In today's rapidly evolving workforce, diversity is not just a buzzword—it's a cornerstone of innovation and success. Yet, when we talk about diversity in the workplace, it's essential to recognize that it extends far beyond race, gender, and ethnicity. One often overlooked aspect of diversity is neurodiversity, which encompasses individuals with neurological differences such as autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and other conditions. As we strive to build more inclusive workplaces, it's crucial to embrace neurodiversity and tap into the unique talents and perspectives of neurodivergent individuals.

But what does neurodivergent mean, and why should employers understand what it means to hire a neurodivergent employee?

Neurodivergent individuals have brains that function differently from the neurotypical population. This can manifest in a variety of ways, from differences in communication and social interaction to heightened sensory sensitivities and strengths in areas such as pattern recognition, problem-solving, and attention to detail. Embracing neurodiversity means recognizing and valuing these differences as strengths rather than deficits.

Employment opportunities are particularly important for neurodivergent individuals for several reasons. Firstly, gainful employment provides a sense of purpose, belonging, and financial independence, contributing to overall well-being and quality of life. Secondly, by harnessing the unique skills and perspectives of neurodivergent individuals, businesses can drive innovation, creativity, and productivity. Research has shown that diverse teams are more effective at problem-solving and decision-making, leading to better outcomes for organizations as a whole.

As we witness a growing number of children being identified as neurodivergent, it's crucial to recognize that this demographic will inevitably transition into adulthood. By proactively creating inclusive workplaces and offering meaningful employment opportunities, employers can play a pivotal role in fostering a more inclusive society for neurodivergent individuals.
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So, how can employers create a more inclusive environment for neurodivergent employees?

1. Cultivate a Culture of Acceptance: Foster a workplace culture that celebrates diversity and values the unique contributions of all employees, regardless of neurodiversity.
2. Provide Training and Support: Offer training programs and resources to educate employees about neurodiversity and promote understanding and empathy.
3. Implement Flexible Work Policies: Recognize that neurodivergent individuals may benefit from flexible work arrangements and accommodations tailored to their needs.
4. Offer Mentorship and Career Development Opportunities: Provide mentorship and career development opportunities to support the growth and advancement of neurodivergent employees within the organization.
5. Create a Sensory-Friendly Environment: Consider making physical and sensory adjustments to the workplace to accommodate the needs of neurodivergent individuals, such as minimizing noise, providing quiet spaces, and offering sensory-friendly workstations.

By embracing neurodiversity in the workplace, employers can create a more inclusive and innovative environment for all employees. Let's work together to build a future where everyone, regardless of neurodiversity, can thrive and succeed.

Earlier this week, we delved into the world of children's learning spaces and the profound effects of clutter on their academic success. Today, let's shift our focus to the adults in the room – literally! The impact of clutter doesn't end with childhood; it extends into our lives as grown-ups, affecting our mental clarity and overall well-being. In this blog post, we'll explore the surprising ways clutter can influence the adult mind, and I'll share some practical tips on decluttering and maintaining an organized space for enhanced mental peace.

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The Mental Toll of Clutter

Clutter isn't just a physical eyesore; it takes a toll on our mental well-being. The chaos that surrounds us can contribute to stress, anxiety, and a feeling of overwhelm. As adults juggle work, family, and personal responsibilities, a cluttered space becomes a constant source of distraction, hindering our ability to focus and think clearly.

Organized Spaces, Clear Minds

On the flip side, an organized space can be a game-changer for mental clarity. When our surroundings are neat and tidy, our minds are free to concentrate on the task at hand. Creating an organized environment fosters a sense of control and calm, contributing to increased productivity and a more positive mindset.

Practical Tips for Decluttering
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1. Start Small: Tackling clutter can be overwhelming, so start with one area at a time. Whether it's a desk, a closet, or a room, small victories will build momentum.
2. Declutter Regularly: Make decluttering a regular habit. Set aside time each week to review your space and eliminate items you no longer need. This prevents the buildup of unnecessary possessions.
3. One In, One Out Rule: Adopt the one in, one out rule. For every new item you bring into your space, consider letting go of something else. This helps maintain balance and prevents future clutter.
4. Create Designated Spaces: Assign specific areas for different activities, and ensure everything has its place. This makes it easier to find items and encourages tidiness.
5. Digital Declutter: Don't forget about your digital space. Organize your computer files, delete unnecessary emails, and streamline your digital life for a clutter-free virtual environment.

Maintaining an Organized Space

1. Daily Maintenance: Spend a few minutes each day tidying up. This prevents clutter from accumulating and ensures that your space remains organized.
2. Storage Solutions: Invest in storage solutions that suit your needs. From shelves and bins to drawer organizers, find tools that help keep your belongings in order.
3. Prioritize Mindful Consumption: Be mindful of what you bring into your space. Before purchasing new items, consider whether they add value and align with your lifestyle.

As we witnessed the impact of clutter on children earlier this week, let's not forget the influence it has on our adult lives. By embracing organization and decluttering, we pave the way for mental clarity, reduced stress, and a more focused approach to life's challenges. Take the first step towards a clearer mind today, and watch as the benefits ripple through every aspect of your adult life. ​

As an educator and a mom, I have always been fascinated by the intricate relationship between a child's learning environment and their academic success. Over the years, I have come to appreciate the significance of a well-structured space in fostering a positive and conducive learning atmosphere. One factor that often goes underestimated is the impact of clutter on a child's ability to learn.

In this blog post, I will delve into the challenges clutter poses to the learning environment, emphasize the importance of organizational skills, and discuss how having everything in its place can profoundly influence a child's success – a truth that extends beyond special needs children to encompass all young learners.

The Clutter Conundrum

Picture a classroom or a home filled with disorganized desks, scattered toys, and miscellaneous items strewn across the floor. It might seem like a trivial concern, but the truth is, clutter can create an overwhelming and distracting environment for children. As an educator, I have witnessed firsthand the impact that a cluttered space can have on a child's ability to focus, retain information, and engage in productive learning.

Organizational Skills: A Foundation for Success

One of the keys to overcoming the challenges clutter presents is the cultivation of organizational skills. Just as adults benefit from a well-organized workspace, children thrive in environments where everything has its place. Teaching children to organize their belongings not only promotes a sense of responsibility but also enhances their cognitive abilities. Organizational skills empower children to manage their time effectively, locate resources independently, and develop a structured approach to tasks.

Beyond Special Needs: A Universal Necessity

While it is true that children with special needs may face additional challenges in navigating cluttered environments, the importance of organization transcends any specific learning profile. All children, regardless of their individual needs, benefit from a structured and organized learning space. By instilling good organizational habits early on, we equip children with the tools they need to succeed academically and beyond.

The Impact of a Well-Structured Environment

A well-structured environment goes beyond the physical arrangement of objects; it extends to the overall atmosphere of the learning space. Children thrive in environments that provide clear expectations, routines, and a sense of order. When everything has its place, children can focus more effectively on learning, fostering a positive attitude towards education and enhancing their overall academic experience.

Practical Tips for Creating an Organized Learning Environment

1. Designated Spaces: Allocate specific areas for different activities, such as a study corner, play area, and storage spaces for books and toys.
2. Consistent Routines: Establish daily routines that include time for learning, play, and organization. Consistency helps children develop a sense of structure and predictability.
3. Clear Expectations: Communicate clear expectations regarding cleanliness and organization. Encourage children to take responsibility for their belongings and tidy up after themselves.
4. Visual Aids: Utilize visual aids, such as labels and color-coding, to help children identify where items belong. This not only makes organization easier but also enhances visual learning.
5. Involve Children in Organization: Empower children by involving them in the organization process. Allow them to participate in creating organizational systems, making them more invested in maintaining order.

As both a mom and an educator, I am continually reminded of the profound impact that a clutter-free, well-organized environment can have on a child's learning journey. The benefits extend far beyond the immediate academic realm, influencing a child's overall development and shaping their lifelong habits. By prioritizing organizational skills and emphasizing the importance of everything having its place, we set the stage for success by laying important and essential groundwork. 

Ever felt overwhelmed by the chaos around you? Clutter isn't just a physical hurdle; it's a mental maze that can cloud focus and hinder clarity. 🧠✨ Join me this week as we explore why decluttering spaces can have a transformative power on the mind.

Did you know that decluttering can:

• Enhance Mental Clarity and Focus
• Promote Productivity and Efficiency
• Create a Calming and Stress-Reducing Atmosphere 

​Earlier this week, we delved into the world of procrastination in children, exploring its signs and strategies to help them navigate this common challenge. But what if, as you read those words, you found yourself nodding along, recognizing your own procrastination tendencies? Let's talk about it.
First things first, take a deep breath. Procrastination is not an exclusive visitor to the world of childhood—it's a familiar companion for many adults too. Whether it's putting off tasks until the last minute or feeling overwhelmed by a mounting to-do list, the struggle is real. But the good news? You're not alone, and there are ways to tackle it head-on.

Identifying Procrastination in Yourself:

1. Delaying Tasks: Do you find yourself consistently postponing important tasks or decisions, even when you know they're crucial?
2. Time Management Woes: Are you struggling to manage your time effectively, frequently underestimating the time needed for tasks, resulting in a rush to complete them?
3. Perfectionism: Do you hesitate to start or complete tasks because you feel they won't meet your high standards?
4. Avoidance Behavior: Are you engaging in activities that offer immediate gratification, like scrolling through social media or binge-watching TV, to avoid more pressing tasks?

Reducing and Eliminating Procrastination:

1. Break Tasks Down: Just like with children, break larger tasks into smaller, more manageable steps. This makes them less intimidating and easier to tackle one step at a time.
2. Set Realistic Goals and Deadlines: Establish achievable goals and reasonable deadlines for yourself. Creating a schedule or using productivity tools can help you stay on track.
3. Prioritize and Organize: Identify tasks that are most important and prioritize them. Organize your schedule to ensure you're dedicating time to each task without feeling overwhelmed.
4. Address Perfectionism: Embrace a growth mindset and understand that perfection is not always attainable. Celebrate progress and effort rather than fixating on flawless outcomes.
5. Mindfulness and Self-Compassion: Practice mindfulness techniques and be compassionate with yourself. Acknowledge the reasons behind procrastination without self-judgment.

Remember, overcoming procrastination is a journey. Start with small changes and be patient with yourself. Celebrate every step forward, no matter how small. You have the power to take charge of your habits and increase productivity while reducing stress.

Procrastination is a familiar foe to many, and children are not exempt from its grasp. As an educator, I've witnessed firsthand how procrastination can impede a child's academic progress and cause unnecessary stress. However, it's essential to recognize that procrastination is a habit that can be overcome with guidance, patience, and the right strategies. In this post, I'll explore what procrastination looks like in children and offer practical ways parents can support their child in dealing with it.

Understanding Procrastination in Children:
Procrastination in children can manifest in various ways, making it challenging for parents to identify. Some common signs include:

1. Delaying tasks: Children may put off starting their homework, projects, or chores until the last minute, often leading to rushed or incomplete work.
2.  Difficulty in time management: They might struggle to manage their time effectively, underestimating the time needed for tasks and ending up in a time crunch.
3. Perfectionism: Fear of not meeting high standards can lead children to procrastinate, waiting for the "perfect" moment to start or complete a task.
4. Avoidance behavior: Children might avoid tasks they find challenging or overwhelming, opting for activities that provide instant gratification, such as video games or social media.

Supporting Your Child in Dealing with Procrastination:

1. Encourage open communication: Create a supportive environment where your child feels comfortable discussing their struggles with procrastination. Avoid judgment and instead, listen attentively to their concerns.
2. Break tasks into manageable steps: Help your child break down larger tasks into smaller, more manageable chunks. This approach makes the workload seem less daunting and helps them focus on one step at a time.
3. Set realistic goals and deadlines: Guide your child in setting achievable goals and reasonable deadlines for completing tasks. Teach them the importance of planning and sticking to a schedule.
4. Teach time management skills: Introduce tools like calendars, planners, or apps that can assist in organizing tasks and managing time effectively. Encourage them to allocate specific time slots for different activities.
5. Foster a positive mindset: Encourage a growth mindset by praising effort rather than just the outcome. Teach your child that mistakes are part of the learning process and that progress matters more than perfection.
6. Lead by example: Children often mimic the behavior of their parents. Demonstrate good time management habits and a proactive approach to tasks, showing them the value of tackling responsibilities promptly.
7. Provide gentle guidance and support: Be patient and supportive as your child learns to overcome procrastination. Offer guidance without being overbearing and celebrate their progress along the way.

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Remember, overcoming procrastination is a gradual process that requires consistent effort and support. Be patient with your child and acknowledge their efforts in making positive changes. By implementing these strategies and fostering a supportive environment, you can help your child develop effective habits to conquer procrastination and achieve their full potential.

This week we're diving headfirst into the world of procrastination! Join me as we unravel the mysteries behind procrastination—what it truly is, the telltale signs to watch for, and most importantly, how to address it both in our children and within ourselves. We'll explore the nuances of this delay trap, equipping you with invaluable insights to help guide and support your kids through procrastination struggles. Additionally, we'll delve into effective strategies to tackle procrastination in your own life, empowering you to conquer those postponement tendencies. Stay tuned for a week filled with eye-opening discussions, actionable tips, and proactive approaches to bid procrastination farewell! 

The Importance of Sleep for Adults: Quality sleep is the cornerstone of a healthy lifestyle for adults. It's not just about clocking in hours; it's about the restorative processes that occur during sleep. Adequate rest boosts immunity, supports cognitive function, regulates mood, and enhances overall physical health.

Consequences of Sleep Deprivation: When we consistently miss out on quality sleep, our bodies and minds pay the price. Sleep deprivation can lead to various consequences, including:

• Impaired concentration and memory
• Increased stress levels and mood disturbances
• Weakened immune system
• Higher risk of chronic health conditions like heart disease, diabetes, and obesity
• Reduced productivity and impaired decision-making abilities

Tips for Better Sleep:

1. Establish a Sleep Schedule: Maintain a consistent bedtime and wake-up time, even on weekends, to regulate your body's internal clock.
2. Create a Sleep-Conducive Environment: Make your bedroom comfortable, quiet, and dark. Invest in a good mattress and pillows for optimal comfort.
3. Limit Screen Time: Minimize exposure to screens (phones, tablets, computers) before bedtime as the blue light can disrupt sleep patterns.
4. Practice Relaxation Techniques: Engage in activities like meditation, deep breathing exercises, or reading to unwind before bed.
5. Monitor Your Diet: Avoid heavy meals close to bedtime, limit caffeine and alcohol intake, and opt for sleep-supportive foods like herbal tea or a light snack if needed.
6. Regular Exercise: Incorporate physical activity into your daily routine, but avoid vigorous exercise close to bedtime.

Quality sleep isn't a luxury; it's a necessity for your overall health and well-being as an adult. By prioritizing good sleep hygiene and making conscious efforts to improve your sleep habits, you can reap the benefits of feeling more energized, focused, and ready to conquer each day with vigor and vitality. Remember, investing in quality sleep is investing in yourself!

Understanding Executive Functioning Challenges in Adults: Executive functioning challenges in adults can manifest in various ways – from difficulty in organizing tasks and managing time effectively to struggles with impulse control or adapting to changes. These difficulties might impact work performance, relationships, and overall daily functioning.

Compassionate Self-Recognition: It's essential to recognize and acknowledge these challenges without self-judgment. Many adults find themselves feeling overwhelmed, frustrated, or even ashamed by their struggles. However, understanding that executive functioning difficulties are a common part of the human experience can be the first step toward positive change.

Strategies for Improvement:

1. Break Tasks Down: Chunk larger tasks into smaller, more manageable steps. Create checklists or use organizational tools to aid in planning and execution.
2. Utilize Technology: Leverage apps or digital tools for reminders, schedules, or note-taking to assist in memory and organization.
3. Establish Routines: Consistency can be immensely helpful. Set up daily routines to structure your day and reduce decision fatigue.
4. Practice Self-Regulation Techniques: Explore mindfulness, meditation, or deep breathing exercises to help manage stress and emotions effectively.
5. Seek Support: Don't hesitate to seek guidance from professionals, such as therapists or coaches specializing in executive functioning difficulties. 
6. Embrace Flexibility: Allow yourself room for flexibility and adaptability in planning and problem-solving. Understand that it's okay to adjust strategies as needed.
7. Healthy Lifestyle: Prioritize adequate sleep, balanced nutrition, and regular physical activity. A healthy lifestyle contributes significantly to cognitive function and overall well-being.

​While navigating executive functioning challenges as an adult can present its own set of hurdles, it's essential to approach this journey with kindness and patience toward oneself. By implementing these strategies and seeking the necessary support, you can pave the way for improvements in managing your executive functioning skills. Remember, your experiences and challenges are valid, and through proactive steps and self-compassion, you can strive toward greater success and well-being in your daily life.

What is Executive Functioning? Executive functioning refers to a set of mental skills that help individuals manage and regulate their thoughts, actions, and emotions to achieve goals. It encompasses three core areas:

1. Cognitive Flexibility: The ability to adapt to changing situations, switch between tasks, and think creatively.
2. Working Memory: The capacity to hold and manipulate information in mind while completing tasks.
3. Inhibitory Control: The skill to control impulses, focus attention, and self-regulate behavior.

Developing Executive Functioning Skills: As a parent, you play a vital role in nurturing and strengthening your child's executive functioning abilities. Here are some practical tips to support their development:

1. Encourage Self-Regulation: Help your child identify and manage emotions by teaching techniques like deep breathing or taking a break when feeling overwhelmed. Encourage them to express their feelings and validate their emotions.
2. Create Routines and Structure: Establish consistent daily routines to assist your child in organizing tasks and managing time effectively. Use visual schedules or checklists to aid in planning and completing activities.
3. Teach Planning and Goal Setting: Guide your child in setting achievable short-term goals. Break larger tasks into smaller, manageable steps. Encourage them to plan and prioritize tasks independently.
4. Promote Cognitive Challenges: Engage your child in activities that stimulate problem-solving and critical thinking, such as puzzles, brainteasers, or strategy games. Encourage them to explore new interests and learn from experiences.
5. Model and Practice Flexibility: Demonstrate adaptability by being open to changes and discussing different ways to approach problems. Encourage your child to explore various solutions to a challenge.
6. Provide Opportunities for Practice: Offer tasks that require working memory, like memorizing a grocery list or following multi-step instructions. Engage in activities that demand sustained attention and focus.
7. Support a Healthy Lifestyle: Ensure your child gets adequate sleep, eats a balanced diet, and engages in regular physical activity. A healthy lifestyle contributes to better cognitive function.

Understanding and nurturing executive functioning skills is an ongoing process that requires patience and consistent support from parents. By implementing these strategies in everyday life, you can empower your child to develop strong executive functioning abilities, setting them on a path towards success in academics, relationships, and future endeavors. Your involvement and guidance are invaluable in shaping your child's cognitive growth and overall well-being.

FAMILY REFLECTIONS AT YEAR'S END

Reflection is a powerful tool that allows families to bond, learn, and grow together. As the year draws to a close, taking the time to reflect on the experiences, challenges, and successes of the past year can be incredibly beneficial. It provides an opportunity for parents and children to connect on a deeper level, fostering open communication and understanding within the family unit. Through reflection, families can celebrate achievements, learn from setbacks, and set intentions for the future. Here are five writing prompts designed to help parents engage their children in meaningful conversations about the events and lessons of 2023.

Writing Prompts:

Memorable Moments: Encourage your child to recall and write about three memorable moments from 2023. These could be experiences, events, achievements, or even small moments that brought joy or made an impact on them. Discuss why these moments stood out and their significance.

Challenges and Growth: Ask your child to reflect on a challenge they faced this year. Have them write about how they navigated through it, what they learned, and how it contributed to their personal growth. Encourage them to share any strategies they used to overcome the challenge.

Family Time: Reflect on the time spent together as a family in 2023. Have each family member write about their favorite family activity or outing and why it was special to them. Discuss how spending quality time together strengthened your family bond.

New Discoveries and Learning: Prompt your child to write about something new they learned or discovered in 2023. It could be a new skill, hobby, interest, or knowledge gained from a particular experience. Discuss the importance of continuous learning and exploration.

Setting Intentions for the Future: Encourage your child to think about one thing they would like to achieve or improve upon in the upcoming year. Have them write about their goal and the steps they plan to take to work towards it. Discuss how setting intentions can help create a sense of direction and motivation for the future.

These writing prompts provide an avenue for families to share thoughts, experiences, and aspirations, fostering a supportive environment for reflection and growth. By engaging in these activities together, parents can strengthen their connection with their children and create lasting memories while imparting valuable lessons about self-reflection and personal development.

Happy December! As the holiday season is now at our doorstep, our calendars are filling up with school, church and community Christmas programs. Beyond the joy of celebration, these occasions can serve as remarkable opportunities for our children to conquer their fears and embrace the spotlight. Yes, I'm talking about stage fright!

Whether young or old, stage fright is a common occurrence. Speaking in front of a crowd is a fear that many adults have, and so we can't expect children to be immune from this fear. We can however help them work through this fear.

With the right approach, holiday events can be an opportunity to manage and eventually overcome stage fright. Our holiday events can become transformative experiences, fostering confidence and resilience in our kids.

Here are five tips to help children navigate stage fright during Christmas programs:

1. Encourage Preparation and Practice: Empower your child by encouraging practice sessions at home. Rehearsing their lines or performances builds familiarity and confidence with the material, reducing anxiety about the unknown. Create a comfortable space for practice and be their encouraging audience.

2. Teach Relaxation Techniques: Teach simple relaxation techniques to ease nervousness. Deep breathing exercises, visualization, or progressive muscle relaxation can help alleviate anxiety. Practice these techniques together to make them familiar and comforting for your child.

3. Foster a Supportive Environment: Create a supportive and encouraging environment at home. Offer positive affirmations, emphasizing the effort rather than perfection. Remind them that mistakes are part of the learning process and that everyone experiences nerves.

4. Gradual Exposure to Public Speaking: Start with smaller speaking opportunities to gradually build confidence. Encourage your child to speak at family gatherings or school events. These experiences will help them become more comfortable with public speaking, making the larger Christmas program less intimidating.

5. Focus on Enjoyment and Purpose: Shift the focus from fear to enjoyment and purpose. Discuss the significance of sharing their talents or stories with an audience. Encourage them to embrace the joy of performing and the opportunity to spread holiday cheer.

Remember, every child is unique, and their comfort levels may vary. Be patient and understanding, while offering support.

Christmas programs are not just about entertainment, they are also platforms for personal growth and empowerment.

In the last few weeks, I have had a number of conversations about meeting the needs of diverse learners in the classroom. Sometimes, minor adjustments, in the form of adaptations, accommodations and modifications, can make a world of different in the level of student success.  I thought it may be helpful to share what these adjustments can look like in the classroom to provide clarity to both teachers and parents. 

Firstly, let me lay some ground work. When we are looking at ‘Special Education’ we are referring to the way that instruction is designed to meet the needs of exceptional students. This may require special materials, teaching techniques, equipment or even facilities. When we refer to exceptional students or learners we are referring to students that require special education and related services if they are going to reach their full potential.

Many of our classrooms in the Turks and Caicos Islands are Inclusive Classrooms. This means that there is a general education curriculum being taught where students with or without learning differences learn together. For this to happen with success, educators often must ask themselves, how can the content I am teaching be adapted so that it can be accessed by all my students?
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Adaptations are changes in the way instruction and assessment are carried out to provide equal opportunity for students to achieve their learning outcomes. For exceptional learners, these adaptations can be essential for them to reach their potential. Adaptations can be either accommodations or modifications.

Accommodations change how the students access the curriculum. They don’t change what students are learning, but how the content is presented or how they are showing what is being taught to them.

Here are examples accommodations:

• A visual schedule posted on a student’s desk.
• Headsets provided to block out noise.
• Directions given both orally and in print.
• Numbering and sequencing steps in a task
• Providing access to assistive technology.
• Providing audio versions of books and textbooks.
• Providing alternatives to reading aloud in the class.
• Shortening assignments to focus on the mastery of key concepts.
• Allowing sensory and/or fidget objects for students to self-regulate.

Modifications are a little different than accommodations. Accommodations don’t change the content or instructional level, whereas modifications do. Modifications take the individual students need into consideration and change what they are expected to learn.
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Here are examples of modifications: 

• Providing reading material adapted to level.
• Having students read a text summary rather than entire text.
• Assigning one paragraph when other students are writing multiple paragraph essays.
• Completing different homework than peers.
• Alternate scoring rubrics or grading scales.

 
Inevitably when we discuss accommodations and modifications, the idea of fairness arises. It’s important to highlight that fair does not mean equal. Fair means giving students what they need. Modifications and accommodations do not give students an unfair advantage but are designed to create level the playing field…in other words to bring equity into the learning equation. When we focus on building equity into our education system and our learning environments, we create opportunities for all students to thrive.

It's hard to believe we are already in November! Many of our students are starting to prepare for their end of term exams. A common complaint that I get is that ‘my child doesn’t know how to study.’ If you are in this boat, not to worry, I have some tips that will help.

Firstly, it’s important to remember that studying is a skill that can be taught. When our kids are not given instruction on how to study, they often just look over their pages endlessly with without a goal in mind. For studying success, we want them to have study strategies that can help them improve.
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Start by looking at the subject areas that your child needs to study. In areas where there are example problems or papers that can be used, guide them through the practice questions that can be completed. Plan with them as to how many review questions they should get done within a certain period.

In subjects that require memorization of definitions and facts, it may be helpful to make some flash cards. Put the term on one side, and the definition or important facts on the other side. Teach your child how to go through the stack of terms and say the definition or facts orally before checking the answer on the back of the page.

When there is a lot of reading involved, suggest that they look at the headings of each section and turn the headings into questions. For examples, if the heading of a section is, “Natural Resources within the Turks and Caicos Islands,” guide them into turning this title into a study questions – “What are the natural resources found in the Turks and Caicos Islands?” Writing the questions, they make in a notebook or on flash cards provides a great way for them to review content.
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In addition to the three strategies provided above, here are some important tips to keep central when supporting your child through exam season.

1. Organize for Studying Success – Decide where studying is going to take place. Ensure that the space is free of distractions during study time and has all the tools needed.
2. Plan a Study Schedule – When there are several subjects that need to be reviewed it can become overwhelming and students may need support managing their time. Look at their exam timetable, discuss with them which subjects may need more of their time, and draft a schedule for which subjects they will study when and for how long. See this schedule as a starting point and adjust as necessary.
3. Set Study Goals – Help your child decide how much content they need to get through in each study session or if there are any concept they want to master. This will help them to focus on the task at hand.
4. Consider their Learning Style – We all have our learning preferences. If your child is a strong visual learning, provide them with a whiteboard and markers to make things visual as they study. If they have a strong musical style, allow them to listen to instrumental music as they study. Learning styles inventories can be found online to help your child determine their areas of strengthen.
5. Encourage Intervals – It’s easy to expect longer study periods the closer that students get to exams. Remember that the brain needs time to rest, and focus can increase after breaks. Encourage your child to study hard, and to enjoy their breaks. 

I cannot count the number of times that I have been told by a parent that their child just doesn’t seem to be able to remember their multiplication tables. Memorizing multiplication tables has been causing problems for decades, or dare I even say centuries.

The challenge with not learning our basic facts is that it severely slows down math as they get older. Being unable to have that information at your fingertips, makes adds extra steps and extra frustrations as a child gets older.

Learning multiplication facts, in most cases, must be an intentional act. There are a handful of children that will see them, learn them, and remember them immediately. In my experience, this is not the norm. So, I suggest, be intentional about teaching and aiding your child in memorizing them, and if you happen to have one of those children with a photographic memory that can look at them and remember them, well then, nothing is lost because the end goal is simply for them to know, understand and retain their multiplication tables.

Firstly, it’s important to ensure that your child understands that multiplication means ‘groups of.’ Start by choosing a few facts to review. Perhaps 2 x 5 and 5 x 2. Clearly outline that 2 x 5 means 2 groups of 5. 5 x 2 means 5 groups of 2. This basic understanding is important. In some cases, we may think, “oh my child knows that for sure!” But, if they have been simply memorizing facts of singing a multiplication rhyme, this piece may not have processed as well as we would like.
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If your child is new to multiplication tables, get some paper and some tokens and practice creating groups of. Dried peas, pennies, or any other easily countable item can be used tokens. Once you believe that your child does truly understand the concept of multiplication, there are a few things you can try to help them retain the information.
 
Here are my top 6 suggestions.

1. Use manipulatives. As already suggested, ensuring your child understands their tables is important. Use practical tools, like counters, buttons, or pennies, to have your child ‘show’ and ‘tell’ you the answers to the facts that you ask them.  Arranging items on a flat service allows them to use their tactile learning styles.
2. Write and memorize. This is the most traditional suggestion that shouldn’t be thrown out the window. Have your child write out their facts, one set of facts at a time, and read, write, and review them. They can write them on paper, on a white board, on a computer…wherever they like writing. You can also add a twist and have them write it in the sand or with any other sensory tools. It can sometimes be difficult to memorize all 12 facts of a table at once. Perhaps do up to x 6 initially and then do the next 6 once the first 6 have been masters. For example, begin with 6 x 1 – 6 x 6 and once those are masters, tackle 6 x 7 – 6 x 12.
3. Use a Hundred Chart – Print out a hundreds chart from the internet. Decide on the facts that you want to review. If we continue with the 6 x tables, have your child highlight all the answers to the 6 x tables. Therefore, the numbers on their hundreds chart that are highlighted will be 6, 12, 18, 24, 36, 48, 54, 60, 66 and 72. In highlighting these numbers, you are activating the visual memory as they see the pattern of the highlighted numbers, but you are also providing them with a way to review. Have them count by 6’s several times. This techniques makes it easier for them to know when  they are giving an incorrect answer. For example,  if they answer 37 to the questions 6 x 6, they will immediately know that something is ‘off,’ and will reflect on what more likely to is be the answer of 6 x 6.
4. Eraser game. This one is a favorite at the center. Write down all the answers to the times table you are working on. Therefore, if you are working on the 4 times tables, you will randomly write 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, 32, 36, 40, 44 and 48. You then ask your child facts and have them erase the answer. For example, if you say 4 x 6, they should then erase 24.
5. Calculator Support. Children love to use calculators. Chances are they may have one on their tablet. You can also use a regular calculator. Explain to your child that calculators are tools that can also help us check our answers. Ask them a basic fact, have them give their answer, and then allow them to double check it on their calculator. The goal is to match the calculator answer, but of course, the ongoing practice will be improving their likelihood of remembering their facts.
6. Use Flash Cards. Once your child has a grasp of their facts, practice accuracy and speed with flash cards. Perhaps put on a time for 1 – 2 minutes and see how many flash cards that can answer correctly. Record that score. Repeat this regularly and encourage them to beat their score from the day before. 

I have taught many of children in my career and have met so many different personalities. Every child really is unique. I have always been extremely fascinated with strong willed children. Their confidence, their decisiveness, their sense of justice and their ability to stand alone! I know that parenting strong willed children can be exhausting, but I also know that strong willed children also grow up to not only do great things, but to make incredible contributions to our society.

Compliance is something that we like to see as adults. Some children are naturally more compliant than others, and although we can shape compliance in many ways, we do need to take the personalities of our children into consideration.

Strong willed children are generally spirited and courageous. The don’t fit well into the ‘seen’ but not ‘heard’ box. They thrive on independence. They are experiential learners that excel when they feel as though they are in charge of themselves. This sometimes creates power struggles in the household. Especially if your child has their heart set on something and needs to switch gears. Power struggles, as simple as which pajamas need to be worn, can create frustration for parents, and therefore it’s important to take your child’s personality into account when parenting.

Before I give you some strategies for strong willed children, I want to remind you parents, that there are some amazing long-term benefits for our strong-willed children. As they mature, they are often driven and extremely self-motivated. They are less likely to give into peer pressure and they are not afraid to stand up for their rights or the rights of others. In my books, these are important reasons to be intentional about the way you parent your strong-willed children, and to be mindful of the impulse to 'put them in their place' or show them who is the boss.
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Here are some tips when parenting strong-willed children:

1. Have predictable routines and rituals. This is important during school time and when your children are on weekends and holidays. Stick to your routines. When brushing teeth occurs at the same spot in the routine nightly, it’s a lot less likely to create a challenge.
2. Give Choices. Strong willed children thrive on independence. Give simple choices such as … “You can either wear this or that.” This avoids opening the entire closet to them, but still gives them to choose of one or the other. You can do your reading time at 6 pm or 7 pm. What is your preference?
3. Solve problems together. Strong willed children are often motivated by mastery. When a challenge or problem occurs, take it to them for their opinion and consideration.
4. Reframe obedience. I don’t think there is a parent in this word that doesn’t want their child to comply to their demands or instructions. Power struggles with strong willed children can get ugly. But wouldn’t you rather your child behaves because he or she trusts what you are saying. One of your relationship goals with your child should be that they understand that you cannot always say yes, but that you have their best interest at heart.  This type of relationship takes time to build. It takes intentional efforts and often takes more willingness to discuss matters with your child.

The techniques described above would be described as 'Positive Parenting Techniques.' Positive parenting techniques often sound fabulous but are not always the easier choice. Just remember, that the groundwork laid for our children in childhood creates the pathway for their behaviors and the way they interact with you and others in adolescence and adulthood.

Just about every summer learning post will discuss the importance of summer reading. This one will as well! Summer reading is not only fun but yields great benefits for our children. However, to provide a twist, I want to highlight the benefits of audiobooks.

I’m often asked, “Do audiobooks really have much benefit?” My answer: Yes! Yes! Yes! Audiobooks are a great way to boost your child’s literacy skills. Many children don’t have an interest in regular reading, so it makes summer reading a challenge. Audiobooks provide way to have your child to engage with stories in a different way. This allows for the listener’s imagination to step in, picture the scenes, picture the characters, and connect with the story.

Here are my Top 5 benefits for listening to audio books.

1. Audiobooks improve attention and focus. When your child is listening to audiobooks there are a lot of details to remember. There are the characters, the plot lines and the little details required to have a full picture of what is occurring. The narrators voice often captivates the listener and it helps to shape their attention and focus.
2. Audiobooks build critical thinking and comprehension skills. There is a lot of processing going on with audiobooks. Especially as we get into young adult literature. The listener has to be listening and simultaneously processing details in order to make a mental picture and gain a proper understanding of what is occurring.
3. Audiobooks improve vocabulary. Audiobooks, especially those that are above a child’s reading level, but not their level of understanding, introduce them to more mature vocabulary that can then be added to their speaking and writing vocabulary.
4. Audiobooks help in the understanding of emotions. When narrators read audiobooks, you can sense the emotion in their tones. Whether it be their depiction of empathy or humor, it adds meaning for our young ones, and helps them to understand and in future recognize emotion and mood in literature.
5. Audiobooks are fun and great for the mood. Audiobooks can be calming and reduce stress in our children and in us! They provide an opportunity to get lost in another world, to have a laugh, to learn something new, or just enjoy a good story.

​Children can listen to audiobooks everywhere. Facilitate your child’s listening by adding an audiobook player to their tablet or phone. Happy Listening!
 

Whether you call it ‘The Summer Slide’ or ‘Summer Brain Drain,’ we know that when our children take 2 months off school, we risk some learning loss. Spending just 15 minutes daily and being intentional about highlighting the learning around them can reduce the likelihood of learning loss tremendously!

As you plan what your summer learning will look like, don’t forget to include math! It’s not uncommon to have more learning loss in math than it is in literacy. We certainly hear about bedtime reading routines more often than bedtime math routines!

The summertime is a great time to improve math skill, confidence, and success. These three concepts are strongly linked. As a child begins to improve their skill in math, they start to feel more confident. This increased confidence will bring more success, and the success then drives the desire to learn more skill and gain more confidence and so on. It is a beautiful cycle to see.
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Math curriculums can move quickly during the academic year, and reviewing concepts already learned or getting a sneak peek at concepts to come allow your children to enter the new math year with greater confidence and ease.
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Here are my top 5 tips to remember about Summer Math Learning.

1. Math is everywhere. Look for opportunities to highlight math in your environment. Numbers are everywhere. Point them out and look for opportunities to find patterns, such as even number on one side of the street and odd on the other. Cooking provides a great opportunity to gain a deeper and real life understanding of topics such as capacity and fractions.
2. Play games. Puzzles, blocks, and board games all have their part to play in math learning. Whether counting, strategizing, categorizing, or following patterns, games provide a fun way for children to expand their special knowledge, their computation skills, their reasoning skills, and more. Ex. Monopoly, Yahtzee, Battleship, Dominoes etc.
3. Understand and Use Money. Understanding and using money is an essential skill. Deciding what to purchase on a menu with a specific budget or making decisions in the grocery store based on cost per quantity are two activities that make math come alive.
4. Develop an Awareness of Numbers. Look for things to count and to estimate. This is especially important with your little ones. Try discussing how many steps you think it is from your house to your car. Check your estimation by counting the number of steps.
5. Research. It’s important to remember that you don’t need to reinvent the wheel. A quick google search of ‘summer math fun,’ or ‘summer math activities,’ will provide you with tons of activities, everyday math ideas, virtual resources and printable. You can also refine your search by including your child’s grade level.

In conclusion, it’s helpful to think of the time you spend on math as ‘priming the math brain.’ Math is easier when the brain is ready for it. Look for opportunities throughout the summer to increase math readiness, regardless of age or grade level.
 

​Exams and tests are done, and our children are just about ready to pack away their supplies until next year. Or… in the case of many of us, the supplies have been so ‘well used,’ that we are beginning to think of our ‘back to school budget!’

Summer is a great time for our children to relax, but it is also a time where we can have learning loss, escalated behavioral challenges and other things most parents would like to avoid. Stepping into summer with intention can help create stability, lower learning loss and of course, ensure you have fun!

What do you want the summer holidays to look like for your children? This goes beyond camp registrations, or flight bookings, and gets to a deeper level of what do you want your child to accomplish daily.

Over the next few weeks, I will be sharing some summer learning tips, but for today, I thought I’d get you going on my top 5 Summer Tips.

1. Play! Your children have been longing for time to play and relax. Structured activities are great, but also remember to allow your children unstructured play time to explore.
2. Read. Whether you are reading to them, or they are at the stage that they are reading independently, make reading part of your daily routine.
3. Visit. Whether visiting family members, a new beach, or other countries, look for opportunities to explore and create new experiences.
4. Talk. Look for opportunities to have conversation. Whether your child is a toddler or a teenager, conversation expands vocabulary and expands the mind.
5. Create. There are lot of mediums that your children can use to create. Paper and crayons are an easily accessible one, but don’t forget about blocks, logo, playdough, paint, glue, scissors, and trash to treasure items like shoe boxes, egg cartons and fancy packaging. The summer is a great time to allow them to get lost in their creations.

Stay tuned for more!

As we are knocking on June’s door, many of our students are starting to prepare for their end of term exams. A common complaint that I get is that ‘my child doesn’t know how to study.’ If you are in this boat, not to worry, I have some tips the twill help.

Firstly, it’s important to remember that studying is a skill that can be taught. When our kids are not given instruction on how to study, they often just look over their pages endlessly with without a goal in mind. For studying success, we want them to have study strategies that can help them improve.
Start by looking at the subject areas that your child needs to study. In areas where there are example problems or papers that can be used, guide them through the practice questions that can be completed. Plan with them as to how many review questions they should get done within a certain period.

In subjects that require memorization of definitions and facts, it may be helpful to make some flash cards. Put the term on one side, and the definition or important facts on the other side. Teach your child how to go through the stack of terms and say the definition or facts orally before checking the answer on the back of the page.

When there is a lot of reading involved, suggest that they look at the headings of each section and turn the headings into questions. For examples, if the heading of a section is, “Natural Resources within the Turks and Caicos Islands,” guide them into turning this title into a study questions – “What are the natural resources found in the Turks and Caicos Islands?” Writing the questions, they make in a notebook or on flash cards provides a great way for them to review content.
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In addition to the three strategies provided above, here are some important tips to keep central when supporting your child through exam season.

1. Organize for Studying Success – Decide where studying is going to take place. Ensure that the space is free of distractions during study time and has all the tools needed.
2. Plan a Study Schedule – When there are several subjects that need to be reviewed it can become overwhelming and students may need support managing their time. Look at their exam timetable, discuss with them which subjects may need more of their time, and draft a schedule for which subjects they will study when and for how long. See this schedule as a starting point and adjust as necessary.
3. Set Study Goals – Help your child decide how much content they need to get through in each study session or if there are any concept they want to master. This will help them to focus on the task at hand.
4. Consider their Learning Style – We all have our learning preferences. If your child is a strong visual learning, provide them with a whiteboard and markers to make things visual as they study. If they have a strong musical style, allow them to listen to instrumental music as they study. Learning styles inventories can be found online to help your child determine their areas of strengthen.
5. Encourage Intervals – It’s easy to expect longer study periods the closer that students get to exams. Remember that the brain needs time to rest, and focus can increase after breaks. Encourage your child to study hard, and to enjoy their breaks. 

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Mental health refers to our feelings, our emotions our thinking and our moods. As parents it’s important to understand that mental health is not simply the absence of a mental disorder, but that it is a state of well-being. A healthy parent-child relationship has a great impact on a child’s mental health, so firstly, always look for opportunities to develop and maintain a strong relationship with your child and presence in their lives. You are likely their most consistent role model.

According to the CDC, “Being mentally healthy during childhood means reaching developmental and emotional milestones and learning healthy social skills and how to cope when there are problems. Mentally healthy children have a positive quality of life and can function well at home, in school, and in their communities.”

Children, all over the world, have been through a lot in the last few years. Many of them have had to cope with great change, great loss, and had to make many shifts. With this, many emotions have come, and it’s important that we give our children a safe space to feel these emotions and to work through them.

A mentally healthy child doesn’t mean that they will always be happy. With the increase is social media, it’s important to highlight to our children you can’t tell what someone feels like by what they share online. Children gain the mistaken belief that if they aren’t always feeling positive emotions, that something is wrong with them. Take the opportunity to explain to them that just like physical health, we all have mental health. Feeling angry, stressed and down is part of life, just like it’s normal to feel happy, confident, excited, and care-free. Good mental health is about experiencing both types of feelings.

Here are my top 5 tips to help navigate mental health with your children.

1. Encourage Connections – Look for ways to connect and provide a listening ear for your children. Leave out the shame, pressure, and judgement, and focus on being present.
2. Provide Opportunity for Physical Activity – Encourage being active. Whether it is playing organized sports, basketball in the driveway, going for a walk, or having a dance party in the kitchen, look for ways to exercise daily.
3. Practice Mindfulness – Guide them in becoming aware in the present moment. This can be simply slowing down for a moment of awareness in nature, of gratitude, or taking a breath. Look for ways to help them focus on the present moment, rather than the past, or potential future.
4. Always be Learning – Although our children are always learning in school, look for ways to expand their learning at home. Whether it’s with you in the kitchen, or a video on YouTube, we live in a time that allows for continuous access to information.
5. Build Resilience – Resilience is the bounce back skill. The thing about resilience, is that it’s not something we build in in difficult times, but rather we draw on. Therefore, look for ways to help your child build their resilience daily, so when they need it, it’s there for them to draw on it.
6. Break the Stigma – Our culture sometimes creates an environment of shame around the topic of mental health. Be intentional about emphasizing that we all have mental health just like we have physical health. 

For Age specific recommendations on supporting Mental Health and Welbing of your children, visit UNICEF parents.

Watching children develop their language skills is an extraordinary thing. Watching a baby transition from cries, to gestures and calculated eye contact, to grunts, to sounds that sound a little like words, to words is fascinating.

So how does a baby move from babbles and almost words to conversation? Does this happen at nursery, at pre-school? This, like everything in education, begins in the home with the child’s parents and caregivers.

There are two types of language: expressive and receptive. Receptive language is the child’s understanding of language and the meaning they take from the words that are spoken to them. A child’s expressive language is the way in which they use language to interact. Although expressive and receptive language go hand in hand, in today’s post, I’m going to focus on expressive language.

A child’s ability to become a little conversationalist does not come out of the blue. We often think that children are born with a certain ability. I challenge you to think about a seed. A seed has certain potential. However, if it is not exposed to the right conditions and given the right amount of care, it will never be able to reach its potential. Children are much like seeds. If they are not nurtured, and given the right amount of nourishment and care, they will not reach their potential. Language development involves a lot of nurturing. We often get as much out of language development as we put into it.

A child’s environment impacts their vocabulary and expressive language skills. If you want your child to have a rich vocabulary, they must be immersed in an environment with a rich vocabulary. If you want your child to be able to hold conversation with not only their friends, but the adults around them, they must be used to environments where they are included in conversation.

Expressive language is key to a development. Children who have difficulty with expressing orally by using their words and language may also have difficulties with:

• Behavior
• Understanding
• Participation
• Completing academic tasks
• Social skills
• Literacy
• Fluency
• Planning and sequencing
• Executive functioning
• Sensory processing

 
So how can you as a parent encourage the language development of your child? I am going to borrow the concept of the 3 T’s from Dr., researcher and author Dana Suskind. Through her research and the development of the Thirty Million Word Initiative, which works with parents to help encourage language development, she came up with the 3 T’s. Tune in, talk more, and take turns. These three t’s are to allow for maximal brain development in early childhood…as this is the time when intelligence is most malleable with children.

Tune in: The making of a conscious effort to notice what a child is focusing on, and when it is appropriate, talking with the child about it. When a teacher or parent is tuning in, they are following and responding to the child’s lead.
Keys to tuning in:

• Observation
• Interpretation
• Action

 
Talk more: Increased focus on talking with your student on what they are focused on.

• The focus should be talking ‘with’ and not ‘to’ him or her.
• The goal of ‘Talk More’ is a mutual level of engagement.

 
Take turns: Conversation exchange should be engaged.
 
The result of building the three T’s are the development of:

• Literacy
• Self-regulation and executive functioning
• Critical thinking skills
• Emotional insight
• Creativity
• Persistence

 
So, to conclude, remember that young children are like sponges. Although there is a certain amount of growth that happens naturally, their learning and likelihood of reaching their potential is a direct result of their environment.
 

Reading is all around us. Whether you are reading Facebook status updates, Tweets by your favorite celebrity, or chatting with a friend on What’s App, you are constantly reading. We live in a society that thrives on bite size chunks of reading. I have a question for you though, when was the last time you read a book?

In a world where we are constantly bombarded by notifications, where binge-watching is a stress reliever and where multitasking often seems like an essential, many have let go of reading for pleasure. We look for quick and efficient blog posts (like this one 😊) that can be read in less than 5 minutes and summary articles on professional development topics that interest us. The thing is, pleasure reading should be part of our personal and professional growth game! The benefits of daily reading go far beyond the obvious that are often highlighted to children and teens. Adding an intentional 10-20 minutes of reading a day can be game changing to one’s personal and professional life.

Here are my top 5 benefits to daily reading.

1. Increased Knowledge. When you are reading, whether fiction or non-fiction, you are adding tons of new bits of knowledge to your reserves. In addition to gaining knowledge in areas of interest, you are also improving your vocabulary. The more you read, the more words will be added to your written and spoken vocabulary. The knowledge gained will increase your confidence and will come out when you need it. Knowledge is something that can never be taken away from you!
2. Mental Stimulation. Focused reading is mentally stimulating. Think of the brain as a muscle. To build and keep a muscle strong you need to constantly exercise. When you add consistent reading into your daily routine, you will gain the benefits of this stimulation which include improved memory, focus and concentration.
3. Stress Relief. Reading can provide a breather from everyday life. Personal and professional lives will be stressful at times. A good book can transport you to another world, have you laughing aloud uncontrollably, and in many cases, even giving you a sense of tranquility or inner peace.
4. Readiness. In life, many things often feel like luck. But is it really luck, or is it when preparation meets opportunity? Daily reading in areas of interest keep you constantly prepared and ready to jump on new opportunities.
5. Increased Empathy. When we read about the lives of others, the circumstances they have been faced with, and the paths they have taken, it makes us more in-tune with the needs of others. In turn, this helps us to understand and work with or be with people that are different from us.

Take the time to make an intentional reading plan for yourself. Choose a time and devote 10-20 minutes each day to reading. Challenge yourself to make it a habit and get it done. Then sit back and enjoy the benefits that come!
 

Today's post is especially for the ladies. ​

​For as long as I can remember, through multiple seasons of my life, the one word that has driven me the most is ‘connection.’ I find connection fascinating and believe that we thrive through human connection. As an educator, trainer, and coach, I am constantly reminded of the power of connection one’s learning. The best learning happens when strong connections are present. But how does connection affect our personal lives? More specifically, how does it affect women?

Although both men and women thrive when they connect with others, women have more of a need for it. From ancient times women have shared their lives. Sisterhood was essential for survival. Even before outlining the source of strength and comfort, sisterhood was needed for helping to raise children, cooking, daily tasks, and the especially monumental task of childbirth.  Women needed to help each other through day-to-day challenges to survive. A benefit to this was that this sisterhood also helped to improve their resilience and increase their level of happiness.

As we have evolved, we have moved away from living in closer communities and even if some may continue to live in small communities, community connection has a different feel. We now can connect through technology in an instant, yet our level of sisterly connection isn’t necessarily increasing.

Whether it’s the day to day demands of the corporate world, being overrun by toddlers or teenagers, or a plethora of other reasons, many women find their time is stretched extremely thin. This can shift much needed connection time to the back burner…or quite frankly out the back door. The thing is, female friendships are extremely powerful. They can be activators to our next levels.
Women may not need each other to survive in the same ways as they did in ancient times, but when women are intentional about building each other up, nurturing their tribes/sister-friend relationships, amazing things happen.  Here of my favorite benefits:
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1. Women provide each other with courage to thrive. When women have sister friends that believe in you fiercely, it is motivating and fuels the courage and confidence needed to hit higher levels.
2. Women provide support in motherhood. Motherhood can be a lonely journey in which there is so much to navigate. When moms have other moms to connect with, they have a sounding board to let out frustrations and look for solutions.
3. Sister-friend relationships provide an opportunity for authentic refueling. Sister friends provide a time to take off the armor and just be. When woman can just be, without judgement, it gives them the opportunity to embrace who they authentically are and an opportunity to truly refuel for the inevitable day to day challenges.
4. It allows your spouse/partner to be just that...your spouse or partner. As supportive as your spouse or partner may be, they provide a different support and play a different role than the ladies in your circle.
5. They tell you the truth…with love. Sometimes we need perspective checks and sister-friends can provide this and help us navigate challenging situations.