I Statements and Communication Skills

Here are some helpful resources I've found for using in family sessions regarding utilizing I Statements and increasing communication skills:
Advocates for Youth: Using "I" Statements
Learning to Give: I, You, The World 

Image Courtesy of The Usual Error Project

Building Empathy

Some great ideas for assisting children with building empathy skills:
http://www.johnhoward.ab.ca/docs/modules/Bullying/BLYG0203-EmpathyActivity.pdf
https://dschool.stanford.edu/groups/k12/wiki/15f3a/

http://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/being-mindful-empathy-building-play-therapy-0112114/

Image courtesy here

Talking With Children About Cancer

Good info from NASW about talking with children about cancer:
http://www.socialworkblog.org/nasw-news-article/2011/12/talking-with-kids-about-cancer/

Help Foster Youth Gain Access to College

NAEHCY: Unaccompanied Youth Toolkits Homepage

Fantastic resource for those of you who work with high school aged foster/homeless youth!

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Target Dollar Section!

I received a bit of money from work for supplies for a new classroom I have at an elementary school. At the Target I went to (in Carson), they had SO much good stuff in the dollar section! All items on the left were $1 (card games, foam swords, various balls, large bubble wand, cubes that I will convert into story cubes, as suggested by Caitlin, noise putty), all items on the right were $2.50 (dinosaurs and safari animals, puppets, blocks, and a play science set).

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Lots of Great Ideas

Hi fellow therapists! I just wanted to write a quick post to encourage you to regularly check pinterest.com/carlycollins for inspiration and ideas for activities. I add things as I find them, usually every couple of days. The most recent discovery: automobiles made out of recycled containers!!

Image courtesy of Reciclajes impresionantes hechos en casa

Free Printable Behavioral Charts

This web site (Free Printable Behavior Charts) has a TON of great resources for behavioral charts of all kinds! 

Image courtesy of clipartpal

In my practice, I tend to lean more toward rewarding positive/desired behaviors rather than punishing for negative behaviors. Many of my clients are not responsive to punishment, have been so punished for so long it is no longer effective, or don't have many privileges/resources to be taken away. 


In my experience, most children respond much more effectively to positive reinforcement of positive behaviors, rather than punishment of negative behaviors. This web site seems to lean more toward the positive, which I really like! 


Children are also more likely to respond when they are involved in the process, so I like the idea that many of these behavior charts are interactive; children can either participate by coloring progress along the chart, earn "Behavior Bucks" which can lead to a reward, etc. Keep in mind rewards don't always have to be monetary/physical objects...rewards can include things like family trips to the park, extra play time outside, have a friend over, movie night, etc.