child emotional well-being Archives

Kids Need to Love Themselves Every Day

Many people celebrate Valentine’s Day – a day to appreciate the people you love.

But there’s a celebration we often miss: teaching kids to love themselves.

Loving themselves isn’t about arrogance or thinking they’re better than others.

It’s about knowing they still matter:

After a mistake
During big emotions
On hard days

It’s a powerful, unwavering belief that who they are is enough.

As parents and educators, you play a key role in teaching kids to love themselves by:

Remembering a mistake doesn’t make them “bad”
Pausing instead of reacting
Listening instead of fixing
Noticing effort, not just results

This week, look for small moments to remind your child/student:

You matter
You’re still worthy
You don’t have to earn my love

This is what I know: These moments send a powerful message. Kids begin to see they are valued for who they are, not just what they do. That belief becomes the voice they carry with them, guiding their confidence, choices, and long-term emotional resilience.

Download a ‘You Matter’ worksheet for kids

Until next time…

15 May 2025

How to Help Kids through Anxiety

Help kids through anxiety- and remember – it doesn’t just affect kids— it shows up in all of us when life feels uncertain, overwhelming or just too much to handle.

The night before a school presentation, my son was feeling really anxious. He was quieter than usual and snapped at me over something small. Instead of going straight into fix-it mode, I sat beside him, put on my detective hat and asked, “Could it be that you’re worried about the presentation tomorrow?”

He nodded.

Then I followed up with, “Is there something you’re feeling uncertain about?”

That gave him the space to open up. He told me he was scared he’d forget what to say in front of the class—and that people might laugh at him.

Saying it out loud didn’t make his anxiety go away—it just made it feel a little less overwhelming.

That moment reminded me that when anxiety shows up, it’s not answers we need first—it’s connection. And sometimes, the right question makes that connection possible.

These two questions help when anxiety shows up for me or my son:
1. What do I fear I don’t have control of?
2. What am I feeling uncertain about?

This is what I know: These questions don’t fix everything. They do bring clarity when life feels overwhelming, messy or tough to manage. If you’re looking for a simple way to help kids through anxiety, try starting with a pause and the right question. It can make all the difference—for you, and for your kids.

Until next time…