Northwest Psychology Blog

Summer Camp ... to camp or not to camp

6/28/2022

As summer break approaches, many parents are stuck left to brainstorm how to keep their kids busy for two months. Summer camps are a great opportunity for kids to hang out with their peers and focus on one thing: having fun.

Summer camp is a highlight of the summer for lots of kids. It allows kids to get out of the house, play games, and learn new skills. After 10 months of having to follow school structure, summer camps allow kids the freedom to be kids.

While the purpose of most summer camps is for kids to have fun, this environment can still help them work on these important life skills. Some of the additional benefits of being part of a camp include: practicing social skills to make new friends, gaining confidence while learning new games and activities, exploring and mastering new skills, and adapting to a new group of people in a new place.

Building New Connections

One of the best parts of summer camp is the opportunity to meet new people outside of your school or home circles. Meeting other kids who they may not otherwise have had the opportunity to meet helps kids make friends of different backgrounds and social situations.

The group sizes of summer camps are typically smaller than a classroom, so kids in a summer camp get to know one another quickly. For children who do not typically hang out with their peers outside of school, summer camp can help with feelings of isolation or loneliness over the summer.

For kids who struggle with making social connection, this might be the perfect opportunity to connect with someone like them. While some camps may struggle to meet the needs of children with diagnoses like ADHD or autism, there are many inclusive summer camps in Calgary that do offer opportunities for these kids.

By signing your child up for camp, parents get some kid-free time while still giving their kids the opportunity to try new things, meet new people, and enjoy their well-deserved break.

Author
Kelly Williams
Registered Provisional Psychologist
June 2022

1 Comment

how to deal with News and headline anxiety.

6/22/2022

1 Comment

Nowadays we have the news at our fingertips 24/7. We are constantly bombarded with stories about the pandemic, political unrest, the rising cost of living, gun violence, and climate change.

As humans, we are built to keep ourselves safe by being alert of our surroundings. When we hear about something that could cause harm to us or our loved ones, this alertness kicks in to keep us safe from these threats. We tend to keep this alertness and scan our environments for other possible threats.

In today’s age, this means we seek out more anxiety-provoking stories after hearing about something scary.

This cycle of feeling scared, reading more, feeling more scared, and reading more can have negative impacts on our mental health.

While it can be important to be aware of what’s going on in our world, this constant consumption of emotional news takes a toll.

Here are some ways to combat feeling the effects of this news anxiety cycle:

👌 Put time limits on your news or social media apps. With most smartphones, you can set a daily time limit on specific apps. This is a good way to interrupt a “doom scrolling” spiral. Even if you use the app again later in the day, try doing a mental check-in with yourself when your time limit pops up.

👌Use body scans after you read something upsetting. How is the anxiety manifesting in your body? How can you calm your body down to help you continue on with your day?

👌 Integrate gratitude practices into your day. There is no question that our world has lots of negativity and bad news. Try challenging yourself to look up a good news story or to focus on the positive aspects of your own life to balance out the news you’re consuming.

👌Take planned breaks from social media or news outlets. Even if you decide that on Saturday morning you are going to go screenless, this small window of time can help to reset your mind frame if you’re struggling with the news of the week.

👌Be cautious of stories that hit close to home. If you have been closely affected by one of the topics that the news stories are reporting on, be aware of the impact this is having on your health.

👌 Recognize what you can control versus what you cannot control. It can be extremely frustrating to hear about problems that you cannot stop or change. Try making a list of ways that you can help. This might include donating to a cause that is important to you, becoming involved in protests or marches, or learning more about a certain topic. Keep in mind that the most important thing you can control is yourself.

Finally, reach out for help if you’re overwhelmed. It is normal to feel discouraged or upset by sensational news coverage, but if you’re finding that these emotions are taking over your life, reach out to a mental health professional to support you in finding healthy ways to cope.

Author
Kelly Williams
Registered Provisional Psychologist
June 2022

1 Comment