SPIRITT Family Services’ Post

“Summer camp! It’s the most effective way I know of to reverse the phone-based childhood and restore a playful, real-world childhood,” shares Jonathan Haidt, author of the new book out today - "The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness." Check out this week's MCE blog with thoughts from Haidt and Steve Baskin, incoming American Camp Association board chair, about how overnight camp help give kids (away from phones and snowplow parenting) a more healthy childhood: https://lnkd.in/eQn97yFX #mainecamps #summer2024

August is Back to School Month! Changing schools is a common experience, so you're not alone. To help make this transition smoother for you and your child while supporting their mental health, we've put together some helpful tips for the new school year. To support your child’s mental health during this transition, start by discussing their feelings and validating their emotions, which helps them feel heard and supported. Establishing a consistent routine, such as regular drop-offs and pick-ups, can provide a sense of stability. Encourage your child to participate in school events or clubs to make new friends and feel more connected. You can even join them in participating in activities at their school to show them a positive example! Keep an eye on their mental health and create an open, judgment-free environment at home. Change can be hard, but your child can do well at their new school if you are patient, understanding, and there for them. Remember that moving schools is normal, but can bring up a lot of intense emotions. Switching schools can be a good experience with the right help. Download our parent tool kit using the link below to get some tough conversations started! #BackToSchool #SchoolTransition #MentalHealth #PTWF #educate #empower #prevent Parent Tool Kit: https://lght.ly/mip86o0 Our Website: https://lght.ly/bbce4lb

Ever experienced a moment that reshapes everything?! In the face of unimaginable challenges, I want to share a story of resilience and gratitude. Yesterday, my daughter's school faced an unthinkable situation with an active shooter. The emotions that unfolded were indescribable – fear, anxiety, and a profound sense of vulnerability. However, in the aftermath, witnessing the strength of the school community has been truly inspiring. Our collective resilience, support, and determination to heal have shone through. It's a stark reminder of life's fragility and the importance of coming together in times of adversity. In these moments, gratitude becomes a guiding light. Today, I'm grateful for the safety of my daughter, her friends and the strength within the community. It's a call to action for prioritizing mental health, building support networks, practicing mindfulness, advocating for safety measures, and encouraging acts of kindness. Let's engage in conversations that matter, support one another, and work towards creating safer communities. Together, we can navigate through the toughest times and emerge stronger. #CommunityStrong #GratitudeInAdversity #SafetyFirst #UNLV #safety #relationships #thankful #pray

Supporting Boys' Health: Helping Them Stay Strong Inside and Out. Boys today face a lot when it comes to staying healthy and feeling good, both physically and mentally. It's important to tackle these challenges early so they can grow up strong and resilient. Physical health means making sure they eat well, stay active, and get the healthcare they need. Mental health is just as crucial. We need to teach them about emotions, create safe places for them to talk, and make sure they know it's okay to ask for help when they feel down. School programs and community activities can play a big role. They can offer mentors, counseling, and support for families, helping boys build healthy habits and feel confident in themselves. When we focus on boys' health, we're helping them grow into adults who are ready for whatever life throws their way. Together, we can make sure every boy has the support he needs to be healthy and happy. #PLI #BoysHealth #MentalWellness #PhysicalFitness #ResilientBoys #HealthyLiving #SupportForBoys #EmotionalWellbeing #CommunityHealth #WellnessPrograms #HealthyKids

Did you know that Play boosts your child’s mental health? Play isn’t just fun—it’s essential for your child’s growth and happiness! 🙂 UNICEF highlights several key benefits of play for children: it strengthens bonds, reduces stress, helps process emotions, and builds confidence. Dive into play with ChildUp Early Education learning materials. Discover more here: https://lnkd.in/gcX7zEq7 #earlyeducation #ParentsEmpowerment #preschool #mathnimals

Are you currently raising kids overseas? If so, here is a book recommendation for you: A Parent’s Guide to Raising Kids Overseas, by Jeff Devens. https://lnkd.in/eQcCiTad Jeff’s guide provides strategies for guiding children toward greater responsibility and independence, helping them navigate the world of technology, teaching them how to cope with emotions and optimize their mental health, equipping them with strategies for managing peer pressure, and much more. Please comment if you have read this book! #TCK #CCK

As a counsellor, I offer 1:1 sessions to help both kids and families nurture their creative vibes. These sessions are a safe space for children and young people to express themselves and dive into their creative passions, whilst also giving parents the tools to create a creativity-friendly home. Creativity can be a powerful tool for self-expression and emotional well-being. Helps your child to: 💛Discover their unique creative talents 💛Build self-confidence and resilience 💛Develop essential life skills like problem-solving and communication 💛Improve their mental health through creative expression How I work with children: 💛I offer creative activities: I use art, music, play, and storytelling to help children explore their feelings and ideas. 💛Create a safe and supportive space: I provide a comfortable environment where children feel safe to express themselves freely. 💛Offer guidance and encouragement: I treat children individually, together we explore strategies and fun activities to help overcome challenges and reach their full potential. Let's arrange a chat to see how I can help Sam 😊 #childrenscounsellor #childtherapy #familysupport #childrenscreativecounsellorleeds #creativetherapy #playskills #CreativeCounselling

Just like falling dominoes, childhood hunger can affect everything from a child’s physical and mental health to their success in school. With 75% of educators seeing students who regularly come to school hungry, it’s clear that childhood hunger is one of the most urgent challenges in our schools today. Together, we can change this. Check out your local chapter of Lovepacs to find out how you can support our cause! #EndChildHunger #Lovepacs #FeedTheFuture

Managing Transitions - Whole-school strategies to support children’s wellbeing - for support in the classrooms or playgrounds we've created a film with Alis Rocca and a supplementary factsheet, We are all acutely aware of two questions at the moment as we are in the midst of the transition, having reopened our schools to the whole school community: How can we manage to meet the mental health and wellbeing needs of our children, young people and families? How do we plan to recover the lost learning that may have been a result of the months of lockdown? Act as if what you do makes a difference… it does! Watch the film or learn more ways to support in this factsheet: https://lnkd.in/e7sZArsX

What do teachers do best? Teach. #Mentalhealthliteracy enables teachers to give students the information they need to foster positive mental health, understand common mental health disorders, seek help effectively, and reduce stigma. Students need trusted information, not self-diagnosis through social media.