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Raising Resilient Kids By Sara Hofmann, Ph.D.

8/11/2019

Resilience and optimism have a range of well-document positive effects on mental and physical health for kids and adults alike! Below are some tips on helping your child and your family develop positive thinking habits.

Talk about the positive- Constant complaining, from kids and parents, brings everyone in the family down. Instead, try focusing on parts of the day that went well. This can be great exercise for family dinner, with everyone taking a turn to share positive events or accomplishments, or try a family gratitude journal as part of bedtime routine.
Give opportunities for success and trying new things- Kids experience a boost of pride and confidence when they can be successful on their own! To practice at home, give children age-appropriate chores and the chance to do them well. Try new activities and promote the fun of trying new activities, rather than automatic proficiency. Kids will be excited to show you their new skills and accomplishments and embrace the fun of trying something for the first time.
Help your child handle it- When your child is feeling hurt or sad, parents understandably want to step in and try to fix the situation- but this doesn’t help your child to develop problem-solving skills. Instead, talk with your child about what’s bothering him or her and then guide your child in developing an appropriate response plan.
Reframe- When faced with a frustrating concept or more naturally talented soccer peers, many children will interpret the situation using a negative thought such as “I’m bad at math” or “I’ll never learn how to dribble.” This mindset, though, doesn’t allow for progress or change. Reframe those thoughts by normalizing your child’s experience (“Lots of kids on your team have to learn to dribble”), mentioning another situation in which your child was successful (“Remember when you learned subtraction? That was hard at first too, but you kept working hard and now you’re great at it”) and remaining hopeful (“This is a hard math worksheet, but you can do hard things.”)
Be realistic and hopeful- Optimism requires realistic thinking, not just positive thinking. If you child is worried upset about something that’s realistic but not pleasant, such as making new friends at a new school, acknowledge the experience first. Share any relevant experiences from your own childhood and reflect what your child is telling you- “It’s hard to move to a new place. You’re worried that you won’t find any friends you like as much as your friends from our old neighborhood.” Once your child feels heard, he or she is more likely to move to problem-solving and ask for your help in making positive changes.

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Sleep and Teenagers By Kirsten Ellingsen, PhD

7/25/2019

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Many teens are chronically sleep deprived. The recommended amount of sleep for adolescents is 8-10 hours a night to function at their best, yet most average only about 7-71/2 hours. An earlier high school start time, physiological changes, involvement in extracurricular activities, and demands related to completing academic work may contribute to less sleep. In addition, screen time (video games, phone and social media use) is another important contributor to reduced sleep and sleep problems for many teenagers. As described in a previous blog, getting less than the recommended amount of sleep will influence mood, behavior, learning and academic success. Teens may be more easily frustrated, have more difficulty regulating emotions, display increased risky behavior, exhibit memory and attention problems, and drive drowsy increasing their risk for car accidents.

Recommendations for improving sleep for adolescents:

Remove televisions from bedroom. Limit computer and phone use (*again, limit screen time at night and stop use at least 30 minutes before bedtime)

Talk with your teen about recommended number of hours and consequences, ask him or her to help problem solve and determine what time to get into bed to get minimum number of sleep hours.

Maintain / Encourage consistent bed times and schedule, even on the weekend.

Avoid afternoon/evening caffeine

A 15-20 minute early afternoon nap can help

Help your teenager keep a quiet, dark, and cool room

Encourage your teen to get out of bed and do something different if he or she cannot fall asleep after 30 minutes lying in bed (an activity not involving electronics)

If problems are ongoing and significantly affecting child (or parent) functioning please seek additional support to rule out medical issues or causes. Also, medications, stress, anxiety and depression can each influence the quality and amount of sleep and should be considered when evaluating the causes of problems and where to begin for support.

Resources and References:

https://www.sleepfoundation.org/articles/teens-and-sleep
https://childmind.org/article/help-teenagers-get-sleep/
https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/sleep.html#catbehavior
https://www.sleepfoundation.org/sleep-solutions/sleep-tools-tips
https://childmind.org/article/encouraging-good-sleep-habits/childmind.org/article/encouraging-good-sleep-habits/
https://www.nationwidechildrens.org/specialties/sleep-disorder-center/sleep-in-adolescents

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5 Tips to Communicating with your Partner By Rachel Funnell, LMFT

7/18/2019

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Learning how to communicate effectively with your partner is an important aspect of a relationship. This is what most people know. However, what people don’t always know is how to be a good communicator. Below are five tips to help you become more successful at communication.

Don’t sweep things under the carpet. This first tip maybe pretty obvious but in actuality, people often struggle the most with this. In order to be a good communicator you must be willing to talk about the problem. Keeping things in will only make them fester and eventually you will snap. It’s better to let things out a little at a time so that the pressure doesn’t build up. However, it’s important to keep in mind that this doesn’t mean talking to your partner about every little thing that bothers you but rather focusing on the important matters. It is still important to let some of the little things go.
Don’t put them on the defensive. It can be very easy to get caught up in the moment and give your partner a long list of what you think they are doing wrong. However, doing that will only put them on the defensive. Instead, I recommend using “I” Statements. Simply that means to talk in terms of how things make you feel. An example would be, “When I don’t get a call when you’re running late, I feel worried that something might have happened to you.” By putting the focus on yourself, you are taking responsibility for how you feel and helps your partner to not feel attacked.
Pick a place and time. It’s not just about what you say and how you say it, it’s also about where and when. At times, it can be beneficial to plan a time and place to have a discussion. This can help with allowing you to prepare what you are going to say and not be as reactive with your statements. It also, will allow you to give your full attention to the conversation without worrying about a time restriction.
Make time to talk AND listen. At times we get caught up in making sure that the other person understands us but it’s just as important that you understand what your partner is trying to communicate. A lot of times, people will only be listening to respond, rather than listening to understand. While your partner is talking, you are thinking of how you are going to respond rather than truly understanding what they are saying. To help you make sure you are understanding your partner, try repeating or summarizing what you just heard them say. This will allow you to fully understand them as well as keep you both from getting defensive.
Practice. It takes time and effort to become a better communicator. Practice with smaller topics and work your way up to more challenging ones. There will be times that you’re better at it than others but keep trying. You will become better at it.

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Mindfulness Apps for Kids and Teens by Sara Hofmann, PhD

7/5/2019

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The practice of mindfulness can help children improve their abilities to pay attention, to calm down when they are upset, and to make better decisions. In short, it helps with emotional regulation and cognitive focus. Help your child to start a mindfulness practice using one of the apps below. (All are free to try; some are entirely free and others are fee-based to access extra content).

Breathe, Think, Do (preschoolers)
This Sesame Street themed app helps preschoolers to work on problem-solving, self-control, planning, and task persistence using animated characters.

Calm (kids and teens with parent help; older kids and teens for independent use)
Calm provides a range of guided meditations and relaxing soundscapes in lengths of 3, 5, 10, 15, 20 or 25 minutes. It also includes several stories that parents can read to children to help them fall asleep.

DreamyKid (kids)
DreamyKid provides kid-friendly meditations, guided visualizations, and affirmations.

Headspace (everyone)
Headspace provides calming sounds and guided meditations suitable for all levels. Teens will likely prefer the adult version, but kids and tweens will probably prefer the kid version.

Insight Timer (everyone)
Insight Timer focuses on relaxation, stress management sleep, and concentration. Meditations and activities are available for kids and adults.

Relax Melodies (everyone)
Relax Melodies allows kids and teens to pick specific sounds and make their own relaxing mix.

Smiling Mind (everyone)
Smiling Mind has a wide variety of mindfulness activities aimed at different age groups and settings. Kids may need an adult’s help to discover and use all the options.

Stop Breathe & Think Kids (kids and teens)
This app turns mindfulness into a game, offering children a fun and easy way to identify and process their emotions. Kids pick up to three emotions they’re currently feeling, and the app will suggest a few relevant activities. From counting breaths to frog jumps, each completed activity brings fun rewards to keep kids engaged! For older teens, try the adult version.

Three Good Things (kids and teens)
This online gratitude journal helps kids and teens to focus on the positive and recognize what went well each day. It’s a great way to begin an individual or family gratitude practice.

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Sleep Blog 3a: Recommendations and Strategies to Help Children Get Sufficient Sleep By Kirsten Ellingsen, Ph.D.

7/1/2019

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There are many reasons that children and teenagers do not get enough sleep. Illness, medication side effects, anxiety, parent behavior and expectations, FOMO, an inconsistent sleep routine, and bedroom environment can each contribute to the amount and the quality of sleep for a child. The consequences of not getting adequate sleep were presented in an earlier blog about sleep along with the recommended number of hours of sleep by child age (see https://www.sleepfoundation.org/excessive-sleepiness/support/how-much-sleep-do-babies-and-kids-need). Below are some general recommendations to help foster sufficient sleep for children. A subsequent blog next month will outline recommendations for teenagers.

Sleep problems or issues for children are common. It is important to consider how child health, temperament, parent values and behavior, and setting might all influence sleep. *If problems are significant and longstanding it might be important to determine if your child has an underlying medical condition or sleep disorder that needs to be addressed.

Parent behavior matters. Parents can facilitate better sleep by establishing a calm and consistent bedtime routine. Start a bedtime routine early enough in the evening to facilitate sleep (an overtired child can make it harder to fall asleep; start the routine 30 minutes earlier if a child takes longer than 30 minutes to fall asleep). Create special bedtime rituals with your children. Also, discuss clear and reasonable expectations.

Sleep environments are also important. Dark, cool, and quiet rooms that have a comfortable bed (or crib) help facilitate and maintain sleep. Using a white noise machine also helps reduce distractions and night waking.

Age specific recommendations for increasing quality sleep are provided below.

Toddlers: Common problems include reluctance or resistance to go to sleep, night awakenings, fears, and trouble falling back to sleep after waking up.

Establish a consistent bedtime routine. Start with helping your child relax, consider quiet play without any television or loud noise for 60 minutes before bedtime. Reading stories. Give a bath. Listening to soft music. Routines only need to be 5-30 minutes, but should be consistent to help create positive sleep associations. Aim for the same bedtime every night.

Special stuffed animals, blankets, and pacifiers can help with sleep soothing to fall asleep independently or fall back asleep in the middle of the night.

Allow children to make some decision in the routine, picking books, deciding what pajamas to wear, selecting music or songs you sing.

End with a standard loving and comforting good night phrase.

Toddlers might have difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep if they are teething or having bad dreams. Offer comfort and stay until calm. Again, if a child is sick or in distress be sensitive to his or her needs, offer comfort, and address these important issues. Also, make sure the room is safe. Use a baby monitor if the child is in another room. Remove any potentially dangerous objects a child could reach (blinds, strings, framed pictures) and bumpers or large stuffed animals that can be used to help climb out of a crib.

Preschool Children: Common problems include resistance to go to sleep, night awakenings, sleepwalking, night terrors, and nighttime fears.

Continue to maintain a consistent bedtime routine with a similar start time each night. Include toileting, brushing teeth, bathing or washing. Read books. Proactively offer water. Use a nightlight if needed. Recommended practice is to leave your child’s room before he or she falls asleep and if your child gets up and comes to your room, help the child return to his or her bed and say good night again. Use minimal words. Keep the noise level low in the home so that TV or other sounds do not wake your child (particularly the first hour after he or she falls asleep). Preschool children may no longer nap during the day, but still benefit from rest and quiet time in the afternoon.

Explain expectations and limits clearly
Create a dark, cool, quiet room
Tell your child you will check on him or her
Make a chart with bed time routine and allow a “last request”
Use a reward chart to track sleep and measure progress
Use a clock to let the child know when he or she can come out of their bed in the morning (e.g., the Ok to Wake Clock).

Elementary School Age: Academic work, extracurricular activities, screen time, and worry can contribute to reduced sleep. Children might develop a fear of dark or concerns about being alone in the middle of the night.

The following recommendations are from www.nemours.org to help develop good sleep habits for school age children:

Provide a nightlight for your child within reach of bed to use
Use a white noise, quiet fan or humidifier to reduce noise outside the room
Give notice before bedtime and continue to implement a predictable and consistent schedule and routine
Talk with your child about healthy sleep habits and the importance of sleep
Keep computers and TVs out of the bedroom
Stop all screen time an hour before bedtime
Avoid caffeine

TIPS to address fears or anxiety:

If your child is still not able to sleep, ask what might be bothering them or what they are thinking about (e.g., nervous about a test, excited for a party, teasing at camp).

If prolonged talking about daily worries is a problem at bedtime it might be helpful to set up a designated time earlier the day to discuss these concerns.

If your child is afraid of sleeping in the dark, play games with flashlights to increase comfort.

Another good habit to start is ending the day on a “good note”. This might involve you as a parent writing down positive behaviors you observed during the day (being brave by trying something new, listening to your request, getting along well with a sibling) or asking your child to remember something positive they enjoyed or that was good that happened during the day (this can also be helpful for children who tend to be negative or think in absolutes).

If your child has ongoing or prolonged sleep challenges despite implementing these recommended practices, please talk with your pediatrician. If you need support identifying or implementing contact a therapist with experience supporting healthy sleep practices.

References and Resources:

https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/sleep.html#catbehavior
https://www.nemours.org/services/health/growuphealthy/sleep/families.html
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/14302-sleep-in-toddlers--preschoolers
https://aasm.org/study-shows-that-children-sleep-better-when-they-have-a-nightly-bedtime-routine/
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/dont-worry-mom/201310/8-tips-improve-your-childs-sleep
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/14302-sleep-in-toddlers--preschoolers

For safety considerations and more recommendations for infants and toddlers see:

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A School Psychologist’s Favorite Podcasts for Parents and Children By Tara Motzenbecker, M.S., NCSP

6/20/2019

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For parents who do not necessarily have the time or energy to pick up a parenting book in the evenings but would like to learn some new information, podcasts are a great way to learn a few things while driving or exercising. Here are a few of Licensed School Psychologist Tara Motzenbecker’s favorite parenting podcasts:

Parent Footprint
The mission of Parent Footprint is to make the world a better place — one parent and one child at a time. Host Dr. Dan Peters teaches parents, families, and caregivers how to leave their best footprint for the next generation. Listeners will learn how to parent with increased awareness and how to be purposeful about leaving a healthy footprint on our children.

Hand in Hand: A Podcast for Parents
Every week hosts Abigail and Elle decode children’s difficult behaviors and share new and exciting ways to turn things around by covering topics such as setting limits, handling lying, and how to get a child to eat when they refuse.

NPR Life Kit Parenting: Raising Awesome Kids
What do math, kindness, and self-regulation have in common? They're ingredients to raising an awesome kid. In partnership with Sesame Workshop, Life Kit talks to parenting experts for tips and tricks to empower kids to be compassionate, embrace math without fear and cultivate self-control.

NPR Life Kit Parenting: Difficult Conversations
Is Santa Claus real? What happened to the cat? Why is that kid's skin color different? Raising children means facing tough questions. Sesame Workshop's child development experts have 50 years of experience with giving answers. They help us handle three sensitive subjects: magic, race, and death.

AT Parenting Survival Podcast (Anxiety and OCD)
Do you want in-depth advice on how to parent kids with anxiety and OCD? Tune in to this weekly podcast. Check out the back episodes on every imaginable topic on anxiety & OCD.

Hearing stories out loud is a great way to develop children’s reading and literacy skills. In addition to reading out loud to your child, podcasts can add some extra magic while also building skills. Here are a few of a Licensed School Psychologist Tara Motzenbecker’s favorite podcasts for children:

Stories Podcast
One of the first kids' podcasts to grasp podcasts' storytelling capabilities, this podcast is still going strong with kid-friendly renditions of classic stories, fairy tales, and original works. These longer stories with a vivid vocabulary are great for bigger kids past the age for picture books but who still love a good bedtime story. Best for: Big kids

Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls
The Podcast is a fairy tale podcast about the extraordinary women who inspire us.The show is based on Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls, the global best-selling book series inspiring millions of girls and women around the world to dream bigger, aim higher, and fight harder. Best for: Kids

Wow in the World
One of the newest podcasts to hit the scene, NPR's first show for kids is exactly the sort of engaging, well-produced content you would expect from the leaders in radio and audio series. Hosts Guy Roz and Mindy Thomas exude joy and curiosity while discussing the latest news in science and technology in a way that's enjoyable for kids and informative for grown-ups. Best for: Kids

Peace Out
This is a gentle podcast that encourages relaxation as well as mindfulness. Great for bedtime, but also any time of day when kids could use a calming activity, this podcast combines breathing exercises with whimsical visualizations for a truly peaceful experience. Best for: Preschoolers and little kids

But Why? The Podcast for Curious Kids
Kids are always asking seemingly simple questions that have surprisingly complex answers, such as "Why is the sky blue?" and "Who invented words?" This cute biweekly radio show/podcast takes on answering them. Each episode features several kid-submitted questions, usually on a single theme, and with the help of experts, it gives clear, interesting answers. Best for: Kids

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How to get the most out of Your Own therapy By Rachel Funnell, LMFT

6/13/2019

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Taking the first step to setting up a therapy session is very brave. You have decided that you are ready for something to change. But what do you do once you get there? What should you talk about and how honest can you be? How do you know if you’re making progress? Here are a few tips that therapist want you to know.

View therapy as a collaboration.
Your therapist is there to help you learn how to help yourself. Express your needs, ask questions, do the “homework” assignments and don’t be afraid to speak up if something doesn’t make sense. If you have something specific to talk about during the session then let the therapist know. This is your time and your therapist wants you to use it in anyway that will be beneficial to you.

Say anything in therapy.
People often censor themselves for fear of judgement or appearing impolite. However, saying what you really want to say will actually help lead you to making progress. Censoring yourself will only limit you. So speak up, whether it’s about how you don’t want to be in therapy, or you don’t like how the therapist said something or if you don’t understand why you keep having certain feelings about unrelated topics. Whatever comes to mind, say it. The therapist can only help with the information that you have given them. If you aren’t telling them how you’re really feeling, then they won’t be able to provide you with the appropriate advice or recommendations.

Do the work outside of the sessions.
Therapy sessions only last on average 50 mins and typically sessions are only once a week or every other week. If you limited your efforts to improving to just that time, it would take you forever to make any progress. This is why it’s so important to take the recommendations from your therapist and apply them outside of therapy. Do the “homework” assignments that are given to you. You will see progress quicker. If you are having trouble implementing the recommendations, then talk about it with your therapist so that you both can adjust them as needed.

Understand that progress takes time.
Therapy is a process and progress typically doesn’t happen quickly. Depending on how rooted the problem or issue is in your life, it could take months or years to completely be free from it. For some, it’s an ongoing process where they will be in and out of therapy depending on how the issue is affecting them at any particular time. However, if you feel like you have been in therapy awhile and there still isn’t any progress, talk to your therapist about it. Have an honest conversation about what could be stopping that progress from happening.

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Success at Summer Camp by Sara Hofmann, Ph.D.

6/6/2019

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For many families, summer break is a great chance to shake up the family routine by adding a day camp or sleepaway camp experience. For some kids, this change is seamless- but for others, the change in activity requires a little extra support to ensure that your child has the best experience possible! Here are some tips to make the transition as smooth as possible.

Sign up with a friend. It’s likely that your child will make lots of new friends at camp, but including a friend from the start may help your child adjust more quickly to the new environment.
Follow the child’s interests. Parents often have fond memories of their own camp experiences and want to create something similar for their child. If your child also loves tennis or chemistry, this can be a great way to share a passion. If your child is more excited about a different activity though, work with your child to find a camp that will cater to his or her unique area of interest.
Ensure the camp can accommodate your child. Many children have specific needs related to diet, accessibility, medication regimens, or other concerns. Before enrolling your child, speak with staff to ensure that they understand your child’s requirements and can accommodate those needs for the entire duration of the program without diminishing the camp experience.
Review skills for success. Both before and during camp, help your child to review skills they’ll need to be successful at camp. For sport-based camps, work with your child to run through foundational skills before the start of camp and practice new skills with them during camp to cement muscle memory. For sleepaway camp, talk through hygiene routines, organization of belongings, and any other pieces the child is worried about. A solid plan is essential for reducing anxiety and maximizing openness and fun!
Make it fun! Summer can be a great time to help children get caught up (or even get a little ahead) in academic areas- but don’t forget about the other, relaxed side of summer. Non-academic skills such as imaginative play, spontaneous problem-solving, teamwork, and leadership will improve during unstructured fun time at camp. These should also be an integral part of summer!

For more information:
http://www.seacoastkidscalendar.com/
www.tampabayparenting.com

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Sleep Part 2: The Importance of Getting Enough Sleep By Kirsten Ellingsen, Ph.D.

6/1/2019

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Part one of my blog series about sleep identified the recommend number of hours of sleep for optimal health for children and teens. This blog provides more information about the consequences of not getting adequate sleep and benefits when children do.

Why is sleep so important? Getting enough sleep is important for physical health, learning, and mood. Too little sleep at any age can affect cognitive functioning, emotional reactions, and a child’s ability to fight germs and stay well.

“Studies have shown that kids who regularly get an adequate amount of sleep have improved attention, behavior, learning, memory, and overall mental and physical health. Not getting enough sleep can lead to high blood pressure, obesity and even depression.” https://www.hopkinsallchildrens.org/ACH-News/General-News/The-importance-of-sleep-for-kids

When children and teens do not get adequate sleep on a regular basis the following negative effects can occur:

Physical Health:

Compromised immune system (so a child can get sick more often and easier) and growth
Higher rates of obesity and diabetes and risk for hypertension
Increased risk for injuries (more clumsiness and poorer motor coordination)

Mental Health and Cognitive Functioning:

Increased risk for anxiety and depression
Increased inattention and forgetfulness
More difficulty learning new information
More frequent temper tantrums and irritability for young children

Deficits in sleep can have long-term negative effects on brain functioning. https://www.webmd.com/children/features/good-sound-sleep-for-children#1
In addition, a “lack of sleep causes irritability, increased stress, forgetfulness, difficulties with learning and low motivation. Over time, it can contribute to anxiety and depression.”
https://www.aboutkidshealth.ca/Article?contentid=645&language=English.

Behaviors (symptoms) parents may see when children or teens are not getting enough sleep include the following:

Cognitive

Low interest, motivation and reduced attention
Increased forgetfulness
Blurred vision
Difficulty learning

Emotional

Increased moodiness and irritability
Increased impulsivity
Increased stress

Physical

Difficult to wake up in the morning
Falling asleep after being woken up
Yawning frequently
Complaining of feeling tired or wanting to nap
Reduced immune system function

(From:https://www.aboutkidshealth.ca/Article?contentid=645&language=English)

Getting an adequate amount of quality (uninterrupted and well-timed) sleep is restorative and important for the well being of children and teens. When the recommended amount of sleep is attained on regular basis there is “improved attention, behavior, learning, memory, emotional regulation, quality of life, and mental and physical health. https://aasm.org/recharge-with-sleep-pediatric-sleep-recommendations-promoting-optimal-health/. According to Sick Kids (Canada), children who consistently get a good night’s sleep are more creative, have better concentration, show better problem-solving abilities, make more positive decisions, learn and remember things better, have more energy, and make and maintain more positive relationships with others. There are many reasons why a child or teen does not get adequate sleep including medication, use of electronics, and stress. The final blog in this series will provide practical recommendations and resources to help facilitate better (and more) sleep for children and teens.

Please talk with you pediatrician if you have concerns about the amount or quality of sleep for children.

Additional Resources and References:

https://kidshealth.org/en/kids/not-tired.html
https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/sleep.html
https://www.parents.com/health/healthy-happy-kids/the-7-reasons-your-kid-needs-sleep/
https://childmind.org/article/happens-teenagers-dont-get-enough-sleep/
https://www.sleepfoundation.org/articles/children-and-sleep
https://aasm.org/recharge-with-sleep-pediatric-sleep-recommendations-promoting-optimal-health/

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Making Summer Plans for the Child who Struggles in School by Tara Motzenbecker, M.S., NCSP

5/23/2019

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Does your child struggle academically or behaviorally in school? If the answer is yes, many parents like you are left wondering what to do over the summer to make sure their child catches up academically or at least stays on track. You may be looking into academic programs or tutors for the summer. The school may suggest ideas for you. Well I am here to help you advocate for your child’s mental health needs. Summer is the perfect opportunity to allow children to engage in the activities that feel good, that they are good at and that leave them with higher self-esteem. Children that feel better about themselves will be better in other aspects of their lives.

Let’s think about a child that struggles to focus at school. He feels bad about himself because his grades are poor and he spends his afternoons doing hours of homework because he couldn’t get it done at school. This poor guy doesn’t get to grow his strengths because he is spending all of his time and energy on his vulnerabilities. Summer is his chance to focus on his strengths and to equip him with the self-esteem he will need to return to school in the fall. Maybe he loves fishing. Attending a fishing camp would make him feel excitement and motivation. He would have to pay close attention to learn how to tie a certain knot and then engage in trial and error until he succeeds in tying the knot. He has to be aware of his surroundings for safety. He has to stay quiet in order not to scare the fish away. These are all skills that will help him in school (and in life) and he will feel good about working on them because he is engaging in an activity that makes him happy.

So when you are deciding on your summer plan, pause if you start thinking, “what will catch him/her up academically?” and change that thought to, “what will make him/her happy?”. You’ll be pleased to find out that the latter thought will have a much more dramatic impact on your child’s academic future.

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Parent and Child Psychological Services is a private practice serving children and families in the Sarasota, Florida area. The practice is owned and operated by Dr. Gibson, a Licensed Psychologist who is Board Certified in Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology.

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