Adoption Wise

Surprise! Your kids are now doing school at home. Have you gotten past the shock? You may be wondering just what a school day should look like. You may also be trying to figure out how much of the work planned by teachers needs to be completed.

Our guest today is Maria Hansen-Quine. She is a school counselor and the mom of nine kids including some who joined her family through adoption.

With insight into parenting and educating children with trauma histories, Maria shares her tips for navigating the uncharted waters of education during a pandemic.

Regulation Ideas:

Our Before-School Regulation Plan (using with her 4th grade boy)

- Keep it tight (no last minute changes)

- Pre-agreed upon breakfast (food schedule)

- Pre-agreed upon clothes laid out the night before

- No electronic OR playing with toys before school

- 10 minutes of jumping on the trampoline by themselves before breakfast (and if really heightened - after breakfast as well)

- For bad weather, use rocking chair or inside swing

- Pet Time (2-5 minutes)

- Times of connection with parent (2-5 minutes)

- If not regulated, does not start school

Throughout the Day Regulation Ideas

- Rocking chair for 10 minutes

- Running and/or walking

- Playing basketball outside or inside (shooting hoops)

- Music

- Chewing Gum and or hard candy to suck on

- Weighted blanket

- Drawing and/or coloring

- Keeping a Thankful Journal

- Bath/Hot Tub/Shower

- Sports and/or something active

- Weighted lap blanket

- Sensory Sock

- Jump Rope

- Pull Up Bar for the door

- Push Ups and/or sit-ups and/or wall push ups

- Planks

- Agreed Upon Time with Toys (Legos)

- Protein snack such as cheese, nuts, meat or eggs

- Physical Competitions

- Inside Hopscotch (use strong tape to mark it off)

- Chalking in the garage

- Bike ride/scootering/skateboard

- Daily writing positive self-affirming sentences, i.e. “I can stay calm. I can trust my family. I can do my school work and if I need help I will ask”

- Something non-electronic which your child normally enjoys (yet something which they will not get so completely lost in that stopping it will cause frustration)

- Breathing Apps (“Breathe” or “Calm Down”)

Relevant Links:

Maria's Blog

Connect with Maria on Instagram

Connect with Maria on Facebook

Brain Quest books*

*This is an affiliate link

 

Do you ever wish you could get a deeper understanding of what it's like to be adopted? Today's guest, Tara VanderWoude, is an adopted person and adoptive mom. She speaks with candor, humor, and passion about talking to our kids about adoption, the importance of having realistic expectations before adopting, returning to Korea with her family, and more.

Relevant Links:

Tara's Website

Connect with Tara on Facebook

Connect with Tara on Instagram

Do you ever wish you could get a deeper understanding of what it's like to be adopted? Today's guest, Tara VanderWoude, is an adopted person and adoptive mom. She speaks with candor, humor, and passion about talking to our kids about adoption, the importance of having realistic expectations before adopting, returning to Korea with her family, and more.

Relevant Links:

Tara's Website

Connect with Tara on Facebook

Connect with Tara on Instagram

Do you ever wish you could get a deeper understanding of what it's like to be adopted? Today's guest, Tara VanderWoude, is an adopted person and adoptive mom. She speaks with candor, humor, and passion about talking to our kids about adoption, the importance of having realistic expectations before adopting, returning to Korea with her family, and more.

Relevant Links:

Tara's Website

Connect with Tara on Facebook

Connect with Tara on Instagram

Mentor Moments give you a chance to join the conversation as we answer a listener question. These episodes guarantee we're providing the most helpful tools and resources for exactly where you are.

This week's question is:

How do I overcome my body's trauma response?

Share your experience and advice in our private Facebook group or ask your own question for a future episode. Click here to join.

Relevant Links

EMDR

Tension, Stress, and Trauma Release Exercises (TRE)

Mentor Moments give you a chance to join the conversation as we answer a listener question. These episodes guarantee we're providing the most helpful tools and resources for exactly where you are.

This week's question is:

How do I overcome my body's trauma response?

Share your experience and advice in our private Facebook group or ask your own question for a future episode. Click here to join.

Relevant Links

EMDR

Tension, Stress, and Trauma Release Exercises (TRE)

Mentor Moments give you a chance to join the conversation as we answer a listener question. These episodes guarantee we're providing the most helpful tools and resources for exactly where you are.

This week's question is:

How do I overcome my body's trauma response?

Share your experience and advice in our private Facebook group or ask your own question for a future episode. Click here to join.

Relevant Links

EMDR

Tension, Stress, and Trauma Release Exercises (TRE)

Do you ever wonder if you're expecting too much from your child? Or maybe too little? How can you support your child and have appropriate expectations? Eileen Devine, LCSW, joins us today to talk about radical acceptance from a neurobehavioral model. She offers practical tips you're doing to love.

Relevant Links:

FREE Parenting Reflection Journal

Eileen's Website

Connect with Eileen on FB

Connect with Eileen on Instagram

Rising Strong by Brene Brown*

The Adoption Connection Facebook Group

The Village

*This is an affiliate link

Do you ever wonder if you're expecting too much from your child? Or maybe too little? How can you support your child and have appropriate expectations? Eileen Devine, LCSW, joins us today to talk about radical acceptance from a neurobehavioral model. She offers practical tips you're doing to love.

Relevant Links:

FREE Parenting Reflection Journal

Eileen's Website

Connect with Eileen on FB

Connect with Eileen on Instagram

Rising Strong by Brene Brown*

The Adoption Connection Facebook Group

The Village

*This is an affiliate link

Do you ever wonder if you're expecting too much from your child? Or maybe too little? How can you support your child and have appropriate expectations? Eileen Devine, LCSW, joins us today to talk about radical acceptance from a neurobehavioral model. She offers practical tips you're doing to love.

Relevant Links:

FREE Parenting Reflection Journal

Eileen's Website

Connect with Eileen on FB

Connect with Eileen on Instagram

Rising Strong by Brene Brown*

The Adoption Connection Facebook Group

The Village

*This is an affiliate link