Balancing Brilliance
Nurturing minds and emotions
Many families are drawn to our school for its advanced academic opportunities. However, as a community, we also understand the crucial role of emotional regulation and executive functions (EF) in unlocking children's potential.
Imagine navigating adulthood without the necessary tools to manage emotions, stress, time, attention, or materials. These same challenges can hinder children's potential, and it's a great point of pride that our school puts so much intentionality into developing these skills in children alongside academic rigor. Our first two parent workshops of 2024 were designed to help families foster these skills at home, too. Reflecting on these recent discussions, I am reminded that small adjustments to our language and approach can profoundly influence our children's mindset and future success.
Double Dip: Strategies That Promote EF & Emotional Regulation
Talk with Surgical Precision: Be intentional with language, framing challenges positively and ensuring clear, direct communication.
Pro Tip: Turn a negative into a positive.
Remind with a Question: Use prompts to reinforce independence, such as asking, "What else goes in your backpack?"
Agency & Choice: Provide binary options to empower children while maintaining control over outcomes.
Clear Expectations: Break tasks into manageable steps, clearly outlining expectations to foster understanding and independence.
Pro Tip: "Get ready for school" can involve quite a few steps. Try enumerating 2-3 steps to scaffold toward independence.
Use Rewards Sparingly: Use incentives judiciously to avoid fostering a transactional mindset.
These strategies are not a radical departure from what most of us already do. However, incorporating them into our regular routines can lower stress levels and minimize conflicts in the short term. Ultimately, they also support children's development of the mindset and skills necessary for successfully navigating the complexities of adulthood.
