Michelle Riley Tuition

Happy Easter! 🐣 Hoping you all enjoy some quality time with your loved ones ❤️ x

What a lovely idea…

Social media can be fun, exciting, even helpful. But at times, it can also fuel self-doubt. Here are a few ways parents can support their teenagers to have a healthier relationship with social media.

Take social media seriously
Don't underestimate its impact on teens. Online interactions-likes, breakups, and negative comments-feel very real to them. Listen carefully and avoid dismissing their experiences.

Encourage critical thinking
Ask your child what might be cropped or edited out of "perfect" posts. Discuss deeper questions: Are friends really as they appear online? Are you? How do likes and social media affect your mood?

Model a healthy response to failure
Show kids that failure is okay. Be open about your own setbacks and treat them as learning experiences, not something to hide.

Praise (and show) effort
Recognize your child's hard work, regardless of the outcome. Share your own efforts, even when they don't succeed it sets a powerful example.

Take a "social holiday"
If social media is overwhelming your child, suggest a break and take one yourself. You might find it just as challenging!

Trust people, not pictures
Don't rely on social media to gauge your child's well-being. If they seem unhappy, check in. Let them know it's safe to talk: "I'm here, and I love you. Let's work through this together."

February is Boost Self-Esteem Month. Save this post to read through more of our resources for helping kids develop healthy self-esteem and confidence:
https://childmind.org/topics/confidence-and-self-esteem/?utm_source=Source&utm_medium=Directmessage&utm_campaign=Manychat

Apologizing can be a good thing—a sign that a child is empathetic and has strong social skills. But saying you’re sorry too much can backfire. Starting a statement by saying, “Sorry, but… ” or “I might be wrong, but …” may feel like being polite, but it undermines what's about to said.

Helping your daughter drop unnecessary apologies and begin using clear, direct language will give her a powerful tool for success in the future.

Here's how parents help girls learn to speak more confidently:

Set an example
Tune into your own linguistic habits. Girls who hear parents-especially moms-over-apologizing or using hedging language are likely to pick up the habit themselves.
Examples of common hedges include:
• "Excuse me, can I ask..."
• " might be wrong, but
• "I don't know, but..."

Praise directness
Instead of overprizing politeness, help your daughter focus on being direct first, and polite second. Using clear language demonstrates confidence and makes it more likely her point will be heard. For example, compare the following responses:
• Direct response: "I know how to do this, would you like me to show you?"
• Indirect response: "Sorry, I'm not really an expert, but maybe I can help?"

Disagreement is key
It can feel scary to commit to a statement that others might not like, but learning to be comfortable with disagreement and debate will make her more resilient and give her a healthy toolkit for managing adversity in the future.

Keep apologies real
Of course, not all apologies are unnecessary, but it's important to know the difference between situations that call for a real, heartfelt apology and times when she's just saying sorry out of habit. For example, if she has a question during a presentation in class there's no reason to begin her statement with "I'm sorry, can I ask a question?"

Read the full article:
https://childmind.org/article/why-girls-apologize-too-much/

Panic Attacks and How to Treat Them - Child Mind Institute A panic attack is an explosion of frightening physical symptoms that aren't themselves harmful, but the avoidance they inspire can be seriously impairing.

Social media is taking over the lives of our children and young adults.

TV, video games, phones, tablets, and social media—there are so many ways screen time can feel like it's taking over our lives. Here are age-specific tips to limit kids' screen use.

Limit Exposure
The American Academy of Pediatrics says screens can be beneficial for facilitating video chats with loved ones but recommends avoiding television and other entertainment media for children under 18 months.

Lead by Example Early
Even before your child has a device, model good behavior. Don’t check messages at the dinner table and focus on people, not your phone. Kids are always watching and learn by observing you.

Don’t Underestimate the Value of Traditional Toys and Open Spaces
Kids need unstructured “free play” to explore, create, and make decisions at their own pace. It encourages creativity, sharing, and social skills — something no app can replace.

For more tips and strategies to help your children navigate the digital world:
https://childmind.org/techcheck/

Children with social anxiety experience aren’t just shy. They experience intense worry about embarrassing themselves or being judged negatively by others. Group therapy is one treatment option for children with social anxiety disorder that allows them to practice social skills in a group format.

Social Anxiety Groups offered through the Child Mind Institute start in October.

For more information:
https://childmind.org/care/areas-of-expertise/anxiety-disorders-center/social-anxiety-groups/