Player chooses “I’d like to learn more about common behavior changes.”
HOPE: Here are some examples of behavior changes that could warrant a conversation. Have you noticed any of these?
Pic 21: A screen appears with the text “Select the behavior changes you’ve noticed” on top with a list of possible behavior changes.
Player chooses Sleeping in class, Gossiping, and Irritability.
Pic 22: The screen returns to Hope at the café.
HOPE: It can be tough seeing our kids go through hard times, especially when we're not sure what the next steps should be. For me, I've found that talking can help, and showing your child that you are listening as well. And remember, it's okay to not fix the problem, that’s where resiliency comes in. We are teaching our children the skills to problem solve and work through tough situations.
Pic 23: The banner with “Identify,” “Approach,” and “Get Support” reappears. “Risk Factors” appears over “Approach.”
HOPE: If you’re interested in learning skills to start conversations and Approach your child, we can talk about that. There are also some things that can happen in a child's life that could warrant checking in with a professional. If you'd like to learn more, we can talk about the Risk Factors. And if you would like more information about how to find additional support or information, we can talk about ways to Get Support for your child from people that can further help.
Info: If you need help immediately, please remember you can go to the Resources section in the Main Menu for more immediate information.
Player chooses “I’d like to learn more about risk factors.”
Pic 24: An image of a figure holding their knees under storm clouds appears next to Hope, titled “Stress Anxiety.”
HOPE: As a parent, one of the toughest things we had to work through was when my son started showing signs of stress and anxiety. He didn't want to talk about it. Every time we brought it up, he just said it wasn't something we'd understand. He seemed so unhappy, and we weren't sure what to do to help him!
Pic 25: The image and text next to hope is replaced by an icon of a figure next to a computer and a few seconds later, the title “Professional Support” appears.
HOPE: I talked with my friend who went through some of the same things with her daughter, and she suggested we reach out for some professional support. Sometimes serious things happen in life, unexpected things that are tough to deal with like a sudden death or illness.
Pic 26: The image and text disappear and is replaced with a banner with the words “Risk Factors.”
HOPE: Here are some risk factors that could warrant talking to an expert. Have you noticed any of these in your child?
Pic 27: A screen appears titled “Select the risk factors you’ve noticed” with a list of possible risk factors.
Player chooses Feeling intense feelings, Experiencing family or friend conflicts, and Transitioning homes.
Pic 28: The screen returns to Hope at the café, with an icon of a schoolhouse with the word “School” under It next to her.
HOPE: Yeah, it’s hard on the kids, and can be hard on the parents too! For my son, well, I wasn't sure about it at first, but after some consideration we decided to reach out to our child’s school, and I’m so glad we did.
Pic 29: Next to the school image appears an image of a figure next to a computer with the word “Support” under it.
HOPE: They told us that there are trained professionals who work at the school, and they can offer support during the day, in a place where my child is more comfortable.
Pic 30: A box that says “Connect to services” appears underneath the images.
HOPE: If the school team thinks that my child needs more help, they can connect our family to appropriate services in our community. They also reminded us that health insurance usually covers these services, which can be an option, too.
My son was pretty skeptical at first about "seeing someone," but in the end he went with it, because he didn't want me worrying! He's a sweet kid. (small chuckle).
Pic 31: The images and text disappear and the screen centers on Hope, with a banner with the resiliency icon below her face.
HOPE: After a few sessions with the school psychologist, my son was more open to talk about what he was going through. He's still working on how to manage his stress and strengthen his resiliency skills, but he's now better equipped to deal with these feelings.
Pic 32: Next to the resiliency icon the words “Better manage stress and anxiety” appear.
HOPE: In the end, we were all able to learn about how to better manage stress and anxiety.
Pic 33: The previous icon and text are replaced by an arrow pointing to the text “Reach out for additional support.”
HOPE: If your child is experiencing any of these risk factors or others that may concern you, it’s a good idea to reach out for additional support, and your school is a great place to start. Know that asking for help is part of being a parent, you are never alone in this journey.
What would you like to talk about now?
Player chooses “Let’s talk about something else.”
Player chooses “Approach.”
Pic 34: A banner appears below Hope with the text “Open ended questions and using neutral language.”
HOPE: Sure! We could talk about communicating with your child, specifically about how asking open ended questions and using neutral language is a great way to start.
Pic 35: “Modeling good listening skills” appears on the banner as well.
HOPE: We could also talk about modeling good listening skills, like being aware of your body language and active listening.
Pic 36: A little banner with the text “Activities you can do” appears above the other banner.
HOPE: Finally, we can talk about some activities you can do to practice building resiliency (both for your child, and yourself).
So what would you like to chat about first? We can talk about the others at any time!
Player chooses “I’d like to learn more about communication techniques.”
HOPE: Sometimes my kids don’t need to say anything and I know just what they’re thinking. Other times… it’s the total opposite. You’re the expert in your own child, so you probably know the best ways to communicate.
It’s good to keep in mind that every child is different and might prefer talking in different situations. For example, my son responds really well to having these conversations while we make dinner together. For my daughter, she likes to talk while we’re driving.