The world around us is made up of only two factors: The things we can control and the things we can’t. When a student truly grasps this concept, their whole life can change dramatically. They can focus more on their own “Circle of Control” versus the many things they can not control. They begin to understand that they cannot control others’ thoughts, behaviors, choices but they CAN control their own thoughts, behaviors, choices.

This is a powerful concept and can help students feel more “in control” during situations when they feel “out of control”. They become empowered and more confident in their own thoughts, caring much less about what OTHER people think and feel. The Circle of Control concept is especially helpful for children during stressful situations as it helps children identify situations they CAN control versus situations they CAN NOT control.

Hello parents and students! Here is a little information on resilience and grit, and why they are important.

Resilience is the ability to bounce back from stress, adversity, failure, challenges, or even trauma. It's not something that kids either have or don't have; it's a skill that kids develop as they grow.

Resilient children also have grit. Grit is having the perseverance and mental toughness to stick things out when they get rough. When students with grit encounter a difficult problem, they try to solve it instead of giving up. When bad things happen, they quickly bounce back, ready to face the next challenge.

When students make mistakes, they grow and learn from them. Resilient children are hopeful, optimistic, and strong. So while children can’t be shielded from life’s difficulties, they can learn the tools they’ll need to navigate life successfully. Here are five tips to help you raise a a resilient child.

Growth Mindset. This term describes how we face challenges and setbacks. People with a growth mindset believe their abilities can improve over time. On the other hand, people with a fixed mindset think their abilities are set in stone or can’t change, no matter how hard they try.

Having a growth mindset can have real benefits. It helps kids (and their families) reframe how they approach challenges. That’s the power of the word yet in the above complaint about homework. Even though the homework is hard, it shows a growth mindset to recognize it may not always be that hard.

Developing a growth mindset is an ongoing process. Getting and taking feedback from others, learning from mistakes, and finding new ways to approach tasks isn’t easy. But it’s a valuable way to help kids learn that talents can be developed. Try practicing some of the growth mindset phrases here!

Hello Oregon City families! We are all no doubt experiencing stress and anxiety at times during this pandemic. When you feel overwhelmed by your emotions, or need a tool to explore where your feelings are coming from, try using RAIN. RAIN is a four step process to help you examine your feelings and separate them from who you are as a person. You can use this RAIN method anytime you are feeling stressed, overwhelmed or out of touch. See the steps summarized below:

R = Recognize: Notice that you are experiencing something, such as irritation at your partner, child, or colleague. Step back into observation rather than reaction. Without getting into the story, simply name what is present, such as “annoyance,” “body firing up,” “hurt,” “wanting to cry.”

A = Accept: Acknowledge that your experience is what it is, even if it’s unpleasant. Be with it without attempting to change it. Try to have self-compassion instead of self-criticism.

I = Investigate: Become a detective, who is curious about this feeling, not critical about it. Focus on a gently engaged exploration, with a sense of tenderness or friendliness toward what it finds.

N = Not-identify: Have a feeling, instead of being it. Disentangle yourself from the various parts of the experience, knowing that they are small, fleeting feelings that do not define who you are.

Next time you find yourself swamped with feelings, give RAIN a try!

The tense and release muscle relaxation is an exercise that relaxes the mind and body by progressively tensing and releasing those large muscle groups.

This activity is perfect prior to going to sleep because it helps the body release tension. Have your child try

this activity lying down after they get into bed for the night.

This activity grounds you into the physical body and it's a great way to practice mindfulness. The tensing and relaxing of the muscles of the body helps release the strain and stress of the day helping your child get a wonderful night's rest.