Blog Archives

Cultivate Kindness

9/26/2019

This article has be floating around facebook this week and it's too good not to share. This part really stood out to me -

‘It’s important to be kind. You can’t know all the times that you’ve hurt people in tiny, significant ways. It’s easy to be cruel without meaning to be. There’s nothing you can do about that. But you can choose to be kind. Be kind.’

I don't know why sometimes it is easier to be mean or just not very nice to people. Maybe because it makes us feel too vulnerable. Maybe it's completely unintentional and we have no idea how we come across to other people. Regardless, it's a good reminder that our actions or lack there of can make a huge impact in someone's life.

Check out all these scientific benefits to being Kind! This podcast was pretty interesting!

I'm glad the district has chosen to take on Kindness as the theme this year. Kindness comes in all shapes and sizes, it's something we call can do to try to make Eanes a healthier, happier, better place.

Stay Kind, Chaps!
-Katie & Kristi

Children Can't Learn if They're Anxious or Stressed

9/18/2019

At this point your student has probably had at least one test in all of their classes. We always like to remind students not to put too much stock into their performance on the first tests because part of it is learning your teacher's testing style, learning what sticks out to them as important, and understanding how much time you need to give yourself to prepare for each subject test. So while it can feel like the end of the world - it isn't. It's just feedback to be able to move forward and prepare for the next tests!

"Failure is data; it helps you figure out what you need to learn, and what strategies you could use to help you perform." (Excellent article worth reading!!)

Furthermore, when a student is stressed out about their academics (or any life stressor for that matter) they quite literally cannot learn or perform to their best ability.

As the trusted adults in their lives we can help guide them to perform better! For example, praising their effort versus commenting on "natural ability". A parent that attempts to motivate their kid by telling them they are "smart and can do it!" is a lovely sentiment but when things get hard, these compliments begin to get confusing because in the mind of the student, "If I'm so smart, why isn't this easier??" This is where we need to change our motivation tactic to praising their EFFORT. "You worked so hard!" "I saw how much time you put into that assignment!"

“'Emphasizing effort gives a child a variable that they can control,” said Dweck. “They come to see themselves as in control of their success.” So how can we recognize and reward effort — without letting our kids fall back into a fixed mindset? The key is sharing the right kind of praise a lot and with impact. It’s not enough to just say, “Good job.” We need to notice, name, and nourish.

These strategies work best with younger kids, who will speak frankly with their parents about what they’re thinking and feeling. Teenagers can be a little trickier. At this age, they’re gravitating away from parents and toward peers, and you may feel like there’s a widening gap between you and your kid. If this sounds like you, try reminding your child of past growth experiences when he gets frustrated.

“How can I help my child when he gets ‘stuck’? What do I do when he just gives up and shuts down?” When I get this question, I remind parents that when the brain is overwhelmed with stress, it goes into “fight or flight” mode. For many kids, particularly those with ADHD, “flight” generally means “freeze” — they shut down completely and their brains won’t learn. When too much stress happens, learning can’t take place, so it’s important for parents to recognize when children need to be comforted or left alone — not expected to continue with their work.

Be sure to read on in this article to learn more about supporting your student during the hard times!!

Stay Healthy, Chaps!
-Kristi Waidhofer and Katie Bryant

National Suicide Prevention Week!

9/12/2019

Did you know that for young Texans ages 15-34, suicide is the second leading cause of death? Or that for every completed suicide there are 25 suicide attempts??

Parents can play a key role in early detection of warning signs and behaviors indicating that a child may be considering suicide. Trouble focusing, increased withdrawal from family, friends and school, a lack of interest in favorite activities and risk-taking behaviors are a few signs that indicate suicide risk.

Research has found that about 90% of individuals who die by suicide experience mental illness. A number of other things may put a person at risk of suicide, including:

Prolonged stress.
Isolation.
Age. People under age 24 or above age 65 are at a higher risk for suicide.
A recent tragedy or loss.
A family history of suicide.
Substance abuse. Drugs and alcohol can result in mental highs and lows that exacerbate suicidal thoughts.
Intoxication. More than one in three people who die from suicide are found to be currently under the influence.
Access to firearms.
A serious or chronic medical illness.
Gender. Although more women than men attempt suicide, men are four times more likely to die by suicide.
A history of trauma or abuse.
Agitation and sleep deprivation

This year we are challenging everyone to #BeThe1To ASK, BE THERE, KEEP THEM SAFE, HELP THEM CONNECT, FOLLOW UP.

ASK - Research shows people who are having thoughts of suicide feel relief when someone asks after them in a caring way. Findings suggest acknowledging and talking about suicide may reduce suicidal ideation.

BE THERE - Individuals are more likely to feel less depressed, less suicidal, less overwhelmed, and more hopeful by after speaking to someone who listens without judgment.

KEEP THEM SAFE - A number of studies have indicated that when lethal means are made less available or less deadly, suicide rates by that method decline, and frequently suicide rates overall decline.

HELP THEM CONNECT - Studies indicate that helping someone at risk create a network of resources and individuals for support and safety can help them take positive action and reduce feelings of hopelessness.

FOLLOW UP - Studies have also shown that brief, low cost intervention and supportive, ongoing contact may be an important part of suicide prevention, especially for individuals after they have been discharged from hospitals or care services.

Take it from your kids!!

To support our students we are asking all Westlake students to download A Friend Asks on to their iPads. A Friend Asks is a user-friendly app to learn more about the warning signs of suicide and mental health illness and how to access help! We recommend that parents download this app as well as it's extremely informative.

As always we want to make sure everyone has access to the Suicide Prevention Lifeline phone number. Download this card to carry in your wallet or save the number into your phone!

Additional resources for HELPING THEM CONNECT to have saved in your phone!

Crisis Text Line - Text “HELLO” to 741-741

National Suicide Hotline
800-SUICIDE (784-2433)
800-442-HOPE (4673)

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
800-273-TALK (8255)

The Trevor Lifeline
866-4-U-TREVOR (488-7386)

MCOT – Mobile Crisis Outreach Team
512-472-HELP

Finally, just a reminder that there is tons of support at school. Contact us at any time!

Stay Healthy, Chaps!
-Kristi Waidhofer and Katie Bryant

Sleep & How To Avoid Overscheduling

9/5/2019

Now that school is in full swing, that means so are all the after-school activities. Our students have so many great opportunities but it is impossible to do it all. We also want to continue to stress the importance of PDF - playtime, downtime, family time. Sometimes we forget that adolescents still need all three of these!

This is a great article and reminders to not over-schedule yourself and your child! Getting enough sleep can feel like a non-stop battle for all of us. But the research continues to show how important it is. Here are some great suggestions:

• Establish a regular sleep schedule. Go to bed and wake up at the same time every day. Try not to deviate from this too much, even on weekends or days off.
• Establish a routine. Try to follow the same routine each night before bed. A good one for younger children is the 3 B’s — take a bath, brush teeth and read a book.
• Limit screen time before bed. TV and other electronics are stimulating to the brain. The “blue light” can suppress melatonin, a hormone that regulates the sleep-wake cycle. Turn off all devices 1 hour before bedtime. A good solution: Set up a family overnight charging area for smartphones and tablets in an area far from the bedroom.
• Don’t force yourself to sleep. If you can’t fall asleep within 20 minutes, get out of bed and do something calming, then return to your bed when you feel tired. Some ideas are reading a book, writing in a journal, drawing, listening to music, or taking a warm bath.
• Avoid alcohol, caffeine, and nicotine at least four hours before bed. Consuming these substances can hinder your ability to fall asleep and stay asleep.
• Avoid napping. If your child likes to come home from school and crash, try to keep them from doing this if possible. If not, limit naps to 30 minutes or less.
• Only use your bed for sleeping. Using your bed for watching TV, using a smartphone or working will lead your body to associate your bed with these activities. If you reserve your bed solely for sleeping, your body will recognize this and hopefully fall asleep easier.
• Exercise and eat well. Being active during the day and eating healthy are both vital to better quality sleep. However, you should avoid eating big meals and strenuous exercise two hours before bed.
• Sleep in a comfortable environment. Make sure your bedroom is a comfortable temperature, quiet and dark. Darkness promotes sleep and healthy levels of melatonin.

If you can try to implement as many of these suggestions as possible, you should notice big improvements in your sleep habits. If the whole family follows these guidelines, everyone will be more healthy, productive and agreeable!

Our Challenge Success page has a ton of information if you want more on sleep!

If you find that your student or family is already over-scheduled and not getting enough sleep, our time management tool is a great way to look at your week and make adjustments. There's no time like the present.

Stay Healthy & Rested, Chaps!
Katie & Kristi

ILLUSTRATION: MIKE GORMAN

Cultivate Kindness

Children Can't Learn if They're Anxious or Stressed

National Suicide Prevention Week!

Sleep & How To Avoid Overscheduling

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