|
Parents, this one is for you. We all make our lists at the beginning of the year of things to start, things to stop and things to improve upon. These goals are generally made in the spirit of self-improvement. I’m curious, how many of your resolutions involved your habits as a parent? What do you see as areas for improvement in your role as a parent? While you think about your own parenting resolutions, I have three suggestions for you to consider as you begin 2014 and seek to make it a great year for you and your family! I’ll start with the not-so-fun resolutions. Talk to your children about bullying, both in-person and online. This is a very real issue that can have a devastating impact on kids, both those being bullied and those who are the bullies. Check out the Stop Bullying website for more information. Talk to your teens about their experience at school. Ask about bullying. Find out who the bullies are and who is being targeted. If you find out that your child is being bullied or is doing the bullying, talk to them about their experience. It can be helpful to talk to the school or have your child see a counselor. However, it is most important to hear your child’s perception of what is happening to know how to best proceed. Talk to your teens about the risks of sexting. Let’s start out by defining what “sexting” means. According to Psychology Today, “sexting is sending, receiving, or forwarding sexual photos or sexually suggestive messages through text message or email.” Did you know that over 75% of teens who are propositioned to have sex via a text, actually end up having sexual intercourse? Did you know that a teen sending a sexually explicit picture of themselves to another person can be considered distribution of child pornography? Did you know that a child as young as 10 years old can be charged with a sexual offense in Colorado? If you didn’t know, it is likely that your teens do not know either. It is time to include a discussion about technology in the “birds and the bees” talk. Here is a great article to get you started. Now that those are out of the way, I’ll end with a more “fun” resolution! Help your kids get involved in an extracurricular activity. Many teens naturally find their way to fun and appropriate extracurricular activities. Others may have a more difficult time getting involved. Here are a few benefits of teens being involved in social activities: healthy friendships, improved self-esteem and good role models to name a few. They are good for parents, too! Not only can you feel good about your teen getting all of the above-named benefits, you might just get a little time to yourself, too! Here is a great article on helping your kids get involved. All of this being said, these conversations will be easier and more meaningful for both parents and teens who feel safe and comfortable talking to one another. I encourage you to foster an environment in your home where it is safe for your teen to talk to you about anything. Yes, anything! Thanks for reading today! Check back over the next few weeks as I blog about each of the above mentioned topics in more detail! Bethany Raab is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Denver, Colorado.
Happy Holidays to all of the wonderful friends, supporters and clients of Raab Counseling & Consulting Services! May you experience peace and joy during this 2013 holiday season! Bethany Raab is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Denver, Colorado.
1) Go ice skating. 2) Write a letter to a friend or family member who lives far away. 3) Make a Christmas Carol music video. 4) Create place cards or other decorations for your family’s holiday celebration. 5) Bake cookies with friends. 6) Help a younger sibling write a letter to Santa. 7) Go sledding (or snowboarding or skiing!) 8) Have a holiday movie marathon. 9) Learn how to make a traditional family dish. 10) Wrap your bedroom door in paper or foil so it looks like a present. 11) Drink hot chocolate while reading a good book. 12) Turn off all lights except the Christmas tree lights. Relax in the quiet room or listen to music. 13) Volunteer time at a local charity. 14) Learn how other cultures and religions celebrate important holidays. 15) Bundle up and go for a walk to admire holiday lights in your neighborhood. Here are some links to websites that inspired this list and for more ideas! Parenting Teens: 50 Fun Holiday Activities Your Teen Will Love Parenting Teens: 101 Fun Things for Teens to Do This Winter Parent Map: 15 Meaningful Holiday Traditions and Fun Family Activities Here are some fun ideas for parents, too! Real Simple: 50 Fun Winter Activities Image from Flickr. Some rights reserved by katushya Bethany Raab is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Denver, Colorado.
 Hosting holiday meals, cookie baking, cleaning, decorating, traveling, hosting out-of-town guests, entertaining children who are out of school, holiday gift shopping, parties, and religious celebrations. Did I cause you to feel anxious just thinking about everything that the holiday season entails? This list is just a small example of what many people have planned for the next month. In a re-post from my 2012 holiday blog, here are some tips on managing your to-do list and having a little fun in the process! 1) Take a break. You are not obligated to attend every holiday party or community activity to which you receive an invitation. Rest and quiet time at home will help you be more flexible in stressful situations. 2) Have an ally. Talk with your partner, a close friend or trusted family member about how you are doing and any concerns you may have regarding schedules, difficult relationships or troubling behaviors by your children. Using your support network will help you manage difficult situations more easily than trying to do it on your own. Provide support to your children and teens during this busy time of year. Be sure to carve out quiet time with them during the holiday season. 3) Stick with the household rules. Children and teens should continue to complete their responsibilities and get to bed at a decent time, even if they are out of school. Keeping a schedule will help keep order during a traditionally busy time of year. This will also help decrease difficulties in returning to a normal routine after the holidays. And, yes, it is alright to give consequences to children and teens for not meeting their expectations during the holidays! 4) Be generous and express gratitude. The old statement "it's the thought that counts" is really true! It is not necessary to go into debt to satisfy your child or teen's holiday wish list. Teach your children about generosity by volunteering or buying gifts for underprivileged children. This will help them be more appreciative of the gifts they do receive. Writing thank you notes with your children and teens will help foster feelings of gratitude. Read more here about the benefits of gratitude in teens! 5) Create or continue meaningful traditions. Bake cookies, go ice skating, decorate the family tree and watch holiday movies. These traditions are what children and teenagers will remember and treasure as they grow older. Most importantly: take care of yourself so you can enjoy the joyous celebrations to come! Click here to read the original post. Image from Flickr. Some rights reserved by tonystl. Bethany Jones Raab is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Denver, Colorado.
 Thanksgiving is upon us and I wanted to offer a few thoughts on the benefits experienced by teens who express gratitude. 1) Increased happiness and overall well-being A research study by the American Psychological Association found that teens, like adults, experience a variety of benefits from the act of gratitude. The author of numerous studies about gratitude, Giacomo Bono, PhD, psychology professor at California State University, had this to say about the benefits of gratitude in high school aged teens: “Increases in gratitude over a four-year period were significantly related to improvements in life satisfaction, happiness, positive attitudes and hope.” According to the Harvard Medical School, “gratitude is strongly and consistently associated with greater happiness. Gratitude helps people feel more positive emotions, relish good experiences, improve their health, deal with adversity, and build strong relationships.” 2) Lower occurrence of depression symptoms Teens who express gratitude on a regular basis typically report fewer symptoms of depression. Giacomo Bono, PhD, suggests this is a result of being connected and reminded of the good aspects of one’s life. "People who are grateful are more optimistic and hopeful, feeling they have the resources to be successful in their future," said Bono. Click here for more information. The same goes for adults: researchers at York University in Toronto found that depressed study participants who completed a “gratitude exercise” every night, were less depressed six months after the study was complete. 3) Greater contributions to society According to a 2010 study of gratitude in teens by Froh, Bono & Emmons, "gratitude ignites a passion for helping others and contributing to society." The study indicates teens that are grateful tend to be more connected to their communities and want to give back, both as teens and later as adults. So how can you reap the benefits of gratitude? Here are some ideas:
Happy Thanksgiving! Photo from Flickr. Some rights reserved by woodleywonderworks. Bethany Jones Raab is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Denver, Colorado.
 Fall and winter months bring familiar images of holiday parties, hot chocolate and, in Colorado, skiing and other winter sports. The cooler months bring excitement for many, while others have a different experience. Some people notice increased sadness, low energy levels, weight gain, a tendency to oversleep, irritability and a general "blah" feeling beginning in the fall and often lasting through the winter. These and other symptoms of the "winter blues" affect approximately 14% of Americans according to the National Center for Biotechnology Information. However, 6% of Americans experience a more marked set of symptoms known as Seasonal Affective Disorder, often referred to as SAD. Both the "winter blues" and SAD are frequently linked to a decrease in exposure to light during the fall and winter months. According to the Mayo Clinic, the actual causes of SAD are largely unknown. The good news is that SAD is a treatable condition. The Mayo Clinic recommends several types of treatment for SAD including light therapy and medication, both of which should be discussed with your doctor. Psychotherapy is also recommended as an effective form of treatment. Click here to learn more from the Mayo Clinic. Now for some more good news! A variety of alternative treatments for SAD can be utilized at home on their own or combined with a plan you discuss with your doctor. Here are a few ideas:
If you are feeling the effects of SAD as winter approaches, rest assured that you are not alone! Give some of these suggestions a try today. Finally, don't hesitate to speak with your doctor if you feel as though you need help managing symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder. Bethany Jones Raab is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Denver, Colorado.
Staying active in the fall and winter seasons can be a challenge! The decrease in daylight, lower temperatures and a decline in organized outdoor activities can lead many of us to become a bit lethargic this time of year. However, there are many benefits to staying active as the seasons change: staying fit and burning calories from all of those tasty holiday treats to name a couple! A consistent exercise regimen can also help beat the winter blues and make it easier to manage Seasonal Affective Disorder. The online calorie and exercise tracking program, Myfitnesspal, published a fantastic list of ways to stay active in the fall. Click here to see the full article: 25 Ways to Move More with Less Daylight. Here are a few of my favorites: Short is sweet –You might not be able to fit in a long workout every day, especially as the busy holiday season approaches. Take the stairs instead of the elevator, walk around the block or do some jumping jacks in your living room. Something is always better than nothing! Set short-term goals – Setting simple goals for fitness and wellness will help the task not seem so daunting. Set up weekly goals to help keep you on track. Reward yourself – This idea goes hand in hand with goal setting! There is nothing wrong with rewarding yourself for meeting your fitness goals. Decide what motivates you, make a plan and get started! Find seasonal activities – Skiing, snowshoeing and ice skating are great calorie burning fall and winter activities! You might need to bundle up for these and other seasonal activities, but I bet you’ll have so much fun that you will barely notice the cold! Keep at it – As the Myfitnesspal article notes “Every day might not be a home run, but if you plug away and keep adding notches to your belt, you’ll feel like you have more invested. Consistency is a key element to fitness.” I couldn’t have said it better myself. Now get out there and keep moving - you'll be glad you did! Bethany Jones Raab is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Denver, Colorado.
As promised, here are some resources for low-cost, family friendly movies throughout the summer! Once again, thanks to Deahna Visscher who graciously created this list and shared it for the benefit of the community! Please email me if you are interested in receiving a full copy of the list!
Denver- Northfield- Harkins Kid Summer Movie Program Mon-Fri at 9:45 am http://www.harkinstheatres.com/summerMovieFun.aspx http://www.harkinstheatres.com/artifacts/SMF%202012/SMF2013-Calendars_5-27_$5.png Northfield 18 at I-70, Exit Quebec MOVIES: 10 movies for $5 Tickets on sale at participating theaters. Week 1 May 27-31 Mirror Mirror Week 2 June 3-7 Hotel Transylvania Week 3 June 10-14 Madagascar 3 Week 4 June 17-21 The Lorax Week 5 June 23-28 Ice Age 4 Week 6 July 1-5 Rise of the Guardians Week 7 July 8-12 Charlotte’s Web Week 8 July 15-19 Megamind Week 9 July 22-26 March of the Penguins Week 10 July 29-Aug 2 The Pirates Denver- Movies at Skyline Park http://downtowndenver.com/Life/WhattoDo/SkylinePark/MileHighMoviesinSkylinePark/tabid/266/Default.aspx Check out the Southwest Movies at Skyline Park! All movies begin at dusk in Skyline Park at 16th and Arapahoe. Come early to snag the best seats. Pets (on leash) welcome. This series is in cooperation with Denver Parks and Recreation and the Downtown Denver Business Improvement District. July 6 Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (G) July 13 A League of Their Own (PG) July 20 Lion King (G) July 27 Finding Nemo (G) August 3 Father of the Bride (PG) August 10 The Amazing Spider-Man (PG13) August 17 ED (PG) August 24 Hotel Transylvania (PG) Denver- Stapleton- Movies at Founders Green Fridays June 14 to August 23 (bonus Dec 6)- starts at dark http://community.stapletondenver.com/community http://community.stapletondenver.com/community/whats-happening/movies-markets-more June 14 Fri Moonrise Kingdom June 28 Fri To Kill a Mockingbird July 12 Fri Sandlot August 9 Fri Brave August 23 Fri Oz, the Great & Powerful December 6 Fri Elf starts at 6:30pm Regal Family Film Festival – every Tuesday and Wednesday at 10:00am (various locations) http://www.regmovies.com/summermovieexpress/default.aspx Welcome to the 2013 Regal Summer Movie Express! Below is a list of participating locations and start dates. Each location will host the Summer Movie Express on Tuesdays & Wednesdays at 10am for nine weeks. Admission is $1 and a portion of the proceeds will benefit the Will Rogers Institute. Week Title Rating Start Time 1 The Three Stooges PG 10am 1 Ice Age: Continental Drift PG 10am 2 Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days PG 10am 2 Parental Guidance PG 10am 3 Mr. Poppers' Penguins PG 10am 3 Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked G 10am 4 Monte Carlo PG 10am 4 Rio G 10am 5 Coraline PG 10am 5 ParaNorman PG 10am 6 Dr. Seuss' The Lorax PG 10am 6 Big Miracle PG 10am 7 Yogi Bear PG 10am 7 Journey 2: The Mysterious Island PG 10am 8 Racing Stripes PG 10am 8 Happy Feet Too PG 10am 9 African Cats G 10am 9 Chimpanzee G 10am Regal SouthGlenn Stadium 14 6901 S. Vine St. The Streets At Southglenn Centennial, CO 80122 UA Greenwood Plaza Stadium 12 8141 E Arapahoe Rd Englewood CO 303-741-2130 UA Denver West Village Stadium 12 14225 West Colfax AvenueLakewood CO 303-278-1943 UA Meadows Stadium 12 9355 Park Meadows Drive Littleton CO 303-706-9934 UA Twin Peaks 10 1250 South Hover St Bldg. 1, Suite D, Longmont CO 303-651-2434 Regal Colony Square Stadium 12 1164 W. Dilllon Road Louisville CO 303-926-0662 Regal River Point Stadium 14 3565 South Platte River Drive Sheridan CO 303-761-6653 Now that January is almost halfway over, how many of you are still on track with your New Years resolutions? It is common for the excitement of the new year to wear off as your family returns to the routine of work and school. It is just as common for the motivation to meet resolutions to diminish.
Now is a good time to re-evaluate your resolutions. Why have you abandoned your well-meaning resolutions? As discussed in the last blog entry, maybe your goals were not realistic or perhaps you did not have a good plan and support system in place. Take some time to read through my resolutions blog and get a more realistic plan set. You can do this! If you need a little extra support, Bethany is here to help. Give her a call at 720-722-0527, email her or fill out the contact form to get started today! Happy New Year! 'Tis the season to examine our progress over the last year and make resolutions for the new year. Many people make resolutions with good intentions but fail to follow through in the long run. Why is this? Perhaps it is because the resolutions are not realistic. Maybe some people do not have a way to hold themselves accountable to their resolutions. Here are a few simple ways to make those resolutions reality!
Write it down. The first step in making a resolution is to ensure you remember your goal! Post your resolution on the fridge, the bathroom mirror, in the car, even as a reminder in your phone! This will ensure you have not forgotten about your goals by the end of January! Be realistic. One of the biggest barriers to accomplishing our New Years' resolutions is not having a realistic goal. Losing 50lbs by your spring vacation may not be realistic. Choosing to exercise regularly and eat better will help you lose weight and feel better by the time you leave for your trip. Quitting smoking cold turkey may not be realistic for everyone. Choosing to use a cessation aid (i.e. nicotine gum or prescription medication from your doctor) may help get you started on a realistic plan to quit. If you aren't sure how to make your specific goal realistic, you might want to do some research. Read about the topic and talk to your friends, family, doctor or therapist for help! Baby steps. Keeping resolutions and meeting goals is all about action steps and meeting smaller daily, weekly and monthly goals. What specific steps do you need to take to achieve weight loss, improved health, better relationships, debt reduction or any other resolution you have chosen? Break it down, write it out and get started! Accountability. You don't have to do this alone! Talk with your loved ones about your resolution. Is there some way they can aid in the process? Don't be shy, ask them to help! Some resolutions may require professional help from a financial planner, personal trainer, doctor or therapist. The sooner you get your team of helpers into place, the sooner you will be on your way to meeting your goals. Do you, your child, teenager or family have resolutions but need help putting them into action? Bethany can help! Give her a call at 720-722-0527, email her or fill out the contact form to get started today! |
Welcome!
Every blog post you see on this page is written especially for teens and their parents! Like it? Pin it!
Follow me!
Categories
All
|
RSS Feed
