A World of wellness

We live in a fast-paced world that can be overwhelming and stressful at times. The aim of this site is to provide a variety of resources that can help us to develop our best selves, while cultivating kindness and positively impacting our world along the way.

Orange Shirt Day

Orange Shirt Day (September 30th) is a day when we honour the Indigenous children who were sent away to residential schools in Canada, and learn more about the history of those schools and students. Orange Shirt Day grew out of Phyllis Webstad’s account of losing her shiny new orange shirt on her first day at residential school. We wear orange to honour the children who survived the Indian Residential Schools and remember those that didn’t. At Roncalli Elementary, and schools all across Canada, children and adults will recognize, learn, and reflect on this important part of our history.

Click HERE to visit the CBC Kids Orange Shirt Day website.

Click HERE to find a copy of the Land Acknowledgment statement, along with important background information.

Much more information and curricula can be found at orangeshirtday.org and firstlightnl.ca

The following books have been recommended to help supplement your conversations and activities:

My Heart Fills With Happiness (Grade K) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tO77a3-6lbo

Stolen Words (Grades 1-6) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y4TA88cz7HU

When We Were Alone (Grades 2-3) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JeaS6vlPUSk

Shin-Chi’s Canoe (Grades 4-9) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ktV1CdIUEIY See also Pg 24 of this link for activities https://www.orangeshirtday.org/uploads/7/9/8/7/79871818/teacher_resource_guide_grade_5.pdf

When I Was Eight (Grades 4-9) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LSBrkJn3NeI

Students, educators and the public are welcome to share pictures on social media using #OrangeShirtDayNL

Pink Shirt Day

In my role as a guidance counsellor, students being mistreated by other students is unfortunately one of the issues that I (and educators everywhere) continually deal with. While the prevalence varies from year to year, and the nature of the mistreatment/bullying/lack of kindness may change with the increased use of technology, one thing remains clear - treating someone in this manner has a huge impact on their overall wellness. I'm incredibly fortunate to work in a school, community and province that creates policies and learning environments that promote kindness, and works to eliminate bullying. However, despite the greatest of efforts, bullying and mistreatment still occur, so it's important to continue to spread the message and 'be the change'.

Before I share some of my favorite resources, I just want to make a few notes about Pink Shirt Day.

It's a great day for anti-bully awareness, but it's not just about the shirt. A while back, I heard of an instance where a child was taunted in his classroom for being the only child without a pink shirt. He was taunted by a group of pink-shirt wearing peers, who were wearing shirts that represent the need to increase kindness and prevent bullying - even as they made fun of him. We have to make sure that the day is not simply about wearing 'the shirt'.

Contrasting this, I know of a child who had forgotten their pink shirt. What did they do? They got a sheet of pink construction paper, wrote Be Kind in big, bold letters, and safety pinned the paper to the front of their shirt. This, my friends, is what the day is about.

And, perhaps most importantly, it's not simply a DAY, it's a WAY... a way of acting, a way of understanding and listening, and a way of helping those around us, every single day of the year.

Below are some of my favorite resources. Spread the message. Stay kind!

VIDEOS

In addition to the great ones found to the left of your screen, here are a few more.

Let Us Be Kind

Kids Against Bullying

We Are All Different - an incredible video about being different, unique and kind.

WEBSITES

PREVnet

Parenting In A Digital Age

Stop Bullying

Random Acts of Kindness

Bullying Awareness and Prevention

We Have A Voice

A big part of wellness - both for children and adults - is knowing that we have a voice. We all want to be able to have a say in the things that happen in our lives and our community.

This is why we strive in our school and our District to inspire and develop students who are involved, informed and engaged in the democratic process. As is often said, it is the young population that will inherit and be most greatly affected by the decisions that are made today.

The current provincial election is one like we've never seen before. It is incredibly important that we help our young people understand this system, even as we wrestle with questions ourselves. Raising students who think critically, ask necessary questions, and search for answers is essential to the overall development and wellness of our young people.

To that end, Roncalli Elementary and other schools in our District work with CIVIX to enhance the learning of our students. As seen on their website, "CIVIX provides authentic learning opportunities to help young Canadians practice their rights and responsibilities as citizens, and connect with their democratic institutions. Instead of studying about democracy from a textbook, they experience it first-hand with real issues in real-time."

While our usual in-school Student Vote will not be possible, we will be conducting an online election with electronic ballots (via Google Forms) so that our elementary students can participate in this important democratic exercise. Whether you are a teacher, parent or student, please take the time to have a look at some of the important resources below.

Students and teachers can access a Question and Answer site where our provincial party leaders answer questions posed by students in our District. Click HERE.

Teachers can access Classroom Resources HERE

Click this link for a video discussing Government and Democracy.

Click this link for a video about Our Electoral System.

Learn about Levels of Government here.

Learn about The Right To Vote here.

We're looking forward to our Provincial Election - Student Vote.

What To Do When You Feel Stressed

The first thing we all need to remember is that stress is normal. We all feel it. It can play an important role in helping us take action, and it can serve as a reminder that we need to change things up a bit.

That being said, for some people stress can grow to a level that is too uncomfortable, too unpleasant, and can adversely affect how we live our lives.

We need to learn to recognize when this is happening, and we need to be able to identify the signs in ourselves and our children.

The site linked HERE outlines some of these signs. Also, in this site (verywellfamily.com), you'll find common causes of stress, and perhaps most importantly, there is a section that discusses How To Help. I've posted those important points below. As always, please reach out if I can help in any way or point you toward the resources you seek. I'm always available to connect. :)

How to Help Your Child

There are healthy ways in which your child can cope and respond to stress, they just need some help and guidance. You can help in the following ways.

At Home

Create a relaxed home atmosphere and commit to a routine. Family dinners or game nights can prevent anxiety and help relieve stress.
Make your home a calm, safe, and secure place to come to.
Monitor your child's television shows, video games, and books.

Keep Them Involved

Allow for opportunities where your child can have control over a situation in their life.
Give your child a heads up on any anticipated changes and talk through the new scenarios with them.¹ For example, if you will be taking a new job in a new city, what will that mean for them in terms of a new school, new friends, and a new home?
Involve your child in social and sports activities where they can succeed.

Your Actions

Adopt healthy habits such as exercise and self-care to manage your own stress in healthy ways. Children often mimic their parents' behaviors.
Keep an eye out for new signs and behaviors of unresolved stress.
Learn to really listen to your child without being critical or solving problems for them. Provide guidance to teach your child ways to understand and solve the problems that upset them.
Provide affection and encouragement.
Use positive reinforcement and methods of discipline that promote healthy self-esteem.

Student Leadership

Never before in our world has the issue of strong leadership been more important. I will refrain from any commentary on the recent election in the United States, and instead focus on leaders much closer to home - the Student Leaders recently elected here at Roncalli Elementary.

After nominations, campaign speeches and an exciting election, the Grade 5 and 6 students of Roncalli chose 10 students to help lead their classes, as well as the entire student population, in a great new direction. We needed to hold a runoff vote in one classroom, and in another classroom we had a 5-way tie for first place and the two elected student leaders were determined by the very last ballot cast. It was a great opportunity to show the students the power of one voice.

These leaders will help with various activities throughout the school year. They will explore ways to improve the school, ways to give back to the community, and ways to be good role models for others. While we were only able to select 10 student leaders (we had a whopping 76 put their name forward), it's important to remember that there is a potential leader in every child. While there are many, many great websites that outline ways to help students become effective leaders, I chose the list below from entrepreneur.com, titled "15 Tips for Instilling Leadership Skills in Children". Have a read, and see which you might apply to your parenting and your teaching.

1. Set a good example.

As a leader, you realize the importance of setting a good example for your team. This is even truer of your role as a parent. By allowing your children to see how well you balance your work and personal roles, you’ll teach them accountability through effective leadership.

2. Encourage team activities.

Early on, identify your children’s interests and encourage their participation in group activities. Whether it’s joining a scouting troop, participating in sports or joining the school band, children learn valuable lessons about teamwork through these activities.

3. Emphasize perseverance.

The best leaders learn to handle failure as gracefully as they handle success. It’s important to expose future leaders to disappointment rather than protecting them from it. Children need to learn to handle the loss and move forward when the other team wins or someone else is elected class president.

4. Build negotiation skills.

Every good leader knows the art of compromise. Instead of giving your children a firm “yes” or “no” to a request, make an offer and allow them to counter that offer by offering solid points. Teach them negotiation skills like never giving up something without asking for something else in return.

5. Hone decision-making abilities.

Children should learn how to make good decisions as early in life as possible. Because children become overwhelmed by too many choices, narrow down the options to two or three, whether a child is deciding on afternoon activities or a movie to watch. My wife Kristy says "Teach your children to weigh the pros and cons of each option in order to make the most informed decision possible. This will help them to make correct decisions in everyday life."

6. Practice confident communication.

When you go to a restaurant, do you place orders for your children? You can actually turn a simple dinner into a confidence-building exercise by having your children speak directly to servers. Allowing them to order and speak directly to servers will help them gain confidence in themselves and be able to communicate what they need.

7. Encourage work.

Often children are eager to begin working in some capacity. If your child wants to set up a lemonade stand, support them and encourage it. Once your children are old enough, they can take on work opportunities like babysitting and mowing neighborhood yards, provided you live in a safe neighborhood. These early jobs can be essential to building leadership skills in children.

8. Enroll in summer camp.

Summer camp is filled with opportunities to participate in team-building activities. Once youth reach a certain age, they may even be asked to help counselors. While many camps require counselors to be 18, a regular camp attendee may be able to land a spot assisting counselors, where they’ll be tasked with leading groups of younger children.

9. Have family game night.

Instead of spending an evening staring at your respective screens, consider an evening of board games instead. A family game night not only provides a unique way to spend time together, it helps children learn to be a good sport, play by the rules, and think strategically.

10. Teach project planning skills.

As a family, you likely have many planned events, from family vacations to visiting relatives. As you prepare, don’t leave children out of the planning process. Treat each event as though it were a business project, holding brainstorming sessions and delegating smaller tasks to your young family members.

11. Use vision boards.

One fun way to teach children goal-setting is through the use of vision boards. They’ll have fun cutting out pictures and arranging them on a board, and in the process they will learn how to visualize what they want to achieve.

12. Avoid jumping in.

When your child works on a project or activity, it can be tempting to jump in and help, especially if you see your child struggling. Instead, consider stepping back and letting your children work through it themselves. After the fact, you can review the obstacles and challenges that emerged during the task and ask for ideas on how things could have been done differently.

13. Find a mentor.

As great an example as you are to your children, a mentor can be invaluable. A trusted friend or family member can be a great mentor, especially if that person is accomplished in an area in which your child expresses interest. There are also organizations that can supply screened members as mentors.

14. Encourage reading.

Studies have shown the benefits of reading for fun in childhood, with children who read having greater intellectual progress in a variety of subjects. Young readers tend to learn more about the world, even when the reading is of a frivolous nature.

15. Reward optimistic thinking.

The fact that optimism is connected to success should not be lost on your family. Reward optimism, especially when that optimism is connected to attempting to reach a goal.

Financial expert Miranda Marquit teaches that "to teach your children money management you need to allow them to make mistakes. Have them make a list of what they want, then help them to prioritize what on the list is more important and have them save for it." This will teach them valuable lessons that will help them throughout their whole life. It will also help them know what they can and can't afford.

Helping Your Kindergartener with Separation Anxiety

Every year at this time, many families search for ways to help alleviate the stress and address the challenges that go along with the first day of school. Some apprehension is normal, in both children and caregivers, but it's important for us as adults to approach these times with calm and confidence. The following are some resources and strategies that will hopefully make the beginning of our school year a little smoother. (Please note that while the titles specify Kindergarteners, these tips are applicable to many students).

Have a look at the video attached to this section. While we work our way through our first September dealing with Covid-19, most of the messages and suggestions still hold true.
Click HERE to access the tipsheet - Separation Anxiety During the First Days of Kindergarten - Tips for Parents and Caregivers.
The book, The Kissing Hand has regularly been recommended as a great read for children preparing to enter school. Click on the title to watch a read-aloud video. Keep in mind, in the days of Covid we're often required to come up with different, creative ways of doing things. Instead of the Kissing Hand (where one person kisses the other's and they touch that hand to their face through the day to feel the connection) , feel free to come up with fun, unique ways to create the same connection. For example, you might tell your child:

"If you feel a little sad, tap your toes to the song (insert favorite song). When you do that, I'll feel your happy feeling.
"If you feel a little sad, do our secret handshake (it can be a simple pattern of patting knees, soft claps, tracing a heart on your arm, etc), and I'll feel your happy feeling.
"If you feel a little sad, remember (insert a favorite happy memory). When you think about this, I'll think about it too and smile.

Click HERE for a handy "12-step back to school checklist for parents". Lots of neat ideas that may be helpful.
I'll continue to post ideas on my Twitter feed @RES_Guidance, and I invite anyone to share great articles or ideas with me as well.

There's an old saying that I have hung on my office wall - The Road To Success Is Always Under Construction. The key is for us all to work together on this Road, and help each other every step of the way. Looking forward to an incredible school year. As always, feel free to reach out - davidlynch@nlesd.ca. Take care!

Raising Kids Who Challenge Racism

Every day, but now more than ever, we need to challenge racism. It's a discussion that's happening regularly for some, but it's quite difficult for others.

In light of this, I want to share a couple of resources.

The first is a CASEL CARES free webinar which was recently shared with me. It starts today at 1:00, but I'm sharing this because you can register and watch it at your own convenience. Click HERE to register for CASEL CARES: Owning Your Power to Raise Kids Who Challenge Racism

The second source of information is an upcoming Town Hall provided by CNN and Sesame Street. It's called Coming Together: Standing Up to Racism. It's a Town Hall for Kids and Families. I'm sure it will provide useful infomation, tips and lessons. It's happening on CNN on Saturday, June 6th. 10am ET.

Take care of yourselves. Be kind.

Emotional Intelligence 101 For Parents

I discovered this program recently, and was intrigued as both a counsellor/educator and as a parent. I'm currently working through the first couple of lessons.

The site is eq.org and the program is EQ 101 For Parents. Social-Emotional Learning is important, always has been, but as we move forward in education, we're going to see an even greater focus on this area, and rightly so.

By signing up for this free program, you (and I) will access information, videos, activities, online discussions and practice tips which will help us "see the value of emotions and emotional self-awareness, become more self aware and have tools to help our children do the same."

From the site: "Through EQ, You will know WHAT you are feeling and recognize your parenting patterns; HOW to navigate the often treacherous parenting waters; WHY is important to validate yours and others’ feelings and still think through our options, creating a more intentional, less impulsive response to a situation."

"In a very real sense we have two minds, one that thinks and one that feels..." - Daniel Goleman

Strongest Families

I've made many referrals to the Strongest Families Institute over the years. I wanted to remind everyone that I'm continuing to refer families during this time.

From their site: "Strongest Families Institute (SFI), a charitable organization, leverages technology and skilled staff to deliver evidence-based programs to children, youth and families dealing with mild to moderate mental health and other issues impacting health and well-being."

Click HERE to see the Programs that the Strongest Families Institute offers.

Click HERE for the Parent Brochure

Click HERE for the Fact Sheet

As always, please don't hesitate to reach out if there's anything I can do to help.

Healthy Eating

Hello again everyone. I'm sharing some info on a very important topic today because over the last week or two, I've had several conversations with friends and parents of students who have talked about how eating habits are tending to be a little unhealthy during this COVID-19 period of our lives. This is true for both parents and children. It's well known that unhealthy eating habits affect all areas of our life, including our mental and emotional wellness.

On the Scholastic site, there's a section I've noted before, called TrueFlix, that has a variety of free resources. One of them is the TrueBook you see pictured here, titled Healthy Eating. Click HERE to access it. It includes information on important topics such as:

The Right Foods
The Building Blocks of Food
Making Healthy Choices
The Science of Eating Healthy,

as well as statistics, important words, and resources.

There are also lots of great websites on Healthy Eating. One example of such a site can be found HERE. This site includes great strategies and suggestions. I highly recommend you have a read of this one.

You may also want to check out some videos for younger kids as well. There are hundreds of them on Youtube, but a few that I like are Foods We Need to Eat Less Often, and other videos from the Tesco Eat Happy Project.

Stay safe. Stay healthy...

Thinking Traps and A Short Autobiography

It doesn't matter if you are young or old, we all fall into Thinking Traps from time to time. Unfortunately, some of us fall into these traps more often, and have a very hard time getting out.

In my work as a school counsellor, I refer to these traps constantly in my conversations with students. I've got a copy hung on my office wall, and one in my desk. Believe me when I say that it's very rare to have a week go by that I don't take this list out and go through it with a young friend.

Whether you are a student or an adult, I want you to have a look at this list. Read through it. Print it. Keep it somewhere accessible. Share it with someone who might need a little assistance in cognitive coping. Get the list HERE.

Talk of such traps reminds me of one of my favorite pieces of short writing by Portia Nelson, which I've included here. This is another piece of writing that I keep handy. It serves as a great reminder that we can all fall into traps, but we can all take steps to avoid them when we're aware of them.

Mental Health and Well-Being Webinar

Connect with the Canadian Mental Health Association every Wednesday 1:00 - 2:00pm (NDT) for a free facilitated group discussion about mental health, well-being, physical isolation, and more. Register HERE.

Click HERE to access the CMHA-NL's resource page

Click HERE to have a look at CMHA-NL's free Online Courses and Webinars

And, in the interest of keeping kids active in improving their mental health, have them complete a simple Self-Esteem Journal, found HERE.

Earth Day 2020 - The Wellness of the World

Today marks the 50th anniversary of Earth Day. We've come a long way, but we have a long way to go. It's no secret that our own personal wellness and the wellness of the earth go hand in hand. There are few places that enhance our wellness more than natural surroundings. Which leads to the following...

Click HERE to watch a short clip on 'Healing in Nature'. As well, take time today to get out and enjoy the sun. Take a walk, if possible, where you can be surrounded by trees, and practice some of the breathing techniques that have been noted on this site. Keep an eye out for new spring growth that might be happening. Which leads to the following...

I recently found a wonderful clip on how to regrow lettuce. Click HERE and HERE for parts one and two of the process. It is incredibly easy, reduces waste, and promotes healthier eating, as you'll have fresh lettuce on hand more often. And speaking of healthier eating...

The temptation to snack more during isolation and social distancing is huge. One of my strategies to avoid this is to drink more water. I always have a water bottle on hand, sometimes with a splash of lemon juice, and it greatly cuts down on appetite, along with other benefits that can be found by clicking HERE.

This is a bigger post than usual, but the ideas are important, and are only a sample of the thousands of things we can do to help ourselves and our world. Please feel free to share any Earth Day ideas to my Twitter account @RES_Guidance. It can be as simple as turning off the lights you're not using, or not letting the water run when you brush your teeth. Every little effort helps tremendously.

Younger kids might also enjoy the following videos:

Earth Day for Kids

Global Warming for Kids (I especially like the What Can Kids Do To Help section at around 5:30)

Have an awesome day!

Talking to Children after a Tragic Event

There's no doubt that many of our children will be hearing and viewing coverage of the terrible tragedy that has taken place in Nova Scotia. Senseless violence is an incredibly difficult concept for children (and adults) to comprehend.

There are many, many websites and resources that look at how we can help our children process such disturbing information. I've included a few below that you can peruse and use, if you wish.

Take 5 and the Mind Jar

During Take 5, breathe in through the nose for 5 seconds, out through the mouth for 5 seconds, and repeat 5 times.
Pair the Take 5 with everyday household chores as a regular reminder, or use whenever it would be beneficial.
Use all your senses to pay attention to immediate surroundings (be in the present moment) - this helps to settle thoughts of the past and worries of the future.
Use the Mind Jar to replicate 'swirling thoughts', and practice settling them through mindful breathing.

Mindful Breathing Meditation 1

Kids are guided step by step through the process, and are asked throughout how they are feeling and what they are noticing.

This video uses some really good imagery as young people breathe. Using the metaphor of a sailboat and the example of the fish are also quite effective.

This video is great for all ages of elementary school students, though the step by step format and guidance may make it particularly effective for younger students.

Mindful Breathing Meditation 2

Another very useful guided meditation.

Directions are a little more specific. Attention is drawn to how the body responds to the breathing and calming process.

Might be more suitable for students in Grade 4 and older.

Autism Awareness Day

In my life and career, I've had the privilege to become friends with so many awesome individuals with autism.

I've always appreciated the 'What's up with Nick?" resource. Today is a great day to check out the OAR (Organization for Autism Research) site.

Click HERE to go to the OAR site "Kit for Kids". You'll find excellent activity books designed for Grades K-1, 2-3, 4-5 and 6-8.

Within the activity books, you and your child can explore topics such as:

What does it mean to have autism?
Being different
Using our senses
Expressing Ourselves

along with a bunch of other activities and learning opportunities.

Take a few minutes and explore the site. There's a lot to learn, and a lot to celebrate. Today, and every day, let's all advocate for autism awareness and acceptance.

#inclusion #ausome

Lucy's Blue Day

Points to consider/chat about:

In the story, the color of Lucy's hair changes based on how she feels. What things in your life turn your hair red? Green? Purple?
When Lucy had a blue day, she didn't really know why she was feeling sad, and that's okay. Have you ever had days like this?
How do you act differently on Blue Days?
Who could you talk to when you have a Blue Day?
What things can you do to help yourself when you have a Blue Day?

Parents/Guardians can click on the links below for some great ideas:

Coping Skills

10 ways to promote good mental health & wellbeing in children

100 Everyday Ways to Strengthen Your Child’s Mental Health

Bridge The gAPP

"From a computer, tablet or a phone in your pocket, you can instantly access content that can provide advice, inspiration, assurance, or direction for finding additional supports when you need it the most."

I just registered for the Mindwell-U, 30-day Mindfulness Challenge. It's just one of many opportunities for growth and support you'll find on this site.

Have a look around at https://www.bridgethegapp.ca/

TWOsday Tuesday

Try developing these Tuesday habits.

When you wake, think of 2 things for which you're grateful.
Through the day, give 2 people a sincere, honest compliment.
Reach out and make a meaningful connection with 2 people.
At the end of the day, reflect on 2 positive things about your day.

Don't limit your habits to only the 2s discussed here. Add as many as you want. Feel free to share your Tuesday 2s with me at davidlynch@nlesd.ca or @RES_Guidance on Twitter.