Mental Health Education

How to Turn Daily Routines Into Brain Training for Self-Control

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Self-control isn’t built in a single counseling session — it develops through everyday repetition. The good news? Parents and teachers don’t need fancy tools to strengthen self-regulation in kids. Daily routines like mealtime, bedtime, and homework can become powerful brain training opportunities. Here’s how to use ordinary family and classroom routines to help children practice […]

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Impulsivity vs. Hyperactivity: How to Tell the Difference and Support Your Child

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Parents and teachers often use the words “impulsive” and “hyperactive” interchangeably, but they aren’t the same thing. While both can affect attention, behavior, and learning, impulsivity and hyperactivity look different, and they require different kinds of support. Understanding the difference helps families, teachers, and counselors respond with strategies that actually work. What Is Impulsivity? Impulsivity

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Brain Training for Kids: 7 Everyday Activities to Strengthen Self-Control

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Just like muscles get stronger with exercise, the brain builds self-control through practice. Kids don’t learn emotional regulation from a single lesson — they learn it through daily repetition in everyday routines. These seven brain training activities help children practice focus, patience, and self-regulation at home, in therapy, or in the classroom. They’re simple, practical,

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The Brain Is Like a Muscle: How Repetition Builds Emotional Regulation in Kids

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We often tell kids, “Practice makes perfect.” The same is true for their brains. Just like lifting weights builds muscle, repetition strengthens the brain’s ability to manage emotions. When children practice calming strategies over and over, their brains create stronger pathways for self-regulation. This article explains the science in simple terms — and gives parents,

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Exploring Core Values with Teens: A Guide for Counselors, Teachers & Parents

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Adolescence is a time when young people ask big questions: Who am I? What matters to me? What do I stand for? These questions are all about values — the personal principles that guide our decisions, friendships, and future goals. Helping teens explore their core values isn’t just an academic exercise; it’s a key part

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Storytelling & Role-Play Activities to Teach Empathy to Kids

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Children naturally love stories and play — and both are powerful ways to teach empathy. By stepping into someone else’s shoes through storytelling and role-play, kids practice perspective-taking, compassion, and emotional understanding in a way that feels engaging and fun. Here are storytelling and role-play activities that help children build empathy at home, in classrooms,

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Empathy Exercises for Teens: Building Connection and Understanding

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Adolescence is a time of big emotions, shifting identities, and growing independence. For many teens, empathy — the ability to understand and share another person’s feelings — becomes the foundation for healthier friendships, stronger communication, and resilience. But empathy doesn’t always come naturally in the teen years. It can (and should) be practiced. These empathy

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Winter Emotional Regulation Activities for Classrooms: Calm & Focus Ideas

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Winter can be a magical season, but for many students it also brings restlessness, holiday stress, or mid-year fatigue. Classrooms can easily become overwhelmed with high energy and big feelings. That’s why building emotional regulation activities into your winter classroom routines is so powerful. These calming, mindful activities are simple, seasonal, and help kids develop

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Therapy Tools for Emotional Regulation: A Practical Guide for Counselors

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Emotional regulation is one of the most important skills children and teens can learn in therapy. For many clients, it’s not just about “calming down” — it’s about recognizing emotions, understanding triggers, and developing healthier responses. As a counselor, having the right therapy tools for emotional regulation makes sessions more engaging and effective. Here’s a

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Emotional Regulation Group Activities for Teens: Building Calm and Connection

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Teenagers face intense emotions — pressure from school, friendships, identity, and independence. Without tools to manage these feelings, impulsivity and stress can easily take over. Group therapy and classroom SEL sessions are powerful ways to teach emotional regulation skills while helping teens feel connected. Here are engaging group activities for teens that build emotional awareness,

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