PEP Talks - A Parent Education Program

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Warning: This episode discusses child abuse and child sexual assault. 

In a shocking statistic, Shelby County, Tennessee doubles the national average in child abuse reports, with nearly two out of 10 children becoming a victim of child sexual abuse before they reach the age of 18. Conversations about child abuse can be challenging for families. Where does a parent begin?

Kris Crim, The Director of Operations with the Memphis Child Advocacy Center, discusses the organization's community-wide approach to combatting the alarming trend and has some recommendations for parents on both prevention and intervention. 

Throughout this conversation, Crim recommends a direct approach to prevention through age-appropriate conversations with children. He describes interventions for families and one place they can receive every support a child might need, the Child Advocacy Center. 

Erin and Ja’Neair further discuss age-appropriate conversations with children, and encourage parents to get immediate support, when warranted.

Resources:

• NCAC Book Recommendations
• Resources for Parents

Interested in supporting the Child Advocacy Center of Memphis? Individuals or organizations can host a stewards of children training, volunteer, host a bear drive, or give to the wishlist. 

Need help on how to report abuse? Click here.

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Emotional Intelligence, or EQ, is the ability to monitor our own and other’s feelings and emotions and use that information to guide our thinking and action. EQ helps us express our emotions, develop and maintain relationships, cope with challenges, and make effective decisions.

Growing up, we're all made aware of the importance of having a high IQ, but as Erin and Ja'Neair discuss, EQ may be just as important in society today. They discuss how to know if someone lacks emotional intelligence and give practical strategies to help children build emotional intelligence specific to social awareness, self-awareness, and self-regulation and relationships skills.

We're peeling back the layers on children's EQ in a heartfelt conversation that promises to leave you with actionable insights. 

Check out these resources:

• Improving Emotional Intelligence
• 15 TED Talks on Emotional Intelligence
• PEP Talks Callback: Setting Boundaries in the New Year (an important step for having high EQ!)

Interested in another topic? Let us know what you’d like to hear more about at [email protected]

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This week on PEP Talks, Erin and Ja’Neair speak with a local mother and community advocate for connectedness, Liz Brock. Liz shares about her desire through her faith convictions to connect with other women in the community and how it led her to create “Craving Far More,” a weekly coffee shop meet-up for women to connect and discuss life together.

As the group discusses connectedness and the importance of belonging, they are reminded of the importance of resilience and being uncomfortable in order to achieve connection and community. 

Erin and Ja’Neair talk with Liz about the integral role parents play in modeling social relationships for their children.

Resources: 

Mental Health America: Connect with Others

Mindwise: The importance of Social Connection

Check out Liz Brock’s Far More podcast

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This week on the PEP Talks Podcast, our Go First series returns with our very own Ja'Neair Johnson, who shares her personal journey with adoption. Ja’Neair discusses  her childhood experience, when she found out she was adopted, navigating the experience through adulthood and finally when she finally found her biological father.

She talks about her own identity, and the desire to know who and where she came from. Ja’Neair encourages those who have the desire to know to their biological families to go and look for them, as she feels this helped her in her own identity and healing. She also provides tips to parents who may need support with helping their adopted children.

Want us to explore certain topics? Reach out to us at [email protected].

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This week on PEP Talks, Erin and Ja’Neair meet with a licensed professional counselor to gain insights on trends within mental health. Misty Smith, NCC, LPC-MHSP, has been counseling families since 2007, using an integrated, holistic approach specific to the unique needs and goals of her clients.  

Throughout the conversation, Misty discusses mental health trends, based on her clinical experience with families, adolescents and children. She gives insights on anxiety and depression and discusses tips and recommendations to assist families. Misty tells families the most important key factor in finding the right therapist is identifying one who connects with their child or teens. 

Misty's Recommended Resources:

• Signs Your Child Should See a Therapist
• How to Find the Right Therapist
• The Power of Showing Up: How Parental Presence Shapes Who Our Kids Become & How Their Brains Get Wired (a book by Dr. Daniel J. Siegel & Dr. Tina Bryson)

Additional Resource Mentioned in the Show:

• 99 Coping Skills

Want us to explore certain topics? Reach out to us at [email protected]

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On this episode of the PEP Talks Podcast, Ja’Neair and Erin welcome Dr. Carren Marvin and her lovable puppet, Merv, to talk all things Self-Control. Parents with elementary students may want to turn this episode on with their kiddos as Merv struggles with his self-control throughout the episode. 

In this conversation, Erin and Ja’Neair explore self-control with Dr. Marvin, what she is seeing in the elementary school, and why it’s important for all ages. Dr. Marvin discusses the potential long-term implications of lack of impulse control on adolescents and adults, and the connection to later addiction. However, the group is quick to remind parents not to get discouraged, as they discuss it’s never too late to teach these life skills. Dr. Marvin encourages parents to support their children and gives practical ways to do so in whatever stage they are in.

Did you enjoy this episode? Let us know at [email protected]

Resources from Dr. Marvin & Merv:

• Parental Guidance for Teaching Self Control (especially for teenagers)
• 12 Tips for Teaching Self Control

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Welcome back PEP Talkers! Erin and Ja’Neair ring in the new year with a conversation with Erica Peyton about setting boundaries. 

Erica Peyton, Arlington High School Counselor and advisor for the Arlington High Collegiate Academy, chats about how to set boundaries for our children in a way that allows thems to develop self-management skills and further encourage autonomy and development, all while building empathy. 

Erica emphasizes modeling desired behavior and setting boundaries as an adult. Ja’Neair and Erin reflect on setting boundaries, and discuss what boundaries might look like for elementary, middle, and high school students. 

Erica’s Recommended Resources:

Teaching Kids about Empathy

How to Set Healthy Boundaries with Kids

How to Talk So Kids Will Listen & Listen So Kids Will Talk

Boundaries with Kids: How Healthy Choices Grow Healthy Children

The Whole-Brain Child: 12 Revolutionary Strategies to Nurture Your Child's Developing Mind

Other:

Setting Boundaries Worksheet (by Therapist Aid)

Follow the @theconsciousparentinghub on Instagram for tips and strategies for speaking to your children, discipline strategies, etc. 

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Making tough choices is hard. Sometimes parents are unsure about where to start in helping their student with tough choices. You aren't alone, parent! In this episode of PEP Talks, Ja’Neair and Erin discuss where to begin with supporting students with difficult decisions by exploring six simple skill building strategies. 

The strategies referenced throughout this conversation are part of a social emotional learning curriculum by the Counselor Chelsey and are a CASEL aligned tool for responsible decision making. The strategies discussed include:

1. Waiting until you are calm,
2. Thinking about all the options,
3. Making a pro and cons list,
4. Thinking about past decisions,
5. Thinking about how you will feel later, and
6. Talking with someone. 

Resources:

Counselor Chelsey’s Social Emotional Learning Resources

What is CASEL?

Social Emotional Learning at the State Level

Books about Responsible Decision Making

How did we do? Let us know your thoughts. Email us at [email protected]

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PEP Talks brings you a new series where guests "Go First" in talking about their own experiences with an adversity or mental health challenge. In our inaugural Go First episode, PEP Talks co-host Erin Williams describes  her experience with lifelong anxiety. What began in childhood has continued throughout her life, as a professional, daughter and even in motherhood as she deals with postpartum anxiety.

Erin gives her go-to tools for in-the-moment anxiety and practical preventative measures she uses to proactively regulate herself, such as deep breathing, talking with safe people, therapy, journaling and managing her lifestyle through exercise, sleep and nutrition. She also discusses simple tools for "checking in" and ways parents can validate and reassure their anxious children.

Erin's Personal Recommended Resources for Anxiety:

• Building a Non Anxious Life (Book)
• The Body Keeps the Score (Book)
• Breathing Techniques
• Therapist Approved Natural Remedies for Anxiety

Recommended Tools & Strategies for Children:

• Coping Skills for Kids on Calming Anxiety: Strategies, Skill Building, and Books
• 10 Grounding Activities by Counselor Keri
• 39 Journal Prompts for Teens with Anxiety

Let us know what you thought about our Go First series! Email us at: [email protected]

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Erin and Ja’Neair speak with an expert on Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD). Temetric Reeves, owner of Accent ADHD Services, LLC, discusses all things ADHD and gives insight and wisdom from her personal experience as a mother and from her expertise in her work as an occupational therapist, licensed social worker, and ADHD Coach. 

Throughout this conversation, Temetric describes ADHD from a strength perspective and both encourages and educates parents on how to help their students thrive with ADHD. Ja’Neair and Erin reflect on early intervention, and remind families it is never too late to get support for their students.

Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

• Accent ADHD Services
• CHADD
• Understood.Org
• Attention Deficit Disorder Association (ADDA)
• ADDitude Magazine
• Temetric Reeves' Chaos Free Family