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Time To Unplug

10/28/2015

 
Barb Steinberg is a leading therapist in the community for her work with adolescent girls and their families. She recently sent out a weekly newsletter about unplugging from "screen time" but the message is important and appropriate for healthy relationships regardless of gender. Take a look (and remember that this all applies to boys as well)! 

"A common lament I hear from parents I work with is that there is less and less quality time spent with their girls as they grow up. In between school, work, homework, activities and friends, it's difficult to carve out time to hang out as a family. Complicating the issue further is the pervasiveness of screens in our lives. We all know that our presence is a present and even having a phone in our line of vision impacts the quality of our conversations and sense of connection.

How do we keep technology in check as it's grown more and more entrenched in our daily lives?

 
  1. Start - and keep - talking. Talk to your girls about technology. What's good about it, and what's not? How does it feel to be on alert 24/7 for what others are doing and saying online? Does social media make you feel connected, less connected - or both? 
  2. Model being fully present. Kids often feel as though they are competing with technology for attention from their own parents. As much as you can, unplug when you are together as a family. Turn off notifications. Turn your attention to your family as you dial down your own distractions. Role model being present.
  3. Take tech breaks. Girls in particular need to ditch devices from time to time. Turn off phones at least an hour before bedtime and keep them parked in the kitchen (or another central location). Prohibit devices during family meals. Reserve the right to designate certain gatherings or days as device-free. Don't expect a high five from her on this one, but it is a great exercise!
  4. Become the teachers. Being involved in our children's tech lives and helping provide perspective can give our girls a reality check and help keep the tech-derived drama at bay. As they enter the social media world (possibly in middle school), be a part of their social networks, be watchful without being smothering and share your lessons learned from social media (FOMO is real for adults, too!)"

On a personal note, on the way home from dance class my four year old asked me if I got any pictures or videos of her.  I told her I had and said we could watch them once we got home.  Then she said, "Mom all the parents in class were on their phones the whole time."  My heart just sunk.  I was really hoping I wasn't one of those parents.  Was I?  I may have not been that parent on that day but I know I have.  I felt really guilty about it.  I do check my phone all the time.  But after I read this article, I have really tried to make a conscious decision to not have my phone out so much with my kids or husband.  If I am doing something on my phone around them, I tell them what it is.  I don't want whatever I may be doing on my phone to ever be perceived as more important than they are!


-Kristi Waidhofer & Katie Bryant

Why and How to Teach Your Kids Mindfulness

10/19/2015

 
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As a follow up from last week’s post on APs and Mindfulness?!, I came across this article that was shared with our staff. 

“Practicing mindfulness has been shown to improve attention and reduce stress as well as increase one's ability to regulate emotions and feel compassion and empathy.”  As we push for social emotional learning, this fits perfectly.

 "They learn how to pause and respond to situations rather than react. They have a better understanding of the ways that their brains work and have an increased sense of curiosity and wonder about their own thoughts, emotions, and body sensations."
 
I personally find it difficult to practice Mindfulness.  I have a hard time calming my mind.  I want to follow the million thoughts I have going through my head.  I use breathing and calming techniques often with my students.  I know that if I cannot do it myself, it is hard to do it with those that I work with.  But I have found when I calm myself and do the practice along side my student, I too feel better.  And it is hard to argue with the overwhelming amount of research out there that shows how beneficial it is for us all.

I really enjoyed Mindfulness: The Antidote for Perfectionism – Life's hard enough without trying to be mindful all of the time.  

The Top 5 Reasons You’re Not Meditating  (and What You Can Do About It) - I have said them all!  Great quick read.


Just can't get into this whole mediation thing?  Check out these links on the benefits of coloring!
Why Coloring Could Be The New Alternative To Meditation
Is Coloring Within the Lines the New Meditation
?

​
-Katie Bryant

Take 3 Minutes to get SOBER!
S – STOP (what you are doing)
O – OBSERVE (thoughts, feelings, and emotions)
B – BREATHE (in through the nose and out through the mouth)
E – EXPAND (breath deeper and continue to notice more)
R – RESPOND (to your needs)


You may also be interested in Kristin Neff's work on self-compassion.  She has exercises on her website.

​7 Simple Ways to Increase Your Happiness in One Minute or Less

10/13/2015

 
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Just as the start of the school year stress has seemed to die down, it comes right back up as we approach the end of a grading period.  Just a reminder that we have some great tips on our Study Skills & Tips section.

I saw the app Happify on pinterest and wondered what it was.  I have not downloaded the app yet but did sign up for their Happify Daily.  I have enjoyed almost everything I seen on there.  

This one stood out because of how simple it is.  I liked it because trying something that takes one minute or less seemed achievable.  Why not try it?!  All seven suggestions are something that anyone can do. 

​Try it!  I am.  See if you feel any different after a week or so.

-Katie Bryant

APs AND Mindfulness?!

10/7/2015

 
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Can one really combine the madness of APs with the calmness of Mindfulness? Absolutely! We know here at WHS taking APs can be thought of as "the thing" to do. We really wish this was not the case!
​
"Few college students take five courses at a time, so it’s perhaps unreasonable to expect a high school student to do the same."

Check out this insightful article about how APs actually work and whether or not APs might be right for your student! This article also hits important points to think about when evaluating APs! Below is a moving except...

"While taking AP classes can demonstrate that students are actively trying to better themselves, pushing themselves beyond what the average student might do, it does not do any favors when they burn out in an attempt to fit everything in."

Here's an 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."   Let’s all remember that, “After all, college admissions is a beginning, not an ending.”

After you've hopefully become a little more informed and guided, check out this perfect summary of the importance of mindfulness and ways to incorporate mindfulness into you AND your children's lives! After all, modeling mindfulness is the number one way to teach the skills to your kiddos! 

Here are 7 Things Mindful People Do Differently.  It is a great way to start looking at way to incorporate this into your own life!

And as a personal challenge, see if you can't take 5-10 minutes after reading this blog to give yourself space to be mindful!


There is more information on mindfulness under our Good Reads! 

Also, if the AP article left you wanting some more information, here are some books that we would suggest - 
Beyond Measure: Rescuing an Overscheduled, Overtested, Underestimated Generation
Overloaded and Underprepared: Strategies for Stronger Schools and Healthy, Successful Kids 

The Price of Privilege: How Parental Pressure and Material Advantage Are Creating a Generation of Disconnected and Unhappy Kids

Wishing you success!

-Kristi Waidhofer & Katie Bryant

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Insight Into ADHD

10/1/2015

 
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These quick reads gives an interesting insight into what it is like to live with ADHD. We hope that this article allows the reader to develop empathy and a deeper understanding into the real struggles of living with ADHD. 

If Your Friends Ever Say They Have ADHD, Just Show Them This.

20 Things To Remember If You Love A Person With ADHD


-Kristi Waidhofer 

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