The stages of grief

Understanding the stages of grief may help you understand your colleague or a child in your class who lost a loved one's behavior better.  Let's have a look at the stages of grief:

Natural depression treatments

Depression is a reality and can affect young and old.  How do I help my child if I detect depression?  Here are a few natural depression treatments:

1.  Get in a routine:  A daily schedule can help to keep your child on track and feel more safe.

2.  Set goals:  What can your child look forward to?  A family holiday at the end of the year?  Dinner and a movie after a tough test?  Goals an rewards are a wonderful way to keep your child motivated and on track.

3.  Exercise:  Apart from the feel-good chemicals (endorphins) released during exercise, it is also one of the best ways of coping with day to day stresses.  Exercise done in groups will also aid a child's social connections.

4.  Eat healthy:  A healthy diet is crucial in helping your child's body cope with day to day challenges.  There's also evidence that foods with omega-3 fatty acids (such as salmon and tuna) and folic acid (such as spinach and avocado) cold help ease depression.

5.  Get enough sleep:  Let your child go to bed and get up at the same time every day.  Take all the distractions out of the bedroom - no computer or TV.

6.  Try something new:  A new hobby or activity is a great way to get out of the rut of depression.  Go to a museum, take swimming lessons, read interesting books etc.

Challenges our Gr. 4 - 7 kids are facing

Dear Parent and Teacher,

Here is some insight on the most common challenges our intermediate phase children are facing:

1.  Self-esteem:
Children tend to compare themselves to their peers at this age, and he/she may decide that she just doesn't measure up to others who he/she believes are smarter, prettier and more popular.  Help children to focus on their talents and to find activities which they enjoy.

2.  Academic Pressure:
The jump from foundation phase to intermediate phase are quite big for most kids.  Resist the temptation to push a child to the point that he/she can't enjoy the intermediate school experience, because he/she are so concerned about success or failure.  They still have a lot of growing up to do.  Save the college/university talk for high school.

3.  Drama: 
Bullying and other antisocial behaviors tend to peak in the intermediate phase. Be on the look out for mean children, enemies and bullies, and arm children with ideas on how to deal with them, who to turn to for help, and how to move on.

4.  Temptation:
Having frequent conversations on what's right and wrong, what's dangerous and why, and what you expect and hope for the child, is a good way to start in helping children resist the temptations of smoking, drinking, drugs and other dangerous behaviors.