This is the most helpful piece of writing I've ever read on autism, and so I am very pleased to share this important blog post by The Chimerical Capuchin. I saved a copy of this article because I so often shared and linked people to it - on social media, with my colleagues, with my graduate students, and with parents of the children I work with. The original website is not currently active and when I saved the article, the links were lost, but I know you will still find great insight in this important post about autism! In this post, you’ll see why I didn’t become an artist. I feel this s ..read more

Are you looking for activities, and video clips to teach kids how to be more flexible thinkers? I've gathered these videos just for you! And if you’re looking for books on being a flexible thinker, be sure to check out this blog post! In these videos, you'll find read-alouds, songs, and inspirational and motivational stories about flexible thinking. Please PREVIEW each of these videos before using them with kids! Given the nature of the internet, some of these links may not work, or may change. Some videos may be more appropriate for different ages. Flexible Thinking Videos for Young Kids Ses ..read more

Self-care is essential for anyone who experiences stress on a regular basis, and that includes teachers, school counselors, school social workers, school psychologists, and other educators. In the education field, self-care is often put on the back-burner, but the truth is that educators need to take care of themselves in order to be able to effectively take care of their students. One way to practice self-care is through mindfulness. Mindfulness is a tool that can be used to help people cope with stress and trauma, and it is especially helpful for those who work in stressful environments lik ..read more

Social-emotional learning involves five key areas: self-awareness (acknowledging one's emotions, values, strengths, and weaknesses), self-management (emotional and behavioral regulation), social awareness (understanding and empathizing with others), relationship skills (creating and maintaining healthy relationships), and responsible decision making (making thoughtful choices in a variety of contexts). According to a meta-analysis, by integrating these five areas into a school curriculum and home environments, children gained social and emotional assets such as improved attitude about self, o ..read more

Winter is a season of festivity and joy and it can also be a period of unique challenges for both students and educators. You know what's a game-changer during this season? Diving deep into social-emotional learning (SEL.) SEL includes learning to understand and manage one’s emotions, set and achieve goals, feel and show empathy, establish positive relationships, and make responsible decisions. Especially in the wintry months, harnessing SEL can help us address many of the issues that arise, from attendance hiccups to behavioral changes. By tailoring SEL activities to the season and holiday t ..read more

Guest blog post by L. Robin Navigating the pathways of parenthood can often feel like a maze. As caregivers, our natural instinct is to want to pave a seamless route for our children, where their moments of sadness are brief and their happiness is unending. But in this process, we may overlook the significance of accepting and understanding the many different emotions that our children experience. These feelings are an important part of the human experience as well. In this guest blog post, Laurie Robin, a dedicated mother, educator, and author, delves into the emotional journey of parenthood ..read more

In our last blog post we talked about teaching kids how to practice gratitude and gratitude exercises for kids, now let's take a quick pit stop and chat about us. Yep, you read that right! Here’s the tea: Whether you’re a school counselor, parent, or teacher, the kids around us are always watching and soaking up vibes from us, kind of like mini human sponges. So, guess who's the biggest influencer when it comes to teaching gratitude? Yup, it’s you! How to Teach Kids about Gratitude Leading the Gratitude Parade: Now, I’m not saying you need to burst into song about every little thing that mak ..read more

Have you ever had that head-scratch moment when you're trying to explain what "being grateful" really means to a child? I mean, it sounds simple to us grownups, but breaking it down for younger kids can be a challenge. Simply put, being grateful, or having gratitude, means realizing and appreciating the good stuff we have in our lives, whether big or small. Now, let's talk about why gratitude is a big deal. Teaching kids to find the silver lining isn't just about manners or saying 'thank you.' It's about shaping their outlook on life, helping them be happier and even more resilient by paying ..read more

As we gear up for another school year, there's an important topic we can't afford to overlook: teaching our students all about expected behavior. We all know that laying down the foundation of routines and behavior expectations, especially at the start of the school year, sets the stage for a successful year. Yet, we've also faced the common challenge of finding fun and engaging ways to help our students understand expected behaviors. In this blog post, we're diving into ways to use social stories and social skills games as tools in transforming moments of unexpected behavior into valuable te ..read more

What is Directed or Guided Drawing? Directed Drawing, also called Guided Drawing, is when one person talks another person through drawing a picture, step by step in a sequential way. Directed Drawing for students helps them learn to draw new things by putting lines and shapes together in a new way. I’ve created an activity called SEL Directed Drawing which combines art with social-emotional learning prompts and questions! With SEL Guided Drawing, there are questions or prompts on different topics like communication, social skills, problem solving, feelings, cognitive behavioral therapy, socia ..read more