Posts by Lynne Watts
From Overwhelmed to Empowered: Practical Burnout Solutions for School Counselors
School counseling is one of the most rewarding professions—but also one of the most emotionally demanding. Many elementary school counselors find themselves stretched thin, juggling student needs, administrative demands, and crisis response daily. Over time, this can lead to school counselor burnout, a state of emotional, mental, and physical exhaustion that impacts both effectiveness and…
Read MoreFrom ‘I Have to Get It Right’ to ‘I Can Try Again’: Tackling Perfectionism in Kids
Perfectionism in children is often misunderstood. At first glance, it can look like motivation, high standards, or academic excellence. But beneath the surface, perfectionism in elementary students is frequently rooted in anxiety, fear of failure, and low self-confidence. For elementary school counselors, recognizing and addressing perfectionism early is critical. Left unchecked, it can impact academic…
Read MoreTeaching Kids to Get Better at Getting Along
Teaching kids to get along together You’ve got two kids who disagree and fight constantly… Yet they seem attracted to each other like magnets… You’ve talked to them You’ve threatened them You’ve separated them… repeatedly. What’s the answer? We’ve all been in this situation before as educators and parents; two kids who just can’t get…
Read MoreImprove 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…
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