What Does it Mean? Conversations With Your Kids
Download a PDF copy of this infographic by clicking here.
This Months’ Skill is Empathy!
Each month we focus on helping you build one of the Umbrella Skills. Our focus for October is Empathy!
Empathy is our ability to see the world from someone else’s perspective. To understand and share the feelings of another.
Empathy is extremely valuable as a parenting tool and is essential for helping our children make strong social connections. High levels of empathy result in lower levels of conflict and higher levels of problem solving within friendships. It helps us make new friends and keep the ones we have and good friends help us live longer.
Check in regularly for tips and stories that will build this valuable tool in your home.
Featured image by Caroline Hernandez on Unsplash.
Umbrella Stories – Brock’s Story of Resilience
This month, I was honoured to launch the Umbrella Project at a new school that really embraces student wellbeing, the Holy Name of Mary Catholic School. Part way through the launch assembly, we spoke to an incredible student.
Brock, a 10 year old from this school, has recently undergone a liver transplant at Sick Kids Hospital and was able to leave the hospital after only 9 days. A new record for them!! The whole school celebrated with him over Skype as he prepared to return home. Brock was determined to create a new record for recovery time and used so many skills in his umbrella including resilience, optimism, grit and purpose to accomplish this incredible task. We joked that we weren’t sure his giant umbrella would fit in the school when he gets back.
The research shows that hearing stories of others using resilience helps us become more resilient. Everybody in the school gym that day learned what it looks like to be resilient and how to grow from life’s toughest challenges. Thank you Brock for making everyone you know a bit stronger!!
4 Steps that Will Help You Guide Your Child Through All Life’s Challenges
To learn more about guiding your child through life challenges, download a PDF copy of this infographic by clicking here.
KWBS – Terry Fox
Next time you hear an inspiring story of someone overcoming adversity – notice that this is not by chance.
Take a minute and see if you can name the skills they used to do it. This is a great way to show kids which skills they can practice to get stronger. Follow us here at the Umbrella Project to learn about a new skill each month that will help your child grow from challenges.
Visit also the Terry Fox Foundation on Facebook and the local @WaterlooTFR Twitter account.
