FeelLinks Blog

Hands-on learning is such a powerful tool that engages children in active learning. Here are just some of the reasons hands-on learning at home, in the classroom, and out in our world, becomes the most important way for our unique and diverse children to engage, participate, retain, and use their critical thinking skills!

Children are often seen as resilient - capable of bouncing back after setbacks with ease. However, this perception can lead adults to being dismissive or downplay children's emotions. It's critical to recognize that children experience a wide range of emotions just like adults, and these emotions play a crucial role in their development and well-being.

There is a close connection between mental health and emotional intelligence skills. I will highlight the impact in which  understanding and managing our own emotions, and the emotions of others, greatly contribute to our overall mental well-being.

It's best to begin teaching our children self-care from an early age. This will foster greater self-awareness about their own physical, mental, and emotional needs. We should be teaching and encouraging our children to use healthy coping strategies in hopes they will use them throughout childhood, adolescence, and carry them through adulthood.

When we respond to children with patience and compassion, and continuously model healthy strategies, we create a sense of belonging, safety and security. As co-regulation occurs, a child's incredible developing brain, literally creates new pathways and they discover their own capabilities in using self-soothing strategies and eventually learn self-regulation.

Understanding emotional intelligence is important for all parents and caretakers. What is it? Why is it important? How can we teach it to our children? Knowledge is power!

Tuning in to our child's underlying emotions can help parents better understand their outward behaviors. Take a closer look at how to be more OPEN with this practice.

As parents, we teach our children to apologize to siblings, parents and friends when they have hurt them in some way. Parents, when you make a mistake, do you apologize to your child or do you resist doing so? Today I discuss why it is important to model the same behavior we are expecting from our children - and apologizing is one of them.

"Name it to tame it" was coined by Dr. Daniel Siegel. When we are experiencing heightened emotions, naming our feelings calms our emotional response. Teaching our children to accurately understand and label their feelings are the first steps in supporting them to be better problem solvers.

Self-care is vital for our mental health and well-being in order to be our best selves for our children, partners, friends, and more. Recharge. Rejuvenate. Fuel up.