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APRIL 2013

 
In This Issue

News from Cheri and Karen
Program Updates
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Helpful Articles and Links 
Emotional Regulation is essential for children's overall well-being. As parents, we can teach our children to handle their emotions in ways that validates their feelings, while fostering healthy interactions with the world.



How do children learn emotional regulation? Some children's neuroregulatory or self-regulatory systems develop at a slower rate than other children`s.
 

Developing Young Childrens Self-Regulation Through Everyday Examples 

 

Every child is different, some have difficulty expressing their ideas verbally, Some struggle to get along with peers or follow classroom routines. In each case, however one thing is the same: improved learning and behaviour requires strong self-regulation skills.

 

Integra moderates an on-line course: Partnering With Schools For Student Success: Effective Parent Advocacy

www.integra.on.ca

 

2013 Spring Workshops

All About Moods; Anxiety, Depression and Learning Difficulties, May 8, 2013

www.integra.on.ca

 

 Please note our new email address is:

 

    
    

Greetings! 

 

We are always so excited when the month of April arrives. Finally the weather will improve and we start thinking sunshine, flowers and outside activities. Unfortunately this year Spring has been late with variable weather and unpredictable patterns.

Like the weather, sometimes children can be unpredictable with their emotions.

 

 In our April Newsletter you will find helpful information about events in April, as well as articles and links about understanding your child's emotions and feelings.

 

           Family Friendly Events for April

 

April is all about connecting with nature and celebrating planet earth. Here are some free family fun events which includes many outdoor activities to celebrate spring.

  •  Hands in the Bowl; Children aged 4-7 are invited to come roll up their sleeves and learn how to mix, mash, grate, and eat their delicious creations. Evergreen Brickworks, Saturdays in April.
  • Earth Day in the Valley: Help create environmentally friendly artwork.Learn all about owls and what they eat. Find out how you can help the planet and make a difference.Todmorden Mills, April 21
  • Sci Fri Friday Night for Teens at Ontario Science Centre. Curious about whether you have what it takes to turn video gaming into a job. April 5, 2013 6-9PM.SciFriFridayNights at Ontario Science Centre
  • April Guided Walks in Rouge Park: Join a walk to discover nature and wildlife with our friendly and fun group leaders. April 3-28, 2013
  • Riverdale Farm: Visit this beautiful and quaint farm in downtown Toronto and learn and chat with the farmers during daily chores that may include animal feeding, egg collection, cow milking or goat milking, horse grooming and mucking out the stalls.

 

 

 
 
News from Cheri and Karen

  

We are excited to announce the launch of our new website - www.behaviourmatters.ca. We have added a "New in the News" section on our homepage where we will post weekly, topical and timely posts providing useful information about parenting your preschool child through adolescence, as well as workshops and seminars in the community.

 

Also we have expanded our links and resource page where there is good information for parents. Check out our new website!!

 

 

What is Emotional Regulation
  
Emotional Regulation is the process of learning how emotions make you feel inside and healthy ways to show these emotions to others.
  

When children learn to regulate or control their emotions, they learn how to:

  • recognize what they are feeling
  • show those feelings in ways that don`t hurt them or others
  • cope with their emotions

Learning to cope with emotions takes many years.  By starting in the early years, your children will be much more likely to get along well with other children and be more capable of coping with their emotions as adults.

 

Toddlers

 

The brain develops very fast in the toddler years, especially in the area responsible for emotions. Toddlers feel emotions very deeply whether they are happy or sad, and it takes time for them to learn how to deal with these new feelings.

 

Toddlers are just learning about feelings, and these new emotions can be very confusing. As toddlers learn new skills, they will want to do everything by themselves. They will be excited when they are able to do things and frustrated when they can't . As their experience grows, they will start to recognize that other people have feelings too.

 

Toddlers need to understand their feelings before they can learn how to express or cope with them . Learning the name of their emotions is an important first step in emotional regulation.

 

You can help by:

  • Giving feelings a name- for example: happy, sad, mad, or scared. Help them learn to use words rather than actions to express their feelings: saying, "I'm mad." instead of hitting.
  • Acknowledging and accepting your toddler's feelings - both the comfortable ones (for example, happy) as well as the uncomfortable ones ( for example, anger).
  • Accepting the feeling, limiting the behaviour- for example: I see you are (angry, sad, frustrated, happy, etc.)." its okay to be (angry, sad, frustrated, happy, etc.)." "it is not okay to (hit, bite, scream, throw things, run around , pinch, etc.)"
  • Giving him a choice about what he can do instead ( tell you how he feels, walk away, calm down, take a deep breath, etc.).
  • Setting a good example of showing your emotions in healthy ways. The way you deal with your feelings leaves a lasting impression on your toddler.
  • Having patience- it's a learning process. EmotionalRegulation-HealthLink Alberta

 

 
Program Updates
 
 We are now accepting referrals for our Summer Camp Programs.  Ages: 3-10
 
Session 1 - July 8-12 (inclusive)
Session 2 - July 22-26 (inclusive)
 
Session 3 - August 12-16 (Inclusive)
Session 4 - August 26-30 (Inclusive)
 
 Looking forward to continuing all of our other programs.
  

COOL TOOLS  (SCHOOL-AGE)

Weekly programs to help children develop positive social skills, build self esteem, and learn strategies to deal with their anger in appropriate and acceptable ways.  For more info. please check our website [email protected]

  

LETS BE FRIENDS  (PRE-SCHOOL)

 Weekly programs that are play-based to teach social skills in a fun and stimulating environment.  For more info. please check our website [email protected]

 

SMART MOVES  (SCHOOL -AGE GIFTED CHILDREN)

Weekly programs to help the gifted child develop positive social skills, build self-esteem and resilience, learn to deal with their uncomfortable feelings eg. anger and anxiety and help them regulate their emotions. For more info. please check our website [email protected]

 

 

TEEN TALK  (TEEN)

 Weekly programs to help adolescents develop positive social skills, build self-esteem, learn strategies to deal with problems, identify and express feelings and become more aware of non-verbal communication. For more info. please check our website [email protected]

 

 

GIRL POWER  ( 10-14 YEARS)

Weekly program that will help girls to increase their independance through responsible decision making and dealing with peer pressure.  For more info. please check our website [email protected]

 

Behaviour Matters | 537 Lawrence Avenue West | Toronto, Ontario, Canada M6A 3M6 |
 
Phone: 416-270-6610 or 416-418-6610  Email: [email protected]