Author: Dajah Nolan Durham
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CBT Worksheets for Parents and Kids: Easy Strategies to Tame Giant Feelings
Working with kids on controlling their feelings can become overwhelming at times—particularly when worry, frustration, or meltdowns erupt during daily life. One research-based approach that is making a huge impact with families is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). CBT shows kids (and parents, too!) that thoughts, feelings, and actions all go together. Through easy-to-use, child-friendly strategies,…
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Helping Kids Cope: Why Naming Emotions is the First Step
As kids and teens grow, they’re faced with big feelings that can feel overwhelming—especially when they don’t yet have the language to explain what’s going on inside. That’s where emotional vocabulary becomes a powerful tool. One of the simplest, yet most effective strategies you can teach your child is the practice of “Name it to…
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Smart Parenting: 5 Ways to Really Connect with Your Pre-Teen (Free Download)
Pre-teen life is a fascinating, sometimes bumpy, ride. While kids are coping with huge changes and identity formation, good communication is not about instructing them on what they should be doing, but about really connecting with what they’re becoming. As a school counselor, I witness daily how transparent communication can transform problems into opportunities for…
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Summer Fun, Screen-Free Peace: Developing Emotional Regulation Through Play
Summer finally arrived, and with it the huge chance to move away from screens and involve children in activity that actually promotes their emotional well-being. Some screen use is unavoidable, but excessive use can sometimes leave children overstimulated or disconnected. Hands-on creative play, on the other hand, gives children some invaluable chances to exercise self-regulation,…
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Beyond Happy & Sad: Why a Big Feelings Vocabulary is Essential for Children (and How to Develop It)
As a school counselor, I see one of the most prevalent things is that children will go to “happy,” “sad,” or “mad” when asked to describe emotions. Although these are basic feelings, restricting their emotional vocabulary actually serves to restrict their capacity to deeply know themselves, express their needs, and navigate the subtleties of their…
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A School Counselor’s Go-To Tools for Taming Big Feelings
As a school counselor, I have a front-row seat to the inner lives of children. My door is a revolving door, where children come to work through everything from playground conflicts to the unspoken, heavy weight of worry. And in the quiet room of my office, I’ve discovered a fundamental truth: before we can talk…
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Finding Your Family’s Tech Sweet Spot: Tips for Healthy Use
From education on the Web to socializing with friends, screens open up amazing opportunities. But as parents, we can’t help but wonder: How much is too much? Here’s how to achieve that balance in your family’s tech life and bring up healthy, well-adjusted, and happy kids! It’s not about taking screens away altogether (although every…
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40 Screen-Free Indoor Activities to Bring on Joy(Even on Rainy Days!)
Let’s be real: summer days, sick days, or just plain long days have a way of bringing on the dreaded “I’m bored!” chant, leading to a plea for screen time. As a school counselor, I’ve learned the drill of keeping children occupied and emotionally regulated indoors, particularly when you’re attempting to limit devices. But boredom…
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What I Want Every Parent to Know Before Their Child Starts Middle School
I’m a former middle and elementary school counselor, having worked with hundreds of families through one of the most neglected transitions in a child’s life: the transition from elementary school to middle school. It’s a time of change—some thrilling, some frightening—and all too often, parents find themselves scratching their heads about how to better navigate…
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