Strengthening the Parent-Child Relationship
Samantha Scalabrino , M.A.
Parenting can feel a bit like a juggling act. Shuttling kids around to all of their events, while also trying to work, take care of the home, and manage your own time is daunting on the best of days....
And They’re Off! Emotionally Preparing for Middle School
Samantha Scalabrino , M.A.
It is that time of year again when we acknowledge our children’s hard work and celebrate their transition from one chapter of their life to another with graduation ceremonies and parties. While the word “graduation” typically evokes thoughts of...
Grounding Techniques: Easy Skills to Help Your Child Manage Their Anxiety
Samantha Scalabrino , M.A.
Anxiety is an excessive worry about a real or perceived threat that can result in avoidance behaviors and physical reactions. It differs from fear in that fear is an appropriate response to an immediate threat, whereas anxiety is usually...
Encouraging Flexible Thinking: Playing Games “Wrong”
Samantha Scalabrino , M.A.
Flexible Thinking is an important skill that allows children to understand situations different perspectives, embrace change, learn to adapt, and engage in critical thinking. However, this skill can be difficult for some children to learn on their own, leading...
The Visual Aid: an Invaluable Tool to Help Children Manage Their Emotions
Samantha Scalabrino , M.A.
Recall the last time you witnessed a child having a temper tantrum. Did it help to tell them to just “calm down?” Probably not. In fact, it most likely made the tantrum worse. Now, what if you had tried...
Size of the Problem: Helping Children Match Their Feelings and Reactions to a Problem
Samantha Scalabrino , M.A.
Size of the Problem (SotP) is a tool used to help individuals think critically about how their feelings and responses to a perceived problem impact themselves and the people around them. Simply put, it helps people understand how big...