INCREDIBLE YOU - Book Review

Incredible You by Dr. Wayne W. Dyer is a book I have recently acquired.  The great thing about this book is that it is strengths - focused, celebrating the strengths of a child and the inherent uniqueness of that individual.  Strength building and self-esteem are important parts of making changes in a person's life and to generate hope.  It also examines the Cognitive Behavior approach of anxiety.  It examine the connection between thoughts, feelings and behavior.  IT promotes positive thoughts, to have compassion on one's self and to take care of one's self.  Reading this with a kindergartener recently was a delight.

Feelings Jenga

This is something I tried with success recently.  There are some other version I am going to want to try.  I would encourage you to look for the game in used thrift shops if you are on a tight budget.

Children Who Witness Abuse

As a first in a series on violence against women and children, here is an article I contributed.

http://oliverdailynews.com/abuse-1st-in-a-series/

Parenting After Separation Online Resource

This is an online version of the Parenting After Separation Course that is usually offered in person. It addressees many of the difficulties and roadblocks to adjusting to life after a couple separates, particularly when children are involved. There are great tools to use including a planner for how to prepare children, what to say/do, what not to say/do, how communication needs to be worked on, and when a mediator would help. If a couple are not great communicators leading up to the separation, it will be even more of a challenge afterwards, this resource will guide them through improving this for the sake of the children's well being.
http://parenting.familieschange.ca/course

Relaxed Breathing

Breathing seems simple.  However, one of the main components of taking back control of stress involves mind-body awareness.  Children and adults who are struggling with anxiety and emotional regulation are often challenged to connect to their stress they are holding to their body.  Deep, relaxed belly breaths are a great way to ground one's self, to find more mastery over stress levels and to listen to one's body.
Four count breathing is a sure way to bring anxiety level from a 10/10 on the stress scale down quite a few levels. Considered meditative, it focuses the mind on what the body is sensing, thus distracting from the stressor that causes it.  Practice this often, putting one's hands on your belly and breath in for four counts through the nose, out for fours counts through the mouth, and then hold at the bottom for four counts.  Start this for 10 cycles and work up to a few minutes a day.  It is worth it!

Self-Regulation and the Brain

Tear Soup Activity

For an activity to compliment the book, here is an idea which may help in individual or group settings. Parents may want to try this at home as a family who has lost something significant or someone significant.