In this episode, I explore ways school counselors can help parents implement practical Social Emotional Learning (SEL) strategies at home. By building rapport with families and providing simple, screen-free activities, parents can support their children's emotional growth outside of school. I discuss using SEL choice boards, which offer a variety of activities for students to choose from, giving them ownership and encouraging skill development in a fun, engaging way. Plus, I share a variety of mindfulness, gratitude, stress relief, self-esteem, and self-regulation techniques that parents can easily integrate into their daily routines.

Some topics covered in this episode are:

• Mindfulness Activities: Deep belly breaths, butterfly breaths, 5 senses check-in, and guided meditations.

• Gratitude Practices: Scavenger hunts, letter writing, and creating gratitude lists.

• Stress Relief Ideas: Making stress balls, visualizing favorite places, and going for walks or runs.

• Boosting Self-Esteem: Collage-making with affirmations, writing songs, and painting future self-portraits.

• Self-Regulation Techniques: Acting out emotions, creating coping strategy toolboxes, and practicing deep breaths with a balloon.

Resources mentioned:

• Join my school counselor membership IMPACT here!

• If you are enjoying School Counseling Simplified please follow and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts!

• Check out this blog post on learning without screen time!

• Grab the counselor curriculum map freebie here!

• Grab the choice board, as mentioned in this episode, here!

Connect with Rachel:

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More About School Counseling Simplified:

School Counseling Simplified is a podcast offering easy to implement strategies for busy school counselors. The host, Rachel Davis from Bright Futures Counseling, shares tips and tricks she has learned from her years of experience as a school counselor both in the US and at an international school in Costa Rica.

You can listen to School Counseling Simplified on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and more!