Welcome to Counsellor’s Corner!

At ISA, student wellbeing sits at the heart of everything we do and what we stand for – even in our mission statement ‘a safe and caring learning environment’, we don’t just mean physical safety, but increasingly, in this time, emotional security too.

Extra time with our family is much needed during the holidays, but it can sometimes lead to frustrations when we take a break from our regular routine.

Just in time for the festive period, Valerie shares her thoughts on Self-Regulation, an important skill to practise and teach

Self-regulation, being the ability to manage your behaviour and actions, is extremely important in helping children and teenagers to learn, behave, get along well with others, and become independent.

Self-regulation can look like:

• Staying calm when you feel upset
• Stopping to think before acting
• Paying attention
• Staying focused on a goal or plan
• Waiting or delaying gratification
• Adapting to change
• Cooperating with others

As young children develop, parents can model self-regulation by:

• Managing our own stress
• Teaching skills for coping
• Having realistic expectations
• Encouraging self-control and waiting
• Providing structure for success
• Identifying coping skills

Practise makes perfect!

Warm regards,

Valerie DeGraw, Guidance Counsellor