Talking to Young Children about Race & Racism
It is never too early to connect with your child on the topics of race & racism because these moments are part of the important work of raising an anti-racist child. Check out the early childhood-specific resources on PBS for talking to your young child about race and racism: https://www.pbs.org/parents/talking-about-racism
Helping Families Cope with COVID-19
What’s the best way to talk to your child about the events taking place in the world right now? What activities can families do while at home together? What can parents do for their own self-care? The folks at Inside Social Emotional Learning have compiled a thorough list to support families coping with COVID-19. Check it out here: https://insidesel.com/2020/03/12/covid-19/
The Power of Validation
When you catch yourself wondering “What should I do?” and “What’s the right thing to say?” in response to awkward questions, big feelings, and difficult moments with your child, take heart to know that a validating statement is often the key. This is Kate’s all time favorite article to share with parents and caregivers! Check out “Being a Supportive Listener When Children Have Feelings.”
https://www.positiveparenting.com/being-a-supportive-listener-when-children-have-feelings/
Achieve True Fulfillment Through Authentic Connection
Ever stop to think about the impact on our human relationships due to all the technology and automation embedded in our everyday lives? Like the namesake of Fulfillment Family Therapy, true fulfillment comes through connecting with each other. Check out the article “You Are Not a Machine: How Human Fulfillment Transcends”
https://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/you-are-not-a-machine-how-human-fulfillment-transcends-1112154
Serve and Return Interactions build neural connections, relationships, and potential
Ever wonder if that endless game of peek-a-boo you play together, or your diligence with parroting back every word your young child says, or waiting to catch your child’s eye gaze really matters in the long run? Check out the Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University for videos and information about the amazingly simple yet profound impact your daily interactions with your child have on their development at every age and stage!
https://developingchild.harvard.edu/science/key-concepts/serve-and-return/
“How was your day at school today?…”
Inevitably, the one-word answer comes, “Fine.” As parents, we inquire about our child’s school day to show our love through interest, to reconnect after being apart, and to glean insight into how they’re doing. Read the article “21 Questions to Ask Your Child About Their Day at School (So You Get An Answer)” to incorporate genuine, quality questions into your after school or evening home routine.
https://babyology.com.au/parenting/school/21-questions-to-ask-your-child-about-their-day-at-school/
Understanding Eco-Anxiety from An Adlerian Perspective
In October of 2019, Kate Wessinger was featured on a podcast highlighting climate change and mental health. Listen to “Eco-Anxiety in the Age of Climate Change: An Adlerian Approach” where Kate discusses Individual Psychology as a framework for understanding the relationship between humans and the environment, and for treating eco-anxiety.
The Importance of Nature Play
Did your childhood feature unsupervised outdoor play? It might have felt like endless hours creating, traipsing, exploring, and pretending in nature. Think about everything you learned and value because of your experiences in nature. Now, think about how much outdoor free-play time your children engage in per week…Recognizing a discrepancy? Many of us do. Learn about the benefits of nature play and how to incorporate more intentional outdoor time for your family with the resources below:
Video: The Nature Connection Pyramid https://vimeo.com/88321298
TedTalk: “What Nature Teaches Children” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dhas9OEc1Lk
Article: “A Parent’s Guide to Nature Play” https://naturalstart.org/feature-stories/parent%E2%80%99s-guide-nature-play
Article: “Risky Play For Children: Why We Should Let Kids Go Outside and Then Get Out Of the Way” https://www.cbc.ca/natureofthings/features/risky-play-for-children-why-we-should-let-kids-go-outside-and-then-get-out
Investigate the nature playgrounds near you in the Twin Cities: https://www.familyfuntwincities.com/twin-cities-nature-playgrounds/