Psyched About School

http://hospicecarecenter.org/events/camp-carousel-2015 I'm re-posting this blog I wrote last year about Camp Carousel.  This year's camp will be held July 27, 2015 through July 31, 2015.  As you will read in my post, it is a special camp for children dealing with grief and loss.   by Angela Smith, School Psychologist This is the time of year parents start thinking about summer camps.  As the mother of two active children, I like to plan our summer activities well in advance of the summer months.  In April of 2010, I was doing just that when my father passed away after a valiant six-year battle with cancer.  Although I had tried to prepare myself and my family for his passing, the reality is that you can never truly be ready for that time.  I immediately knew I would be adding Camp Carousel to the list of camps they would be attending that summer.  As a school psychologist with the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools for the past 15 years, I have referred num

If you happened to read the book review for  Wonder  in yesterday's blog ,  you probably figured out that one of the themes in the story is empathy.  Wikipedia defines empathy as "the capacity to understand what another person is experiencing from within the other person's frame of reference, i.e., the capacity to place oneself in another's shoes."  Some people are born with that capacity while others need more guidance to develop that ability.  This article from the blog Playworks has some great ideas for teaching empathy to children. http://www.playworks.org/blog/teaching-empathy-your-child

If you are looking for a truly special book for your children to read this summer, consider this one.  This review pretty much sums up why it is such a good choice. http://www.theguardian.com/childrens-books-site/2014/feb/02/review-wonder-r-j-palacio-review

I have always loved this idea for kids who worry.  It is a really practical strategy that can be used by parents, teachers, and counselors. https://theschoolcounselorkind.wordpress.com/2013/07/24/the-worry-box/

A little Hump Day humor!

Summer is right around the corner!  If you are looking for fun ways to keep your child learning during the summer months, this link has several good websites and resources. Fun and Free Summer Learning Resources | Edutopia

This is a great article from the Childmind Institute on how to arm your child against bullying.  With the number of children using social media rising, online bullying is becoming one of the biggest concerns parents have.  This article gives ideas to help your child protect himself against the bully he can see as well as the one he cannot. How to Arm Your Child Against Bullying | Child Mind Institute

This fun video will answer all of your questions!

Anxiety in Children Do you have or know of a child with anxiety? Anxiety can be debilitating for that child and even their family. This is a great article that offers some specific and practical strategies to help. What to Do (and Not Do) When Children Are Anxious | Child Mind Institute

Guest opinion: Keep Calm and Parent On | News | Palo Alto Online | According to the CDC, suicide is one of the leading causes of death among adolescents age 15-19. This article provides parents with some very practical ideas for preventing it. The author of the article is not only a psychiatrist but also a parent of two teenagers. 

Is Homework Helpful?: The 5 Questions Every Teacher Should Ask This question is getting quite a bit of press these days. I watch my elementary school child spend three hours some nights while my middle school child might spend 15 minutes. I realize different teachers have different opinions on this issue and that accounts for some of the variation. However, this got me thinking: what is the right amount of daily homework at each grade level. This article provides a thorough explanation of what is best for different ages and ability levels.

Here is a great article on the proper way to give your child a pep talk, especially in the weeks before End of Grade testing starts. The article teaches parents how to incorporate the principles of Carol Dweck and the "growth mind set." http://www.bostonglobe.com/magazine/2015/02/26/parents-you-been-doing-pep-talks-all-wrong/UZok8D2te1d94eyVQ1y22K/story.html?event=event25