Posts by Lynne Watts
Improve Communication Skills and Resolve Conflicts with Kids
He’s making fun of me. She said she wasn’t my friend any more. She invited everyone to be in her club except me. He said I was weird. It hurt my feelings. Helping kids get along with each other can be quite a challenge. Some days it feels like all we do as parents and…
Read MoreThe Power of Storytelling in Elementary Counseling: Helping Kids Learn Life Skills That Stick
Why Young Children Learn Best Through Stories Elementary school counselors are always looking for effective, developmentally appropriate ways to teach social-emotional skills. Research and classroom experience consistently show that young children learn best through stories. Storytelling captures attention, builds emotional connection, and helps students internalize social-emotional learning (SEL) skills in ways lectures and worksheets simply…
Read MoreChange Happens: Teaching Elementary Students How to Adapt With Confidence
Change is a natural and unavoidable part of life—and for elementary students, change happens more often than adults realize. New classrooms, shifting friendships, family changes, and growing responsibilities can feel overwhelming without guidance. Elementary school counselors play a critical role in helping students understand that change is not something to fear, but something they can…
Read MoreTeaching Integrity in Elementary School: How Reflective Questions Build Critical Thinking and Strong Character
Integrity is one of the most important — and most teachable — social-emotional skills in elementary school. For young students, integrity is not about being perfect. It is about learning how to pause, think, and make choices that align with their values, even when situations feel uncomfortable or confusing. Elementary school counselors play a critical…
Read MoreGrowing Hopeful Minds: How to Teach Optimism and Resilience
Optimism is a powerful life skill that helps children face challenges with confidence and persistence. For elementary school counselors, teaching optimism is not about encouraging constant positivity—it is about helping students believe that challenges can be managed. What Is Optimism? Optimism is the ability to expect positive outcomes while recognizing that challenges and setbacks are…
Read MoreFrom “I Can’t” to “I’ll Try Again”: Growing Perseverance and Resilience
Perseverance is the engine that drives resilience. When elementary students learn to keep going when something is hard, confusing, or doesn’t work the first time, they are building lifelong skills that extend far beyond academics. As elementary school counselors, you are uniquely positioned to teach, model, and reinforce perseverance as part of Social-Emotional Learning (SEL)…
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