Using Improv to Build Social Communication and Connection

“Play is the answer to the question, ‘how does anything new ever come about’?” ~Jean Piaget Maja Watkins, author of The Brain’s Playground: Using Improv Games To Teach Social and Emotional Learning/Co-Founder of Zip Zap Zop Enrichment, says that using simple improv games can help parents to become more playful with their kids while building relationship […]

Nurturing Self-Regulation, Emotional Intelligence in Children: Insights from Leah Kuypers, Creator of the Zones of Regulation

Parenting is a journey filled with moments of joy, challenges, and endless growth. From guiding a child to “slow down” to encouraging them to “Wake up!”, we play a pivotal role in nurturing their emotional intelligence and self-regulation skills. In this blog, we’ll explore the heart of self-regulation, why it matters, and how the innovative […]

Teaching about Race and Social Justice is Part of Social-Emotional Learning

Communication. Social Justice.  Kindness. Perspective-taking.  Conflict resolution.    These skills are fundamental to social-emotional learning and are critical as we face painful realities about race and social justice in America.  As parents, therapists, educators, it is important for us to have conversations with all the children we support and care for. Whether or not kids are […]

My Personal Journey to Get My Son’s Needs Met

It’s not easy to retell and relive situations that were difficult so I don’t tell this story very often.  It’s about the day I broke down, trying to get my son what he needed for his learning style and mental health.. I was in the principal’s office, again. This had become an all-too-familiar way to […]

Giving and Receiving: An Opportunity to Support Social and Emotional Learning Over the Holidays

The holiday season is in full force with many social and family events to attend, not to mention winter break with children out of school for an extended time. Not surprisingly, I often think about how this is the perfect time to embrace and practice social learning. It can add to the fun when you sprinkle in a […]

3 Sensory Processing Tips for Parents: Supporting Your Child at Home

Many kids have challenges with sensory processing, If your child seems to struggle with staying calm, well-regulated and balanced with their mood or behavior, sensory processing issues might be at play. What do we mean by “sensory processing?” Well, sensory processing is how we take in sensory information from the environment and outside world. We learn […]

Cultivating a Growth Mindset: Embracing the Inner Coach for Kids

My son is starting off his year as a 7th grader with a focus on mindset. His Core Teacher (English and History combined) is laying a valuable foundation for students by talking about the importance of building skills by letting yourself try things out and make mistakes. This teacher is using the book The Dot by Peter […]

Embracing Teachable Moments from Emergency Situations: Preparedness and Emotional Regulation

My family had to evacuate our house two weeks ago due to the risk posed by nearby wildfires.  I’m thankful that this amounted to nothing more than an inconvenience and we were able to return home that same evening. But the experience left me thinking about what really matters in life and about being prepared […]

Building Speech, Language, and Social Skills on the Road

It sounds like you’re planning a fantastic road trip with your family and incorporating some great activities to build speech, language, and social skills along the way. Here are a few more game ideas that can enhance your journey and create memorable moments: Story Chain: Start a story with a sentence or two, and then […]

Follow Your Child’s Lead to Boost Social, Emotional, and Executive Functioning Skills

Embarking on the journey of parenting often unveils unexpected lessons, and our children become our greatest teachers. In a recent encounter with my 15-year-old son, I was reminded of the profound influence that arises from intentionally supporting our kids by embracing their interests. This experience underscored the important role intrinsic motivation plays in fostering learning […]