10 Ways To Practice Self-Care When You’re Too Busy
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10 Ways To Practice Self-Care When You’re Too Busy

“Nourishing yourself in a way that helps you blossom in the direction you want to go is attainable, and you are worth the effort.” ~ Deborah Day How often do you feel drained and find yourself wishing for more hours in the day? You know you need a break and promise that as soon as…

Autism Awareness: What Kids Need To Know About Autism
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Autism Awareness: What Kids Need To Know About Autism

April is Autism Awareness Month and this year I wanted to focus on helping kids in elementary school develop an understanding of autism and also how they can be a friend to someone with autism. Thirty years ago when I was in elementary school, autism was not something people discussed.  If they had, then my…

Emotional Abuse: Warning Signs We Often Miss

Emotional Abuse: Warning Signs We Often Miss

Emotional abuse often goes unnoticed because it leaves no visible scars.  In honor of Child Abuse Prevention Month, today I’m sharing my experience with emotional abuse.  I’ve also included warning signs of emotional abuse in children. I could hear her screaming downstairs through my closed bedroom door.  She was in another one of her rages and…

Getting Kids To Talk with Free Printable
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Getting Kids To Talk with Free Printable

Getting kids to talk can be tricky sometimes.  In this edition of Freebie Friday I’m going to share an activity I learned from a wonderful friend/colleague/mentor, Dina McManus, LCSW-R, on getting kids to talk. This activity also teaches kids how to express their thoughts appropriately and also that their opinions matter. This exercise can be…

Acts Of Kindness Bingo For Kids With Free Printable
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Acts Of Kindness Bingo For Kids With Free Printable

Hi everyone!  Welcome to another edition of Freebie Friday where every Friday I share a free product or printable.  Don’t forget to stop by every Friday to check out what new freebie I’m sharing. You can also subscribe to Kiddie Matters to stay in the loop when freebies are added! This weeks Kindness Bingo freebie…

Helping Kids Learn Stress Management Skills
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Helping Kids Learn Stress Management Skills

Stress management isn’t a skill we often teach children. The assumption is that kids live care-free lives and have no experience with stress. However, there are many things that can lead to stress in children. Stress is simply a function of the demands placed on us and our ability to meet them. Children face demands…

10 Ways To Improve Your Child’s Organizational Skills
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10 Ways To Improve Your Child’s Organizational Skills

When I practiced as a school social worker, I noticed that a common reason why many of my students were performing poorly was because they were disorganized and would often do things like forget to turn in assignments, wait until the last minute to start working on projects, etc. This was especially true for my…

5 Tips for Managing Meltdowns and Temper Tantrums

5 Tips for Managing Meltdowns and Temper Tantrums

There are so many reasons why kids have meltdowns and temper tantrums. The reasons range from the mundane-he or she is just plain old tired, to the absurd-“he won’t stop looking at me!” When you are a parent, you quickly come to the realization that it’s not a question of whether or not your child…

Creative And Fun Social Skills Activities For Kids
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Creative And Fun Social Skills Activities For Kids

In order for children to be successful in life there are some essential social skills they need to know.  Many kids learn social skills such as sharing and resolving conflicts from watching others around them.  However, some kids need to be taught these skills. I’ve found that the best way to teach these skills is…