Reclusive or Needy to Nourished: Growing Connection and Helping Kids Communicate Needs 

When kids are coping with tough stuff, you may find that they're...

... super clingy, wanting constant attention. Their cup is never full.

... isolating themselves, distracted, or moody.

... arguing or fighting with you or their siblings.

... acting stressed and anxious, but unwilling to share (or if they do, you don't know what to do about it).

All because they can't communicate and are lacking a feeling of connection with you.

And you ending the every night thinking, ”I just can't give anymore. Nothing is ever enough." Feeling chronically overwhelmed, exhausted, on the verge of tears, and totally helpless. 

If this continues...

▪︎ Your kid feels more and more isolated and separated from you.

▪︎ They don't develop the skills to communicate how they’re feeling, so they can't process what's happened and it turns into emotional trauma.

▪︎ If left unchecked, it can turn into depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues that can have disastrous results (think no will to live, suicidal ideation). 

We love our kids, and we want to help them before it gets that serious. We just need a little help getting through to them and creating a strong parent-child relationship.

In Months 1 and 3, we'll help your kids feel comfortable coming to you when they're upset, need help, or have messed up. 

We do this by strengthening the parent-child relationship through open conversations and one-on-one time, and providing kids with the emotional space to eventually open up. This is the groundwork we must lay to build more trust and understanding.

With this combination of class + physical tools you will:

▪︎ involve kids in ongoing conversations that foster a deeper connection;create a supportive network of trusted individuals (Who is a safe grown-up to talk to and why?); 

▪︎ strengthen the relationship between caregiver and child by establishing ongoing Special Time that the child can rely on;

▪︎ have tangible tools to fall back on when things get hardcreate a common language for approaching hard things;

▪︎ have the confidence that you, as a parent, can help guide them through hard stuffeven thoughyou weren’t taught this stuff as a kid.

We'll help you create a sense of safety and connection with your kids, so they'll feel safe coming to you with big and little things. If you're having issues with your child, these skills are the first to build. 

Meltdowns and Confusing Emotions: Understanding and Using the Nervous System to Calm Down

When kids are coping with tough stuff, you may find that they're...

... melting down when they don't get their way or when something goes wrong.

... unable to express or talk about their feelings.

... getting quiet and isolating.

... having trouble with friendships because they're explosive. 

And you're left wondering, "aren't they too old for this? Is this just a phase that will get better, or is something bigger going on here? Do they need a therapist?"

Maybe you've tried a calm-down corner or downloading free “coping skills” and getting 215 ideas and no idea where to start. 

When they're going through something tough, it's absolutely vital for kids to be able to  name and understand their emotions. In months 4 and 5, we'll help you teach your kids to name their emotions and find where they live in the body, which is key for learning to manage them, then teach them how to begin to use coping skills. 

With this combination of class + physical tools you will:

▪︎ understand and address your child's inner fight/flight/freeze response;

▪︎ develop skills to manage emotional and physical responses;

▪︎ identify unhelpful reactions;

▪︎ increase the whole family's tolerance for stress;

▪︎ Have tangible tools to fall back on when things get hard;

▪︎ Create a common language for approaching hard things;

▪︎ have the confidence that you, as a parent, can help guide them through hard stuffeven though you weren’t taught this stuff as a kid.

We'll help you create a common language so that you and your kids can have healthy, productive conversations about emotions and their impact. By the end, you'll find that your child can name emotions, identify how they feel in the body, understand that emotions ebb and flow throughout the day, and understand why coping skills work (which means they're a lot more likely to actually use them!).

Exploding in Anger, Tattling, or Constant Requests for Help: Empowering Kids Recognize Their Rising Temper and Solve Problems Big & Small

When kids are coping with tough stuff, you may find that they're...

... not finding healthy solutions to problems

... easily overwhelmed which leads them to do nothing

... allowing one disappointment to ruin the entire day

... unable to avoid a total meltdown

.... either super reactive or avoiding problems entirely

And you're left feeling totally frustrated, because it seems like the littlest things set them off. The constant bickering is driving you insane, and you know they have to learn to solve their own problems, because life is just one problem to solve after another. But they will not listen!

Teaching kids to deal with overwhelm and creatively problem-solve is no easy feat. Learning how to analyze situations, generate solutions, and set goals requires practice and simple strategies, which we'll give you in months 6 and 9.

With this combination of class + physical tools you will:

▪︎ teach kids that they have power in every situation, to either let it be terrible, or to make a plan B;

▪︎ help them address unhelpful thoughts that keep them stuck;

▪︎ give them in-the-moment strategies to work through timely issues;show them how to work through feelings of overwhelm to find a solution to bigger problems;

▪︎ Have tangible tools to fall back on when things get hard;

▪︎ Create a common language for approaching hard things;have the confidence that you, as a parent, can help guide them through hard stuffeven though you weren’t taught this stuff as a kid.

By the end of this class, kids should be able to work through unhelpful thoughts and reframe situations to be more solution-oriented. They'll be able to manage feelings of overwhelm, identify which problem is the biggest, and work on a plan to solve it. They will also recognize when their thoughts may be getting twisted, and take a step back before it causes and emotional explosion.

Bolster Self-Confidence and a Sense of Belonging: Fostering a Sense of Love and Belonging and Ending Negative Self Talk

When kids are coping with tough stuff, you may find that they're...

... drowning in negative self-talk

... easily discouraged

... don't attempt to solve problems or stand up for themselves

... feel like an outsider or like they don't belong anywhere

Hearing your kids say things like, "I'm so stupid!" or "nobody likes me!" is heartbreaking. Positive self-talk is a coping skill that needs to be developed; in months 7 and 8, we will help your kids not only develop more positive self-talk, but will also solidify their confidence in their role in your family. This is a great way to build resilience when faced with any challenge, but will also help your kids feel better right away.

With this combination of class + physical tools you will:

▪︎ help kids shift into a solution-oriented mindset rather than getting down on themselves;

▪︎ remind them of how capable they are and the power they have in their own lives;

▪︎ Show them their role in the family puzzle and help them to recognize that their voice is heard in their family;

▪︎ Have tangible tools to fall back on when things get hard;

▪︎ Create a common language for approaching hard things;have the confidence that you, as a parent, can help guide them through hard stuffeven though you weren’t taught this stuff as a kid.

By the end of this class, kids will feel valued for their own unique contributions to your home. They'll be able to rely on power phrases to get through hard situations, training their brain to focus on existing strengths and developing more self-confidence with each "win."

Taking Care of Yourself: Helping Your Kid Become the Best Version of Themselves

When kids are coping with tough stuff, you may find that they're...

... chasing the good feelings that come from eating ALL the sugar

... allowing their room to become a mess until it's totally overwhelming

... avoiding outside time in favor of numbing activities like screen time

... forgetting what they're grateful for, only focusing on what's wrong

Wouldn't it be fabulous if our kids could learn the value of creating balance in their lives (and how to do it), rather than growing up overwhelmed, overcommitted, and addicted to the "hustle"? Months 10, 11, and 12, have both this long-term goal and the short-term benefit of creating a baseline of self-care that will support their mental health.

With this combination of class + physical tools you will:

▪︎ have a common language to discuss creating a balanced lifestyle;

▪︎ understand how to sustainably take care of themselves and their own spaces;

▪︎ Have tangible tools to fall back on when things get hard;

▪︎ Create a common language for approaching hard things;

▪︎ have the confidence that you, as a parent, can help guide them through hard stuffeven though you weren’t taught this stuff as a kid.

By the end of this class, kids will work on creating balance every day, including practicing gratitude and self-care rituals daily. Kids will understand their daily tasks and what it takes to reset their spaces at the end of each day, doing so in a sustainable way.