10 Reasons Kids Keep Abuse a Secret

      Summer is here and many of us are relaxing and getting refreshed before we go back into the trenches.  During some of our time off we seek professional development so we are armed and equipped for new challenges we will face. (because we love what we do and desire to do well)  We want to share the work of Ginger Kadlec who works tirelessly to inform educators and parents about sexual abuse.  Please take a few minutes to review why some children never tell trusted adults about the sexual abuse they are experiencing.    Consider showing this video to your faculty and staff and also use it during one of your parent informational nights. 

       As counselors and educators, we meet with students who keep many secrets and often we are the first person they trust enough to tell their secret and what is happening to them.  Sometimes they realize for the first time exactly what is happening to them and they look for the trusted adult.
But the sad truth is that some children never tell anyone what is going on and this video presentation by Ginger Kadlec explains why kids chose to keep their secret:

      Sadly, nearly 3/4 of all children who are sexually abused keep their abuse a secret for at least a year. Another 45% don’t tell anyone about their abuse for 5 years; still others never tell.
So, why do so many children keep abuse a secret? Here are 10 reasons children don’t disclose abuse.

Raising awareness of the world-wide epidemic of child abuse has become Ginger’s life mission. An impassioned child advocate, trainer, speaker and child forensic interviewer, Ginger regularly blogs about child protection issues and has produced printable references for parents and other caring adults including “10 Scary Apps”. Click here for your free copy of this informative 12-page report. Along with her husband John and pets Lexi and Chase, Ginger enjoys traveling, skiing, hiking, brisk mornings, colorful sunsets and just hangin’ at home with “the Pack”.


Find out more about Ginger and her work here: http://www.gingerkadlec.com

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When you are stuck... Here is some AWESOME advice and you get it all in less than 3 minutes!


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Counselor Games: Play Therapy for Schools

How is food related to stress?

 Food and Brain Chemistry

So how is food related to stress?  Eating affects our brain chemistry.  Being on a diet or under stress can cause a reaction in some brain chemicals.  Here are five different chemicals in our brain and what they do:

        1)  Serotonin – When you have a lot of stress, serotonin levels in the brain drop.  Serotonin is in the eating and sleeping part of the brain.  You want to have a lot of serotonin in your brain because it helps you relax and feel peaceful. 

        2)  Dopamine – comforts us and helps us to feel good.

        3)  Endorphins – This is another chemical that also helps us to feel good.  It is released into the brain when we eat sugary food.

            4)  Beta-endorphins – This chemical makes us want to eat more.  When we have a lot of this chemical in our brain, it is hard to stop eating. 

        5)  Dynorphin – When you have a lot of stress, this chemical make you feel hungry or have empty feelings.

        When we have a lot of stress our serotonin levels are low.  Our body foolishly tells us to eat sugar and starch so we can make more serotonin fast.  Serotonin is naturally made in our body when we eat proteins and foods high in niacin, such as chicken, turkey, fish, nuts, whole grains and beans.  Exercise raises the levels of serotonin, dopamine and endorphins in our brain.  We need the chemicals in our brain so we will feel good.  The best way to feel good is to exercise and eat right and that means eating healthy proteins, fruits, and vegetables instead of getting a quick fix from sugars and starches which do not make us feel so good in the long run. 

What do you do for exercise every day? ______________________

What is your favorite snack food?  ___________________________

Giant Cupcake for Father's Day!

Stress Busting - Part One: Stress Management for Kids

Everyone has stress.  Stress is not always bad, in fact, it is normal!  Stress is what makes us get out of bed in the morning because we have things to do and people to see. Stress makes us move through our morning routines so we do not experience undesirable stress – like missing the bus!  Stress makes us study for a test and do our homework. If we are concerned what others will think of us, stress makes us brush our teeth and wear deodorant.

        The problem we experience with stress happens when there is too much of it.  Then, we begin to react to the stress.  It causes problems for our body, such as, headaches, stomach aches, or not being able to concentrate.  In these cases stress can be good or bad. 

        For example, weddings are happy family events, but they can be very stressful. People worry about money and paying for thing they want, or not having enough money for those things.  Family members may disagree or cause arguments when together.  Sometimes people must travel great distances to attend a wedding and then they have to make arrangements to eat and sleep.  On the other hand, death is a sad experience and it brings changes in families and friendships.  There is sadness and people have to deal with grief, financial changes, or even moving.

Keep posted for Part Two tomorrow!


http://counselorgames.com/   Check out Counselor Games for games and play to teach stress management to students!