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.
We begin to introduce these concepts in month seven, where we teach kids about overwhelm and recognizing the early signs of an emotional explosion. These lessons build on previous lessons and utilize the coping skills we've already introduced.
In month eight, we teach kids the skills they need to solve both in-the-moment, small problems, and how to break down bigger and more overwhelming problems into less stressful chunks.
With this combination of guides and 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.