23 Apr SKILL BUILDING

SKILL BUILDING

We often see kids develop and build on skills, and how rewarding it is to watch them do this on their own.

On occasions whilst I have had kids in my care (child care centre or clinic) I have heard, I wish I could….. and this is often a skill that they are wishing for.

I know that skills develop on their own and through a variety of means, whether at school, home, parties etc. But I have decided to allocate time and opportunity for any interested kids to come to my workshop with A PARTICULAR SKILL in mind.

This skill can be anything. It may even be a skill already gained, but in need of mastery. Or maybe make changes to it. There’s lots of skills kids wish for, and I’m not the one to get them to achieve it, but I will be the one to guide them into their own self mastery.

They will take away the “know how” of what they need to do in order to work on their chosen skill. Lets be real, we will not master skills whilst in the cosy room of my clinic, nor in the structured office of my clinic. But this is where they will gain the skill to work on their skill when they leave.

Being acknowledged for skill building is really rewarding for kids. Acknowledgment comes from all our environment surrounding us e.g. family, teachers, mentors, coaches, friends, and more.

Usually kids speak in general terms, but I like them to learn how to break things down and get to specifics. This is useful for our SKILL BUILDING. You see we need to make sure its the right kind of skill and that it is beneficial. We look at who else it will serve. Here we expand perspective.

We will also look at ways to build confidence. We will do a little research on this. Too many people see confidence as a narrow term, but we need kids to recognise a diverse range of traits that demonstrate or relate to confidence.

One great technique that is always so useful not just for kids but for adults is “acting as if”. This is good practice. Great for speeches, performing in arts or sports, interviews, mastery and lots more.

We will also look at human resources to assist us in mastering our skill. Very useful, as too many people still quietly not achieving their goals because they lack the resources or do not know how to call upon assistance.

One of my favourite things to say is “you get good at what you practice”
This means if you practice negative stuff you get good at that too. Surprised??
So in this case we practice what we want to get good at.

So do you see now how this is the right path to skill building?

And then we will evaluate where we are at and how far we have come.

We won’t forget to give thanks and appreciation for the support we received along the way. Infact it will also teach us how we can be a great support for others.

Imagine we build our skill and master it. We are now resourceful and can teach someone else. We will go through these steps too, as this it crucial in our communication skills. We will earn patience, seeking feedback, check in, and more.

Holding this workshop for kids also helps them to learn skills to overcome problems and be better versions of themselves. We shall always try to improve.

This workshop aims for each child to leave feeling empowered at their own ability, and having something to work on and look forward to. We will be in a small group where we respect each others conversations and respect those who wish to work just with me and not with the group. We are flexible, compassionate and caring.

Looking forward to making a difference.

Amanda Dounis
Psychotherapist, Early Childhood Teacher, NLP Master
Positive Thinking Clinic
1/7 Magdalene Terrace, Wolli Creek, 2205
0458850850
amanda@positivethinkingclinic.com.au
www.positivethinkingclinic.com.au

Bookings essential [preferred via email]

Workshop details:
Saturday 11 May, 2019
1:30PM – 3:30PM
$50 ages 6-12 years.

BONUS INFO: no need to read this unless you want a quick read of kids feeling afraid.

KIDS LETS TALK ABOUT FEELING AFRAID

SOMETIMES I FEEL AFRAID…

We all get scared sometimes.

Fear can be good for you sometimes. It can even keep us healthy.

How? Well if you get too close to a cliff, you will get scared and step back and this will keep you safe!d. I bet you didn’t see it that way did you?

A little fear can also make your senses rather sharp and help you perform better.

Some people actually like feeling a little scared. I know I do. I even watch spooky movies sometimes. My friends go on scary rides at carnivals.

When we are scared our heart beats faster and we breath faster. Oh yeah, the fight or flight response. So what do we do…we either run away fast, or we face our fear. I guess this depends on the circumstances. I’m definitely not going to fight a snake!!! I’m going to bolt as fast as I can (and even faster). But that’s just me.

But when we feel scared with no apparent reason, this is called ANXIETY, and this can bring on other feelings e.g. tummy ache, dizziness, or a horrible feeling.

If you have an intense fear of something, this is called a phobia.

Anxiety can be genetic or can develop after a life event. Sometimes illness can cause anxiety. Drugs can also cause anxiety.

If you find you are experiencing anxiety, you should tell your parent(s) and they may take you to the doctor, or a therapist. Anxiety can be lessened through talking, relaxation exercises, meditations, activities, and sometimes medications are used.

I hope I just taught you lots of stuff,
I always find that when I understand things better,
I can handle things better.

How about you?

I hold lots of workshops for anxiety and worry at my clinic.
The kids love doing activities the best, and also meditations.

I love the smily faces the best.

Take care

Amanda Dounis

ANOTHER BONUS READ:

HEY KIDS, HERE’S HOW TO MAKE YOUR WORRY FADE

We all worry, but imagine you have a strategy ready to reduce most of your worries real fast.

I also want you to know, not all worry is bad. Sometimes its important to worry a little so we can make an effort to study for exams, etc.

First, work out what it is that you are worried about. Or at least part of what you are worried about. Focusing on your problem or part of it is the first step to taking action.

Second, have a think about what you can do to help yourself feel less worried. Is there something else you can do to make yourself feel more hopeful? Writing down all your ideas can be very helpful. If you get stuck, don’t worry about it, you can turn to an adult that you trust.

Third, you can ask for help, because when you spend time worrying, you often feel lonely.
You just never know if someone is able to help, so its worth a try. Anyway, talking about it usually makes you feel better. I’m sure you’ve noticed this.

So good luck and remember when worry creeps up, you can use the above 3 techniques to help it ease. You don’t have to eliminate your worry totally. But you can make it less.

Good luck

Amanda Dounis

LAST BONUS READ:

BE MINDFUL

JUST FOR KIDS AND TEENS

Mindfulness is noticing your thoughts, feelings and physical sensations in the present moment without judgement.

In these sessions, whether individual, group, or during my workshops, I show kids and teens lots of ways to be present in their life as it is actually taking place.

I aim for participants to be in the here and now with less thinking about the past or worrying about the future.

They become daily mindfulness tools for kids and teens, when they are feeling anxious, moody, angry, or just need to relax.

Being mindful is useful in managing everyday stressors such as:
School pressures
Worrying about things that need to be done
Relationship problems
Difficulties in paying attention and focusing
Feeling overwhelmed with commitments and time demands.

I ensure the session involves fun and interactive experiences.

Three themes /topics that the activities fall under include:

PAYING ATTENTION WITH SENSES
The easiest way to be mindful is to pay attention to your senses in anything you do.

For example,
Just Breathe
You are always breathing.
Your breathes always there with you.
…Notice your breath right now
Notice where you breathe in.
Through your mouth or nose?
Notice where you breathe out.
Through your mouth or nose?

SELF CARE

Part of being mindful is to be aware of your relationship to other people and to yourself.

For example,
Kindness to Another
Do or say something nice to someone else today for no reason.
Notice what it feels like when you are kind to another.

ALWAYS CONSIDER OTHER RESPONSES NOW
We often get stuck in our minds and our thinking. In these activities, kids and teens are asked to consider different ways of thinking, responding and reacting.

For example,
Past, Now, Future
Write down all of your thoughts for the next 2-3 minutes.
Now label each thought as a past, now or future thought.
Afterwards look at the number of thoughts that are labeled as “now”.
Anything surprise you?

AND OF COURSE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE KIDS TO BE CREATIVE AND MAKE THEIR OWN….

The point of being mindful is to shift from being on autopilot during your day,
and instead be awake to your life.