Anxiety. We all get anxious from time to time, but what is \u201canxiety\u201d, actually? The Merriam-Webster defines anxiety as, \u201can abnormal and overwhelming sense of apprehension and fear often marked by physical signs (such as tension, sweating, and increased pulse rate), by doubt concerning the reality and nature of the threat, and by self-doubt about one’s capacity to cope with it\u201d. So the real question is, what is an \u201cabnormal and overwhelming sense of apprehension and fear\u201d and how do we help our kids \u2013 and ourselves \u2013 get through it?<\/p>\n
On November 22nd, we have invited Dr. Alex Russell, Ph.D., C.Psych., clinical psychologist and author of \u201cDrop the Worry Ball: How to Parent in the Age of Entitlement\u201d to further our learning on the topic of stress and anxiety in our children as he speaks about raising resilient children and helping kids thrive in anxious times. The heart of his message is that children learn by experiencing non-catastrophic, painful failure, and it is through the process of these failures that they mature into resilient, resourceful and emotionally balanced individuals.<\/p>\n
If you haven\u2019t already signed up, be sure to RSVP<\/a> ASAP as this evening with Dr. Russell and your fellow parents promises to be informative and educational, offering a health perspective in which childhood anxiety is understood as a necessary building block of adaptation, and an essential marker to a child\u2019s engagement with the world. As parents, we will gain a (possibly new) viewpoint that helps slowly shift the burden of responsibility on to our children as they grow \u2013 something that helps them (and us!) take on anxiety adaptively, while experiencing the sense of proficiency and capability such growth produces.<\/p>\n Space is limited so be sure to reserve your seat!<\/p>\n Date:<\/strong> Wednesday,\u00a0November 22, 2017 *Note that seating is limited and will be offered in order of RSVP. Depending on demand, the APA will consider inviting other schools in our Ward to attend starting on October 23rd.<\/p>\n
\nTime:<\/strong> Doors open at 6:30pm, Dr. Russell will begin at 7:00pm
\nPlace: <\/strong>Allenby School Gymnasium
\nRSVP:<\/strong> *November 20, 2017 (APA Speaker Series E-vite<\/a>)
\nChildcare (ages 3+):<\/strong> Please book through Louise McCrindle<\/a> by November 13th
\nCost: <\/strong>Childcare and Speaker Series are funded for Allenby families by the APA and the Ministry of Education Parents Reaching Out Grant<\/p>\n