Boundaries and Family Rules Wednesday 27th January
A healthy family is like a mini democracy - parents are definitely in charge, but children have a voice and the right to express their views. Keeping children safe, mentally and physically is a priority for every parent and setting boundaries is part of this important responsibility. Boundaries are easier to maintain if there are clear, fair rules and making children part of the process can only assist as children whose opinions have been listened to and respected find it easier to accept decisions when they do not get their own way. Boundaries need to be clear so that children know what is expected of them as do the consequences they may face if rules are not adhered to. Whilst the boundaries will naturally change as your child grows, the rule-making process does not and it will, undoubtedly, form a solid foundation for healthy family relationships now and throughout life.
Join me to explore how to set up a family friendly system for the whole family, one that encourages accountability, trust, cooperation, honesty, safety and support. To reserve your place please email Sally Sharp on ssharp@edgegrove.com by 5.00pm on Tuesday 26th January confirming the name of your child and the session you would like to attend: Upper School Parents: 9.00am - 9.45am Middle School Parents: 10.15am - 11.00am Lower School Parents: 11.30am - 12.15pm Pre Prep Parents: 1.00pm - 1.45pm Sessions will take place via Google Meet, and the joining code will be forwarded with your booking confirmation. With very best wishes. Sally Sharp Head of Wellbeing
Conflict and emotions go hand in hand, and it is natural for children to sometimes feel overwhelmed with big emotions. Small disagreements can feel like huge issues and children often react in a black and white manner to upsetting events or by blaming. All relationships encounter ups and downs, and children’s responses to them can vary dramatically. Hurt feelings can lead to a range of responses, from unkindness to withdrawal, and helping children to cope with their feelings and to have empathy for the feelings of others is an important step in mastering conflict resolution skills. Whilst it may be tempting to jump in and resolve or fix the problem, this will not help children in the long run - they need to learn the skills they need to be able to manage conflict themselves and this is something you can assist with. Help them to feel heard and understood Listen and empathise to help them feel heard and understood – create a safe space for them to talk about their feelings. In any conflict scenario it is important for feelings to be understood as what is being displayed on the surface may differ from what lies beneath and discussion will raise awareness. Help them to get things in perspective Perspective is a game changer. Encouraging children to think about how others are feeling about the situation builds empathy and awareness, establishing reality about the size and impact of the conflict. Getting things in perspective will help with emotional regulation and support positive forward movement. Build a toolbox Helping children develop an age appropriate toolbox of solutions they can try on their own is important. It is never too early to start encouraging children to work through conflict, asking lots of open questions will help them find ways forward and build confidence in their abilities. As they learn they can use their experiences to develop their toolkit and work towards becoming self-sufficient, competent problem solvers.
Encourage them to move on Acceptance is key to being able to move on. Helping children to understand that agreeing to disagree is okay and that having different opinions does not have to be a point of conflict is an important lesson in moving on and letting go of grudges.