Mabank Counseling Connection
Holidays 2021
Dear Parents,
Hello November! It's hard to believe the holidays are just around the corner.
October is a big month for school counselors, and a huge shoutout to our campus counselors is due for their efforts with Red Ribbon Week and our Anti-Bullying campaign. They serve our students tirelessly, supporting them through these important years and helping them plan for the future. Thank you ALL for what you do each day.
As we move into November, we focus on the importance of what to do with big feelings, the power of gratitude in our every day lives, college and career readiness, and how to help those we love through a difficult time.
The holidays can be hard for some people- if you are concerned that you or someone you know may be experiencing a mental health issue, it is important to act. Start the conversation. Seek help from a trusted adult. A parent, a teacher, a counselor. A list of area Mental Health resources and hotlines can be found on our district counseling website under Counseling and Human Resources. You are not alone.
Take care of you, take care of each other, and have a very Happy Thanksgiving,
Ashley Ward, MS, LPC
Coordinator of Counseling and Student Support
Mabank ISD
An Attitude of Gratitude
Family Activities that Give Back
7 Proven Benefits of Gratitude
Helping Kids Develop an Attitude of Gratitude
Self-Regulation and Feelings: Learning to Control Your Actions Even When Emotions Feel Out of Control
Momentous Institute has been building and repairing social emotional health for nearly a century. Almost anywhere you look, the research confirms what we know to be true – that people with solid social emotional intelligence are happier, healthier and more successful.
All lessons are built on safe relationships and move up through self-regulation, awareness of self and others, empowering students to be change makers themselves. We wrapped-up Safe Relationships in the first six weeks of school and have moved on to the next step in our Social Emotional Learning: Self-Regulation.
Self Regulation breaks down the importance of the Brain-Body connection, Breath work, Feelings, Body, and Impulse Control. In October we learned about the roles the brain and breathing play in self-regulation. Next up: Feelings!
As children grow, their capacity to handle their emotions improves, but most young students still have a way to go before they can do this effectively. One of the best ways to support development of this skill is to acknowledge your child’s feelings - even if you don’t agree with them. When your child is angry, a simple statement like, “I can see you’re angry” can be enough to diffuse the intensity of that emotion. You can follow up with a boundary statement like, “I can see you’re angry. It’s not okay to hit someone when you’re angry.” Finally, consider offering your child a choice. This might sound like, “I can see you’re angry. It’s not okay to hit someone when you’re angry. If you need to hit, you can hit a pillow or your mattress.” When the strong emotion has calmed down, try talking to your child about how the intensity of their emotion changed with time. When a child is in the middle of an emotion, they often can’t see that the world will ever be right again. Helping them think about their own experience of returning to calm will help them remember that even strong feelings pass.
What Is It?
Feelings are emotional states or reactions that stem from circumstances, mood, or relationships and are not permanent, but change throughout the day.
Why Is It Important?
It's important to learn about feelings because kids need words that tell exactly how they feel.
Self-Care
Hygge (pronounced hue-guh not hoo-gah) is a Danish word used when acknowledging a feeling or moment, whether alone or with friends, at home or out, ordinary or extraordinary as cozy, charming or special.
Hygge: a quality of coziness and comfortable conviviality that engenders a feeling of contentment or well-being (regarded as a defining characteristic of Danish culture)
Downloadable Apps for Self-Care
▪ Breath2Relax
▪ Breathe, Think, Do with Sesame
▪ Best Self-Help Quotes
▪ Mindfulness Coach
▪ Mind Yeti
Down Dog, Yoga for Beginners, HIIT, Barre, and 7 Minute Workout - free until January 2022
If you are a student or teacher (K-12 or college), go to downdogapp.com/schools for free access until July January 2022.
Contact Us
Email: amward@mabankisd.net
Website: https://www.mabankisd.net/page/counseling
Location: 310 East Market Street, Mabank, TX, USA
Phone: 903.880.1300
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mabankisd
Twitter: @mabankisd