Coping Skills
Janine Halloran
Coping Skills Practice: Relaxation

Exploring different coping strategies helps us expand our child’s toolkit of strategies that work. But sometimes, it’s a challenge to get kids to try new skills. In this summer series, Janine tries to make it easier by walking you through six different strategies which she invites you to try with your child. Practice each one a few times to see if it’s a strategy that your child likes, and if they want to add it into their coping skills toolkit.

In today’s episode…

Coping Skills
Janine Halloran
Coping Skills Practice: Deep Breathing

Using different breathing techniques can be such a useful tool to have ready in our tool kits to use with our children or even ourselves. In this year's summer series, Janine introduces us to a selection of different breathing techniques which she invites you to have a go, practice and see which style works best for you and your child. 

In today’s episode, Janine…

Coping Skills
Janine Halloran
Adult Coping Skills: Mental Health Strategies ...

We talk so much about the kids but what coping skills do you use as the parent or the professional who works with kids? This episode is specially for the grown ups! 

In this episode Janine speaks about :

Janine Halloran, Coping Skills
Janine Halloran
Practical Executive Function Strategies: An ...

The brain has to learn really specific skills when a child is little, like learning to pack a bag, organize themselves, tidy their room, personal hygiene, learning how to get a task done as well as learning how to finish a task too. These are all such key skills and are often learnt as a child goes through life and education and learning them well will make life easier!

In this episode Carrie and Janine discuss:

Coping Skills
Janine Halloran
When Should I Practice Coping Skills with Kids?

Have you ever wondered when is a good time to practice coping skills with your child? This is a really good question to consider and how this may look in your week. The first step is for the adult and child to be emotionally ready and calm and from this point, new skills can be learned.  

In this episode Janine speaks about:

Using Art and Poetry to Explore Perspective Taking with Kids

Last year, I did a whole series of perspective taking on the Calm & Connected Podcast, but I wanted to revisit the topic and discuss two other ways I like to explore perspective-taking with kids. Why do I keep talking about this topic? It’s a building block for empathy, a skill we all want to build in our kids. For two more ways to work on perspective-taking using art and poetry, listen to the podcast

Using Dominoes to Show How Kindness Can Spread

In this podcast episode, I share this simple yet powerful visual activity to help kids see how kind acts can spread and make a positive impact. I also share some wisdom from Dr. Alan Chu from the University of Wisconsin Green Bay about the ripple effect of sending gratitude letters, and small acts of kindness. Take a listen to the podcast:

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Unique Ways to Keep Kids Busy This Summer

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A social distancing summer looks super different, right? Back in January, I had major plans to go to museums and take day trips with my kids. Most of that has gone out of the window.

What are we doing instead? Instead, we're choosing to explore outdoor spots that are new to us and close by. Last week, we went on a hike to a place we'd never been before, and they were limiting how many people were going in, so that felt safe in terms of our ability to keep the appropriate social distance.

I wanted to hear ideas from others with unique ways to keep kids busy this summer, and I got a ton of responses.

Channeling Big Emotions into Positive Energy

There are a lot of big emotions happening right now, and I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to share a coping skill that I wrote about in the Coping Skills for Teens Workbook - Channeling Big Emotions into Positive Energy. Take a listen to the podcast as I read this section of the book. My hope is that you are inspired to use your energy in a positive way.

Ways to Stay Connected Even When We're Apart

Staying in touch and talking with others can increase our joy and lessen our sorrow. This time in our lives is challenging, and continuing to give and get support from friends and family is a way to cope with all the stress we feel. In this podcast episode, I discuss some ideas for keeping in touch with one another even when we’re physically apart. There are lots of ways to stay connected even when we can’t share the same space. Take a listen!

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New Resources on YouTube coming soon!

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New Resources on YouTube coming soon!

Over the last few weeks, I’ve been getting requests for play ideas and coping skills kids can use, so I’ve been thinking about ways that I can get more information and resources available.

I’m going to be making short videos on YouTube with simple play ideas and simple coping skills kids can use. They are kid-appropriate, so they can watch and then try the play idea or do the coping skill.

© Encourage Play, LLC / Coping Skills for Kids 2021