Benefits of Art
Art projects are a great way to keep kids occupied in a healthy way. Something as simple as coloring, has been part of early childhood education for as long as we can remember.
Parents and educators sometimes are not aware of the real long term benefits to arts and crafts. Art is a way for children to be creative, however, it not only has a positive impact on core subjects but helps with executive functioning and neural development.
In this blog we’re going to focus on how art can affect academic performance and executive functioning,
EARLY DEVELOPMENT
Creativity
Creativity is key when it comes to problem solving. Not only is it helpful in the early stages of life but has been shown to help students excel far beyond college and provide more opportunities. Research has shown that students who have been exposed to art from an early age have a greater ability to come up with different ideas and solutions as they get older.
Fine Motor Skills
From an early age, fine motor skills are important to develop coordination. Learning how to hold a marker or a paint brush can help lead to good penmanship. Tracing, cutting and coloring inside the lines, help improve coordination.
Sensory Input
Varied stimulation is a great way of engaging students brains with touch, sight, smell, and sound. This variety keeps their brains occupied and thinking without relying too heavily on one specific sense, which can be overwhelming, especially to younger students. Aside from being entertaining, a number of studies have found that this kind of stimulation helps kids’ neural functions develop better.
Executive Functioning
Since art is an open ended project it provides an opportunity for students to consider options, make choices, and evaluate results. These are essential to help develop executive functioning skills. Giving students a safe outlet for experimenting can help them get more comfortable with situations where there are no clear step by step directions.
OTHER BENEFITS
As the years go on, art has become a major part of therapy for children. Sometimes when a child has been through a traumatic event it is difficult for them to speak about their emotions. Not only regarding a traumatic event, but being a child in general can be difficult and facing or talking about those emotions can become overwhelming. However, giving children a piece of paper and a crayon to show how they feel allows for a safe space for the child and a way to communicate without using words.
Every day, students absorb incredible amounts of new information. While this is normal, they still need to be able to process what they learn in a way that works for them. Through artwork, students get to approach feelings and ideas in a “scaled-down” or more manageable way. This is often easier than finding the words to express how we are feeling, and can also be a good segue to other forms of open communication.
Art also allows us to connect with others. Working on an art project with a friend or a teacher can help strengthen or create a new bond.
Regardless of how much value you place on art as a cultural goal, the academic benefits are clear.
To learn more about how art can be great for students of all ages, check out these links:
https://artfulparent.com/the-benefits-of-art-for-kids/
https://www.studentartguide.com/articles/reasons-to-study-art
How to Form Routines
Students with ADHD tend to struggle in school due to a variety of factors including but not limited to their lack of Executive Functioning skills. The ability to stay organized, plan ahead, and manage their time effectively can become overwhelming which can impact behavior and performance. As educators, it is beneficial to have tools that can be used within the classroom to ease anxiety and motivate students to be successful. Let’s take a look at some useful tips!
Forming structured routines within the classroom can establish reliable expectations for students which can support remaining on task and focused. Examples can include writing the homework assignment in the same spot on the board every day and working with the student to ensure important items and tasks are written in their planner. This will provide consistency and relatability which can ease confusion and stress which often impact the ability for a student to identify what needs to be done.
Disorganization is another area of executive functioning that has a significant impact on a student's success. When a student is in a rush and unable to get situated or organized prior to a transition throughout the day, they start the next phase of their day already in a state of stress, confusion, and at times, frustration. This disorganization can have a ripple effect and carry over into the students home life and responsibilities. Allowing students an extra five minutes at the end of class to put their items away in the proper place will allow for organization throughout the day. Therefore, when they sit down at home to start on their homework, they know exactly where everything is, rather than spending time searching for their assignments and can start on their homework.
Being clear and concise about the expectations of an assignment can help to minimize misunderstandings. When assignments have a grey area, confusion tends to happen which can result in incomplete work or lack of focus. In an effort to reduce this, make assignments clear and check back to see if the student understands what is being asked. Work to keep assignments short and straight forward, not long, repetitive, and abstract, which will have the potential to increase focus.
Lastly, positive reinforcement is the key to motivating students. If the student makes the effort to complete a task from start to finish, even if there is difficulty along the way, a positive statement can go a long way. Empowering our students to be successful is half the battle. Just like adults receive a paycheck for their hard work, students need some form of incentive as well. Sometimes using small incentives to form routines can help with positive feedback.
How to Raise a Happy Child
All parents want their kids to be happy and healthy but sometimes we don't know how to make them happy or build self confidence. We are not perfect and need some guidance along the way. See below for 16 tips on how to raise happy children.
1. Acknowledge that everything you know is wrong.
Everything science tells us to do to make our kids happy we are not doing. Admit this to your children.
2. Stop giving them everything.
Kids are much happier when they give to others rather than receiving, Giving back also allows them to see the happiness they contributed to someone else's life.
3. Let them do it for themselves.
At a young age, we need to let our children learn how to do things on their own. It will help them grow independence. When they grow older it shouldn’t be about control it should be about mentoring and guiding them.
4. Unschedule a little.
If your child's schedule is jammed pack every day, take a look at what can be dropped so they have time to go outside and be with their friends.
5. Hit your own pause button.
Your stress level can have an impact on your children. If you are carpooling kids all day long from activity to activity take a look at what you can cut out to maintain your happiness.
6. Make time for others.
Make sure your child has real life encounters with others to promote social skills.
7. Collaboration on the rules.
Instead of giving a child a rule, ask them to contribute to it. If you have a teenager and you want their curfew to be 10 and they ask for 11, meet halfway and change it to 10:30. A little bit of compromise goes a long way with children being able to make their own responsible decisions.
8. Find the “just right” solution for each child.
Every child and their needs are different. Something that may have worked for one of your children may not work for the other. Find what works for each child.
9. Quality time is key.
Quality time and unconditional love are key components of a happy child. Use bedtime as a way to connect without other people around. Read a book together or talk about their day. This makes them feel special and important.
10. Get outside.
Kids who may have attention struggles or have a lot of energy, take them outside and get on their level. Playing and engaging with them connects you in a different way.
11. Play to their strengths.
Zoning in on a specific strength for a child is great for their self confidence. Praising them for their efforts in a positive way will become an internal voice for them.
12. Don't forget the basic needs.
Many kids are involved in so many after school activities and are shuffled around from activity to activity. Remembering that a well balanced meal and a good night's sleep can go a long way.
13. Check yourself.
The way you carry yourself affects your children. If you are anxious, your kids can pick up on those emotions and will begin to echo your tone of voice. Being able to control your moods and engage in self regulation is an important responsibility as a parent.
14. Rethink Consequences
Sometimes rather than implementing consequences, it is important to realize that this is an opportunity to teach and allow your child to grow. Let them tell you about their emotions because they could be struggling with how to deal with them. In addition, maybe giving them an opportunity to take responsibility for their actions can be a great teaching moment.
15. Focus on your relationship.
Developing a relationship with your child is key to their happiness. Being able to connect with them is crucial in their happiness and development.
16. Just ask...them
You would be surprised about how honest kids are. If you want to know what makes them happy…..ask.
https://mom.com/kids/secrets-to-raising-happy-children/just-ask-them
COVID-19 Summer Slide
COVID 19 made for a chaotic spring semester, with billions of children out of school all over the world. One of the most alarming effects of COVID 19 is the effect on subsequent school years. Since transitioning to distance learning and decreased social interaction, students are experiencing a significant decline in learning and retention due to school closures. Every summer student experiences what researchers call “summer slide.” According to a study done by the Collaborative for Student Growth, COVID-19 closures will amplify this summer slide and adversely affect student achievement for years to come.
Learning loss affects every student in different ways, however, the predictions are learning loss is more significant in older students. Research indicates that steeper decline in math compared to reading. There is also a concern regarding learning gaps as students advance to the next grade level without mastering this semester's content. In addition, schools are not sure what next school year will look like regarding reopening which will amplify the gaps.
Providing students with effective support this summer is imperative to alleviate the named “COVID-19 Slide”. Having students engage in enrichment programs and subject specific courses will help with learning loss. Assisting children in learning loss over the summer can be daunting but we are here to help. Below are three vital steps to assuring your student gets ahead and stays ahead this summer.
Assess Student Needs
Figuring out the individual needs for a student is imperative in assisting them over the summer with their academic needs. Each student is different and their content needs to be specific for them. As you start to devise an action plan for your student, think about what classes they struggled with, what classes they may need to brush up on before entering into middle or high school, and what difficult courses they will be taking next semester. Talk to your students, teachers and find the trend.
Devise an Action Plan
Once you have assessed what the student needs academically, come up with a plan for the summer. During the summer, students do not mimic the structure of school, sleep schedules and habits. To help with the lack of structure, devise an action plan with specific schedules and goals to keep the student on track. Utilize the S.M.A.R.T goal framework to help students create self improvement.
Find Support
COVID-19 has been difficult for all of us, there is no shame in asking experts for help to get your student ahead and stay ahead. Whether you are looking for academic remediation and enrichment over the summer to combat the “summer slide” or other supplementary services like standardized test prep, we are here to help! Head over to our services page or contact us for more information.
How to Eliminate Procrastination
It’s Thursday evening and you’re frantically working to finish up an English project due tomorrow morning. Tired, angry, and anxious that you can’t watch your TV show tonight, you ask yourself, “How did this happen?”
First, you spent your entire weekend binging Netflix, since you were giving yourself a break from the week. Then during the week, you spent hours on Tik-Tok, then you shared them with your friends, spending more time laughing at them and discussing what other videos are comparable in a group chat. That is called procrastination, and it is one of the most destructive habits.
However, if you make a habit of being proactive, it can lead to positive results if you focus and stay committed. Below are a few quick tips that you can use to transition from being a procrastinator, to a proactive student.
Make a Plan
Using a planner and making a detailed plan for the project is key. All supplies need to be present and important rubric points need to be highlighted for various parts of the project are just a few of the many details needed. A planner helps you keep all of the notes, comments and steps within your plan. A whiteboard is also beneficial as it can help you see the big picture when you lay out your plan. Remember, always get an overview before going through the details.
Remove Distractions
Whether you’re studying at home in a living room, bedroom, or kitchen, you are surrounded by distractions. You know what those specific distractions are and they’re part of the reason you procrastinate. Your social media accounts, your phone, your Tik Tok videos – all are in your control. Remove those distractions and watch your productivity rise and you’ll come to realize later that you’ve finished the project early and have time for yourself. Next time you find it hard to focus, look around the room and remove the biggest distractions. The environment plays a huge role in productivity. Control it or it will control you.
Start Early
The earlier the better, as it will allow time to fix mistakes or add to your project, while leaving you with more time for yourself when you are finished. You should start your project like any other homework, immediately the day it is received. No matter how small the first step is. Procrastination is often caused by the fear of starting. By making progress, even minimal progress, from the beginning, you are less likely to procrastinate later on.
Dividing Goals
Whenever any project is assigned, it is best to divide the project into small manageable steps. In addition, writing the amount of time each part will take gives a realistic idea of how long it will take. This makes it easier to focus rather than getting overwhelmed by the project as a whole. By breaking your project into small manageable chunks, you’re able to measure the progress you’re making with each item complete.
Support Systems
Getting started on tasks isn’t always easy, and it’s difficult to push yourself when it’s a task that isn’t fun or interesting. Therefore, find someone to push you to get started. Whether it’s a parent, friend, sibling, or tutor, find a support system that works for you so that you are motivated to start and finish your project.
The truth is procrastination plagues the productivity of people all over the world, not just students. However, students who learn how to manage procrastination by becoming proactive thrive in the adult world. If your student struggles with procrastination or any other executive functioning skill, let us help!
Helicopter Parenting
Everyone talks about helicopter parents, but what exactly does that mean? Parents & Teenagers, a book written by Dr. Hiam Ginott, interviewed teenagers about their parents and they described them as hovering over them just like helicopters. Dr. Ginott also describes helicopter parenting as any behavior where parents are overly involved in the child's life. This type of parenting usually involves teenagers but can show up at any age. Many times, parents may start calling their teachers, become overly involved in play time, or try to complete or do the majority of their homework.
Reading this, you may be thinking…”wow that is over the top.” However, helicopter parenting comes from a good place. There is no one size fits all with this type of parenting but usually the root cause is misplaced concern for their child.
We often see helicopter parenting with parents who are anxious. They may feel they don’t have control over their own lives and therefore try to control their child’s. The need for control usually lies within their past; potentially parents who felt neglected or unloved as a child overcompensate in this area. In addition, some parents want to protect their children from failure, bad grades or negative interactions with their peers. Therefore, they hover over their child so this doesn't happen. Lastly, just like children, parents can feel peer pressure as well. If they see other parents using this style of parenting, they may feel pressured to “keep up” with the other parents.
The Consequences
Being an engaged parent is always wonderful, however there is a big difference between an engaged parent and a helicopter parent. A helicopter parent may be shielding their child from failure and disappointment for the short term but the reality is we all need to fail at some point to succeed. A part of growing up is to learn lessons and change from them.
Doing too much for a child causes lack of self confidence. Although parents don’t intend to, doing too much for their children makes them believe they are not capable of it or their parents don’t trust them.
Another negative result of this parenting style is, when things inevitably do go wrong, usually children who have helicopter parents often don’t have the coping skills to handle it. If a parent always made sure that a child never had to face disappointment or clean up a mess, those children have been denied the opportunity to learn the coping skills that will get them through life.
The end result of helicopter parenting is never good. Lack of coping skills turns into two main things: Entitlement or Anxiety. Children who have never experienced failure sometimes develop feelings that everything will always go their way and in some ways feel that they deserve it. Many times this leads to them acting entitled or spoiled. Another attitude that manifests from this is anxiety. Children who have never faced disappointment or failure can lead to anxiety about letting people down. Regardless if entitlement or anxiety manifests, deep rooted issues can come from helicopter parenting.
Avoiding Helicopter Parenting
There is no simple answer to avoid being a helicopter parent. There are a few things that you can keep in mind when parenting. Awareness is a huge part of parenting, realizing what is overbearing and what is the appropriate amount of involvement is key. In addition, knowing what is age appropriate to allow them to begin to overcome challenges on their own. What is necessary and appropriate for a 4 year old is not the same for a teenager. Being aware of the differences between the ages is extremely important.
College Admission Changes
You are getting ready to go into your senior year of high school….you have your college picked out and then realize you need the dreaded SAT and ACT scores to apply. You begin to sweat and panic that you now have to sign up and take the exam. You ask yourself...how am I supposed to take this test during a pandemic? Think again! Several universities are beginning to wave their requirement for 2021 to not include SAT and ACT scores.
Although not all universities are waving this requirement just yet, several are and you should be on the lookout for your school. The schools who are forgoing these exams feel that they cannot comprehend what students and families are enduring during this pandemic and the last things students should be concerned about are standardized tests. This is a strange time for everyone and being flexible and changing the way of doing things is the only way we are all going to get through this together. This will reduce a great deal of stress not only on the students but the families. They will not have to worry about the cost of the exam as well as being able to find a time slot to complete the exam from home.
In addition to the anxiety of having to take the exam, there are less opportunities to schedule the exam due to the Coronavirus. If you are lucky enough to find an open slot, most places are allowing you to take the test from home. However, this can pose other challenges, with technical issues, lack of quiet space or any other potential issues that may arise while being home.
Each college is in the position of making their own decision regarding the requirements of waving the SAT/ACT scores to be accepted. Read this article for additional information.
https://www.nytimes.com/article/sat-act-test-optional-colleges-coronavirus.html
Healthy Social Media Practices
Social media platforms give adolescents the ability to share their lives and connect with others. While adolescents describe these platforms as a way for them to connect and maintain relationships with friends and family, social media also creates environments for bullying and negativity. It is important for students to develop the impression management skills necessary to manage their online reputations.
Here are a few tips to consider when managing your impression on social media platforms:
Privacy Settings
Use them for social media, email and other accounts.
Be aware of exactly what parts of your profile and posts can be seen by the public.
Use step by step instructions to ensure the settings are on correctly.
Limit your profiles and make sure you are allowing only people you know to view your posts.
Create complex passwords and keep them to yourself. Others do not need to know your password. This is private information.
Turn off location and check in sharing.
Try not to access your accounts from other devices. You do not know who has access to the device.
Be Kind
Cyber bullying is an issue for adolescents these days and it is never ok. It is important to always treat the opinions of others with respect. If you do not agree with someone else's post, keep scrolling. There is no need to get into an argument with others on social media.
It is never ok to post hurtful or embarrassing messages on social media.
It is great to highlight positive things that are happening in your life or congratulate others on their achievements.
Think about what you post before you post it –
It is important to remember nothing ever goes away on the internet. So, before you click ‘post’ think about whether this really represents who you are.
Always think about what your family, friends, educators and future employers may think before posting.
Always take the time to think through your feelings and your thoughts before posting on specific topics.
It is always important to remember that while something may seem harmless at the time, it could come back to haunt you later on.
Keep track of posts that you have been associated with, whether you have been tagged in it or commented on it. Make sure that you maintain your reputation across all platforms.
No need to overshare–
You do not need to post about every event you attend or every food you eat. Sometimes it is more fun to just enjoy being in the moment and holding onto those memories.
While it may feel good in the short term to share personal things on social media, for example, break up, family issues etc. it is usually better to share those with an adult or a professional.
Taking the time to protect your social media accounts by using discretion with social media illustrates a certain sense of maturity. Practicing impression management through social media is a great first step.
For more information on how to best manage your impression on social media check out these links:
References:
Pew Research Center, November 2018, “Teens’ Social Media Habits and Experiences
Pew Research Center, May 2018, “Teens, Social Media & Technology 2018”
Disagreements During COVID 19
Our “new normal” has moved from school, work and exercise class schedule to spending the majority of our time indoors. We are trying to find new ways to balance work, play and study. During this time, we are trying to navigate everyone working from home. Ultimately, this is going to lead to disagreements. Although no one likes disagreements, this may be a way for us to use our communication skills and become closer with each other.
Aim for Win-Win
During a disagreement try not to focus on “winning” the conversation and look at a solution for everyone involved. In order to have a win-win situation, avoid harsh words or using someone’s sensitivities against them. When being caught up in the moment this can be easy to do. Everyone needs to be heard and that their thoughts and opinions matter.
Have a Conversation about Roles in the House
Things have been shifting in all aspects of the world lately and that may include responsibilities inside the home. Chores that may have once been done by someone is now being completed by another person. Resentment and anger can arise when we feel someone is not pulling their weight in the home. To ensure clear roles, have a conversation with everyone. Allow the children to have an input in what chores they would like to do. By reworking the responsibilities, it will allow structure in the home.
Use I Statements
When having a conversation about someone’s feelings using I statements can be very helpful. If a child is telling you that they are upset you can encourage them to say “I feel hurt because…” Using these statements reduces defensiveness from the other party and allows for better understanding. While this may seem simple, changing your language can reduce unnecessary tension.
Options
Giving children options encourages the behavior you want but allows them to have a sense of control. This will show your child value and to choose responsibly in the future. Recently, their access to several choices has been limited due to the outside world. However, that gives us the chance to continue to give them choices. Consistency with choices is crucial and the key is to give your child multiple “correct” options to choose from. Thus, overriding the self-determination gene that tends to kick in during adolescence.
Tips for a Successful Interview
Over time, for one reason or another students are going to have to interview. Whether the student is interviewing for a job or college admissions interview skills are crucial to success. Being able to interview well is all about impression management. We teach our students to manage their impressions they leave on others. The real world is all about social connections and how you present yourself to others is extremely important.
It is becoming increasingly key to have strong interview skills even as a high school student. Teaching these skills is sometimes difficult because most resources are geared towards adults. However, we have come up with an easy process to follow to help your student feel confident going into an interview.
Managing the first impression
Did you know it takes just seven seconds for a first impression to form?
Make sure you look your best, dress nicely in clean clothes without rips or stains. Make sure your clothes fit appropriately and are not wrinkled. This is a great initial way to show the interviewer that you are taking the interview seriously.
It is better to be overdressed than underdressed.
Make sure that you communicate appropriately before the interview via email or over the phone. Writing an effective email or speaking professionally over the phone is a crucial part of landing the interview in the first place.
Punctuality is a major concern for employers and late arrival will often lower your chances of landing the job. Always try to arrive five to fifteen minutes early to your interview. Even if you have to wait, it shows you take the potential position seriously.
Maintaining a good impression
Introduce yourself and shake hands with the interviewer. Smile, speak clearly, and make eye contact.
Be prepared to answer questions about your skills, personality, and past experiences. It is important to be prepared to discuss why you are interested in the job and why you would be a good fit. Employers want to hire employees who show a positive attitude and are truly interested in the work they will be doing. The same goes for college interviews. If you don’t seem interested in their school, they may not want to admit you, even if you have all the qualifications. Before the interview, ask a parent or friend to ask you mock questions so you are prepared for the interview.
Make sure you practice sitting up straight and having your hands placed in your lap. This will allow it to be natural on the day of.
Make sure to put your phone on silent and out of eye sight. Resist the temptation to check your phone at any time when you are in view of the interviewer. Employers are very concerned about losing productivity among employees who are constantly checking their phones.
Employers want upbeat workers who don’t bring a negative attitude to the job. Showing your good attitude in the interview will help you land the position. The same rule applies for admissions interviews and volunteer or internship opportunities.
Reflect the three Cs during the interview: cool, calm, and confident.
Following up
This is the time to really show your manners. After your interview, make sure to send a short email or make a quick phone call to thank your interviewer for taking the time to meet/talk with you and be sure to mention that you are excited about the opportunity to work at the company. Use correct grammar and punctuation to show your skill set.
Impression management is a skill that will carry students throughout their lives and teaching it now will help them prepare for their future. Our academic coaches teach students about the importance of utilizing resources such as teachers, counselors, advisors, parents, peers, etc. to maximize their success. They will also work with students on preparing their resumes, as well as discussing and preparing for interviews, this may include interview role play and critiquing. Give us a call for more information!