinician, but that every clinician should be able to work with every client. She said that I needed to "get creative and adjust."
She nick-named the client "Tony Hawk" and his treatment was indeed transformative for us both. There are classrooms behind the two-way mirrors in our university clinic that allowed other students, supervisors, and professors to observe sessions. As I moved from practicum student to intern, this client became a very popular client on the schedule. By the time he graduated from the program, we had a packed house in the classroom and everyone was rooting for "Tony" and I.
I had found my rock star moment. It is being able to adapt to serve the needs of my clients even when we are worlds apart.
In the past 12 months I have been feeling somewhat complacent and comfortable in my practice. I have not had any crisis issues at work that were new or different. My mind has become busy with paperwork, regulations, acquiring the right therapy tools, and planning my groups. In the middle of September, I was noticing that I had not had a "Tony Hawk" in a while. I had a moment of appreciating the calm, but I understood that this moment would be short-lived.
I was hungry for my next challenge. In the next few months I will be frustrated by the lack of peace, but then I must remember that in the calm I desired adventure.
I was going to blog this week about some of my new tools and trainings. I plan on doing that, but I felt like there needed to be a bridge to explain the shift in focus. To my teammate and friend, Elaine, thank you for putting up with me. I love and respect you so much.
"We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, you labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ."
1 Thessalonians 1:3
In grad school I learned something very valuable from one of my instructors. I had a client during my first semester of practicum that was rebellious, resistant, unmotivated, verbally disrespectful, aggressive, and not interested in applying any change to his life. He was court-ordered to attend our sessions and unwilling to participate or interact with me. I struggled through this for two sessions before bringing it to my supervisor and mentor. I was hopeful that she would recommend that he be transferred to another student.
She told me that this would be the client that would transform me into the therapist that I needed to be. She said that not every client will work with every clinician, but that every clinician should be able to work with every client. She said that I needed to "get creative and adjust."
She nick-named the client "Tony Hawk" and his treatment was indeed transformative for us both. There are classrooms behind the two-way mirrors in our university clinic that allowed other students, supervisors, and professors to observe sessions. As I moved from practicum student to intern, this client became a very popular client on the schedule. By the time he graduated from the program, we had a packed house in the classroom and everyone was rooting for "Tony" and I.
I had found my rock star moment. It is being able to adapt to serve the needs of my clients even when we are worlds apart.
In the past 12 months I have been feeling somewhat complacent and comfortable in my practice. I have not had any crisis issues at work that were new or different. My mind has become busy with paperwork, regulations, acquiring the right therapy tools, and planning my groups. In the middle of September, I was noticing that I had not had a "Tony Hawk" in a while. I had a moment of appreciating the calm, but I understood that this moment would be short-lived.
I was hungry for my next challenge. In the next few months I will be frustrated by the lack of peace, but then I must remember that in the calm I desired adventure.
I was going to blog this week about some of my new tools and trainings. I plan on doing that, but I felt like there needed to be a bridge to explain the shift in focus. To my teammate and friend, Elaine, thank you for putting up with me. I love and respect you so much.
"We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, you labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ."
1 Thessalonians 1:3
Sunday, October 21, 2012
A different kind of iMessage
One of the first questions brought up by parents of the children I work with is "What is this iMessage about?" An iMessage is one of the most basic skills that I teach to children to express their emotions. It is a beautiful tool that works well with almost all children in any environment. The basic construct is:
I feel _________________ when you ____________________ .
For example...
I feel hurt when you call me names.
I feel sad when you push me.
I feel lonely when you do not let me sit with you at lunch.
I feel happy when we play together.
I feel loved when you give me a hug, mommy.
I feel special when you smile.
This simple message is very powerful. It helps kids to give words to their emotions. It points out cause and effect. It prevents back and forth name calling. It prevents power struggle between children and adults. It helps adults understand how a child is feeling so that they can help. The first thing I ask children when they bring a conflict to me is "Did you use your iMessage?" Their faces usually go from angry to thoughtful. This is followed by an expression of need and often an apology.
"Tattling" is a common complaint about children that struggle with impulsivity. The general rule I lay out is:
1-2-Step!
Use your iMessage twice and then take it up with a safe adult. 1-2-Step. Once the issue has been reported, the 1-2-Step starts over again. This helps children be deliberate with their iMessage, and it improves understanding how much to involve their teacher or parent.
For group this week we are going to work on "Rock Problems and Play-Doh Problems"
Rock problems are stable and unable to be changed or manipulated.
Play-Doh Problems can be changed, formed, shaped, and shared.
Expressing emotions with Play-Dh and Googly Eyes. I have used this activity many times in the past and the kids love it. It is great for teaching iMessage as well.
I feel _________________ when you ____________________ .
For example...
I feel hurt when you call me names.
I feel sad when you push me.
I feel lonely when you do not let me sit with you at lunch.
I feel happy when we play together.
I feel loved when you give me a hug, mommy.
I feel special when you smile.
This simple message is very powerful. It helps kids to give words to their emotions. It points out cause and effect. It prevents back and forth name calling. It prevents power struggle between children and adults. It helps adults understand how a child is feeling so that they can help. The first thing I ask children when they bring a conflict to me is "Did you use your iMessage?" Their faces usually go from angry to thoughtful. This is followed by an expression of need and often an apology.
"Tattling" is a common complaint about children that struggle with impulsivity. The general rule I lay out is:
1-2-Step!
Use your iMessage twice and then take it up with a safe adult. 1-2-Step. Once the issue has been reported, the 1-2-Step starts over again. This helps children be deliberate with their iMessage, and it improves understanding how much to involve their teacher or parent.
For group this week we are going to work on "Rock Problems and Play-Doh Problems"
Rock problems are stable and unable to be changed or manipulated.
Play-Doh Problems can be changed, formed, shaped, and shared.
Expressing emotions with Play-Dh and Googly Eyes. I have used this activity many times in the past and the kids love it. It is great for teaching iMessage as well.
For the next activity, I'm going to ask the group to write the Positive Rock issues on one hand and their Rock Challenges on the other. We will cut them out to reveal the heart in the middle. I will give them Play-Doh to fill in their heart and discuss how our perspective CAN effect our Rock Problems.
A fun fall activity thrown in! Sometimes it is nice to bring out an art project and just throw out questions and conversation starters that are relevant to this week's topic. I really enjoy asking children how the skills they are learning are positively impacting their lives. I encourage them to share ways that they are utilizing the material at school and at home. An unrelated art project helps the conversation to feel very natural and client led.
The WorryWoos Books by Andi Green are probably my favorite line of books for therapy with kids. The watercolor pictures are inspiring, and it plays to my alice and wonderland whimsical obsession. "The Lonely Little Monster" is a perfect book for this week's theme. Nola feels completely trapped and isolated by what could be called her "Rock Problems." She is able to change her world in the end by changing her perspective (her Play-Doh Power!). These books are so well written and illustrated. I cannot say enough positive things about them and the role they have played in my client's lives.
The website also has a coloring sheet for each book.
On Friday we will do the review bags again. They have been working great, and the kids are being more and more creative with their stories. I hand out a bag filled with random objects to each small group. They create and share a story with the items given that is relevant to this week's them. Some of the kids like to act out their stories, which I love. I have such a wonderful and brilliant group of children right now, and this activity gives them an opportunity to let their creativity and teamwork shine!
The word "wisdom" was brought to me three times this week. All three times it was in the context of leading a Godly Life over knowledge. I love a planned coincidence, and I am open to how this lesson is unfolding in my life. Thank you to those messengers this week as they bring so much more than friendship.
"Buy the truth and do not sell it; get wisdom, discipline, and understanding."
Proverbs 23, 23
Monday, October 8, 2012
Impulse Control Week
So I haven't blogged in a few weeks... not because I have been busy, but because I have been caught up! I have been resting a little, but it is time to get back on the horse :)
This week we are doing impulse control strategies. We started today with a rap about impulse control and taking a breath so that we can stop and think.
We created stop signs for our desks at school. On one side they say "Stop and Think" and on the other they have a list of our impulse control skills.
Lastly we read and discussed the book "Whole Body Listening Larry at School."
The most important part on the list according the the group today was "Heart- Caring about what the other person is saying." Children and adults with impulse-control symptoms and related diagnoses often struggle with relationships. Peers and authority figures do not feel attended to, heard, or respected. We practiced our non-verbal communication skills that demonstrated exactly that.
Throughout the week we will complete the following activities...
Freeze Bowl
Some Helpful activities from Kids at Thought
http://kidsatthought.com/2010/05/27/2-very-simple-activities-to-help-children-learn-impulse-control/
Two More Wonderful Books
Lastly, a Final Friday activity that I am really excited to add. I may start using it as my review every Friday. It is from Apartment Therapy that I found via Pinterest.
http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/rainy-day-boredom-buster-diy-s-160311
You put random things in three different bags and allow the children to create a story with them. I am going to adapt this to our weekly theme by asking clients to create a story that demonstrate our weekly theme. We will split up into small groups, create a story that contains at least 2 impulse control skills, and share or act out our creations with the group.
This seems like a lot of material for one week... but if it rolls into next week I can live with that :)
Have a great week! God bless!!
Proverbs 22, 6:
"Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it."
This week we are doing impulse control strategies. We started today with a rap about impulse control and taking a breath so that we can stop and think.
We created stop signs for our desks at school. On one side they say "Stop and Think" and on the other they have a list of our impulse control skills.
Lastly we read and discussed the book "Whole Body Listening Larry at School."
The most important part on the list according the the group today was "Heart- Caring about what the other person is saying." Children and adults with impulse-control symptoms and related diagnoses often struggle with relationships. Peers and authority figures do not feel attended to, heard, or respected. We practiced our non-verbal communication skills that demonstrated exactly that.
Throughout the week we will complete the following activities...
Freeze Bowl
Some Helpful activities from Kids at Thought
http://kidsatthought.com/2010/05/27/2-very-simple-activities-to-help-children-learn-impulse-control/
Two More Wonderful Books
Lastly, a Final Friday activity that I am really excited to add. I may start using it as my review every Friday. It is from Apartment Therapy that I found via Pinterest.
http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/rainy-day-boredom-buster-diy-s-160311
You put random things in three different bags and allow the children to create a story with them. I am going to adapt this to our weekly theme by asking clients to create a story that demonstrate our weekly theme. We will split up into small groups, create a story that contains at least 2 impulse control skills, and share or act out our creations with the group.
This seems like a lot of material for one week... but if it rolls into next week I can live with that :)
Have a great week! God bless!!
Proverbs 22, 6:
"Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it."
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
Resilience... Letting Your Light SHINE!
2 Week Resilience Curriculum for Group Therapy
Week 1: Understanding
Monday
Define...
Introduce this week's theme, define resilience, talk about events that clients have had to overcome, and things they are dealing with today. Discuss resilience as an adjective and how people, places, and things can all be resilient.
We will be using a lot of light inspired activities to encourage "Letting your light SHINE!" Today we will introduce the light table and allow clients to manipulate the light through color. After everyone has a turn we will tie this in to how we can use our light to manipulate our emotions, reactions, and level of "calm and happy."
Picture Credits:
http://pinterest.com/pin/11540542766428992/
http://pinterest.com/pin/11540542766429013/
http://www.teachpreschool.org/2011/11/exploring-the-light-table-in-preschool/
Tuesday
Fair vs. Equal
Explain fair versus equal, how each person is given their own unique set of challenges, and how they can overcome these. Looking inside to overcome instead outside to compare and develop resentment and anger. Then watch a short YouTube video that further explains this idea...
Fair vs Equal Resiliency Video
Picture Credit:
http://msfultz.blogspot.com/
Wednesday and Thursday
Cinematherapy activity. If you and your children/students/clients have not seen this video... you need to! It is such a great movie, and has themes of resilience!
Friday
Review and take the Resiliency Quiz!
How resilient are you? QUIZ
WEEK 2: Application of Knowledge
Monday/Tuesday/Wednesday
Craft project of creating lanterns. My lovely MHPP (and partner in crime) had the idea of adding battery powered lights to each so that we would have hanging luminaries in the group room. We will really get into processing trials that clients have and are currently facing. We will work together as a group to support each other and apply interventions to build resiliency. The finished project will be an opportunity to "Let our Light Shine" when things seem difficult and overwhelming.
Balloon Tutorial
Thursday
Read "Pete the Cat, I Love My White Shoes" and tie it in with our resiliency theme!
Here’s a synopsis of the story...
I purchased it for my iPad so I can also share it with my individual clients who are not in my group. I love the interactive features!!
Friday
Review and Reward. Reward, Reward, Reward! My favorite part of reviewing is hearing how clients are implementing skills into their daily lives and the impact it is having on them and those around them :)
Related Reading...
All of these books are available on www.amazon.com .
This was such a fun theme to research and brings out so much positive in the kids. I can't wait to see what parts are their favorites and how they respond to the curriculum!
"Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope."
Romans 5, 3-4
Week 1: Understanding
Monday
Define...
Introduce this week's theme, define resilience, talk about events that clients have had to overcome, and things they are dealing with today. Discuss resilience as an adjective and how people, places, and things can all be resilient.
We will be using a lot of light inspired activities to encourage "Letting your light SHINE!" Today we will introduce the light table and allow clients to manipulate the light through color. After everyone has a turn we will tie this in to how we can use our light to manipulate our emotions, reactions, and level of "calm and happy."
Picture Credits:
http://pinterest.com/pin/11540542766428992/
http://pinterest.com/pin/11540542766429013/
http://www.teachpreschool.org/2011/11/exploring-the-light-table-in-preschool/
Tuesday
Fair vs. Equal
Explain fair versus equal, how each person is given their own unique set of challenges, and how they can overcome these. Looking inside to overcome instead outside to compare and develop resentment and anger. Then watch a short YouTube video that further explains this idea...
Fair vs Equal Resiliency Video
Picture Credit:
http://msfultz.blogspot.com/
Wednesday and Thursday
Cinematherapy activity. If you and your children/students/clients have not seen this video... you need to! It is such a great movie, and has themes of resilience!
Friday
Review and take the Resiliency Quiz!
How resilient are you? QUIZ
WEEK 2: Application of Knowledge
Monday/Tuesday/Wednesday
Craft project of creating lanterns. My lovely MHPP (and partner in crime) had the idea of adding battery powered lights to each so that we would have hanging luminaries in the group room. We will really get into processing trials that clients have and are currently facing. We will work together as a group to support each other and apply interventions to build resiliency. The finished project will be an opportunity to "Let our Light Shine" when things seem difficult and overwhelming.
Balloon Tutorial
Thursday
Read "Pete the Cat, I Love My White Shoes" and tie it in with our resiliency theme!
Here’s a synopsis of the story...
I purchased it for my iPad so I can also share it with my individual clients who are not in my group. I love the interactive features!!
Friday
Review and Reward. Reward, Reward, Reward! My favorite part of reviewing is hearing how clients are implementing skills into their daily lives and the impact it is having on them and those around them :)
Related Reading...
All of these books are available on www.amazon.com .
This was such a fun theme to research and brings out so much positive in the kids. I can't wait to see what parts are their favorites and how they respond to the curriculum!
"Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope."
Romans 5, 3-4
Friday, September 14, 2012
Appropriate Anger and Conflict Resolution Recap
Well my Appropriate Anger and Conflict Resolution curriculum actually took two weeks to complete instead of one...
We added in a comic strip to show use of a favorite conflict resolution skill.
The most popular part of this series by far was the PlayStation remote control activity. It ended up taking three days to complete, and the kids have worked it into our regular group conversations every day since then. In the moment, I added a line down the middle of the controller. I asked clients to put negative ways to respond to anger on the lefthand buttons, and positive ways to respond to anger on the right. We then did skits where clients "controlled" their anger with the giant controllers. It was a riot. Almost all of the kids reported that they shared this activity with someone in their home!
We also implemented a new behavior plan this week (which I shamelessly copied from one of my favorite 2nd grade teachers)...
Everyone starts with a clothes pin on green and has a chance to "clip up" or "clip down." This gives many chances to use positive reinforcement. Parents will be contacted if they land on red or pink. This week I did not have to call parents for a red day, but I did get to send home 5 fantastic notes for a pink day! The orange says "no sticker." If they receive yellow or higher they will receive a daily sticker that can be redeemed at the end of the month for our special outing or to shop in our group store.
It is so exciting to see how much progress that some clients have made already this school year. It has been a rough start adjusting to the school schedule for me. I have been implementing a few new personal boundaries to help stay caught up and to avoid feeling so burnt out including scheduling the most taxing paperwork at the beginning of the week so that it does not carry over into the weekend, not scheduling clients after hours, and planning vacation days into my schedule this semester.
For the first time since school started I feel "caught up" with paperwork. Just now. This evening.
***Note to self for next year... It will take a good 4 weeks to feel adjusted to Back to School!***
"Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and he brought them out of their distress. He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed. They were glad when it grew calm, and he guided them to their desired haven. Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men."
Psalm 107, 28-31
We added in a comic strip to show use of a favorite conflict resolution skill.
The most popular part of this series by far was the PlayStation remote control activity. It ended up taking three days to complete, and the kids have worked it into our regular group conversations every day since then. In the moment, I added a line down the middle of the controller. I asked clients to put negative ways to respond to anger on the lefthand buttons, and positive ways to respond to anger on the right. We then did skits where clients "controlled" their anger with the giant controllers. It was a riot. Almost all of the kids reported that they shared this activity with someone in their home!
We also implemented a new behavior plan this week (which I shamelessly copied from one of my favorite 2nd grade teachers)...
Everyone starts with a clothes pin on green and has a chance to "clip up" or "clip down." This gives many chances to use positive reinforcement. Parents will be contacted if they land on red or pink. This week I did not have to call parents for a red day, but I did get to send home 5 fantastic notes for a pink day! The orange says "no sticker." If they receive yellow or higher they will receive a daily sticker that can be redeemed at the end of the month for our special outing or to shop in our group store.
It is so exciting to see how much progress that some clients have made already this school year. It has been a rough start adjusting to the school schedule for me. I have been implementing a few new personal boundaries to help stay caught up and to avoid feeling so burnt out including scheduling the most taxing paperwork at the beginning of the week so that it does not carry over into the weekend, not scheduling clients after hours, and planning vacation days into my schedule this semester.
For the first time since school started I feel "caught up" with paperwork. Just now. This evening.
***Note to self for next year... It will take a good 4 weeks to feel adjusted to Back to School!***
"Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and he brought them out of their distress. He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed. They were glad when it grew calm, and he guided them to their desired haven. Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men."
Psalm 107, 28-31
Monday, September 3, 2012
Appropriate Anger and Conflict Resolution Group Curriculum
Had a wonderful Labor Day with my family and friends, but I am excited to get back to work tomorrow. A four day work week is often a struggle for me because I try to fit 5 days of work into 4 (as many people do). This week our group theme is appropriate anger and conflict resolution. I teach that anger is a healthy emotion, but how you handle it is a skill that we continuously cultivate.
Tuesday: Transition from last week's theme (no bullying) to this week's theme. My group LOVES videos. They are the most attentive when I break the iPad out and show them something on YouTube. This short from Pixar has some bird bullying and then their reaction to anger is one that does not produce a desired result. Adorable and open-ended. I give very little guidance at the beginning of processing projects and activities as I like to see where the kids take it first.
We will then define anger and discuss the importance of learning conflict resolution skills. We will connect skills that we often use that can be used as conflict resolution skills, like iContact and iMessage. We will connect different levels of frustration tolerance to filling up different sized buckets. Our goal this week will be to make our bucket a little bigger and to chose how we empty our water.
Wednesday: Anger Map and Triggers. What makes us mad? What fills up our bucket? Complete and share an anger map to gain insight and to practice communication skills.
Thursday: Reaction Mapping. The kids love this exercise. I roll out the butcher paper and draw the outline of a huge PlayStation controller. They then decide how to direct a character to react to anger. Every button = a reaction. I usually to groups of 3-4 so they can share their creations with the group. I enjoy displaying the end result so that I can refer to them... just in case conflict occurs. I can empower them to choose which reaction from their controller that they want to use at that time. Some of the reactions are positive and some are negative. All have a consequence.
Click for link to example via Pinterest (This is a test taking strategy poster, but it is where I originally got the idea for the activity. I just free hand the outline and leave the rest up to the kids!)
Friday: Apologies and making it right! I created an adaptation of the below apology form for my group this summer and it was a huge hit (I obviously deleted the "I was drunk" portion). What I like about it is that it gets to kids to think about their behavior, reaction, and another's response in a sequential way.
When kids are ready to "say sorry" I say... Well, thats a good start. This helps really mend and add some humor to the art of apologizing. It walks kids through who was involved, when it happened, what they did, how it was portrayed (behavior, words, action, inaction... this may be my favorite part!!), WHY it happened, and at the bottom it states; "this note represents my awareness that my words or actions in some way upset, hurt, or otherwise alienated you. In light of this understanding, I __ WILL ___ WILL NOT do it again." We have used these in group since July. I encourage clients to use them with kids, grown ups, siblings, teachers, staff, bus drivers, anyone who they want to express themselves to. Many of my families use these in their homes as well. Most importantly, it builds empathy. Beautiful.
I feel like I wrote a lot, but these are my notes for leading group this week. Things can get pretty hectic around children so I like to have my curriculum pretty well laid out. However, some of the best groups are when I throw the plan out the window and go where the kids need to go that day :)
"Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others."
Philippians 2, 3-4
Saturday, September 1, 2012
Chiropractic Before Medication and No-Bully Week Review :)
To touch on Wednesday's post, here is more on how chiropractic can be another option before medication. Thanks to our guest blogger, Josh Barney...
More and more parents of children diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder are looking for new options to get their children well. There are a number of reasons for this change. First, many parents don’t like the idea of their children taking medication to resolve the disorder. Another cause is that research suggests that up to 30% of psychostimulants (the first line of therapy) do not show clinically significant outcomes (Karpouzis, 2010). As it stands, psychostimulants are still the most effective treatment for the disorder. However, as stated, up to 30% are not receiving the benefits they were hoping for. This leaves the door open to look elsewhere for treatment.
Chiropractic care has shown improvement in a number of studies done on adolescent patients diagnosed with AD/HD. The chiropractor uses his or her hands to adjust the spine in order to restore normal mobility of the spinal column and maintain/restore the function of the spinal cord and nerves that are adjacent. There are a number of causes that may have previously resulted in a problem within the spine of the child. Chiropractic philosophy identifies three sources: Physical Trauma, Inadequate Nutrition, and Emotional Distress. As you can see, those three can make an almost endless list of everyday causes for dysfunction. There may be a problem lying within the spinal column that needs to be attended to by a chiropractic physician.
Keep in mind that all research done on the results of chiropractic are still in the preliminary stages, and are in need of further testing. As Giesen et al. have stated “chiropractic manipulation has the potential to become an important nondrug intervention for children with hyperactivity. Further investigation in this area is certainly warranted.”
Anthony V. Bastecki, Deed E. Harrison, Jason W. Haas, Cervical Kyphosis I a Possible Link to Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, Volume 27, Issue 8, October 2004, Page 525, ISSN 0161-4754, 10.1016/j.jmpt.2004.08.2007
(http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0161475404001642)
Giesen JM, Center DB, Leach RA. An evaluation of chiropractic manipulation as a treatment of hyperactivity in children. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 1989 Oct; 12 (5) :353-63. Pub Med PMID: 2607226.
Karpouzis F, Bonello R, Pollard H. Chiropractic care for paediatric and adolescent Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: A systematic review. Chiropr Osteopat. 2010 Jun 2;18:13. PubMed PMID: 20525195; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC2891800.
Also,Anthony V. Bastecki, Deed E. Harrison, Jason W. Haas, Cervical Kyphosis I a Possible Link to Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, Volume 27, Issue 8, October 2004, Page 525, ISSN 0161-4754, 10.1016/j.jmpt.2004.08.2007
(http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0161475404001642)
Giesen JM, Center DB, Leach RA. An evaluation of chiropractic manipulation as a treatment of hyperactivity in children. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 1989 Oct; 12 (5) :353-63. Pub Med PMID: 2607226.
Karpouzis F, Bonello R, Pollard H. Chiropractic care for paediatric and adolescent Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: A systematic review. Chiropr Osteopat. 2010 Jun 2;18:13. PubMed PMID: 20525195; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC2891800.
No Bully week was a success! The kids got so much out of it and were so brave to share their personal stories. They are motivated to "Be The Change" that will stop bullying in our schools. So inspirational :)
"Haven't I commanded you? Strength! Courage! Don't be timid; don't get discouraged. God, your God, is with you every step you take."
Joshua 1, 9
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
Did she say ADD, ADHD, or medication?!
1. Check your child's sleep schedule and make sure it is consistent at night and morning. Some families find adding a melatonin supplement can help tremendously with sleep and therefore the next day's behavior. A sleep log can be a helpful tool as well as documentation.
2. Eliminate sugar and caffeine. I know this may sound simple, but both of these are laced into so many foods. Be diligent about checking labels and see what a week off can do.
3. More elaborate diet changes to identify a food allergy may be helpful. Dr. Lidy Pelsser's study shows that "64% of children diagnosed with ADHD are actually experiencing a hypersensitivity to food." Read her interview with NPR through the link below.
Some common allergens that may be linked to ADHD and Autism are gluten, casein, and red food dye.
4. Make sure that your child is receiving at least an hour of physical exercise each day. School's schedules may not meet your child's physical activity needs so they may need some extra time outside once they get home. This can also help with sleep.
5. Chiropractic (See tomorrow's guest blogger!)
6. Therapists and counselors (Like Me!) can help to develop schedules, behavior modification plans, implement strategies for parents and teachers, and many other individualized interventions to help children build the skills to manage hyperactivity and impulsivity without medication.
***Consult with a doctor before implementing any changes with your child's diet or health***
Does this work for every child? No. Please support your friends and family who have children that need medication to to learn, retain information, and carry on relationships.
Lastly, check out this post written by Leah Zerbe on negative talk towards children with ADHD symptoms. She writes, "In a single day, a child with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may seem to receive as much negative feedback as a child without the disorder receives in an entire year."
http://www.rodale.com/treating-adhd-without-medicine
"Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones."
Proverbs 16, 23
Sunday, August 26, 2012
Bullying Group Curriculum
I was inspired by a
wonderful friend this weekend to begin blogging. So… here it goes!
This blog is dedicated to
my work and my passion. I hope to
document my curriculum for group therapy, interventions, parenting techniques,
behavior modification plans, and soapbox rants so that they can easily be
referenced and shared. Also, I
hope to create a support network with other professionals that work with kids.
So to jump right in…
My group theme this week
is Bullying. I work with kids that
are bullied and those that do bully.
Often one leads to the other and visa versa. My goal this week is to build empathy, improve healthy
expression of needs, and provide a safety plan for each client if they
experience or witness bullying.
(I should warn you that I
have a very slight obsession with Pinterest)
Monday
Define bullying legally,
our school’s views on bullying, and our group definition of bullying. Create a bully free sign for our group
room that is a visual reminder of our definition of bullying.
http://www.dictoot.com/pt/?id=14849
Tuesday
Who is a bully and who is
a victim?
http://edudemic.com/2012/01/bullying/
Wednesday
Bully Trailer. Please like their facebook page at… www.facebook.com/bullymovie, and
then preview this movie to make sure it is age-appropriate for your child. Some of the scenes are very graffic,
but these things happen everyday all over America. This needs to be a family event and then a conversation of
values and expectations.
Thursday
Social Media and Cyber
Bullying
http://submitinfographics.com/all-infographics/a-compilation-of-infographics-submitted-in-april-part-1.html
Friday
Safety Plan and Review
http://imaginethecrux.tumblr.com/post/13915896584/we-against
http://www.iamthatgirl.com/knock-out-bullying/
Related Reading
I cannot wait to see where
this framework leads my group.
May God work through each
of us as we go about our busy lives this week.
“Whoever
is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he
who takes a city.” Proverbs 16, 32
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