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Welcome!
Welcome!
Welcome to our Social Emotional Resources for Parents site. We hope this information makes your job as parents a little easier. If you have any concerns about your child's social emotional well-being, please contact your school counselor, Ann Workmeister, by using one of the methods listed below. We are here to help!
How to contact the counselor
How to contact the counselor
- Click on the mailbox to the left and follow the link to a Google Form
- Send a message on Schoology
- Email a message to ann.workmeister@fcps.org
Important Emergency Numbers For Parents
Important Emergency Numbers For Parents
911-Police
211-Mental Health emergency help
1(833)632-7233-Maryland Anonymous Tip Line for threats involving safety
1(800)273-8255-Suicide Prevention Hotline
Join us for Mid-week mindfulness
Join us for Mid-week mindfulness
Students and families are invited to join the school community for approximately 15 minutes of yoga, breathing, meditation or some other mindfulness activity. All are welcome, and participants do not need special clothes or equipment. It's a great way to start the week!
Mental Health Resources for Families
Mental Health Resources for Families
Mental health concerns can happen at any time, but there has been a significant increase in mental health struggles during the pandemic. FCPS wants to help all families. Click on the picture to the left to be directed to mental health resources.
yellow springs Parents are superheros
yellow springs Parents are superheros
We understand our parents are juggling distance learning, parenting, work and the many other aspects of life. Please contact school staff if you have questions, concerns or suggestions about any aspect of your child's education. We are all in this together!
Helping kids understand emotions
Helping kids understand emotions
Reading emotion is people's faces is a skill necessary for empathy and cooperative work in groups. The link to the left contains a video and article with tips about how to teach children these skills during mask-wearing times. The video is intended for educators, but parents are the "frontline" teachers of social-emotional skills. Consider trying some of the tips with your children. This could be especially helpful before we return to school building.
In need of community resources?
In need of community resources?
ÂżNecesita recursos comunitarios?
ÂżNecesita recursos comunitarios?
If your family needs community resources please fill out the form on this page. All responses are confidential.
If your family needs community resources please fill out the form on this page. All responses are confidential.
Si su familia necesita recursos comunitarios, complete el formulario en esta página. Todas las respuestas son confidenciales
Si su familia necesita recursos comunitarios, complete el formulario en esta página. Todas las respuestas son confidenciales
Tips for helping kids manage big feelings
Tips for helping kids manage big feelings
Mindfulness Activities can help kids learn how to be and stay calm
Mindfulness Activities can help kids learn how to be and stay calm
This simple technique calms kids quickly. It works well with feelings associated with anger and frustration.
It's important for children to identify their feelings and talk about them. Using a chart like this is a great place to start the conversation.
These four games are fun, easy to create and help normalize talking about feelings within your family.
Belly Breathing is an excellent tool to help kids self-Regulate
Belly Breathing is an excellent tool to help kids self-Regulate
This Digital Wellness toolkit contains strategies to help kids focus, relax and Self-Regulate throughout their learning day
This Digital Wellness toolkit contains strategies to help kids focus, relax and Self-Regulate throughout their learning day
Family Mindfulness Activities
Family Mindfulness Activities
Take a sensory walk
Talk about what you see as you walk
Notice the smells and sounds. Can you hear your footsteps? Can you make them louder or softer?
How many different textures can you feel on your walk? Hold a feather and a rock. How are they the same? How are they different?
Create together
Create art projects using markers, crayons or paint.
Make designs with Play-doh.
Design and create objects with Legos.
Use your imagination and items from around your house such as string, toilet paper rolls and wrappers to create junk art.
Blowing bubbles
Take turns blowing bubbles with your kids.
Agree upon a time they have to wait before popping bubbles.
Watch the bubbles to see how far they go before popping.
List the colors in the bubbles.
Family Conversation
Talk about the high points and low points of everyone's day.
Ask each person what they are most grateful for.
Have each family member tell a funny story from his or her day.
Important: All family members should contribute to the discussion.
Having a predictable daily schedule prevents behavioral issues and is comforting to kids
Having a predictable daily schedule prevents behavioral issues and is comforting to kids
Your daily schedule should contain the basic tasks of your day
The schedule can have words, pictures or both depending on the age of your child
Preparing kids for the next task on the schedule often prevents tantrums or resistance when it is time to move on (e.g. "In five minutes, you will need to clean up and help set the table for dinner.")
Your schedule can be as general or as specific as you like.
It is important to stay flexible and sensitive to your child's needs. For example, if your child has had a bad day, he or she may need extra hugs and reading time just before bed.
Establishing Boundaries and Expectations
Establishing Boundaries and Expectations
Sometimes, it's not what you say, but how you say it...
Sometimes, it's not what you say, but how you say it...
Using positive language when correcting or redirecting kids will improve their behavior and reinforce your expectations.
Using positive language when correcting or redirecting kids will improve their behavior and reinforce your expectations.
Creating a sleep routine
Creating a sleep routine
Tips to use during the day to help kids sleep at night
Tips to use during the day to help kids sleep at night
Try these tips to help establish a sleep routine for your children. Pay attention to the information on electronics. The light from tablets, phones, computers and other devices mimics sunlight and causes problems with falling asleep. This is true for adults and teens!
Creating a sleep routine
Creating a sleep routine
Use pictures to create a bedtime routine for your children. Having a sleep routine is comforting to kids and usually allows them to fall asleep faster.
Ways to promote independence and responsibility
Ways to promote independence and responsibility
Chore charts and first/then charts are great ways to teach children independence and responsibility. When creating a chart, consider the following:
Chore charts and first/then charts are great ways to teach children independence and responsibility. When creating a chart, consider the following:
Create your child with your child. If kids help make it, they will buy in and are more likely to cooperate.
Use positive incentives to motivate kids. The incentives should be small rewards such as an electronics break to reward kids for a job well done.
Ignore all whining, negotiating and attempts to change the chart.
Make sure to reward your child as soon as it has been earned.
Periodically review the chart with your child to determine if any changes need to be made.
Grandma's Rule.mp4Click the video above to learn about Grandma's Rule: How to get kids to do what you ask.
One Last Word On Consequences...
One Last Word On Consequences...
Make sure your consequences follow the four R's of positive discipline:
Is the consequence related to the child's actions? Try to use natural consequences as much as possible. For example, if your child leaves his or her bike out and it rusts, then she should be responsible for removing the rust. Continued neglect could result in losing the privilege to bike for a day or two.
Does the consequence promote responsibility? Allow children to make mistakes. If they don't earn their rewards, don't give in. Just wait and allow them to try again. This puts the responsibility on them, not you!
Is the consequence respectful? Consequences should be given with a calm and neutral voice. Any use of physical punishment, humiliation, name-calling or put downs should be avoided. These tactics only make behavior worse and they erode the child's self-esteem and self-worth.
Is the consequence reasonable? Does the consequence match the behavior? Consequences shouldn't be too light or too harsh for the behavior.
Parent Self-Care Resources
Parent Self-Care Resources
Try the April self-care challenge! Complete as many of the activities as you can, in any order. Feel free to add your own activities or take things away as needed!
Emotional Health
Emotional Health
Identify your feelings and triggers
Breathe!
Talk about your feelings with a trusted friend, family member or mental health professional
Practice mindfulness
Be kind and gentle to yourself
Physical Health
Physical Health
Exercise regularly
Eat healthy foods
Get proper sleep
Quit smoking
Limit or eliminate alcohol use
Social Support
Social Support
Spend time with people who love and support you
Reach out when you need help
Plan fun get togethers with friends and family
Use social media to stay connected to friends and family who live away
Spirituality
Spirituality
Meditate or pray according to your beliefs
Practice gratitude
Experience nature
Websites for Additional Parenting Resources
Websites for Additional Parenting Resources
Click on the link above to go to PBIS World. This extensive website contains specific interventions for most behavioral challenges.
Click on the link above to go to the Additude Magazine website. This website contains information for parents of children with ADD, ADHD and Executive Functioning Disorders
Click on the link above to go to Healthy Children.Org, a parenting website run by the American Academy of Pediatrics. This website contains parenting advice for behavior, mental and physical health and healthy family lifestyles.
Click the above link to go to Parenting.Com. This website covers all ages and stages of child growth and development.
Podcasts for kids
Podcasts for kids
Click on the image to the right to be directed to the Kids Health website. There are many podcasts for children on topics including sibling rivalry, anxiety, peer presssure and self-esteem.
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