Parent Resources

Character Strong Family Newsletters

August- Kindness

September- Respect

October- Responsibility

October - National Bullying Prevention Month

Games that teach Self Regulation:

Red light Green Light- To level it up, reverse the rules! Green means freeze, and Red means Go!

Freeze Dance with a Twist- Play music at different tempos. Fast music= fast dancing. Slow= slow controlled movements.

Sneaky Simon Says- Give fast commands to build up excitement, then drop your voice to a quiet whisper for the next command.

Rhythm Copycat- clap a short rhythm (clap-clap- pause- clap). They wait until you are finished & then repeat it.

What I wish you knew during the first months of school...

Your child may come home more tired, emotional, or "off". The first month is not just academics. It is learning routines, relationships, expectations, transitions, and where they fit. A child who says "school is fine" may not have the words yet for what feels hard.

Try asking:

"What was something that felt easy today?"

"What was something you didn't love about your day?"

"Who did you sit near at lunch?"

"What was one thing that made you smile today?"

Healthy Sleep Habits: How Many Hours Does Your Child Need?While it’s true that sleep needs vary from one person to another, there are some very reasonable, science-based guidelines to help you determine whether your child is getting the sleep he or she needs to grow, learn, and play. Learn more here.

DEVELOP A SLEEP ROUTINE- WHY ENOUGH SLEEP IS IMPORTANT

Getting enough sleep is critical for a child to be successful in school. Children who do not get enough sleep have difficulty concentrating and learning as well as they can.
Set a consistent bedtime for your child and stick with it every night. Having a bedtime routine that is consistent will help your child settle down and fall asleep. Components of a calming pre-bedtime routine may involve a bath/shower, reading with them, and tucking them in and saying good-night to them.
Have your child turn off electronic devices well before bedtime.
Try to have the home as quiet and calm as possible when younger children are trying to fall asleep.
Insufficient sleep is associated with lower academic achievement in middle school, high school and college, as well as higher rates of absenteeism and tardiness. The optimal amount of sleep for most younger children is 10-12 hours per night and for adolescents (13-18 year of age) is in the range of 8-10 hours per night .