Category: Social and Emotional Growth

I-Messages: The Handout
By Categories: Counselors, Educators, General Interest, Health and Safety, Intervening negative behavior, Intervening negative behavior, Motivating cooperation, Motivating your kids, Problem solving, Social and Emotional Growth, Taking care of yourself Leave a comment

More information about a destructive communication pattern This handout was developed to accompany a free online article, “What’s Wrong with ‘I-Messages’?” I first wrote about the problems with using this formula to try to get people to change their behavior in 1991. Evidence based on outcomes of using this formula has only strengthened my opinion. There are…

Preventing Bullying in the Digital Age
By Categories: Counselors, Cultural Changes, Educators, General Interest, Health and Safety, Increasing Positivity, Parents, Problem solving, Social and Emotional Growth, Taking care of yourself Leave a comment

Understanding and managing cyberspace aggression Guest blogger Amy Williams shares what to watch for and how to prevent meanness in the digital age. The ripple effect of bullying can be felt across all lanes of life. Similar to raging drivers on the road, aggressive Internet users can create a threatening environment for the people around them….

9 Avantages à Poser des Questions au lieu d’en Donner des Réponses
By Categories: Classroom management, Parenting, Parenting, Problem solving, Social and Emotional Growth, Teaching Leave a comment

Les avantages: Par Jane Bluestein Ph.D. • Les questions aident les enfants à explorer les dimensions d’un problème. • Les questions aident les enfants à explorer les options qui leur sont disponibles. • Les questions aident les enfants à identifier leurs buts et intentions. • Les questions servent à dégager des solutions de la part…

An Alternative to Advice Giving
By Categories: Building responsibility, Counselors, Educators, General Interest, Problem solving, Social and Emotional Growth, Students

Asking questions to guide problem solving The questions that follow are provided to help with the mechanics of mastering the technique of “asking—not telling,” an effective alternative to giving kids advice that encourages independence and problem-solving competence. The questions are

Non-Supportive Responses to Avoid
By Categories: Counselors, Educators, Emotionally safe schools, Health and Safety, Parents, Problem solving, Relationships, Social and Emotional Growth Leave a comment

Yes, these really do make things worse! If people trust us enough to share an experience that has had an emotional impact on them, we usually do the most good when we can respond with empathy and support. Unfortunately, the following non-supportive or negative responses are so common and pervasive in our culture that avoiding…

“Bully” is a Four-Letter Word
By Categories: Counselors, Creating community, Culture and Community, Educators, Emotionally safe schools, Parents, School climate, Social and Emotional Growth, Tolerance and Respect Leave a comment

Understanding the Concept to Manage the Territory by Dr. Jo Ann Freiberg Columbine was the crucible. Whether because of its scale or because it happened in an upper middle class suburban community, what occurred in Littleton, Colorado forever changed how schools and communities in the United States respond to “bullying.” Prior to this event, the…

Healthy vs. Unhealthy Friendships
By Categories: Counselors, Culture and Community, Educators, General Interest, Health and Safety, Parents, Social and Emotional Growth, Students, Tolerance and Respect 13 Comments

Learning to tell the difference Think about someone in your life who leaves an open space for you to be yourself. No one is more valuable. I would rather have a pillar of trust in my life than a pillar of strength. —Deepak Chopra Do you have friends who leave you feeling happy and uplifted?…

Perfectionism with Dr. Miriam Adderholdt
By Categories: Counselors, Culture and Community, Educators, General Interest, Health and Safety, Parents, Podcast, Self-care and Inspiration, Social and Emotional Growth, Students, Taking care of yourself Leave a comment

What’s Bad About Being Too Good? Episode Summary: In a culture that praises and rewards excellence and accomplishment, how can we avoid crossing the line to a dangerous desire for perfection? Dr. Jane Bluestein talks with Dr. Miriam Adderholdt about what perfectionism is, how it can negatively affect our social and emotional health, and the difference…

Bullying Podcast with Stan Davis
By Categories: Counselors, Creating community, Cultural Changes, Culture and Community, Educators, Emotionally safe schools, Health and Safety, Podcast, School climate, Schools in Society, Social and Emotional Growth, Tolerance and Respect Leave a comment

Learn what kids say works best, and what makes things worse Episode Summary: Dr. Jane Bluestein talks with author and retired therapist Stan Davis about the true value of the advice kids receive and the interventions they experience when they experience mistreatment at the hands of their peers. 

Are We Still Guilty of Gender Stereotyping?
By Categories: Counselors, Cultural Changes, Educators, Emotionally safe schools, Health and Safety, Parents, School climate, Social and Emotional Growth, Tolerance and Respect Leave a comment

A self-assessment survey for teachers, childcare workers, and others Ted, a 32-year-old math teacher, meets up with Jack, a 38-year-old PE teacher and Joyce, a 28-year-old science teacher in the hall on the first day of school. As they were discussing the recent departure of Debbie, the former school librarian, Ted suddenly notices Joan, the…