Every Mind Mattersfiles.ctctcdn.com/19dac34d201/b9b90e14-ffe8-4779-8584-9fb8ad6ff3cc.pdfThe Decline...
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INVESTOR NEWSLETTER ISSUE N°3 FALL 2007 Every Mind Matters THE PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE This Issue: The School-Age Child ___________________ •PFC Program News: ParenEng the School-Age Child 7–12 •PFC Research News: The Decline of Play and Rise of Stress in Children • Hand-out for Parents: Your School-Age Child Where your support goes Please help us do this important work! Go to www.psychologyfoundaEon.org and click on “Donate.” PSYCHOLOGY FOUNDATION OF CANADA psychologyfoundaEon.org The Psychology Founda1on of Canada is a na&onal registered charity dedicated to applying the best psychological knowledge to create prac&cal programs helping children become confident and produc&ve adults. Our ini&a&ves include crea&ng educa&onal resources, developing training programs for professionals, and delivering community-based educa&on. 2 St. Clair Ave. East, Suite 800, Toronto, ON M4T 2T5, www.psychologyfounda&on.org Summer Gree1ngs SUMMER IS FINALLY here and we hope that everyone takes the opportunity for much-needed relaxaEon. The work of the FoundaEon conEnues and we are happy to say that three communiEes are working with us under the aegis of the Trillium project: the First NaEons communiEes in Fort Hope and Weagamow, and the Afghan community in the greater Toronto area. Our annual MeeEng in June was an occasion to welcome new trustees: Leanne Lewis, a passionate and experienced advocate for parents, families and youth; and Dr. Leslie Atkinson from Ryerson, Dr. Yvonne Bohr from York, and Dr. David Danto from Guelph-Humber, all experts on child psychology. We said goodbye, with regret and thanks, to Dr. MarEn Antony of Ryerson, who heads out on a year’s sabbaEcal. Thanks to everyone who parEcipated on stage or in the audience at our wonderful night of Rocking the Blues Away at Koerner Hall. Special thanks again to Andrea Freedman Iscoe, the musicians, our staff and the many volunteers who made the event run so smoothly. We can now look forward to our Annual Breakfast for Champions at the Toronto Board of Trade on Wednesday, November 30. Save the date! We look forward to seeing you there. UnEl then, have a great summer! SUMMER 2016 Harriet Lewis, President Workplace Mental Health Kids Have Stress Too! Admin Paren;ng for Life Make the Connec;on “CONFIDENT KIDS, PRODUCTIVE ADULTS”
Transcript of Every Mind Mattersfiles.ctctcdn.com/19dac34d201/b9b90e14-ffe8-4779-8584-9fb8ad6ff3cc.pdfThe Decline...
INVESTOR NEWSLETTER ISSUE N°3 FALL 2007
Every MindMatters
THE PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
This Issue: The School-Age Child
___________________•PFCProgramNews:ParenEngtheSchool-AgeChild7–12•PFCResearchNews:TheDeclineofPlayandRiseofStressinChildren•Hand-outforParents:YourSchool-AgeChild
Whereyoursupportgoes
Pleasehelpusdothisimportantwork!Goto
www.psychologyfoundaEon.organdclickon“Donate.”
PSYCHOLOGYFOUNDATIONOFCANADA psychologyfoundaEon.org
ThePsychologyFounda1onofCanadaisana&onalregisteredcharitydedicatedtoapplyingthebestpsychologicalknowledgetocreateprac&calprogramshelpingchildrenbecomeconfidentandproduc&veadults.Ourini&a&vesincludecrea&ngeduca&onal
resources,developingtrainingprogramsforprofessionals,anddeliveringcommunity-basededuca&on.
2St.ClairAve.East,Suite800,Toronto,ONM4T2T5,www.psychologyfounda&on.org
SummerGree1ngsSUMMERISFINALLYhereandwehopethateveryonetakestheopportunityformuch-neededrelaxaEon.TheworkoftheFoundaEonconEnuesandwearehappytosaythatthreecommuniEesareworkingwithusundertheaegisoftheTrilliumproject:theFirstNaEonscommuniEesinFortHopeandWeagamow,andtheAfghancommunityinthegreaterTorontoarea.
OurannualMeeEnginJunewasanoccasiontowelcomenewtrustees:LeanneLewis,apassionateand
experiencedadvocateforparents,familiesandyouth;andDr.LeslieAtkinsonfromRyerson,Dr.YvonneBohrfromYork,andDr.DavidDantofromGuelph-Humber,allexpertsonchildpsychology.Wesaidgoodbye,withregretandthanks,toDr.MarEnAntonyofRyerson,whoheadsoutonayear’ssabbaEcal.
ThankstoeveryonewhoparEcipatedonstageorintheaudienceatourwonderfulnightofRockingtheBluesAwayatKoernerHall.SpecialthanksagaintoAndreaFreedmanIscoe,themusicians,ourstaffandthemanyvolunteerswhomadetheeventrunsosmoothly.
WecannowlookforwardtoourAnnualBreakfastforChampionsattheTorontoBoardofTradeonWednesday,November30.Savethedate!Welookforwardtoseeingyouthere.
UnElthen,haveagreatsummer!
SUMMER 2016
HarrietLewis,President
Workplace*Mental*Health*
Kids*Have*Stress*Too!**
Admin*
Paren;ng*for*Life*
Make*the*Connec;on**
“CONFIDENT KIDS, PRODUCTIVE ADULTS”
INVESTOR NEWSLETTER ISSUE N°3 FALL 2007
IN2005,WHILELOOKINGforwaystoexpandouraward-winningParen&ngforLifeprogram,weundertookasurveyofavailableparenEngprogramsandmaterialsinordertoidenEfypotenEalgapsinparenEngresources.Oursurveyrevealedthatwhilemanymaterialsandcurriculafocusedontheearlyyears(0–6)andadolescence(13–19years),therewasalackofcontentdesignedtosupportthedevelopmentofschool-agechildren(7–12).
Tofillthisgap,weworkedinpartnershipwithYorktownFamilyServicestodevelopParen&ngtheSchool-AgeChild7-12Years,aparenteducaEoncurriculumdesignedtohelpparentsnavigatethedevelopmentalchangesandshihingparenEngrolesoftheelementaryschoolyears.TheprogramcontentandFacilitator’sGuideweredevelopedin2006andfield-testedbyanexpertteamofpsychologists,childmentalhealthprofessionalsandparenteducators.Thecontentwasthenrevisedandthesecond(andcurrent)versionwaspublishedin2008.
TheFacilitator’sGuideprovideseverythingparenteducatorsneedtodeliverthecoursetoparents,
includingdetailedinstrucEonsandworksheetsforlearners.Thecoursecoverskeydevelopmentaltopics,suchaspromoEngindependenceandself-esteem,developmentalchanges,social-emoEonalchanges,parenEngstyles,buildingharmonyathomeandresolvingconflict.Paren&ngtheSchool-AgedChild7-12Yearshasbeenusedbyparenteducatorsinseveralprovinces,includingOntario,NewBrunswickandNewfoundlandandLabrador.TheFacilitator’sGuidecanbeorderedbyvisiEngtheResourcespageonourwebsite.
Paren&ngtheSchool-AgedChild7-12YearswassponsoredbyKODAKCanadaandTheGordonBellFoundaEonforAddicEonPrevenEon.
PSYCHOLOGYFOUNDATIONOFCANADA psychologyfoundaEon.org
PFCPROGRAMNEWS
Paren1ngtheSchool-AgeChild7–12Years
Forinforma1onaboutlocaltrainingevents,pleasecontact:Na1onalandCentralRegion(ON,MB):AnneMurray,KidsHaveStressToo!®LeadTrainerandProgramConsultant,[email protected],MaketheConnecEonandParenEngforLifeProgramManager,416-644-4944,[email protected](BC,AB,SK,NWT):CindyAndrew,[email protected](andFrenchservices):PauleGiguère,[email protected](NB,NS,PEI,NL):MargieFowler,[email protected]
Ourregionalrepresenta1ves SAVE THE DATE!
OurBreakfastforChampionswilltakeplaceonWednesday,November30,attheTorontoBoardofTrade.
TheguestspeakerforthiseventisDr.CoreyKeyes,amentalhealthexpertfromEmoryUniversity.Welookforwardtoseeingyouthere!
INVESTOR NEWSLETTER ISSUE N°3 FALL 2007
RECENTRESEARCHhasshownaworryingtrendinthedirecEonofmarkedlyincreasedstressfortoday’schildrenandyoungpeople.In2000,psychologistJeanTwenge,ofSanDiegoStateUniversity,reportedthatanxietylevelsin“normal”childrenwerehigherthanthoseofpsychiatricpopulaEonsfromthe1950s.Moreover,children’sanxietylevelswerehigherinthe2000sthantheywereduringtheGreatDepressionofthe1930s,whenmanyfamiliesweredealingwithsevereeconomicstressesandinsecurity.
Someofthisincreaseinself-reportedstressintoday’schildrenandyouthmaybeduetoincreasedpublicawarenessanddiscussionofstressandanxiety.But,evenso,thetrendissEllalarmingandsomeresearchersarelookingforexplanaEons.
OneveryinteresEnganalysiscomesfromPeterGray,apsychologistatBostonCollege,wholinkstheriseinpsychopathologyinAmericanchildrentoacorrespondingdeclineinfree,unstructuredplay.Ina2011arEclepublishedintheAmericanJournalofPlay,Graycitesresearchfindingsthatbuildacompellingcaseforhisargument.
• Children’sfreeplay–playthatisnotcontrolledorstructuredbyadultsandwherechildrendecidewhattodo–hasbeeninsteadydeclinesinceitspeakinthe1950s.Evenbetween1981and1997,therewasa25percentdecreaseintheamountofEmeAmericanchildrenspentplaying,basedon
reportsfromalargerepresentaEvesampleofAmericanparents.
•Ina2004survey,70percentofmothersreportedthattheyhadplayedoutdoorsdailyaschildren,whileonly31percentsaidtheirownchildrenplayedoutdoorseveryday.
•AnotherinternaEonalsurveyfoundthatmothersunderstoodthelinkbetweenoutdoorplayandchildren’shappiness.JustoverhalfofmotherssurveyedsaidthatplayingoutsideataplaygroundorparkwastheacEvitythatmadetheirchildrenthehappiest.
GrayidenEfiesfivewaysthatfreeplaypromoteschildren’smental
health.“Playhelpschildrena)developintrinsicinterestsandcompetencies;(b)learnhowtomakedecisions,solveproblems,exertself-control,andfollowrules;(c)learntoregulatetheiremoEons;(d)makefriendsandlearntogetalongwithothersasequals;and(e)experiencejoy.”
Grayarguesthatthisdeclineinplayispartofthereasonthat“fivetoeightEmesasmanyyoungpeopletodayhavescoresabovethecutoffforadiagnosisofclinicallysignificantanxietyordepressivedisorderthanwasthecasehalfacenturyago.”Heconcludesthatrestoringfreeplayis“notonlythebestgihwecouldgiveourchildren,itisalsoanessenEalgihifwewantthemtogrowintopsychogicallyhealthyandemoEonallycompetentadults.”
ThefulltextofDr.Gray’sarEcleisavailableonline.
PSYCHOLOGYFOUNDATIONOFCANADA psychologyfoundaEon.org
Research News
TheDeclineofPlayandtheRiseofStressinChildren
Children’sfreeplayhasbeeninsteadydeclinesinceitspeakinthe1950s,whileanxietylevelsarehigherthantheywereduringtheGreatDepression.
Dr.Gray’smostrecent
book,FreetoLearn:Why
unleashingtheins&nctto
playwillmakeour
childrenhappier,more
self-reliant,andbeSer
studentsforlife,is
publishedbyBasicBooks.
INVESTOR NEWSLETTER ISSUE N°3 FALL 2007
ONCECHILDRENSTARTgoingtoschool,theirworldchanges.TheystartspendingmoreEmeawayfromyou,andtheyaremoreinfluencedbyfriendsandteachers.Sotheirneeds,andyourparenEngrole,alsochange.HerearesomekeyideasforparenEngyourschool-agechild.
Play–especiallyfreeplay–isimportantComparedtopastgeneraEons,today’schildrenspendmoreEmeplayingelectronicgamesandwatchingTV,andmoreoftheiracEviEesareorganizedbyadults.Butfree,unstructuredplayisveryimportant;ithelpschildren:
• Learnhowtomakedecisions• Learnhowtogetalongwithothers• Recoverfromstress• Developskills• Experiencejoy
Sotrytogiveyourchildanopportunitytoplayeveryday,ifpossible.
EncourageindependenceDuringtheelementaryschoolyears,childrenwantmoreindependenceandtheyneedtostartlearninghowtohandleit.
• Letyourchildmakeage-appropriatechoices.• Giveyourchildchancestothinkandtosolvehisownproblems,insteadofalwaysprovidinginstantsoluEons.
• Showyourchildhowtobeincreasinglyindependentinasafeandresponsibleway.
BestressawareResearchshowsthattoday’schildrenhavehigherlevelsofstressthaninthepast.Parentshaveanimportantroletoplayinhelpingchildrendealwithstress.
Whenyourchildisupsetormisbehaving,trytodevelopthehabitofaskingyourself.,“Whyismychildactinglikethis?Coulditbestress?”
Ifyoucanfigureoutwhatisstressingyourchild,dealwiththatfirstbeforeturningtodiscipline.Children
understressaremuchlessabletocontrolthemselves,listenwell,acceptconsequencesorlearn.
Keepconnec1ngAschildrenmatureandspendmoreEmeawayfromus,wemayneedtoworkhardertokeepastrongconnecEon:
• Bereadytolistenwhensheisreadytotalk.• Showaninterestinyourchild’sinterestsandconcerns.
• Showyourchildthatyoulikeherandenjoyhercompany.WespendalotofEmetelling,remindingandcriEcizing.TalkaboutherposiEvequaliEes,too.
Teachnego1a1onandconflictskillsStartnowtodevelopthenegoEaEonandconflictskillsyouwillbothneedduringtheteenyears:
• Don’tforgettolistenaswellastalk.• Useshortphraseswhenremindingyourchild.Say,“Cassie,boots,”ratherthan“Cassie,ifIhavetotellyouonemoreEmetoputawayyourbootsI’ll…”
• Letyourchildren“win”someEmes,whentheyhavenegoEatedwell(andpolitely)andcanshowyoutheyhaveagoodplan.
• WhentheissueisnotnegoEable,offeryourchildalternaEves.“Youhavetodoyourhomework,butyoucaneitherdoitnoworrightahersupper.”
• Trytorespondtoyourchild’sbehaviourinwaysthatdon’tpromoteconflict.BewillingtonegoEate–butremember,you’resElltheparent.
Hand-outforParents
YOURSCHOOL-AGECHILD
PSYCHOLOGYFOUNDATIONOFCANADA psychologyfoundaEon.org
