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Here are some good resources for children with special needs and neurodiversity. 1. Guide to Sensory-friendly doctor visits for children with autism spectrum disorder 2. How to Fall Asleep with a Rowdy, Racing ADHD Brain 3. We have Ignition: How to Steer Your Teen Towards Safe Driving Happy Reading!  Support from parents is key to helping kids do well academically. Here are 10 ways parents can put their kids on track to be successful students. 1. Attend Back-to-School Night and Parent-Teacher Conferences Kids do better in school when parents are involved in their academic lives. Attending back-to-school night at the start of the school year is a great way to get to know your child's teachers and their expectations. Attending parent-teacher conferences is another way to stay informed. These are usually held once or twice a year at progress reporting periods. The conferences are a chance to start or continue conversations with your child's teacher, and discuss strategies to help your child do his or her best in class. Meeting with the teacher also lets your child know that what goes on in school will be shared at home. If your child has special learning needs, additional meetings can be scheduled with teachers and other school staff to consider setting up or revising IEP's 504 educational plans, or gifted educational plans. Keep in mind that parents or guardians can request meetings with teachers, principals, school counselors, or other school staff any time during the school year. 2. Visit the School and Its Website Knowing the physical layout of the school building and grounds can help you connect with your child when you talk about the school day. It's good to know the location of the main office, school nurse, cafeteria, gym, athletic fields, playgrounds, auditorium, and special classes. On the school website, you can find information about:
Homework in elementary school reinforces and extends classroom learning and helps kids practice important study skills. It also helps them develop a sense of responsibility and a work ethic that will benefit them beyond the classroom. In addition to making sure your child knows that you see homework as a priority, you can help by creating an effective study environment. Any well-lit, comfortable, and quiet workspace with the necessary supplies will do. Avoiding distractions (like a TV in the background) and setting up a start and end time can also help. A good rule of thumb for an effective homework and/or study period is roughly 10 minutes per elementary grade level. Fourth-graders, for example, should expect to have about 40 minutes of homework or studying each school night. If you find that it's often taking significantly longer than this guideline, talk with your child's teacher. While your child does homework, be available to interpret assignment instructions, offer guidance, answer questions, and review the completed work. But resist the urge to provide the correct answers or complete the assignments yourself. Learning from mistakes is part of the process and you don't want to take this away from your child. 4. Send Your Child to School Ready to Learn A good night's sleep and a nutritious breakfast fuels up kids and gets them ready for the day. In general, kids who eat breakfast have more energy and do better in school. Kids who eat breakfast also are less likely to be absent and make fewer trips to the school nurse with stomach complaints related to hunger. You can help boost your child's attention span, concentration, and memory by providing breakfast foods that are rich in whole grains, fiber, and protein, as well as low in added sugar. If your child is running late some mornings, send along fresh fruit, nuts, yogurt, or half a peanut butter and banana sandwich. Many schools provide nutritious breakfast options before the first bell. Kids also need a good night of sleep to be alert and ready to learn all day. Most school-age kids need 10 to 12 hours of sleep a night. Bedtime difficulties can arise at this age for a variety of reasons. Homework, sports, after-school activities, TVs, computers, and video games, as well as hectic family schedules, can contribute to kids not getting enough sleep. Lack of sleep can cause irritable or hyperactive behavior and might make it hard for kids to pay attention in class. It's important to have a consistent bedtime routine, especially on school nights. Be sure to leave enough time before bed to allow your child to unwind before lights out and limit stimulating diversions like TV and video games. 5. Teach Organizational Skills When kids are organized, they can stay focused instead of spending time hunting things down and getting sidetracked. Being organized in elementary school means having an assignment book and homework folder (many schools supply these) to keep track of homework and projects. Check your child's assignment book and homework folder every school night so you are familiar with assignments and your child doesn't fall behind. Set up a bin for papers that you need to check or sign. Also, keep a special box or bin for completed and graded projects. Talk to your child about keeping his or her school desk orderly so papers that need to come home don't get lost. Teach your child how to use a calendar or personal planner to help stay organized. It's also helpful to teach your child how to make a to-do list to help prioritize and get things done. It can be as simple as:
6. Teach Study Skills Studying for a test can be scary for young kids, and many educators assume parents will help their kids during the grade-school years. Introducing your child to study skills now will pay off with good learning habits throughout life. In elementary school, kids usually take end-of-unit tests in math, spelling, science, and social studies. Be sure to know when a test is scheduled so you can help your child study ahead of time rather than just the night before. You also might need to remind your child to bring home the right study materials, such as notes, study guides, or books. Teach your child how to break down overall tasks into smaller, manageable chunks so preparing for a test isn't overwhelming. You also can introduce your child to tricks like mnemonic devices to help with recalling information. Remember that taking a break after a 45-minute study period is an important way to help kids process and remember information. Your child probably will be introduced to standardized testing in elementary school. While students can't really study for standardized tests, some teachers provide practice tests to help ease students' worries. In general, if studying and testing becomes a source of stress for your child, discuss the situation with the teacher or school counselor. 7. Know the Disciplinary Policies Schools usually cite their disciplinary policies (sometimes called the student code of conduct) in student handbooks. The rules cover expectations, and consequences for not meeting the expectations, for things like student behavior, dress codes, use of electronic devices, and acceptable language. The policies may include details about attendance, vandalism, cheating, fighting, and weapons. Many schools also have specific policies about bullying. It's helpful to know the school's definition of bullying, consequences for bullies, support for victims, and procedures for reporting bullying. It's important for your child to know what's expected at school and that you'll support the school's consequences when expectations aren't met. It's easiest for students when school expectations match the ones at home, so kids see both environments as safe and caring places that work together as a team. 8. Get Involved Whether kids are just starting kindergarten or entering their last year of elementary school, there are many good reasons for parents to volunteer at school. It's a great way for parents to show they're interested in their kids' education. Many grade-schoolers like to see their parents at school or at school events. But follow your child's cues to find out how much interaction works for both of you. If your child seems uncomfortable with your presence at the school or with your involvement in an extracurricular activity, consider taking a more behind-the-scenes approach. Make it clear that you aren't there to spy — you're just trying to help out the school community. Parents can get involved by:
9. Take Attendance Seriously Of course, sick kids should stay home from school. Otherwise, it's important that kids arrive at school on time every day, because having to catch up with class work and homework can be stressful and interfere with learning. If your child misses a lot of school due to illness, make sure to check with the teacher about any work that needs to be completed. It's also a good idea to know the school's attendance policy. Sometimes students want to stay home from school because of problems with classmates, assignments or grades, or even teachers. This can result in real symptoms, like headaches or stomachaches. If you think there's a problem at school, talk with your child — and then perhaps with the teacher — to find out more about what's causing the anxiety. The school counselor or psychologist also might be able to help. Also try to avoid late bedtimes, which can result in tardy and tired students. A consistent sleep schedule also can help students. 10. Make Time to Talk About School It's usually easy to talk with elementary students about what's going on in class and the latest news at school. You probably know what books your child is reading and are familiar with the math being worked on. But parents can get busy and forget to ask the simple questions, which can have an effect on children's success at school. Take time every day to talk to your child so he or she knows that what goes on at school is important to you. When kids know parents are interested in their academic lives, they'll take school seriously as well. Because communication is a two-way street, the way you talk and listen to your child can influence how well your child listens and responds. It's important to listen carefully, make eye contact, and avoid multitasking while you talk. Be sure to ask questions that go beyond "yes" or "no" answers. Besides during family meals, good times to talk include car trips (though eye contact isn't needed here, of course), walking the dog, preparing meals, or standing in line at a store. These early years of schooling are an important time for parents to be informed and supportive about their child's education and to set the stage for children to develop and grow as young learners.   Sometimes it can be hard to find the time to devote vast amounts of time to meditation and mindfulness. If you feel you don't have time for a full meditation practice, here are some ideas for taking some time, just a few moments, to be more mindful. Ideas for Mindful Moments:
  There’s only so many hours in the day to juggle work, friendships, fitness, in-laws, self-care and of course, your kids. We know exactly what it’s like to rush home frazzled after a long day. But making quality time for your kids can be the best investment you’ll ever make – in their happiness, and yours.
Being "in the moment" with your kids and creating positive, nurturing spaces for them to express themselves, laugh, grow, learn and explore will not only strengthen your bond, but build their confidence, sense of self, emotional intelligence, and understanding of the world around them. Here are some meaningful and mindful ways to connect with your little ones this weekend. 1. Create Special Rituals Family rituals are special things you do regularly with your loved ones. They help kids feel that the world is a safe and predictable place and gives them something to look forward to. It might be something super simple like an ice-cream after school, or "Netflix Friday movie night". The key is making it enjoyable. Make popcorn for your movie night, add snuggly cushions, dim the lights (a la at-home cinema experience) and pick a flick that’s entertaining for you both. Think action, laughter, deeper storylines and inspiring themes that prompt discussion afterwards. 2. Allow them to talk It's easy to get caught up in the belief that we know better. But it’s worth remembering that it’s okay not to have all the answers, particularly for some of the tougher questions. Instead, let your kids speak. When they ask if "it’s important to be beautiful", you can turn it back on them: What do they think is beautiful? You’ll encourage your child to think about the deeper issues in life, while side-swerving answering a question that---let’s be real---none of us have the answer for. Listen with empathy, your full attention, and while resisting the urge to interrupt. 3. Encourage them to design their day Give your kids the reins by letting them design a day out with you. What does it look like when they’re in the driver’s seat? They might suggest hitting the zoo to discover deadly native reptiles have a picnic at the park, or go for a bike ride. This "choose your own adventure" approach will empower your child with the ability to make decisions, think independently and build confidence. It's also a sneak peek into what they deem fun (as opposed to our preconceived ideas), so make sure "go with the flow" and relinquish some control (within reason, of course!). 4. Play with them We’ve all been there – hit the park and had the phone glued to our ear for the entire time, feigning interest in sandcastles and slides. But playtime is actually a vital part of childhood, and while it might be easier to watch from afar, there are strong benefits to getting involved and playing with your child. Parent-child play can help the development of skills including creativity, memory, motor skills, cognitive flexibility, regulation of emotions, and leadership skills. It's also a lot of fun, for everyone involved! If playgrounds aren’t your thing, use your imagination (or let your child design the play). How about pillow fights, building a fort, playing hide and seek, painting, cooking, building blocks, performing a show (you know you want to bust out your microphone and sing Adele), or let them design their own game. 5. Show affection A parent’s love goes a long way. How you interact affectionately with your child can do wonders for their well-being and health both in the moment, and for years to come. Kids crave daily attention and affection and showing them love with appropriate physical touch and affirmative words will allow them to feel safe, cared for and important. In turn, this goes on to greatly affect their happiness, self-acceptance and social relationships. This could be cuddles every day, kisses when dropping them off at school, making rituals such as tickling their back at bedtime, and reminding them that they are loved by you and their entire family.  We all need to vent once in a while. But when it comes to chronic complainers, those individuals who always seem to have something negative to say, it can be exhausting and frustrating to be around them.
To understand how to handle constant complainers, it's important to first recognize that they may not even realize they are doing it. They may think that they are just talking but they may not realize that they are on their third, fourth, or fifth complaint in a row. One way to deal with a chronic complainer, you have the opportunity to shift the conversation or ideally, to start the conversation on a positive note. We can try to make a mental list of the topics that they often complain about and avoid mentioning them. Another strategy is to be aware of how you think about boundaries. Often, people think they are setting boundaries when they are actually just trying to change the other person. You can determine how you listen. You can determine what you do when the other person complains but you can't make them stop complaining. So, if you find yourself trying to set a boundary by attempting to "make" them stop complaining, that may be a sign that you should consider limiting your interactions with them altogether. This is the choice that you have with chronic and constant complainers. Our days can be so busy. Sometimes there just isn't enough time to do all of the things that you need to get done. And sometimes on those days, we can't always fit in the exercise class or the dinner out with friends. Here are a few suggestions for a quick mental health reset this month. 1. Look up the time of the sunset and watch it for 10 minutes before and after the sun sets. 2. Do 2 yoga poses that you enjoy. 3. Do a 3-minute meditation and focus on your breathing. 4. Drink a cup of hot tea outdoors or in a quiet place. 5. Dance to your favorite song. 6. Put on perfume or cologne. 7. Eat a light snack. 8. Text a friend. 9. Edit one photo that you recently took. 10. Smile internally and know that you are doing the best that you can today.   Happy New Year! As we begin this new year, most people are eager to set new year's resolutions or intentions for the new year. Some of us want to get healthier, some of us want to travel especially because of Coronavirus pandemic fatique, while some of us want to pursue our hobbies more. No matter what your new year's resolutions are or what your desired goals for 2022, I am sure that will agree that being present is so very important. With that in mind, here is a blog roll of fantastic tips for being more mindful in 2022. Enjoy!   What Is Introspection? Introspection can be practiced both as an informal reflection process and a formal experimental approach, and the two have different definitions. Still, both processes can be undertaken by anyone with curiosity and determination. The informal reflection process can be defined as examining one’s own internal thoughts and feelings and reflecting on what they mean. The process can be focused on either one’s current mental experience or mental experiences from the very recent past. The formal experimental technique is a more objective and standardized version of this, in which people train themselves to carefully analyze the contents of their own thoughts in a way that’s as unbiased as possible. The original idea of introspection was developed by Wilhelm Wundt in the late 1800s (McLeod, 2008). Wundt focused on three areas of mental functioning: thoughts, images, and feelings. Wundt’s work eventually led to the current work on perceptual processes and the establishment of the field of cognitive psychology. What Is the Importance of Introspection? Researchers have shown that we think more than 50,000 thoughts per day, of which more than half are negative and more than 90% are just repeats from the day before (Wood, 2013). If you don’t make the time and effort to refocus your mind on the positive through introspection, you won’t give yourself the opportunity to grow and develop. Enhancing our ability to understand ourselves and our motivations and to learn more about our own values helps us take the power away from the distractions of our modern, fast-paced lives and instead refocus on fulfillment (Wood, 2013). The importance of doing it right. Reflecting on ourselves and our environments is a healthy and adaptive practice, but it should be undertaken with some care—there is, in fact, a wrong way to do it. When your focus on introspection has morphed from a dedication to an obsession, you have taken it too far. In fact, those who take self-reflection too far can end up feeling more stressed, depressed, and anxious than ever (Eurich, 2017). In addition, it is all too easy for us to fool ourselves into thinking we have found some deep insight that may or may not be accurate. We are surprisingly good at coming up with rational explanations for the irrational behaviors we engage in (Dahl, 2017). To help stay on the right path with your self-reflection, consider asking more “what” questions than “why” questions. “Why” questions can highlight our limitations and stir up negative emotions, while “what” questions help keep us curious and positive about the future (Eurich, 2017). There are nearly endless questions, prompts, and ideas you can use to take a self-reflection break. Some of these can be asked, answered, and addressed every day, while others may best be saved for occasional self-reflection. These 10 questions are great ways to jumpstart self-reflection:
 Depending where you live, autumn may be in coming along nicely. Here in the Bay Area we continue to have balmy summer weather but it is just starting to feel like the seasons are changing.
As the weather cools down, what are some self-care activities that you gravitate towards in autumn? Take some time this fall to enjoy the changing seasons and nurture your mental, emotional, and physical health. Here are some small ways to enjoy fall.
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