Psyched About School

When a child is angry, it is difficult to figure out what to say to them or how to react.  Even when we are trying to help, the wrong response can make things much worse.  These 13 helpful phrases from lemonlimeadventures.com are great to keep in a handy place and can be used by parents/guardians and teachers.  An angry child may not know why they are upset, how to calm down, or what to do next.  For this reason, the adult response in that situation is extremely important.  To learn more about what to say, visit  http://lemonlimeadventures.com/13-helpful-phrases-calm-angry-child/

By Alison Sharp, WS/FCS School Psychologist In my home, my children would rather do an activity involving electronic media (ie tablets, computers, TV and the ever present smart phone) than almost anything else. (No wonder some people call them “screen” agers!) With all of the appealing media choices, how do we as parents strike a balance between what they want to do, and what is good for them?  As these sources of entertainment become more pervasive, the American Academy of Pediatrics is in the process of developing new recommendations.  As well, they have advice on how to be a good role model with your own use of technology.  For more information, see below: http://www.npr.org/sections/ed/2016/01/06/461920593/kids-and-screen-time-a-peek-at-upcoming-guidance

When you think about AD/HD, do you usually think about boys?  If you do, it isn't surprising given that boys diagnosed with AD/HD often demonstrate more obvious behavioral symptoms.  Many girls with this condition have gone undiagnosed, a problem that has led to significant difficulties for them during adolescence and young adulthood.  Fortunately, a recent study suggests that this population is starting to be identified more than in the past.  In fact, the percent of girls diagnosed with AD/HD increased by 55% from 2003 to 2011, according to this study.  To learn more, check out this article by www.philly.com written by Dr. Katherine Dahlsgaard, the Lead Pyschologist of The Anxiety Behaviors Clinic at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/healthy_kids/ADHD-and-girls-Its-not-what-you-expect.html#62Ywl4j1xFv6iE8k.99

Have you heard about The Buddy Bench?  As we continue efforts to promote acceptance and foster a safe and respectful environment for children, this idea gives students of all ages a hands-on way to do that when they are on the playground.  The idea fits nicely with all of our anti-bullying efforts.  The concept, started by an 8-year-old named Christian, is pretty simple.  Students who feel insecure or nervous about joining in with playground activities and games are encouraged to sit on the buddy bench as a signal to other students that they would like to be included but are afraid to ask.  It can be a place to meet new friends and play with old friends.  This article from the Huffington Post provides a great explanation of why this is such a special idea. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/buddy-bench-students-pittsburgh_us_5655e132e4b079b28189dcd2 To hear more about Christian's story and watch a video he created, visit: http://buddybench.org/

This article by the National Association of Educators refers to a recent study conducted by Princeton University.  The study identifies sets of students, referred to as "influential" kids, that may hold the key to anti-bullying efforts in schools. The results of this 2012-13 study saw promising results with a 30% drop in student conflicts that year.  To learn more about this study, visit: http://neatoday.org/2016/02/03/influential-kids-stop-bullying/ A recent article written by the Winston-Salem Journal focuses on bullying solutions as well as current anti-bullying efforts by the WS/FCS.  To read that article, visit: http://www.journalnow.com/news/local/online-or-in-person-solution-for-bullying-is-the-same/article_c9e562ed-dca2-5f72-b489-6ab000bbf8a7.html Here is a link to other blogs we have posted on the topic of bullying and anti-bullying efforts: http://schoolpsychws.blogspot.com/search/label/bullying

The debate about what causes Autism has led to many different theories and ideas, which have caused a lot of controversy over the years. This article outlines some of the most up-to-date research about what we know, don't know and suspect. http://www.iflscience.com/brain/what-causes-autism-what-we-know-don-t-know-and-suspect

Check out this list of brain breaks from Minds-in-Bloom. Brain breaks give students a few minutes of physical and mental activity during the school day to keep their minds actively engaged in learning. http://www.minds-in-bloom.com/2012/04/20-three-minute-brain-breaks.html?m=1

Just like many of you, I'm guilty of yelling at my children.  We try to do a million things at the same time and often expect the same of our children.  When things don't happen like we want, the result can be frustration and yelling.  In this excellent article by Dan Florell (a fellow school psychologist), he explains not only why we should not do it but how we can avoid it.   http://mindpsi.net/blog/1119/

Once you meet Elisha Simmons, you will never forget him.  This fourth grader recently won the spelling bee at Sherwood Forest Elementary and will compete against others in the school system for the district title tomorrow.  Read this story by Kim Underwood to learn why he is such an amazing kid. http://wsfcs.k12.nc.us/site/default.aspx?PageType=3&DomainID=1&ModuleInstanceID=12708&ViewID=047E6BE3-6D87-4130-8424-D8E4E9ED6C2A&RenderLoc=0&FlexDataID=220870&PageID=1

Here at Psyched About School we love trying to support children with anxiety.  We are always on the look out for ideas to help these children cope with the worries in their lives.  We came across these 9 really practical ideas from GoZen that are easy to implement at home or in the classroom (like the FEEL Method-check it out). You can learn more about these 9 ideas here: http://www.gozen.com/9-things-every-parent-with-an-anxious-child-should-try/ We follow Becca Comiz and her School Psyched! page on Twitter (@BeccaComiz) and Facebook (School Psyched, Your School Psychologist). She is always posting the greatest resources on all kinds of topics.  Yesterday she posted a new spin on an anxiety recommendation that has been around for years.  The Worry Box is a shoe box the child decorates with a hole cut in the top of it.  When the child has a worry during the day, you encourage them to either write it down or draw it out and then put it away in the worry box.  The idea is to help the

Did you happen to catch Pantene's "I Got a Dad-Do" commercial during the Super Bowl last night? The commercial featured three NFL players styling their daughters' hair.  The commercial was based on research completed by Linda Nielsen, a Psychology Professor at Wake Forest University.  She has been teaching about and researching the relationships between fathers and daughters for 25 years. The research has shown that well-fathered daughters are more self-confident, self-reliant, and successful in school as well as in their careers.  You can learn more about this exciting research and Pantene's "Strong is Beautiful Campaign" in this article written by the Winston-Salem Journal. http://m.journalnow.com/superbowl/local/wfu-professor-s-research-is-basis-for-pantene-super-bowl/article_2f8b4cc7-6c83-5b64-b426-0c6492c49b45.html?mode=jqm

School Psychologists Jason Levi and Patsy Barrett, are heading to New Orleans next week to attend and present at the National Association for School Psychologists. The presentation is on providing a high quality systematic and comprehensive experience for internship and practicum students. The National Conference is attended by almost 5,000 people. We wish Patsy and Jason the best in their presentation and travels and a big Congrats on this great accomplishment. Jason Levi is the School Psychologist for Ward ES, Clemmons MS, Carter HS, and Kennedy HS. Patsy Barrett serves Kernersville ES, Kernersville MS, and WS Preparatory Academy. If interested in an internship or practicum experience with Winston Salem Forsyth County Schools, please contact Dr. Corliss Thompson -Drew 336-727-8080.

Did you know there are numerous training opportunities for learning about Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) both online and in person?  This online module promotes the basics of social skills training and how to help children promote them in real-world scenarios.  The training is through Autism Focused Intervention Resources & Modules (AFIRM) and is an extension of the National Professional Development Center (NPDC) on ASD.  To learn more or to register, visit http://afirm.fpg.unc.edu/social-skills-training TEACCH offers a set of core services for individuals with ASD, their families, and professionals across the state of North Carolina.  Although based out of UNC, they have regional centers across the state.  To learn more about their training opportunities for parents and educators, visit http://teacch.com/trainings

Do you know how much sleep your child needs to be happy and healthy, and have the energy that they need for learning?  The American Academy of Pediatrics has recommended that school age children should sleep between 10 and 11 hours nightly while adolescents should sleep between 8 and 9 hours.  Although some children may need more or less, getting enough sleep is vitally important to success in school.  With so many families being involved in afterschool activities, and all of the wonderful technology to distract us, it is hard to make sure that everyone gets enough sleep.  Lack of sleep can cause difficulty with focus and with memory.  Interesting links have even been made between AD/HD and not getting enough sleep! There are may great resources on this topic.  Check them out! https://sleepfoundation.org/sleep-disorders-problems/adhd-and-sleep http://www.sleepforkids.org/html/tp.html