Learning Disorders and Signs Your Kid is Struggling

for parents.

When kids and teens are diagnosed with learning disorders, parents and caregivers might be hit with feelings of worry and concern for their school performance, wondering if this will set them back at all or become an obstacle in their lives. 

What we might not think about is how a learning disorder may affect kids’ and teens’ mental health.

Kids with learning disorders often struggle with low self-esteem, depression, and anxiety. 

Sometimes, if a child or adolescent is struggling with these areas, the signs are obvious, like expressing worry about their image or crying when they are frustrated with themselves.

Other times, the signs that they are struggling may go unnoticed because they are not as obvious, or do not seem directly correlated but they are.

Here are some of the signs your kid is struggling with their learning disorder diagnosis:

They are acting out. 

Sometimes kids would rather be seen as badly behaved than “dumb,” so they may engage in attention seeking behaviors, become the class clown, or become the “bad kid.” 

This may be to divert attention away from their academic struggles, to have a redeemable quality, or to adapt the “I don’t care” attitude to make it seem like their low grades are intentional.

Make sure you have talks with them if you see this sort of behavior or it is reported from teachers, so that they know they do not have to put up a facade.

They may make self deprecating jokes (not maybe are not jokes).

If an LD is affecting your kid’s self esteem, they may truly feel their value goes down when they struggle or fall behind in school.

If your kid senses that you believe having an LD is a bad thing, they will also follow suit.

Make sure your kid knows that having an LD is not a sign of someone being dumb, and it has nothing to do with intelligence at all.

Finding something they are good at like sports or hobbies can help provide a sense of purpose, achievement, and confidence.

They are becoming more isolated.

Some kids really take it hard if they have a learning disorder, and think that there is something wrong with them. They do not see it as a diagnosis but rather a defect.

This mentality may come with other symptoms of depression, such as becoming more recluse, hygiene issues, eating less, sleeping less, and drawing more and more inward.

Sometimes this sort of behavior can be sorted out with some chats and family time, but sometimes more support is needed, especially in school but also maybe in the form of therapy.

They are burning out.

Some kids with learning disorders start to feel burnt out because they need to work harder than their peers in order to keep up.

Spending a lot of time learning something that is difficult can be extremely frustrating, sometimes discouraging, and leave them worn out/ overly tired/ unmotivated.

Expanding interests by signing up for clubs, sports, learning new skills, and more outside of school activities can help kids experience less school-focused burnout.

Help your child set small, achievable goals and take things one step at a time so they do not feel like they need to conquer everything all at once.

If your child has been diagnosed with a learning disorder and you are starting to see an uptick in anxiety, lower self-esteem, depression-like symptoms, behavioral issues, and any other emotional struggles, please do not hesitate to reach out for more support. Call today for a free, 15-minute phone consultation and see if Amel Counseling & Consulting can provide your child and family the support needed.

Supporting Kids and Teens Through Divorce/ Separation

parent support

Divorce or separation can really turn a family into an upside down spiral. It can put strain on all of the relationships within a family system, it can create tension and friction between multiple people in the family, and kids might have a lot of big feelings if their parents are going through a divorce. Some of these big feelings could be acting out/ being impulsive or being oppositional in school, anger or irritability, depression and hopelessness, or isolation and pulling away from parents.

Here are 8 tips for supporting your kids through their potentially big feelings of divorce or separation:

1. Reassure them

• Remind your kids they are loved

• Divorce or separation does not change that

• Both parents prioritize the child

• Let them know that the divorce is in no way their fault

2. Be civil

• Do not speak negatively about your ex in front of your kids

• Do not make your kids pick sides

• Do not argue in front of your kids

• Do not let your kids know if there is any animosity

3. United front

• Try your best to co-parent with your ex

• Put differences aside if possible

• Focus on the wellbeing of your child

• Find common ground and key points that you can agree upon

• Tell your kids important news or updates together

• Handle any issues together

4. Professional support

• Co-parenting counselors can help

• Your kid might need therapy as well as this is a major event in their life

• School psychologist might be a good resource as well

• Be in contact with kids’ school, teachers, counselors, etc.

• There are also good support groups for kids

5. Listen and validate

• Your kids might be angry or sad

• Give your children space to respond and let out their emotions

• Encourage them to be honest with you about how they are feeling

• Validate their emotions rather than trying to solve it

• Let them know whatever they are feeling is okay

6. Routines

• Routines can soothe kids

• Try to keep kids day to day life consistent

• Kids will have to switch between homes and their routine will change

• Knowing that some things will stay the same will provide them some comfort

7. Be attentive

• It’s natural for kids to experience a range of emotions and behaviors

• Some of these feelings could be guilt, anxiety, isolation, trouble focusing, regression, lower motivation, or trouble focusing

• Kids will try to test boundaries and need extra support

• Be in touch with the school staff so that they can keep an eye out

• Set clear expectations for when they do test boundaries

• Be patient with them while they try to adapt

8. Focus on what’s in your control

• If you are having difficulties cooperating with your ex, do your best

• Set routines and expectations for your home that is in your control

• Focus on your relationship with your son(s) and/or daughter(s)

If you are in need of further support while going through a separation or divorce, whether it be family sessions, parent sessions, or therapy for your child do not hesitate to reach out to Amel Counseling & Consulting for a free, 15-minute phone consultation today.

Healthy Parent-Teen Relationships

Tips for parents raising teens

Having a healthy and trusting relationship with your child when they are in their adolescent years is important, yet tricky. Kids are beginning to make their own decisions at this age, and some of these choices have real consequences. They are navigating decisions regarding relationships–perhaps friendly and romantic–safe driving, substance use, and sex.

However, teens’ brains are not fully developed, so they are not fully skilled at regulating emotions and can be prone to risk-taking/ impulsivity.

This can make guiding them through these years difficult for parents. But, parents’ relationships with their teenage children is vitally important, even if it is different from their role when they were kids.

Here are some tips for parents trying to navigate the terrain.

1. Listen:

• Teens are more likely to be open with their parents if they are not forced to be

• Think of teens like cats; they will come to you when they don’t feel pressure, but if they do feel pressure they can get prickly

• An offhand comment about something that happened with a friend or in school might be them reaching out and giving you information without formally sitting down to talk

• If you remain interested and open, engage with them, but don’t pry, they will likely tell you more

2. Validate:

• Show teens that you understand and empathize with them when they are having a hard time

• Some things that upset your teen may seem trivial; this does not mean it is good to minimize 

• Your teen has less life experience than you, so when something hurts them, they may think it is the end of days

• Telling them that you understand and what they are going through does sound difficult is a good way to let them know you hear them and are there for them

• You may be tempted to build them up by saying things like “everything happens for a reason,” but this can also be seen as dismissive 

3. Don’t lecture:

• You do get to set the rules, but nobody truly has a relationship with a parent that is a dictator

• Be ready to explain the rules to them rather than simply state “you’re the child, I’m the parent”

• Teens are actually more likely to follow rules if they are able to ask about them and have them explained to them, and this is not always disrespectful 

• Pushing boundaries is natural to a certain degree

4. Show trust:

• Asking your teen for favors that make them seem or feel more responsible and mature is a good way of showing them that you trust them

• Volunteering privilege (like having them look after something or help you with something important) shows that you believe they can handle it

• This is good for self-esteem and their individuality / independence as this is developing at this time

• Look for ways to show your teen that you trust them, like allowing them more developmentally appropriate freedom (a later curfew, etc)

5. Control your emotions:

• Remember that your teen is less able to control their emotions

• When tempers flare or there is arguing, it is important for parents to count to ten, take deep breaths and calm down before responding

• If you are both too upset to talk, try taking a break or ‘hitting pause’ on the conversation until you are both calm

• When tempers rise and there is an argument, teens can tend to say things they don’t mean or exaggerate their anger as a part of their impulsivity

6. Give praise:

• Tell your teen whenever they do something right

• Teens might seem “too cool” for your opinion, but often they deep down do care what you think

• Teens can also be self-critical, or may remember constructive criticism more easily than praise

• This can lead teens to believe they are doing more wrong than right, and can affect confidence

• Giving your teens your approval, encouragement, and positive feedback is good for your relationship

7. Value family time:

• For some families, this looks like meal times together (like dinner)

• Families can be busy, and that is understandable

• Taking time away from TV and screens to do regular check-ins is important

• Check-ins that are regular should be casual and low-pressure conversations, like about sports or movies or friends

• Kids who are comfortable conversing with their parents are more likely to be open with anthem about difficult subjects

8. Be observant:

• Some kids might be more reserved or private than others

• You may not be able to drag any concerning information out of them conversationally

• It is important to pay attention to the way they act if they tend to be more quiet 

• Take note if they are no longer enjoying things they used to or are self-isolating more than usual

• Pay attention to any changes in their mood, appetite, behavior, grades, motivation, or sleep

As always, if you feel that your relationship with your teen could use some work, Amel Counseling & Consulting is here for you! Reach out today for a free, 15-minute phone consultation and ask for a therapist who is willing to see your teen, or have parent and family sessions with you and your teen to work on your relationship and communication.

Coping Skills for Kids: Grief and Loss

For parents

Most  young kids know about death; they are aware of it even if they don’t fully understand it. 

Kids may have seen death in movies or tv shows (even cartoons), or read about it. Maybe your kids have friends who have lost a pet or a loved one, and they have glimpses of what that’s like.

But, if your child is experiencing grief firsthand, this process is completely different–and oftentimes confusing–for them. 

As much as you may want to, you cannot protect your kids from the pain of grief and loss altogether. They will experience it one way or another, eventually. What you can do is help them feel safe when they are going through this process, so that they feel encouraged and allowed to express their feelings to you, as opposed to keeping it bottled up or navigating it alone.

When kids feel safe to express themselves to you, you can also provide solutions to their feelings or ways to help them process them in the form of healthy coping skills. These coping skills can be a foundation that kids will build upon and serve them well in the future.

Here are some tips for parents of grieving children:

1. Stick to routines:

• Children find comfort in routines

• Structure can help soothe anxiety

• Utilize friends and family as child care if you need alone time

2. Don’t ignore your own grief:

• Show your emotions

• Reassure your kids that it is okay to be sad

• Utilize your own coping skills so that your grief is not explosive or unhealthy

• Model these coping skills for your kids

• Children will imitate the grieving behavior of their parents

3. All kids grieve differently:

• A child may go from crying to playing in a matter of minutes

• Changeable moods do not mean they are grieving “wrong”

• Playing may be a defense mechanism or a coping skill

• Younger kids may show signs of regression such as bedwetting or baby talk

• Kids of any age can benefit from seeing a mental health professional if they experience loss, even if they seem to be grieving healthily

4. Encourage them to express their feelings:

• It is good for kids to talk about whatever they are feeling when grieving

• There are good children’s books that can help with this discussion

• Sometimes kids can’t express their grief with words

• Art, music, scrapbooking, memory boxes, photo albums, storytelling, and more  can all be good ways to encourage emotional expression

5. Be developmentally appropriate:

• Try not to volunteer too much information in order to not overwhelm the child

• Wait and see what questions they have, and then answer them

• Sometimes young kids do not realize that death is permanent and may think that their loved one is coming back

• Sometimes kids feel they are to blame for some reason

6. Be direct:

• Kids are extremely literal and concrete; don’t use figures of speech (such as “went to sleep” or “went to the sky.”

• You don’t want to instill a fear in a young child or make them think that it’s scary to go to bed, you may not wake up, or you can somehow be taken to the sky

7. Discussions about the afterlife:

• If your family is religious and believes in an afterlife, discussing this with your child is fine and appropriate timing

• Even if you aren’t religious, you can teach your child that loved ones who pass away continue to live on in our hearts and memories, and talking about them keeps their love alive

8. The funeral:

• It is up to the discretion of the parent if the child should attend the funeral

• In some cases, the funeral can provide closure

• Some children cannot grasp the concept of the funeral and find it to be an intense, sad experience

• Parents can ask the children if they want to attend and explain what it might be like; prepare them for what they will see and may feel

• Do not force the child to go

• Keep in mind that the child may get upset and need to leave, may have a meltdown, or be generally unpredictable

• Do not blame yourself if they attend and it goes poorly

• Alternative ideas to the child to attending the funeral: planting a tree, sharing memories about the loved one at home, having a ceremony with just your small immediate family, etc.

If your family has experienced a loss and your child is struggling with their grief, they may need more support than you are able to give on your own. Reach out to Amel Counseling & Consulting today for a free, 15-minute phone consultation with a therapist who can help your child process their grief, learn healthy coping skills, and communicate their intense emotions.

School Support for Neurodiverse Students

Neurodivergent children, such as kids who have ADHD, autism, or learning disorders, may have a harder time thriving in the classroom setting than neurotypical kids. It can sometimes be hard for teachers to automatically cater to a neurodiverse classroom, and make sure that the neurodivergent kids are getting the proper supports both academically and socially. Neurodivergent kids do have unique strengths, and unique ways of learning, that can sometimes get overlooked or underutilized by their schools.

If your child has either been diagnosed, or you suspect that they may be neurodivergent, here are some tips to bring up with their school to make sure they are getting the help they may require.

1. Evaluate

• If your child is showing signs of being on the spectrum, attention or hyperactivity issues, or falling behind in reading/writing/math benchmarks, evaluating early is key

• Evaluation can help you, as a parent, understand your child’s way of thinking and processing information

• Assessing for disorders can be just for rule-out purposes, and not necessarily only if you are “sure”

• Official diagnosis (if there is one present) is important when talking about school supports

• Your child’s teachers, counselors, and other staff would all know and try to set them up for success

• Some parents are hesitant about wanting official diagnosis, which is understandable, but a diagnosed child who is thriving with the best support possible is a more ideal scenario than an undiagnosed child who is struggling

2. Learning support

1. Your child’s diagnosis may result in a 504 plan, IEP, or 1:1, depending on what they are diagnosed with, what their needs are, and the severity of it

2. Different schools attack learning support differently, and it would be important to have frequent meetings with teachers/ school staff to make sure the plan in place is the correct one for your child

3. Each child has different needs and struggle with different areas, so learning support plans are more individualized

4. The correct plan can ensure your child’s ability to thrive in school

3. Executive function support

• Executive functions include planning and organizational skills

• Some neurodivergent kids struggle immensely with executive functions

• Educators can provide extra help to neurodivergent kids by helping them practice organizational strategies and manage tasks

• Examples of this would include visual aids, schedules, checklists, timers, different (/color coded) binders/folders/notebooks, 

• Educators can also be sure to nudge them in the right direction and do check-ins to see how their executive functioning is going

• If teachers know this is a challenge for them, they will be sure to provide more positive feedback when organization is achieved, and also possibly be more understanding when your kid struggles more than others with it

4. Behavioral support

• Some kids who are neurodivergent may get overwhelmed more easily and, in turn, become overstimulated

• Overstimulation may lead to poor focus, meltdowns, frustration, shutting down, and more, depending on the kid, diagnosis, and severity

• Teachers can help by providing tools in school that encourage a child to calm down, such as stress balls, stuffies, squishies, fidgets, and fluffy objects

• Educators and school staff who know that your child needs behavioral support will be on the lookout and have more patience with your child when they need it

• Neurodivergent kids may need extra help learning how to manage their emotions

• Some kids may need to take movement breaks and be allowed to go stretch their legs, others may need relaxation techniques 

5. Social support

• Some neurodivergent kids have trouble when it comes to making friends and socializing

• Educators and school staff can help kids build social connections with one another, especially neurodivergent kids

• Schools can provide mentoring programs, structured lunch groups, and positive feedback for neurotypical kids who help and/or include neurodivergent kids in social interactions

It can be extremely beneficial to at the very least have information about what your child could potentially need if they are neurodivergent. The first step is assessment, and the next is education. Once it is established, teachers and school staff will be ready and willing to provide needed support to help your child thrive. If your child could use help outside of the home and school setting, or you could use some parent training yourself, don’t hesitate to reach out to Amel Counseling & Consulting and schedule a free, 15-minute phone consultation to see which of our therapists would be best suited for you and your family!

Tips for College Students with ADHD

Starting college is such an exciting time in teens’ lives! You’re meeting new people, trying out new activities, and you probably have a lot more independence than you ever have, especially with school. 

However, with all of these opportunities come some challenges, particularly for a student who has ADHD. You might notice that, because of all of this independence, there is less structure in your schedule and support from your teachers (/professors). You have to balance your studies, extra curricular activities like sports or clubs, and your social life. This can prove to be difficult to manage on your own, and you are thrust into the expectation without practice or notice. 

If you have been feeling like this transition hasn’t been easy and need some tips, there are plenty of things you can do to set yourself up for success. 

Here is a good place to start:

1. Attendance- GO TO CLASS

• It counts even if your professor isn’t on top of you about it

• Skipping classes will lower your grade

• Professors won’t be inclined to help you out if you always skip their class

• Even if the class is too easy or boring, show up

2. Realistic expectations

• Don’t sign up for early classes if it’s hard for you to make it in time

• Schedule your classes for when your attention is at its best

• Many kids with ADHD tend to do better with classes that are from noon on, because they are not morning people

• Some people with ADHD have a hard time waking up

• Try to sign up for classes that fit your personality and will keep your interest

3. Organizational skills

• Get a planner or a calendar and fill in your weekly schedule

• Keep track of your assignments (day-to-day is best)

• Some kids with ADHD have trouble remembering when assignments are due, tests are scheduled, and planning

• Each class will have a syllabus either online, handed out on day one of class, or both, and you can use this to fill in your planner and calendar

• Electronic calendars can send you email reminders and phone notifications a few days and hours before assignments and tests are due

4. Sleep!!!!

• Kids with ADHD struggle with sleep, and even neurotypical kids struggle with adapting to a good sleep schedule at the start of college

• Lack of sleep will make it more difficult to focus in classes

• Being tired can also lead to irritability and impulsive decision making

• Aim for 8 hours of sleep and a consistent sleep schedule, even on non-school days

• Sleep in on non-school days and go to bed earlier on school days

5. Work before play

• One of the most challenging parts of college is saying no to friends who want to hang out when you need to be studying or working

• It can be tempting to procrastinate your work and prioritize seeing friends, especially if they have an opposite class or daily schedule 

• All college campuses have resources available for kids with ADHD, which you can find in the college’s learning support services 

• You may need to provide documentation to receive services

• Don’t wait too long to reach out for help if you are struggling managing your responsibilities

6. Take your meds

• Use your ADHD meds as prescribed by your doctor

• Don’t skip dosages (or try not to at least)

• Resist the urge to misuse your meds to pull all-nighters and cram for tests

• Misusing your prescription is dangerous, but also can make it more difficult to concentrate in the long run, and might disrupt your sleep schedule

• Talk to your dr if your meds don’t seem to fit your needs anymore now that you are older

7. Join a club

• The first few weeks of college might feel a little lonely or overwhelming

• With so many options and so many different people, it can be hard to find your niche

• Join a club to try and meet people with the same interests

• Before long you will have great friends and a busy social calendar

If you have ADHD and feel like you have been struggling to adapt to your college schedule and manage your responsibilities, you can always reach out for more support from a teen therapist. Amel Counseling & Consulting can help you with your organizational, social, and time management skills. Call today for a free, 15-minute consultation!

Tips for Back to School Anxiety

Most, if not all, kids get back-to-school jitters. While many kids may be excited, they are often also anxious or nervous as well.

Back-to-school time can be exceptionally challenging for kids and teens who struggle in school, or have mental health or learning disorders. 

Children and adolescents who have difficulties with the demands of the school environment are again being faced with the challenges that summer activities don’t require: sitting still, staying organized and on-task, adapting to a new/ highly structured schedule, interacting with peers, and more.

Here are six tips for parents who are trying to help their children with their back-to-school anxiety

1. Mental health problems may emerge or exacerbate during back-to-school time.

• If your child struggles with anxiety, it may ramp up

• Kids or teens may need some assistance managing their new schedule

• Impose structure in family life (bedtime, mealtime, homework routine)

• If your child has unusual difficulties in school, discuss with their teacher and a mental health professional

2. Your anxiety is contagious.

• Anxiety disorders run in families, and genetic predisposition is real

• Anxious environments can raise the likelihood that your child will be anxious

• Kids and teens absorb the energy around them and adopt the behaviors that are modeled

• Model confident and calm behavior around back-to-school time and when getting your kid ready to go to school, even if you are nervous for them

3. Homework time is critical.

• Homework time is often an anxiety inducing time for kids and teens

• Kids who have learning difficulties (and even those who don’t) can benefit from parental help with homework

• A good balance between help but also allowing them to try is imperative

• Structured homework sessions help lessen the burden of homework anxiety

• Remain positive and encouraging

• Make sure your child has a quiet, clean space to focus on homework, and assist them with organizing their stuff if they are younger

4. Communicate with teachers.

• You can learn a lot about academic achievements and struggles from teachers

• Get a head start on building a good allyship with teachers in the beginning of the year

• Ask teachers if they notice any social or academic concerns with your child

• A teacher may spot a learning disability or peer conflict before you do

• Children often present differently without parents present

5. Kids’ and teens’ brains change drastically.

• Teen brains begin pruning- strengthening some brain pathways that are considered useful, while eliminating others

• Teens struggle with managing stress and may need some help with it

• Set aside time each day to talk about their day, their challenges, their experiences, any peer conflicts, and provide guidance if needed

• Teens who are in stressful situations but do not have the skills to manage stress are more susceptible to depression, anxiety, risky behaviors, and substance abuse

6. Don’t make assumptions about areas of struggle.

• Kids and teens develop at different rates

• One child may acquire skills at a certain time period, while another takes longer

• Gaining skills at different rates does not need to be a bad thing

• Lag in development does not automatically mean a disorder is present, but it should be noted and monitored

• Discuss and keep in touch with teacher, especially if they are seasoned, because they will be able to give you a better idea of whether it is a concern

If your child has been especially struggling this back-to-school time, and you believe they could use some extra help managing their anxiety, developing social skills, and/or meeting expectations in school, don’t hesitate to reach out for a free, 15-minute consultation. You can meet with a therapist at Amel Counseling & Consulting and talk about the ways we can help your child and family.

5 Ways to Help Your Child Transition from Pre-K to Kindergarten

Back to School

As the new school year approaches, so does the transition from Pre-K to Kindergarten. While this period is marked by excitement, the change can also pose challenges for incoming kindergartners and their caregivers.

Kindergarten introduces a new schedule, school environment, classmates, teachers, and expectations—all of which can feel overwhelming.

This transition may lead to both physical and emotional fatigue for your new kindergartner, and you might observe changes in their mood and behavior.

Here are 5 strategies to help you support your child and ensure a smooth transition into kindergarten.

Create a Visual Schedule

The arrival of the new school year also brings about a fresh schedule for your child and family. Utilizing a visual schedule offers a multitude of benefits. Since your new kindergartner might not yet be able to read, a visual schedule aids their comprehension and anticipation of daily routines and activities through clear visual cues.

Engage in Storytelling

Prior to and during the transition, storytelling can serve as a valuable tool to prepare your child for kindergarten. Caregivers and siblings can share personal stories about their positive experiences during their own kindergarten years. Reading books to your child about starting school can also be helpful.

Establish an After-School Routine

A comforting after-school routine allows your child to decompress and process their day. This doesn't necessarily require an extensive period of time; a quick 20-30 minutes of rest and a snack can provide ample opportunity for your child to unwind and discuss their school day experiences.

Talking about Emotions 

Although we want our incoming kindergarteners to have positive experiences during this transition, they may also experience negative emotions as well. A way to support your child is to encourage them to talk about how their day went and ask if they’re having difficulties with anything. It’s important to listen attentively and validate all their emotions! 

Celebrating the Wins 

It’s important to celebrate your child’s wins no matter how small! Some examples of achievements can be independently dressing themselves, completing their morning routine, transitioning into school easily, saying goodbye comfortably, and making new friends. In order to motivate your child to do these behaviors again, it’s important to praise your child to reinforce these behaviors when you see them!

By using these strategies, you can help ease the transition for your child as they step into the world of kindergarten. Remember that each child's journey is unique, so maintaining patience and responsiveness is key throughout this process.

Self Esteem and Learning Disorders

How to help your kids

When a child or adolescent gets diagnosed with a learning disorder, oftentimes the first thoughts they have are “I’m different from everybody else,” and “I’m not as good.”

This way of thinking can greatly affect kids’ and teens’ self esteem. Confidence building is something that may need to take priority following a learning disorder diagnosis. 

Here are some ways parents can help their kids regain their confidence.

Focus on strengths 

• We want to try to change their way of thinking of the diagnosis as a weakness

• Interrupt their questioning of their worth or intelligence

• Just because their mind works differently than their peers when it comes to schoolwork does not mean they are not smart, or other things they may be telling themselves

• Maybe your child has other talents, maybe they are a kind and generous friend, maybe they are extremely funny

• Parents can help by looking out for negative self talk, and pointing out their strengths instead of just disagreeing with them

Help your child find activities they enjoy

• There are typically strengths that your kid could shine in that exist outside of a traditional classroom that kids with learning disorders have

• The goal is not to be the best but to encourage them to explore their different interests and increase their confidence 

• Some kids are great at building things, and robotics may be a good fit

• Try different sports, they may excel at multiple 

• Theatre, gymnastics, ice skating, or dance are good options for kids who struggle to sit still in their classroom all day

• Baking or art are good outlets for more creative thinkers

• Singing/ musical instruments 

When it comes to the schoolwork

(Because it’s unavoidable), parents can praise their kid’s hard work and attempt rather than putting so much stress and pressure on what an acceptable outcome might be, like a certain grade, even when it’s a good grade. 

This helps your child understand that the effort they are putting into school is what matters. 

This could look like, “I know you worked so hard on this, you spent a lot of time studying, you did your best, and that’s what matters.” 

When children are diagnosed with learning disorders, their dropping grades and lack of understanding (or being able to properly show their understanding) of the material can do a number on their confidence levels. It’s possible your child needs to speak with a therapist about this, so that they can work together on building it back up and recognizing their self worth. It’s also possible that your child needs a therapist to make sure they are getting the proper accommodations in school, if they need them. Reach out to Amel Counseling and Consulting today for a free, 15- minute phone consultation for the support your child and family need.

Depression in Kids and Teens

Although depression can affect anybody of any age, it often looks different at different developmental stages. Sometimes, this can be confusing for adults, because signs of depression in children and pre-teens are not as commonly known as signs of depression in adults. 

Typically, depression is categorized as feeling a sense of hopelessness, sadness, and emptiness that affects the day to day (or most days). The difference between kids and young teens and other age groups is that depression is also often paired with irritability.

Here are the signs of depression in kids and pre-teens:

1. A change in behavior

• Getting into more trouble in school

• Talking back more than usual

• Becoming more sensitive to criticism

• Becoming less organized/ drop in grades

• Lowered motivation

• Appetite changes

2. Stomachaches and headaches

• Somatic complaints that weren’t present before

• Could be using excuses to avoid certain situations

• More in touch with their physical feelings than emotions

3. Irritability and moodiness

• Mood change out of the ordinary

• Crankiness could be due to sleeping more or less

• Having meltdowns or outburst

• Irritability in place of sadness/ feeling down

• Causing more arguments

4. Withdrawing socially/ self isolating

• Staying away from friends and going out less

• Deciding socializing isn’t worth it

• Being less motivated to be social

• Too tired to make plans or chat with family

If your child is experiencing some or all of these symptoms, it is possible that they are struggling with depression. It would be a good idea to reach out for some extra support for your kid or pre-teen as well as parent support for the best way you can help. If you would like to schedule with one of our therapists, reach out today for a free, 15-minute phone consultation.

Talking About Bullying With Your Child

Being bullied can be a really traumatic experience for a child. It can do major damage to their self esteem.

You may want to rush in like Mama Bear or The Hulk. Maybe you are paralyzed with fear. Fear of doing or saying the wrong thing. It’s OK. It is important to keep in mind some of the reasons why kids bully each other, such as to establish power, become more popular, insecurities, issues/ instability at home, and aggression issues. Although it does not excuse the behavior, it’s helpful to understand it in order to hopefully change it.

Getting bullied can diminish your child’s self-confidence. Constant bullying causes immense psychological stress and some children can experience anxiety, and/or symptoms of depression. It can have long-term effects on kids, and really skew their sense of self. It can break down their motivation to attend school resulting in grades dropping, socialization lessening, and self-isolating.

Unfortunately, you can’t single-handedly prevent your child from being bullied or eradicate it altogether. Talking about bullying– such as explaining to your child how to handle it, encouraging communication about it, informing them on what they can expect if it does happen, and what you want them to do if they have a friend being bullied– is one of the best ways to make a difference.

5 good ways to talk about bullying with your kids

Warn your child

• Talk about what bullying is and what it’s not

• Explain the difference between conflict, a mean moment, and bullying

• Stress that you want your child to tell you

• Explain cyber bullying

• Teach them to not engage

Fortify your child

• Educate your child about the reasons why a bully might bully others

• Answer any questions they may have

• Explain that bullying says more about the bully than the victim

• Teach them to resist the “herd effect” and do not follow along with bullies

• Encourage your child to stand up for friends/ they will do the same

• Roleplay appropriate responses

  • Practice dialogue with your child about how to respond to bulliesDiscuss solutions

  • It helps to come up with some ways to respond in advance so your child feels ready

  • You want to make sure they don’t add fuel to the fire

  • When a child is embarrassed or humiliated, they may freeze up or react in a way that makes them feel worse, so roleplaying helps

Communicate with the school

• Most schools do have bullying education

• Make sure schools are encouraging respect, support, and empathy among peers

• Always talk to the school if there are issues with your child and a bully or one of their peers and a bully

• Communicating about what is happening and what your expectations ensure the situation will be handled in a way you see fit

• In extreme cases, law enforcement may need to be contacted as well as the school

• The top priority is the welfare of your child

Encourage allying

• Encourage your child to make deals with friends where they have each other’s backs

• Friends standing up for friends, at the moment, where the bullying is actually taking place can make a huge difference

• Always teach kids not to go along with bullies, especially if their friends are being targeted

• Teach your child to stand up for what’s right and be loyal to their morals

Although bullying can be a very upsetting situation for your child and you as parents, it is important to handle it in the best way possible and as level-headed as you can.

As always, if you need more support from a child or teen therapist, reach out to Amel Counseling for a free, 15-minute phone consultation. We have therapists who are ready and willing to support your family and your child through tough situations with peers and bullying in schools, or any mental health issues that have come up as a result of this.

BEGIN COUNSELING FOR Children IN PHILADELPHIA, PA

You and your child deserve support in overcoming your anxiety symptoms. Our team understands that this is much easier said than done. So, we would like to offer support from our Philadelphia, PA-based therapy practice. To start your therapy journey, please follow these simple steps:

1. Contact Amel Counseling

2. Meet with a caring therapist

3. Get the support and tools to start living a full life!

OTHER SERVICES OFFERED WITH AMEL THERAPY

Counseling for children isn't the only service offered by our team of therapists. Our Philadelphia, PA-based practice offers a variety of services both in-person and online. Mental health services offered include therapy for trauma, grief, and play therapy. We offer support for children, teens and kids of color, and parents. We also offer support groups including worry warriors, culturally confident teen group, and teen girls group. You can also learn more by visiting our blog or by learning more about our team today!

How to Help Kids With Rejection

The disappointment that comes with rejection is difficult for anybody to manage and deal with, but especially for children. This is something that adults become better about with life experience, age, and maturity, and does not come naturally for many kids.

It's hard for a lot of people to remember not to blame ourselves when we don’t reach our own goals. These feelings can sometimes be inevitable, but as parents it is good to use this situation as a learning experience so that your kids can take away how to be resilient and not allow rejection to discourage them from trying anything else.

Here are ways you can help them:

1. Validate their experience and comfort them

• Normalize their feelings

• Make them feel valid for being discouraged; it happens

• When they feel understood, they develop a sense of self

• The better they get at tolerating uncomfortable feelings, the easier it is to handle next time

• Try not to minimize their feelings in hopes of making them feel better

• Sit with them in their disappointment and have empathy before moving forward

2. Make failure feel safe

• Failure can be the best learning experience

• Failing can be a good opportunity to reassess goals and come up with a game plan

3. Teach them that they can try again

• It is normal for lack of motivation for occur when people fail

• There is always another chance to succeed after failure 

4. character is more valuable than achievements

• Although you will always want the best for your kids, try not to put too much pressure on them to succeed

• Self worth is not defined by achievements

• Being a good person, being kind, and other values of your family are more important than being the best at things

• When they succeed, place focus on their work ethic rather than the end result

5. Give them a chance to work it out themselves

• Take the back seat for a bit

• We want to protect kids, but we don’t want to shelter them

• You don’t want to stunt their ability to solve their problems

• Don’t try to intervene on their behalf, but instead work together

• Let your child take the lead

• This will give them the confidence for future situations and it’ll prove to you that they are capable of working through their struggles

Dealing with rejection and failure is hard. Sometimes kids don’t get onto the sports team they want, the role for the play they love, invited to their friends’ parties, into their top college, or the grades they thought they deserve. These things happen; it can be a wonderful learning experience if handled properly. It’s normal for kids to be upset and it’s important to validate this and make it feel safe for them to feel it before moving on to what to do next together. As always, if you need more support with helping your child handle rejection or the way that your child handles feelings of discouragement, you can always reach out to Amel Counseling for support. Call today and schedule a free, 15-minute consultation with our therapists and see what we can do for you!

Healthy Habits for Kids and Teens

Building healthy routines and habits is key for children and adolescents’ mental health. 

As a parent, you may notice that when there is structure in your child’s day-to-day, there are improvements in their behavior, attention, grades, and socialization. 

Things can’t be perfect 100% of the time, though, and you have probably also noticed that when there is a lack of structure, your kids may be irritable, fatigued, anxious, frustrated, and/or unfocused.

Because healthy habits can make such a difference in children and teens, here are some tips for supporting your child in developing said healthy habits.

1. Encourage good sleep

• Sleep is super important.

• The key to a healthy amount of sleep is consistency.

• Sleep routine needs to be predictable.

• Plenty of wind down time is necessary for kids to feel tired on their own.

• Example of bedtime routine: bath/ hygiene, reading, nighttime chit chat, lights out.

2. Balanced scheduling

• Afterschool activities are fun and good for socializing, but there is a such thing as overscheduling as well.

• Extra curricular activities can promote socialization skills, confidence, flexibility, structure, and exploration of lifelong hobbies.

• However, checking in with your child to make sure they are not overextended.

• Do they complete homework, have time with family and friends, and get enough rest?

• Balance is key.

3. Screen time limits

• Set limits and rules about screens for everyone in your household to follow.

• Ensure screen time doesn’t interfere with school and family time.

• Remain consistent with rules so that kids don’t try to push boundaries.

• Make sure the expectations are clear.

• Perhaps no screen time until homework is done, family dinner is finished, and chores are completed is a good rule of thumb.

4. Outside play

• Playing outside is really good for kids’ well being.

• Kids tend to be happier, more confident, less anxious, and more adventurous when they are trying new outside activities.

• Being outside can encourage creativity and imagination, be a source of exercise, and pique their interest about nature.

5. Communication or “catchup time”

• Staying in touch with school is recommended.

• Having conversations with your kids about their day, friends, any issues they may be having with peers, and providing judgment free advice is important.

• Educators spend a lot of time with your kids/teens, and can be a good resource.

• Remain supportive of your child’s interests, social life, and remind them that they can come to you if they need any help or want to talk about their mental health.

6. Homework/ study time

• Clear routines and expectations surrounding homework and study time can help kids with whatever homework stress they may have.

• Homework and studying can be a source of anxiety for some kids.

• Structure can help ease this anxiety.

• Establish a set time to work on homework and a good location that works for your family/child.

• Utilize a planner if necessary to break down short term and long term assignments to help them develop planning skills.

Healthy habits are important for kids’ and teens’ mental health. There are many different areas where you can implement healthy routines and habits, promote independence, and encourage them to learn these life skills.

Remember that balance is key, and structure is where your child will thrive.

As always, if you need any further support and would like to schedule with one of our therapists for your child or family, reach out to Amel Counseling & Consulting for a free, 15-minute phone consultation.

Mania in Children and Adolescents

Mania is defined as an extreme increase of energy that can result in risky behavior, mood swings, random spurts of motivation, and impulsivity. 

Mania is not as common in children as teens and adults, but when it occurs, it’s important for parents/caregivers to reach out for treatment.

Mania can be difficult to identify in kids.

This is because mania is not as common at younger ages, and it’s most often a sign of bipolar disorder.

Bipolar disorder is not diagnosed until teenage and adult years.

However, mania can also be associated with substance use, brain injuries, other mental health disorders, or a negative side effect of certain meds.

As mentioned before, mania is a state of extreme high energy that typically results in risky behavior.

The difference, however, for children and teenagers who experience mania, is that theirs tends to look more like irritability than euphoria.

This is what makes it more challenging to recognize in these age groups and, subsequently, why it is less common.

Some of the key signs to look out for would be:

• Big changes in mood

• Big changes in typical behavior

• Dramatic increase in energy

• Decrease in sleep

• Changes in appetite

• Random spurts of energy

• Wanting to make a lot of changes

• Being impulsive

• Chaotic relationships

It’s really important to take any signs of mania seriously.

If you believe your child is experiencing a manic episode, the best thing to do is reach out to their doctor, a therapist, or even an emergency room, depending on how serious the symptoms are.

Don’t be discouraged!

With an evaluation and proper diagnosis, this can be very manageable and they can get the support and treatment that they need.

Here’s what you can do:

If you feel that your kid or teen is showing signs of mania, and would like to reach out for a child/teen therapist for more support, reach out to Amel Counseling today for a free, 15-minute consultation call!

Self-care for Caregivers

As parents and caregivers, you may find that it is difficult to support your own needs while caring for your child when they are going through a stressful time. When your child receives a mental health diagnosis, you are inclined to focus all of your energy on making sure they are receiving the proper help and are on the track to feeling better.

However, you won’t be able to provide the most effective support if you are neglecting your own needs in the process.

Although demands on your time may seem overwhelming, like there is not enough time in a day, it’s important to make time to do activities that bring you joy and feel refreshed. This will help you feel more fulfilled and energized, and you will be able to reach your potential as a loving and supporting parent, rather than being burnt out and exhausted.

Here are some tips to consider when doing positive things for yourself:

1. Schedule time for yourself.

   You may need to formally set aside certain hours of the day for your “Me Time.”

• Fun activities- do something that is solely for the enjoyment, like watch a movie, read a good book, or take yourself out for a meal

• Social activities- take time to spend with people who make you feel happy or laugh

• Physical activities- exercise, take walks, do yoga, join a sports league, or whatever your jam is

• Mastery activities- master a new skill or perfect one that you already have, take up a new hobby, or learn something that makes you feel accomplished

2. Remember your physical needs.

   Physical health and mental health are connected, and directly impact one another. When you neglect your physical needs, it can affect your ability to handle stress.

• Sleep schedule- make sure you are sleeping enough and have a good, relaxing bedtime routine.

• Basic needs- eat regular, healthy meals and remember to stay hydrated.

• Doctor visits- don’t neglect your yearly check-ups and remember to see the doctor as needed.

• Physical activities- again, remember to move your body in whatever way you prefer to.

3. Be patient with yourself.

   Your thoughts will affect your feelings, how well you handle stressful situations, and the way you respond to challenges.

• Speak kindly to yourself instead of overly criticizing.

• Remind yourself that you are doing the best that you can.

• There is no such thing as the perfect parent.

• Your children are watching and when you show yourself patience and grace, you are being a good role model.

4. Practice mindfulness.

   Staying in the present helps you feel more grounded. You will be more able to recognize and let go of unhelpful thoughts and emotions, and focus on being solution-focused.

• Focus on your breathing

• Count each inhale and exhale slowly

• Explore the sensations in your body

• Practice this regularly to reduce stress

5. Find support.

   Don’t be afraid to ask for support when you feel that you need it. 

• There may be some support groups running in your area where others there will understand your stressors.

• You could speak with an individual/ family therapist that can provide the support you need.

• Lean on friends and family for childcare when you need a break.

• Reach out to other parents in your community or school district for advice to reduce feelings of isolation. 

If you feel like you could benefit from a child, teen, or family therapist, reach out for support today. Amel Counseling offers free, 15-minute phone consultations. Let us see how we can help support you, your child, and your family.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Kids

Generalized anxiety disorder, often abbreviated as GAD can be quite common among children, although it is also sometimes missed or misdiagnosed.

Kids who tend to be very anxious about many things, situations, or scenarios may have GAD.

Their anxieties may seem random, they are not specific fears or phobias, and parents might wonder where their kid even got these ideas.

A child who has GAD gets stuck in the “what if’s” and worries about every little thing, even if it does not seem relevant, plausible, or concerning at the moment.

The What If Worries

• What if my parents die?

• What if I fail my classes?

• What if my dad loses his job?

• What if we have a break in?

It is important to note that, in GAD, these worries would be not tied to any specific stressful/ traumatic event. This is not to say that their concerns are unfounded, it’s just that their worries are sort of all over the place and not a result of anything in their history.

This constant will have an effect on your child’s well-being and day to day activities in order for it to be diagnosed as GAD.

Children with GAD are often perfectionists.

They may put a lot of pressure on themselves to get good grades, perform well in school, and be skilled in their extracurricular activities.

Kids with GAD also tend to get upset very easily if they make small mistakes or don’t live up to their own expectations, which can sometimes be unrealistic.

They may need to be reminded often that you don’t want them to put so much pressure on themselves, or that it’s okay to slip up sometimes.

Kids with GAD may also be people pleasers by nature. 

Because it can be really anxiety inducing when they think people don’t like them, they may be overly accommodating so that they are well liked. The problem is, this can lead to peer pressure.

They may need to be reminded that they are good enough just the way they are, and need some reassurance that they don’t need to try so hard to be well liked. 

They may also struggle with confidence because it’s literally impossible to be perfect and liked by everyone, but these are the self assigned expectations that they are trying to keep up with.

So, aside from offering support, validation, and reassurance, what can you do?

GAD often gets worse if it goes untreated.

It can, however, be treated with therapy and sometimes medication. 

A therapist might work with your child on gaining confidence, assertiveness training, working on their unhelpful/ intrusive thoughts, and more.

Some of the treatment options are cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), Strengths-based approach, and art therapy. All of these options can be extremely effective for GAD.

If your child seems to be struggling with GAD and you feel they could use further support with a therapist, reach out today for a free, 15-minute consultation call and if Amel Counseling & Consulting can help your child and family.

What to do if Your Kid Feels Lonely

Children who feel lonely might not know how to express their feelings to their parents. They may need help, but not know how to ask for it. 

There are, however, some things that parents can do to support them and encourage them to open up about how they are feeling. 

In doing this, they can also help kids build connections with peers and, in turn, feel less lonely.

Here are some ways parents can help:

1. Open up the conversation.

• Kids who are feeling lonely may struggle with where to start or how to say so. 

• Sometimes sharing your own experiences can get them talking about theirs.

• Start simple.

• You could try saying something like, “Sometimes I might feel lonely if I haven’t seen my friend for a while.”

2. Give kids the space to talk.

• It’s important to stay judgment-free.

• Sometimes it is tempting to give advice and problem solve, but listening patiently at first can help.

• Let your child see that it is safe for them to express themselves.

• Validate, and show empathy, even if you might feel like it isn’t a big deal.

• Understand that sometimes, when kids don’t socialize a lot, they may be anxious to do so

3. Make a plan with them together.

• Ask them what they might need to do to feel better and less lonely, and see what they come up with first.

• You could then encourage your child to ask a classmate to hang out.

• Sometimes roleplaying social situations helps kids practice.

• Help your child create concrete, helpful steps.

• Talk through ways to resolve conflict with peers, using hypotheticals.

• Find after school activities that they would enjoy and can join.

If your child has expressed feeling lonely, and struggles to socialize with peers, but you think they may need more assistance than a family discussion, don’t hesitate to reach out for a therapist today. Amel Counseling & Consulting has therapists who work with kids and teens that struggle with social anxiety, depression, and other obstacles that could be the reason why your child is feeling lonely and struggling to thrive socially. Schedule your free, 15-minute phone consultation today and see if we can provide your child and family with the support you need.

Difficulties of Highly Sensitive People

Highly sensitive people (or HSP) are very emotional, compassionate, generous, empathetic people. They tend to be perceptive, intuitive, self-aware, thoughtful, and led by their heart. Sometimes, highly sensitive people start to show signs that they are HSP early on, even in childhood, although the signs can sometimes be challenging for parents to perceive. Some of these signs may pose obstacles to the individual, because with each positive trait also comes some struggles. If you feel that your child may be considered a HSP, or have been wondering about it for some time, here is a list of the different difficulties that highly sensitive people have.

1. Struggling with uncertainty

   • HSPs tend to be a bit indecisive, due to their tendency to overthink. 

   • This is one that may pop up early on such as in childhood or teen years, and your kid might be trying to rationalize choices about things that you find to be insignificant. 

   • This is because it isn’t insignificant to them, and they are trying to mentally figure out the different paths that each choice can lead. 

   • They may need some patience, assistance, and modeling with choice making.

2. Overstimulation

   • HSPs tend to respond sensitively to external stimuli.

   • If your child is struggling with this, maybe they struggle with loud noises, certain texture foods, different clothes, and going to the bathroom.

   • This is commonly misread and misunderstood by parents because it may seem like the child is just being difficult.

   • A child who struggles with overstimulation may have outbursts when overstimulated.

   • A parent would need to work patiently with their child (and perhaps a professional) to establish, model, and teach healthy coping skills.

3. Feeling things very deeply

   • An HSP may be very sensitive to other situations and other people’s feelings.

   • A child that is an HSP may cry a lot, and that may be their emotional response to a bunch of different unpleasant feelings (anger, frustration, sadness, stress).

   • Feeling things deeply is a strength and not a weakness, if you have the right outlook.

   • Encourage communication with words, but make sure your kid knows that it’s okay to feel their feelings as well.

   • Do not shame them for being emotional.

4. Having anxiety and getting overwhelmed

   • It’s common for HSPs to struggle with anxiety.

   • This goes hand in hand with the overstimulation as well as overthinking.

   • A child that is an HSP may worry more than other children.

   • They may require more reassurance, support, coping skills, ways to self soothe, communication, and patience. 

   • Anxiety in children can look like irritability, frustration, anger, change in sleep/appetite, crying more, nightmares, grades dropping, avoidance, and more.

5. Feeling physically ill and exhausted when stressed

   • HSP may experience somatic symptoms on top of their emotional and mental ones.

   • Common physical symptoms that HSPs may have are stomach aches, headaches, tiredness, aching, and face pressure.

   • A child commonly complaining of physical symptoms on top of showing other signs of being an HSP may need to see a mental health professional.

   • It would be important to teach your child that their body responds to their mind, and to understand that the root cause of some of their body aches is their mental health.

6. Thriving with routines and liking to plan ahead

   • Most children thrive with routine and plans, but an HSP thrives even more with it.

   • When planning ahead goes wrong or isn’t possible, the unknown can be stressful as well.

   • A highly sensitive child may want/need you to come up with plans for them, and discuss things far in advance with them.

   • They may need reassurance.

7. ambition, perfectionism, overthinking, imposter syndrome

   • Although being ambitious, passionate, and hard working are good qualities, HSP can second guess themselves.

   • This leads to wondering if they are even doing things right, although they do have the motivation and desire to succeed.

   • Some kids who struggle with this may struggle with test taking because they second guess their answers.

   • Others may struggle with their own talents because they want to be perfect.

   • Kids who are HSP may be extremely hard on themselves.

If you feel like your child or teen may be a highly sensitive person who struggles with any of these areas, and they could benefit from support from a mental health professional, don’t hesitate to reach out. Amel Counseling has child and teen therapists willing to help your child and family thrive. Call today for a free, 15 minute phone consultation and see how we can work together!

Discussing Dysgraphia

Some kids struggle more than others with learning how to write. 

In some cases, the reason for this could be dysgraphia, which is a learning disorder.

There are different ways that kids with dysgraphia may find it difficult to learn how to write. 

Some kids have trouble with fine motor skills, like holding a pencil and writing words neatly, and others struggle with the cognitive aspects of organized writing. Some kids have a combination of both.

One thing to always remember about any learning disorder is that it can greatly lower kids’ self esteem when it comes to school. This can affect their grades, causing them to feel frustrated about not being caught up with the material, which can lower their motivation to complete their work, and create a cycle that kids feel stuck in. They may feel they have dug themselves a hole they cannot get out of.

This may also present as kids having behavioral issues.

Kids might also experience anxiety, depression, homework-induced stress, emotional dysregulation, meltdowns, and more.

So, how can we help?

• Parents can help by advocating for your kids to make sure they have got the proper support in school. This can look like an IEP or 504 plan, and may vary depending on your child’s needs and what they struggle with specifically. 

• Parents can also help by praising your kid for their hard work, recognizing that it is much harder for your child than others.

• Empathy is also a major key in making sure your child is set up for success if they have dysgraphia. 

Oftentimes people may assume that a child with a learning disorder is lazy, that they are not smart, or that they have behavioral issues. It is important to remember that these are misunderstandings and that your child learns differently than other kids.

With a diagnosis in place, everybody on the same page, and the proper support in place in school, kids with dysgraphia can learn how to write and excel in school. They can be taught how to manage their symptoms and become more confident students. The first step in this process would be to get your child evaluated and diagnosed so that their school is able to provide the help that they need. 

Although learning disorders present a major challenge for children in school, and dysgraphia can be a particularly difficult learning disorder to have, children with dysgraphia can still thrive in school if their learning environment is appropriate. 

If you feel that your child is struggling with the emotional symptoms associated with a learning disorder, such as anxiety, depression, low self-confidence, and behavioral issues, and you would like to receive additional support, do not hesitate to schedule an appointment with a child therapist today. At Amel Counseling we offer free, 15-minute phone consultations and we can see how we can support you and your family.

Modeling Healthy Coping Skills

It’s important for parents to show their children how to utilize healthy coping skills when they are faced with big emotions. 

Parents do not need to hide their undesirable or unpleasant feelings, especially anxiety, anger, or sadness. You want to teach your kids that these feelings are normal and what to do to feel better. 

Coping skills are ways to work through unpleasant feelings.

Coping skills are strategies that help handle intense emotions. 

Different people use different strategies, but some examples could be positive self-talk, journaling, movement/exercising, grounding/mindfulness techniques, and listening to music.

When kids see you using healthy coping skills, they copy you. 

It’s helpful to utilize your coping skills in front of your kids rather than repressing your anger, sadness, or anxiety. 

This may be uncomfortable at times but it is a really important lesson for kids. 

Take it a step further and communicate with them what you are doing as you are doing it. 

You could say something like: “I’m getting overwhelmed, so I am going to take some deep breaths and take a break.” This communication is also good because they won’t take it personally if you need space.

Modeling coping skills helps normalize big feelings. 

Your child seeing you self-soothe and treat yourself with kindness teaches them that undesirable feelings are normal, they happen to everyone, and they are manageable.

This will, in turn, give your kids the tools needed to handle their own challenging feelings when they experience the same ones. 

Parents do not need to be perfect. Parents do not need to pretend that they only experience positive emotions and never are faced with challenging ones.

Instead, communicate with your kids when you are feeling sad, mad, and nervous. Let them know that they are not alone when they feel that way. Model healthy coping mechanisms and outlets for them. Talk them through your process.

And, as always, if you feel as though you could use more support in this area, and that your kids struggle with big emotions and have a hard time using coping skills, reach out to Amel Counseling for a child or teen therapist today. Schedule a free, 15-minute phone consultation and see what this support could look like for your child and your family.