Blog Archives

Learn why 'Stop Fidgeting' Is Exactly the Wrong Thing to Say to ADHD Kids!

1/22/2016

Hopefully if you're reading this you were able to come see this month's Speaker Series about "Getting Help: Effective ADHD Treatment Methods!" If not - be sure to check out the video here! In the Good Reads section you can also check out last semester's Linda Classen who presented on "ADD/ADHD Myths and Misinformation Behavior Management Strategies!".

As a follow-up to this excellent presentation we wanted to remind our parents who may have a kiddo who has an ADD/ADHD diagnosis (or a spouse) about this awesome blog post from last semester that deals specifically with tips to keep in mind when communicating with those persons!

Did you actually know that "... forcing ADHD kids to sit still and stop fidgeting actually impedes their learning."?? Be sure to check out this quick read - 'Stop Fidgeting' Is Exactly the Wrong Thing to Say to ADHD Kids.

If your kiddo is a bonafide fidgeter (I made that up but we are going to go with it!) then check out some of these easy "fidget friendly" toys to help assist kids in balancing their need for movement with concentration!

Here's to finding the ability to slow down (oh, mindfulness anyone??) and remember the best practices for working with those ADD/ADHD folks you love so much!

Thanks,
Kristi Waidhofer

Let's Put An End To Cyberbullying!

1/12/2016

Many of our community has probably already heard the tragic news from San Antonio's Alamo Heights High School, a high school that is quite similar to that of Westlake. This heartbreaking story hits close to home as my office is privy to a number of upset students sharing with me their personal stories of cyberbullying. While our school has a "no tolerance" policy against cyberbullying and has taken many means to be able to prevent cyberbullying and also appropriately respond to it when we are made aware of it, much of the prevention and intervention of cyberbullying starts at home.

First let's look at some basic facts about what cyberbullying looks like kids today.

I don't know about y'all but I know for my generation, bullying happened out in the open (or perhaps in a bathroom) but it was not so easy to hide as the bullying of today's generation. Due to the ease of which children can engage in bullying we have to be informed of how to prevent and intervene!

End Cyberbullying has a plethora of excellent information about how parents can get involved and even has some of the information broken down between age groups as I know many parents reading this are not only dealing with high school students!

This article also outlines some easy steps for parents to follow to set up responsible social media use for your kiddos!

When your child is experiencing cyberbullying there are many options for reporting that extend outside of the school. Be sure to know the appropriate actions to make it stop!

Talk with your student about these tips for THEM to know how to deal with cyberbullying!

TOP 9 TIPS FOR DEALING WITH CYBER BULLYING

Never respond to anything that has been said or retaliate by doing the same thing back. Saying something nasty back or posting something humiliating in revenge may make matters worse or even get you in to trouble.
Screenshot anything that you think could be cyber bullying and keep a record of it on your computer.
Block and report the offending users to the appropriate social media platform.
Talk about it. You may not feel it at the time, but you seriously are not alone. Talking to somebody about bullying not only helps you seek support but it documents evidence and will take a huge weight from your shoulders.
Assess how serious the cyber bullying is. If it is light name calling from somebody that you don’t know, it may just be easier to just report and block that user.
Report it. If you are experiencing cyber bullying from somebody you go to school or college with, report it to a teacher. If somebody is threatening you, giving out your personal information or making you fear for your safety, contact the Police or an adult as soon as you can.
Be private. We recommend that you keep your social media privacy settings high and do not connect with anybody who you do not know offline. People may not always be who they say they are and you could be putting you and those that you care about the most at risk.
Talk to them. Sometimes it may be appropriate to request that a teacher or responsible adult hosts a mediation between you and the person who is bullying you online, if they go to the same school or college as you. A mediation can be scary but is often incredibly powerful. It is essentially a face-to-face conversation between you and the person bullying you in a controlled, equal environment.
Sympathise. Always remember that happy and secure people do not bully others. People that bully are going through a difficult time themselves and will often need a lot of help and support.

Open communication is going to help your child feel like they can share with you what's going on behind that phone, iPad, or computer. The more places your child can feel positively connected the more protected they are from the ramifications of cyberbullying. Check out this school list of clubs for additional opportunities for your child to connect! Also be sure to check out the Student Life Resources section of the WHS website!

Finally, print this card out for your child as an option to keep in their wallet/purse/backpack in case they are ever feeling isolated or alone - they know they have options for support!

Let's keep our children thriving, healthy, and happy and officially put an end to cyberbullying!

Thanks,
Kristi Waidhofer

Revisiting Course Selection, APs, and Mindfulness

1/7/2016

Welcome back everyone! I hope that you had a wonderful winter break and a happy new year! The start of the spring semester brings with it course selection for next year and the preparation of APs (never a dull moment for our kiddos!) Therefore it is more important than ever to make sure our students are preparing for their futures properly, and I'm not just talking about course selection and preparation. They need to be taking care of their minds and bodies as well (if not first!) I'd like to remind everyone about the importance of mindfulness and appropriate academic preparation by revisiting the following post from 10/7/15: APs and Mindfulness?!

In addition to the excellent information from that blog I'd like to update everyone on a couple other important Mindfulness Tips!

Did you know that by engaging in routine Mindfulness you can actually change your brain? And we aren't just talking about minor changes - BIG changes in multiple areas of the brain! Changes that result in everything from the ability to better withstand stress, increase responsible decision making, lower reactivity, improve memory and concentration, among other changes. Read on to learn more!

Additionally, sleep is of the utmost importance at this time period. And I'm not just talking about APs, I'm talking about adolescence as a whole. This helpful article highlights different ways to include mindfulness to reduce insomnia and increase effective sleep!

I also really enjoyed this article as it highlights the importance of doing "nothing". Busyness does not always equal success. Sometimes it is the art of slowing down, which allows the brain to fully recharge, then we can become our must effective and efficient selves! We often phrase it to our kids as "study smarter, not harder!"

With that thought in mind I leave you with one other phenomenal article from a college admissions consultant. He reminds us, "As a college admissions counselor, I see parents and students all the time who stress out about every test taken and every hour of community service served. I try to remind them to remember the bigger picture -- that nothing is worth it if a student is miserable." Furthermore, he writes, "I counsel a couple dozen students every year, and in any given year more than half of my students -- affluent, extremely hardworking, probably overstressed students -- have nothing to set them apart. They all serve as the president of at least one major campus organization. They've all volunteered for work abroad trips after sophomore or junior year. They all have perfect SATs, SAT IIs, APs and GPAs, despite all taking every advanced placement class available at their high school or community college." Make sure to read the full article for some worthy advice about what to do instead to truly make your student not only stand out but lead a happier life!!

Thanks,
Kristi Waidhofer

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Learn why 'Stop Fidgeting' Is Exactly the Wrong Thing to Say to ADHD Kids!

Let's Put An End To Cyberbullying!

Revisiting Course Selection, APs, and Mindfulness﻿

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Revisiting Course Selection, APs, and Mindfulness