MySoetlief

Regular water and food intake may help your child regulate emotions and behaviour while allowing for greater school performance.
By – Cynthia Linde

As a parent my desire for my children is to achieve the highest bracket in Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs – Self-actualization. For my kids to reach their full potential Maslow cautions us to start by laying the correct foundation by ensuring that they drink water, eat, and get enough sleep.

What does research suggest?
Research has produced results over several years proving the importance between water, food, regulation, sleep, and the effect it has on a child’s emotions and behavior. For the purpose of this article I want to discuss in short the importance of water and food.

Water
1. Water and the body
Water is the largest single constituent of the human body, making up approximately 75% of a child’s human body.

2. Avoid dehydration factors.
Children need to drink water to stay hydrated and avoid drinks such as juice, tea and coffee, soft drinks and energy drinks that may further dehydration. Pure clean water is the best way to keep your child hydrated.

3. Water and feelings/emotions
Body water deficits may cause fight and flight mode leading to increased feelings of anxiety and depression as well as other symptoms. A child may feel tired, dizzy, lightheaded, having a dry mouth, lips and eyes (scratching and irritation).

4. Water and academic performance
Increased drinking water quantity may also improve educational outcomes through the effect of hydration on attention, concentration, and short-term memory. A BBC study found that students drinking water during an exam or test performed, on average, 5% better compared to those who didn’t.

Food
Regular, healthy, small snacks every 2 – 3 hours will provide your child’s body with the necessary fuel for body and brain.
I work mostly with children who expereince negative emotions and/or exhibit negative behaviour. I have found small nutritious snacks every 2 hours to be extremely effective in regulating a child’s emotions and behaviour.

1. Food emotions and behavior
Studies have found that when children pass the 2–3-hour mark since their last meal they start to expereince others as judgement, criticizing and attacking. No surprise that a child that has not eaten for several hours may end up fighting and exhibiting negative behaviour towards friends, fellow students, teachers, and parents.

2. Food and friends
A UK study found hanger (hunger+anger) to be real – hunger was reported to be associated with great levels of anger and irritability and lower levels of pleasure.

I have found children in my office to find very little pleasure from highly pleasurable situations, environments, and social interaction when they don’t snack regularly. Others are experienced as negative towards them and even in interaction they experience others as judgmental, rude, and unfair.

Experts say that negative emotions and their effect is substantial, even when considering the individual’s life.

3. Food and academic performance
Many studies have proven that the consumption of breakfast, regular snacks, protein, and fruit was found to have higher academic achievement.

A 2021 study found the order of a meal may impact blood glucose levels – it is advised protein and/or fat be eaten before carbohydrates – a sudden carb spike (from) may cause tiredness and fatigue shortly after eating it.

Proteins can raise a child’s deep thinking and improve memory.

Research recommends steering your child away from saturated fats since it reduces brain signals for thinking and memory.

Conclusion
I have been working with kids for 25year. In the past 10 years I have realized the immense effect water and food have on a child’s emotions, social interaction, and academics.

A child is a holistic being and as a parent I strive towards balance.

Considering all the overwhelming evidence from research and experience in my work and my own children, I believe Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs to be true - water and food forms the foundation of a child’s ability to reach actualization and fulfilment in life.

Next time your child is unhappy, sad, upset, angry or irritable start giving them water and food – you might be surprised when last they consumed it.

Please take note: I am not and by no means claim to be a nutritionist. The advice and recommendations made were extracted from research. It is advised that you consult a nutritionist if uncertain, concerned or need professional guidance.

See what Soetlief Founder, Cynthia, has to share with us today!



THE UNCOMFORTABLE NEW SHOE – BLISTERS & PLASTERS

You're trying to walk in it like normal.
But your feet seem to cringe, shift, and move in a different direction than the shoe.
You might even need a plaster or two for the blisters.
I even got a cramp in my toes once from gripping to the bottom of the shoe.
The thing with new shoes is you must wear it, for it to become comfortable.

If your child started or ended day2 of school, leaving you with the feeling of the uncomfortable shoe; read on...

When you wake up your child for school.
1. Smile
2. Talk slow in an almost singing voice. It has a calming effect. Avoid hype.
3. Be careful not to pitch. It creates anxiety in a child.
4. Keep continual eye contact. It grounds a child.
5. Hold the hand. Lightly massage it while talking. Help to calm.
6. Encourage your child to move and talk slowly and make eye contact.
7. Be sure to make a joke or 2. Laughing relieves tension.
8. When your child becomes emotionally overwhelmed and start to cry and cling, we tend to want to draw their attention away from mommy to other things. This scares them even more.
Ground them. Hold the hand. If need be, hold the cheeks between your hands. Talk slowly. Force the child to look into your eyes. Assure them you will be back.
Be sure to communicate the order of the day in detail to give them predictability. Some kids struggle with this. Draw pictures to explain if you must.
9. Connect the child with the teacher or a friend.
If the child is emotional connect the child to the teacher. And if you need to turn and walk...walk.
10. If morning trauma continues be sure to read the other posts.

Have a look at the MySoetlief online program - www.mysoetlief.com

See what Soetlief Founder, Cynthia, has to share with us today!
A new pair of shoes can be uncomfortable. The only way to get comfortable in it, is to WEAR IT.Anything new brings the unfamiliar; leaving one feeling uncomfortable and sometimes a little scared because you don’t know what to do or expect next. It’s the same for the first day of school. Truth be told, it can take up to 10 weeks to adapt in a new environment. Some parents will tell you it takes their child the first 6 months to adapt, then the child enjoys school, only to start new year again. There are things that you can do to make that new pair of shoes sit comfortably, a little quicker.
MAKE THE UNFAMILIAR, FAMILIAR.
1. Get a hold of a class photo, with names, ASAP. Request it from the teacher, an assistant-teacher or class-representative. If you can’t get it today, then send the request to at least have it ready tomorrow afternoon.
2. Have your child name the children in the class. Challenge your child to inquire from the kids he/she couldn’t name. Don’t reveal the list. The list is simply to ensure your child got the name right.
3. Sit your child down with a blank paper and crayon and ask him/her to draw the layout of the class; my-chair, friends at the same table, teacher’s table. Write the names of the kids the child knows and where they sit. Challenge him to inquire the names from the children he couldn’t identify. Tomorrow afternoon you continue to complete the map. This will help your child to become aware of his environment and come to know it. The focus is on the environment and focusing on specific outcomes, allowing a shift to the rational thinking and planning, while giving emotions a rest.
4. If you dropped your child off at a specific spot at school, then have the child draw a map of the path from where you left him to the class. It’s important to get the child to fill in as much detail along the path. Tomorrow morning those will be the familiar objects he will focus on to stay grounded and focused on his way to class. At the same time ask him to look for more objects along the path tomorrow morning, so he can help you understand a little more. Make it about him helping you to know and understand, so you don’t get lost if you must go to his class. If you will start out with this today, it will take you a long way, quickly.

Social and Emotional Skills Development for Kids | Soetlief Soetlief is an online social and emotional skills program, aimed at equipping your children with the tools to identify, communicate and control emotions.

See what Soetlief Founder, Cynthia, has to share with us today

PRACTICE GOING TO SCHOOL!
Practice makes perfect – why not practice going to school?

Practicing going to school has the following advantages:
• Make the unfamiliar familiar
• Create an opportunity to talk about real fears and practice
problem-solving skills.

Practice going to school is more like a full-dress rehearsal – these are the steps:
1. Set the alarm
2. Get dressed
3. Go through the morning routine
4. Get dressed
5. Drive to school
6. Get out at the exact spot where you will drop or accompany
your child, on the first morning
7. If the school gates are open, speak to a security guard, explain
your visit and venture and ask for permission to enter
8. Talk to your child about the environment

A 2nd dress rehearsal could be the child talking you through the steps as it is practiced.

Enjoy the dress rehearsal!!!

Have a look at our online programs – www.mysoetlief.com

WHY?
It provides - structure, interactive activities, parental involvement, and the skills kids need.
***Effectively used with children on autism spectrum

WHEN?
27 & 28 November 2020 (Register by 20 Nov)

HOW?
Training via Zoom

PRICE?
R1800 (2-day training / pp) + R2250 (User License)

WHAT?
Topics to be covered:
• Self-awareness
• Parent collaboration – getting parents involved
• Mind-map & Mathematical Process approach of MySoetlief
• Characters & Animation – Sensory and Personality Profiles
• Animated-world and Real-world
• Continuity
• Symbolic Representation
• Formation of a shared language (child, therapist, & parent)
• Internal locus of control
• Incorporating MySoetlief into therapy
• Ethics in the use of MySoetlief as a tool in therapy

MySoetlief License includes a support package
1. Technical portal and lesson support
2. 3-month Question/Answer support

27 & 28 November 2020
MySoetlief a Therapy Toolbox
Be trained in the use of MySoetlief as a therapy tool

Presented by – Cynthia Linde Founder MySoetlief / BA (Hons) Psychology
Training via Zoom
(CPD applied for)
R1800 (2-day training per person) + R2250 (User License)

MySoetlief is an Online, E-Learn, Social and Emotional Learning Program, aimed at children 3–9yrs

Teachers, Psychologists, Social-Workers, Counselors, Occupational Therapists, and Speech Therapists

Topics to be covered:
• Self-awareness
• Parent collaboration – getting parents involved
• Mind-map & Mathematical Process approach of MySoetlief
• Characters & Animation – Sensory and Personality Profiles
• Animated-world and Real-world
• Continuity
• Symbolic Representation – deception and truth
• Formation of a shared language among child, therapist, and parent
• Internal locus of control
• Incorporating MySoetlief into therapy
• Ethics in the use of MySoetlief as a tool in therapy

*for more information and registration email – [email protected]

MySoetlief License includes a support package
3-month Question/Answer support

CPD (applied for)

For whom is the training?
* Therapists
* Child professionals
* Those who prefer structure and preparation for sessions/intervention

For more information email [email protected] / [email protected]

27 & 28 November 2020
MySoetlief a Therapy Toolbox

Be trained in the use of MySoetlief as a therapy tool

Presented by – Cynthia Linde Founder MySoetlief / BA (Hons) Psychology
Training via Zoom
(CPD applied for)
R1800 (2-day training per person) + R2250 (User License)

MySoetlief is an Online, E-Learn, Social and Emotional Learning Program, aimed at children 3–9yrs

Teachers, Psychologists, Social-Workers, Counselors, Occupational Therapists, and Speech Therapists

Topics to be covered:
• Self-awareness
• Parent collaboration – getting parents involved
• Mind-map & Mathematical Process approach of MySoetlief
• Characters & Animation – Sensory and Personality Profiles
• Animated-world and Real-world
• Continuity
• Symbolic Representation – deception and truth
• Formation of a shared language among child, therapist, and parent
• Internal locus of control
• Incorporating MySoetlief into therapy
• Ethics in the use of MySoetlief as a tool in therapy

*for more information and registration email – [email protected]

MySoetlief License includes a support package
3-month Question/Answer support