Emotional Support Strategies

PRESENTATIONS

ARTICLES FOR PARENTS

VIDEOS

EMOTIONAL SUPPORT STRATEGIES

(For Parents and for Kids)

PRESENTATIONS

The Power of the Words You Choose to Use

Lydia Soifer, PhD

VIDEO

Materials:
—Positive Things to Say to Kids (JPG Format)
—Positive Words and Phrases (JPG Format)

Book Recommendations:
—Teaching Kids to Be Kind (A Guide to Raising Compassionate and Caring Children), by Rachel Tomlinson (2020)
—The Best Colors, by Barbara Taff, an inspirational gift to pre-school and elementary age children, their parents, and teachers about discovering friendship and acceptance through the mixing of primary colors.

More About this Presentation

More About Lydia Soifer

Sponsored by Wilton Youth Council in partnership with Wilton Library and SPED*NET Wilton

Returning to Class and Campus: Strategies to Ease Anxiety and Improve Mental Health Following the Pandemic

Jane Thierfeld Brown, EdD

VIDEO

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More About Jane Thierfeld Brown

Co-sponsored by Wilton Public Schools, Wilton Youth Council and Darien SEPAC

Breaking Free of Child Anxiety and OCD

Eli R. Lebowitz, PhD

VIDEO

Dr. Lebowitz’s Book: Breaking Free of Child Anxiety and OCD (A Scientifically Proven Program for Parents)

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More About Eli Lebowitz

Co-sponsored by Wilton Youth Council, Wilton Public Schools, and Wilton SEPTA

Understanding and Addressing Your Child’s Stress and Anxiety During the Pandemic

Mary Murphy, PhD

VIDEO

Materials: Stress and Anxiety During the Pandemic (PDF Format)

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Co-sponsored by SoNo Branch Library: SPED MATTERS

“Put Your Oxygen Mask On First”
Simple Parenting Tools
for Complex Little Kids

David P. Sylvestro, MA, CSP

VIDEO

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Presented by SPED*NET Wilton in partnership with Wilton Public Schools

RULER: Recognizing, Understanding, Labeling, Expressing, and Regulating Emotions

Elena White, Miller-Driscoll School Counselor

Jennifer Ringelheim, Cider Mill 3rd Grade Teacher,
Co-Chair District SEL Committee

VIDEO

Materials:
RULER Skills Overview for Families (PDF Format)
RULER webinar presentation (PDF Format)

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Presented by Wilton Public Schools and Wilton Youth Council in partnership with SPED*NET Wilton and Wilton SEPTA

Anxiety in the Time of COVID-19:
“How Can We Help Our Children?”

David P. Sylvestro, MA, CSP

VIDEO

Materials: Helping Our Children with COVID-19 Anxiety (PDF Format)

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Co-sponsored by SoNo Branch Library: SPED MATTERS

Coping With Uncertainty As School Begins:
What We Can Do to Help Our Kids and Ourselves

Mary Murphy, PhD

VIDEO

Materials: Coping As School Begins
(PDF Format)

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Co-sponsored by Wilton Youth Council and Weston Youth Services

The Path Back to School:
Supporting Families and Children for the Next Transition

Justyna Balzar, MEd, BCBA

VIDEO

Materials: Back to School (PDF Format)

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Coping with Uncertainty and Loss:
What We Can Do to Help Our Kids and Ourselves

Mary Murphy, PhD

VIDEO

Materials: Coping with Uncertainty and Loss (PDF Format)

Relevant Material: Resources for Dealing with Grief and Loss (PDF Format)

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More About Mary Murphy

Co-sponsored by Wilton Youth Council and Weston Youth Services

Mindful Parents, Mindful Families:
Effective Parenting in Trying Times

Tracey Masella, LCSW

VIDEO

Materials: Effective Parenting (PDF Format)

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Co-sponsored by Wilton Youth Council and Silver Hill Hospital

Academic Coaching:
Empowering Students with ADHD and
Executive Function Challenges

Kelly Schwenkmeyer, MEd

VIDEO

Materials: Academic Coaching (PDF Format)

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Preparing Your Child for a Socially Successful Holiday Season

Meghan Cave, MEd, BCBA

VIDEO

Materials:  Preparing for the Holidays
(PDF Format)

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More About Meghan Cave

ARTICLES FOR PARENTS

by Eve Kessler, Esq.
for Smart Kids with LD

Unstable emotions and behaviors underlie several learning disabilities and mental health conditions. Dialectical Behavior Therapy has been used successfully with adolescents struggling to regulate attention, mood, anxiety levels, substance use, and eating habits, as well as those who have suicidal thoughts and self-injurious behaviors.

ARTICLE

by Caroline Adams Miller, MAPP, with Eve Kessler, Esq.
for Smart Kids with LD

In a well-intentioned—but misguided—effort to protect our children from failure, we’ve created a generation lacking the skills to overcome adversity. But it’s never too late to change the dynamic. Here’s how to get started helping your children develop grit, the quality that will allow them to live their best lives.

ARTICLE

by Eve Kessler, Esq.
for Smart Kids with LD

For various reasons fathers are frequently skeptical when their kids are diagnosed with learning challenges. Their reluctance to accept an LD or ADHD diagnosis may exacerbate negative behaviors at home and at school. To overcome the problem, Ryan Wexelblatt, an expert who specializes in boys with ADHD, also works with dads to help them better understand their child’s challenges.

ARTICLE

by Eve Kessler, Esq.
for Smart Kids with LD

COVID-19 has limited most everyone’s social life, but for kids with LD and ADHD who normally struggle with social issues, the pandemic is having an outsized impact on emotional health. Building the social skills kids need to weather the loneliness of online learning and social distancing falls to parents.

ARTICLE

by Dave Sylvestro with Eve Kessler, Esq.
for Smart Kids with LD

Parents play a key role in helping a child with a negative attitude adopt a more positive outlook. Being intentional in how you communicate is fundamental to building confidence, resilience, and independence • Even when resolving conflicts, choose your words carefully.

ARTICLE

VIDEOS