MENTAL HEALTH NEWSLETTER
September – “National School Success Month”
Written By: Tracey Spinuzza – Family Service Counselor
September is a very busy month for many people. Students and teachers are returning to school, parents are scurrying to get school supplies and new clothes for their children, and others continue the normal hustle and bustle of work, family life, and other demands. While September marks the beginning of fall with the change of color in the leaves, and dropping temperatures, it is also a season of new experiences, growth and learning, and success. September is National School Success Month. In addition, September is Self-Improvement and Self-Awareness Month. All of these themes are essential to living a fulfilling and rewarding life. As caregivers and educators, we have an obligation to provide opportunities for children to achieve success in all facets of life. Here are some tips to ensure that your children are successful:
Spend time at school. The more involved parents are in their children’s education, the better the children will do in school.
Develop a good parent/teacher relationship. Attend parent teacher conferences, open houses and other school events. When children do have problems in school, communicate with teachers and utilize school resources.
Spend time at home. Make learning fun and a priority – Provide a quiet place to study, read together, discuss what issues are important in the community, show interest in the different classes your child is taking, listen instead of lecturing.
Have a positive attitude and be a good role model. Celebrate a child’s accomplishments big or small and reinforce their participation in activities. Creating and saying affirmations can be easily taught to children. You can practice saying positive statements every morning before school. Sticky notes and positive self-talk cards can be a good reminder. Use empowering vocabulary and avoid a lot of negativity.
Teach organizational skills. Children can learn daily routines. By role modeling cleanliness, preparation, and organization, kids will develop a sense of comfort and trust.
Promote self-responsibility. As a caregiver, it is important to acknowledge your own mistakes. Children will realize it’s better to admit when they are at fault and claim responsibility for their actions and consequences.
Practice relaxation techniques. Teaching children practices such as deep breathing, meditation, and exercises can emphasize the importance of self-care and stress relief.
Here are some fun activities that can be done at home or in school and help build self-awareness and self-esteem in children:
All About Me Box: Have the children decorate a shoebox with magazine pictures that describe who they are. Include in the box favorite pictures of family members, friends, pets, etc. Take time to allow the child to share their box with others.
“ME” Posters: Give the children a poster board project to be all about them using pictures, self-portraits, handprints, etc. Allow time for sharing with others.
The Feelings Game: Talk to children about different types of feelings. Discuss a variety of scenarios and how they would feel.