October 8, 2024 in Blog by Dee

How Does Tutoring Help Students?

By: Oxford Learning

There are many reasons parents choose tutoring for their children. Some parents feel unable to help their children with schoolwork. Others may find their children are more receptive to working through school struggles with another person. Tutoring can help strengthen subject comprehension, boost confidence, and build important learning skills.

Tutoring gives students individualized attention that they don’t get in a crowded classroom. This helps children who struggle to keep up, as well as those who aren’t challenged enough. It also keeps students on track during breaks from school.

What are the Benefits of Tutoring?

Tutoring programs can help your child develop study and learning skills that will help set up your child for success for their entire life. There are many advantages of tutoring services:

Individual and unique learning experience: Your child will receive an individualized learning experience they can’t always get in a classroom setting. Tutors can customize the lessons and activities just for your child.

1. One-on-one attention: Tutors get to know your child’s learning style and can adapt teaching methods accordingly. They act as your child’s private teacher.
2. Improves academic performance: Tutoring will prepare your child for tests and exams while tutors work with your child on specific problem areas. Your child’s grades and understanding of the subject will significantly improve when working with a tutor.
3. Improves attitude towards learning and school: Learning will become fun for your child. With constant encouragement and praise, your child will no longer feel overwhelmed or frustrated with school.
4. Encourages self-paced and self-directed learning: With tutoring, your child will learn to take the initiative with their schoolwork. Your child will also learn how to control their learning pace.
5. Improves self-esteem and confidence: Your child’s self-esteem and confidence will increase through tutoring by providing them with the resources and skills they need to excel in school.
6. Improves work and study habits: Through tutoring, your child will learn work and study habits they will use for life. These skills will help prepare your child to successfully achieve their goals both inside and outside of school.
7. Positive workspace: Tutoring provides an environment free of distractions, with fewer students and disruptions around, so your child is better able to focus on learning.
8. Encourages independence and responsibility: Your child will gain the ability to do school work on their own without your help. Your child will realize their personal growth and will learn to take responsibility for their studies.
9. Helps overcome learning obstacles: Your child’s tutor will specifically target whichever aspect of learning they are having trouble with, whether it’s writing, math, language, or reading.
10. Encourages the freedom to ask questions: At school, your child may not always feel comfortable asking questions in front of their peers. Tutoring will help teach your child to be comfortable asking questions, big or small, without feeling self-conscious.
11. Improves social and behavioral skills: Tutoring services will help your child become a better communicator, form better relationships with peers, and make more positive social and behavioral adjustments.
12. Increases ability to manage one’s learning: Your child will become more competent in his or her learning and more successful in managing his or her school work.
13. Challenges those who need it: Tutoring helps bored or under-stimulated children reach their full potential.
14. Prepares your child for college and university: Students heading off to college will learn how to create study plans, develop advanced study skills, and learn superior time management skills. There are numerous benefits of tutoring in college and university, including reinforcement of existing knowledge and gaining a better understanding of a field of study.

October 8, 2024 in Blog by Dee

How to Help Your Child Manage Back-to-School Anxiety

By: Centerstone

The transition from summer vacation to returning to school can be anxiety-provoking because of all the unknowns that can come with it. New classmates, new curriculum, and new teachers can all be exciting, but can also be intimidating for some kids. Fortunately, there are many ways that parents can help their kids manage anxiety about going back to school and help them feel more comfortable about the coming school year.

“Back-to-school anxiety is incredibly common for many children, and can manifest both positively and negatively,” says Brittany McCrady, Clinical Manager at Centerstone. There are some distinct indicators that parents should recognize when their child may be experiencing anxiety about going back to school. Those indicators can include resistance to an adjusted schedule or routine, enacting school-themed scenarios during play, negative responses to conversations about school, or increased irritation or frustration.

Luckily, when addressing back-to-school issues with your child, there are several things parents can do to help ease feelings of anxiety.

1. Get involved

If there is an opportunity for your child to be involved in a club or sport, or have a playdate with classmates before the start of the school year, this can help them feel more connected to the school and their peers.

2. Go to the school

Driving or walking past the building close to the start of the school year can be helpful, especially for kids who are attending a brand-new school. “They can see that it isn’t some big, scary place,” adds McCrady “This starts building familiarity, and decreasing the unknown.” Additionally, take advantage of any orientation activities the school may offer. It can be beneficial for students to meet their teachers and see their classroom ahead of time so they aren’t overwhelmed on their first day.

3. Let them take the reigns

A lot of kids who experience back-to-school anxiety may feel this way because of the lack of control they have in the situation. For instance, allowing them to choose their backpack, lunchbox, or folders can give them a feeling of control, and may help them feel more at ease.

4. Be aware of your own emotions

“Sometimes how we feel can come out and influence the way the child is thinking about the next school year,” says McCrady. Even if you’re also feeling anxious about your child going back to school, it can be helpful to do your preparation. This might include some of the same things listed above, as well as practicing calming strategies.

October 8, 2024 in Blog by Dee

Forgiving Family: Setting Healthy Boundaries

By: Centerstone

Have you seen the way that family is portrayed in television and films? Sometimes it can paint the picture-perfect family and more often than not it has a dysfunctional family. The one thing they all have in common, despite the portrayals of perfection or dysfunction, is the common theme that no family is, in fact, perfect. Family can be stressful for any person to deal with, but what about maintenance? How do we continue to repair and build healthy relationships with family members? One answer to this is learning to set healthy boundaries.

To determine what kind of boundaries to put in place for yourself and your family members, there needs to be a sense of self-reflection. Understand that no family is alike and everyone’s experiences are completely different with upbringing and previous trauma. There can be a lot of unlearning to be done and parenting is not always a success. Know that there is always room for growth and change within yourself and your relationships, but understand that without communication there is no moving forward.

Imagine that you and a family member are arguing, and there does not seem to be any improvement. Forgiveness might be one way to reach a resolution, but this is not as simple as saying I forgive you, there needs to be some work done on yourself and by those other family members. Below are some tips to forgiving your family and to begin having those conversations about healthy boundary setting.

• Reflection. There needs to be self-reflection. What is your worth? Determine what your needs are from this relationship. Ask yourself: Why do I have these beliefs or values? Why do I use these coping mechanisms? Recognize where it all stems from and you can see that you do have a choice in the matter.
• Communication. There needs to be an open conversation about feelings to begin setting boundaries. This is a stage where you can acknowledge feelings, really naming and normalizing them. Modeling communication from a therapeutic perspective can help engage your loved one. Try saying something like this: “I just noticed you seem uncomfortable about this—let’s talk about it.” Creating a safe space to discuss is imperative when articulating your feelings.
• It takes time. Know that it is never too late to repair a strained relationship. There is always a chance to try and reconcile with your family. “Sometimes boundaries will be met with resistance and that is normal. If the relationship is that important to you, keep adjusting those boundaries and determining what that they might look like for you,” says Ericka Davis, In-Home Therapist for Centerstone’s Early Childhood Services.
• Offer to understand. “Understanding that for family and parents to give something that they never experienced is hard. Though, likely most parents and family can remember their time as a child and can relate through their own experiences,” says Davis. Once there is understanding present there is recognition and acknowledgment that there is a way to work towards a healthier relationship.

Family relationships and healing are non-linear. Understand that people can revert back to old behaviors and attitudes, but you can keep setting those boundaries and adjusting to best suit your needs. Setting boundaries is a very brave and personal choice to make but know that you hold the power.

October 8, 2024 in Blog by Dee

7 Ways to Support Teen Self-Esteem

By: Centerstone

Over the years, it has become increasingly difficult for many teens to maintain good self-esteem. Even if your peers never bullied you, there can be a constant battle with the comparison that teens endure. “Teens are constantly comparing themselves to others,” says Sarah Saysoukha, Prevention Team Lead for Centerstone. “Social media has heightened this even more because it only shows a highlight reel of people’s lives. But seeing these highlights all the time can make you feel uninteresting. It’s hard to keep up.”

Beyond comparison, several other factors contribute to low self-esteem for teens. Familial abuse or neglect might majorly lower one’s self-esteem. “Having a trusted adult or family member helps teens feel supported,” says Whitney Salyer, Prevention Program Manager for Centerstone. “Therefore, lacking this crucial support system also contributes to lower self-esteem, even with no history of abuse.” Other factors that may lower self-esteem are poor body image, being discriminated against because of the identities you hold, bullying, and mental health challenges.

Having good self-esteem helps teens in every realm of their lives. Teens with high self-esteem are able to build better relationships, set helpful boundaries, exercise self-care, and make healthy decisions. Support from trusted adults, whether family or not, is one of the most significant contributors to high self-esteem in teenagers. If you are a trusted individual or a family member, here are some more practical ways to help teens build self-esteem:

1. Give them a voice. It is important for teens to feel like they are making decisions and in control of their own lives. Work to present opportunities for them to make decisions. These can be as simple as “You have time before and after soccer practice to do homework. Which would you rather do?”
2. Value their opinion. When there is a decision to be made, ask for your teen’s input. Communicate that you are listening to them and that what they say does have a bearing on how you make the decision. Try to ask them, “What would you do in this situation?”
3. Practice empowerment. Affirmation goes a long way. Let the teens in your life know that you appreciate who they are and the things they’ve accomplished. Go beyond saying, “I’m proud of you,” but make the compliments more personal. Try empowering their characteristics by saying things like you have a caring heart or you’re a good friend.
4. Encourage them. People tend to grow more from their failures than they do from their successes. Try to give teens the space to make mistakes—they are still growing and learning. Remind them that failure is okay and that it might even help them succeed in the future.
5. Learn from your teen. Take an interest in their interests. Ask them to talk to you about their favorite hobby, what their friends are like, or anything else that is important to them. Let your teen influence you, and give them the space to share their passions with you.
6. Support their needs. Be supportive of their needs at this stage in life. Be involved with their academics and help where they are struggling. Try to help them as they set necessary boundaries and make plans to accomplish their goals. Take an interest in this process, and let them know that you are there to help them.
7. Connect them with further support. There may be times when teens need more support than you can offer. Connect them with professional counselors to help with any mental health challenges they might face. Help them connect with specific cultures, communities, and more to help strengthen their identities.