“MANAGING TRANSITIONS”
(6-Part Video Series)
How do you parent your child through challenging transitions in schedule and routine?
Do you ever notice that new behaviors and emotions can arise when your child is transitioning to a new place, event or time of day? Transitions, both big and small, can be challenging for everyone, but most especially for kiddos.
How do you like to approach these situations with your child? How do you help them prepare for what’s coming next? Or, moreso, how do you respond in a way that supports your child once a transition has not gone well?
In this video I introduce how I approach supporting my clients and families with this challenging time. I hope that this intro, along with the five corresponding strategy videos (Modeling, Patience, Ritual, Reflection and Follow-Up), offer some new tools to add to your parenting practice and assist you and your child in dealing with transitions more confidently.
“DAYBRIEFS”
Conversation Starters for Reflecting at the End of the Day!
Our “Daybriefs” tool is perfect for engaging your child in sharing about their experience after school, camp, a sleepover, play date, family trip, or just a long day.
Consider using some of the creative prompts in the car, at your family meetings, at the dinner table, or just before bedtime.
All six prompts are designed for reflection, each in a different way. Some are quick, while others may need a little extra time and would be ideal when the sharing is flowing well. Be sure to be a participant with your child and choose the prompt that best fits the moment. Try using a six-sided die, designating a number for each prompt. The number a player rolls is the prompt that they respond to.
Enjoy telling stories, recalling important moments, and coming up with descriptive and silly words! Click below to download yours now.
“BACK-TO-SCHOOL”
A Top 5 Guide to Support New Transitions and Changes in Routine
Transitions of all kinds can be big for kiddos...and for parents too. Not the least of which is the transition back to school!
How do you plan for this time of year? Here are some of my favorite tools to keep at the top of mind to give you and your family the support you deserve.
“ACTS OF KINDNESS BINGO”
Engaging A Practice of Kindness
There’s never a right or wrong time to get into a kindness practice. At Parent Sidekick, we believe that games and activities are some of the very best ways to spark, cultivate and foster these kinds of practices.
This activity is a lot of fun and great to engage your child in, do as a personal challenge, or do as a family! This PDF contains two versions - one with suggested Acts of Kindness (AOK’s) and another left blank if you and/or your child want to create your own. The activity can be ideal during times when we need to get back into the habit of compassion and empathy, whether during a challenging time at home, during a transition (like moving or changing schools, etc), or during the holiday season.
The goal date for completing the challenge is completely up to the player, and it is an essential part of the commitment to the challenge. The level of challenge can be differentiated for different ages simply by varying how elaborate or accessible the acts are and/or by raising the number of acts needed to complete the challenge. However you choose to play this variation of the classic game, you will undoubtedly be upping your kindness game!
“HOME LEARNING TOOLKIT”
Setting Your Child Up for Learning Success at Home
Check out our Home Learning Toolkit guide for supporting your child with purpose and joy when they are doing focused work at home. Whether your child is doing homework, working on long-term projects, being homeschooled, remote learning for school, or just researching personal interests, this guide supports them in a way that supports you, the parent, and provides an easy-to-implement framework that will benefit the entire family.
Click below to download our 3-page guide for setting your child, and everyone up for learning success in your home environment. It contains 10 tips for making sure that everyone gets the most out of your child’s focused work time.
“SUMMER FAMILY PRACTICES GUIDE”
Top 3 Recommendations for Family Summer Engagement!
Summertime is always a much-anticipated break from the school year for all, and it presents its own challenges when parents have worked so hard during the year to establish routines and norms to support their child’s needs.
This tool outlines some of the most essential ways maintain solid routines during the summer, while also having a great time as a family!
*The QR-code links to the video version of this tool.