Coping Skills, Podcast
Janine Halloran
Ways to Connect with Kids and Teens

Building a strong connection with our children is really important and taking the time to invest in our relationships with them at each stage of childhood and into the teenage years. Today Janine considers the opportunities we create for them to share what they like and what you enjoy also in day to day life. How can we connect with our kids well so that when they face challenges or difficulties they feel like they can come speak with you, the parent? 

Here’s what Janine discusses in today’s episode:

Ways to Connect with Kids and Teens
Coping Skills, Podcast
Janine Halloran
Coping Skills for Teens Who Are Angry

Has your child hit their teenage years and puberty has started? Have you noticed their emotions are changing? What about their most extreme emotions? Do you find that your teenager can feel really angry at times?

In today’s episode, Janine unpacks some strategies to help you as parents support your teenager and how to develop that connection between yourself as the parent and them. 

Here’s what Janine discusses in today’s episode:

Coping Skills for Teens Who Are Angry
Coping Skills, Podcast
Janine Halloran
Books to Help Kids with OCD: An Interview with ...

OCD can manifest itself in different ways with different obsessions and focus that are going on in your life. Children’s author, Marin Canaday describes OCD feeling like a monster devouring your emotions and feelings, where you could get to the point where you feel out of control and you begin to believe the lies the OCD obsessions tell you about yourself…

Coping Skills, Podcast
Janine Halloran
Seven Coping Skills to Use at an Elementary ...

A child at Elementary School will be learning and figuring out what emotions are and what’s going on in their bodies when their ‘big feelings’ appear. They’ll be learning to put names to their emotions and trying figuring out why they’re feeling what they are. 

In the moments when they feel upset, overwhelmed and unable to put words to their emotions, there are some straightforward strategies we can have in our toolkit ready to use and support this age group with. 

Here are some some of the strategies discussed in today’s episode:

Seven Coping Skills to Use at an Elementary School
Coping Skills, Podcast
Janine Halloran
Create a Coping Skills Toolkit to Use On The Go

It’s wonderful having a home set up where you have a reset or safe space where your kids can use strategies and process their emotions. But what happens when we go out? Having coping strategies ready is just as important. Whether that’s at school, traveling, out with friends, before a medical appointment or at parties knowing what you can do outside of the comfort of your own home is really helpful. 

The topics I cover in this episode are:

Create a Coping Skills Toolkit to Use On The Go

Mindfulness

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A Delicious Way to Practice Mindfulness

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A Delicious Way to Practice Mindfulness

Did you know that mindfulness practice can shrink the amygdala which is the part of the brain that is responsible for fight, flight or freeze? While I know the benefits of mindfulness, I sometimes struggle to actually practice it. But several years ago, I was able to finally start on my mindfulness journey - by using food!

This can be done with any type of food but I particularly love using berries or chocolate. Take a listen to learn how to use this technique…

The topics I cover in this episode are:

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Give Me Some Space: Helping Kids Regulate Anywhere with Jana York

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Give Me Some Space: Helping Kids Regulate Anywhere with Jana York

This week I spoke to the lovely Jana York, a certified mindfulness and meditation teacher about how we can help our kids through the power of the breath. Mindfulness thankfully is everywhere these days, it may have started in the east but it’s definitely being adopted in the west. Speaking of geography, Jana York has taught children in Japan and Thailand, from her experience there she learned a lot of ways to use sensory toys and games to help children self-regulate and be more at peace with their anxiety. 

The topics we cover in this episode are:

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Raising Happy Kids with Maureen Healy

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Raising Happy Kids with Maureen Healy

Award-winning author, Maureen Healy is my guest on this week’s episode to talk all about emotions. When you think that our brains aren’t fully developed until our mid-twenties, it puts into perspective how difficult it is to deal with ever-changing emotions at the age of, say, 8 years old. My guest, Maureen, talks about her book ‘The Happiness Workbook for Kids’, and how it can help you as a parent or teacher to teach kids how to deal with emotions in a healthy way.

The topics we cover in this episode are:

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The Value of Breathing and Mindfulness with Jennifer Cohen Harper

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The Value of Breathing and Mindfulness with Jennifer Cohen Harper

Take a long, slow, deep breath. In… and out. Doesn’t that feel a lot better? Today’s episode is all about breathing and how to regulate your nervous system. A lot of people say it and it’s just so true, the breath is so powerful and a good way to help navigate difficult situations and emotions. My guest is an expert in this field, Jennifer Cohen Harper is a mindfulness and yoga educator and she tells me the best practices when it comes to using your breath as well as the following topics…

The topics we cover in this episode are:

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The Power of Connection: Mindful Parenting for Children with Additional Needs

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The Power of Connection: Mindful Parenting for Children with Additional Needs

Inside: Guest Post by Elizabeth Sautter about the Power of Connection

Parenting is a journey filled with ups and downs.  When you have a child with complex needs such as autism, ADHD, or anxiety, the journey come with additional considerations and can often be challenging to navigate.  Holding your child’s attention and finding common interests may be a bit harder but not something to give up on!  Connecting with your child is a critical piece of their development and can make things smoother for them and you in the short and long run!

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Four Simple Ways to Introduce Mindfulness to Kids

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Four Simple Ways to Introduce Mindfulness to Kids

Mindfulness can also be a helpful tool for kids who have challenges with self-regulation or difficulty managing emotions, or want to improve their concentration. it would be helpful for them to be able to calm down and be aware of the present. When they are aware of the present, it will help them be more able to see what’s happening around them and settle themselves and their minds.

In this podcast episode, I talk about four different ways to introduce mindfulness to kids…

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Introduction to Zentangles

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Introduction to Zentangles

When you are stressed, anxious or perhaps angry and need to calm down, what techniques do you use? There are so many out there, from yoga, meditation, exercise and mindfulness but today I will be speaking to my guest Andrea about one which you’ll love if you sit on the creative side of life. It’s a mix of art and mindfulness and it’s called ‘Zentangle’. 

The topics we cover in this episode are:

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Simple ways to introduce mindfulness and meditation to children

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Simple ways to introduce mindfulness and meditation to children

Inside: A basic introduction to mindfulness, and how you can introduce mindfulness to kids. Lots of resources, including scripts, books and videos.

Mindfulness.

It’s quite a popular topic these days. But what does that even mean? And how exactly do you teach it to kids?

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Coping Skill Spotlight: Take a Mindful Walk

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Coping Skill Spotlight: Take a Mindful Walk

Mindfulness can be a helpful tool if you have a hard time managing your thoughts and emotions or if you want to improve your concentration. Mindfulness is being aware of what’s happening in the present moment. It’s not about trying to clear your mind, but allowing thoughts and emotions to come and go without judgment and familiarizing ourselves with the present moment. It takes practice to be able to do this.

Copyright © Coping Skills for Kids, part of Encourage Play, LLC 2021