Welcome back to school!

I hope your children feel welcomed and are enjoying being back at school.

Author and speaker Michelle Mitchell has some really helpful tips for helping children in this transition back to school.  Michelle unpacks how our children will be experiencing a lot of extra stress and excitement this week which will release larger amounts of adrenaline in our body.  To balance this we can deliberately help them “plug into calm”.  There are so many ways to do this.  Michelle has three great suggestions for us…

Deep Breathing

Anxiety is transferable and so is calm. Things like reading a book together, hair brushing, playing cards, watching a screen or painting nails all allow for two people to be close enough to transfer calm.

Lots of Talking

Talking can be counterproductive if conversations aren’t what I calln=, “high quality”. Amongst other things, high quality conversations are well timed. Daily reflections should be done as early in the evening as possible as it is likely to activate their brain.

Technology

Screen time restrains the production of melatonin in the brain, which our kids need in order to sleep. Try and avoid cellphones, bright lights, computers, loud music, and TV right two hours before bedtime.

Consider more of a step down approach to bedtime and allow a few more hours than normal to unwind and de-stress.

You may have other ways to plug into calm.  I would definitely add…

Foster an attitude of gratitude

Developing an attitude of gratitude lightens and calms the emotional atmosphere in our family. Amidst all of the changes and challenges we have faced, there are still things that we can be thankful for.  Thankfulness broadens our horizon beyond ourselves, infuses our perspective with hope, highlights what we value and strengthens our resolve to persevere.  Thankfulness reminds us that God is good and God is active in this world. Start and finish each day thinking of and sharing things you are grateful for.  With practice, this attitude of gratitude you foster in your conversations can become the default atmosphere of your child’s mind.

Tips from Michelle Mitchell on transitioning back to school

Blessings,

Lisa Mason

College Counsellor