Online Chat Option

Hello Mentors!

Please click on the links below for some valuable information regarding Teens and Holiday stress! . We can all feel stress and anxiety when it comes to holidays but when you are a teenager, at times it can be overwhelming. Money (or lack of), family dynamics and expectations can leave anyone feeling a bit out of sorts!   Coping is hard when you've had years of experience but your mentee is new to this and having some tools in your basket to guide them can be very helpful this time of year!!


Please click and watch or read the links below and then leave me a comment with your name and something you learned or will try in the upcoming holiday season or even add your own suggestion or example of what you have done!  

http://drgailgross.com/videos/dr-gail-gross-on-helping-teens-cope-with-holiday-stress/

http://www.today.com/parents/how-help-your-kid-beat-holiday-blues-1D80379074

http://mha-triad.org/2nd-art-holiday_tips.htm

https://kinshippartnersmn.wordpress.com/2016/12/08/its-that-time-of-year-5-self-care-tips-for-navigating-holiday-stress/

Happy Holidays!!!
Melynda

Chat Groups

One of the significant things Kids 'n Kinship offers our mentors for on going support is quarterly times to get together and meet other mentors (without your mentee) and to get training about issues our children and families are facing. 

Last week we had a great Kids 'n Kinship Chat Group with 25 volunteers, mentors and mentees! Wells Fargo Bank volunteers presented:
Money skills you need for life - - An engaging and easy way to learn financial basics and smart money management including:
Where does money come from/how does it circulate through banks and society?
Measuring value - is it worth buying?
Budgeting and putting yourself in control of your money
Examples of real life money issues
Education and earning money

  

It was a wonderful interactive session!​ Mentors commented on how important the information is and that is was a great setting to learn with other mentors and mentees. Typically in our Chat Groups, mentors have lots of opportunity to learn from one another, sharing what works and what doesn't, hot tips on fun and free activities, communication with parents and encouraging interaction with mentees. Mentors tell us and staff witness how much we learn from one another!​

One staff member had this to say about our chat sessions:
"Chat Groups are one of our favorite trainings because mentors tell us they get so much out of it when they learn from other mentors. One mentor found out about creating a scavenger hunt; another mentor got tips on budgeting money and activities with their mentee; and several shared ideas on connecting with parents and guardians in positive ways. Chat Groups are one of the best ways for mentors to experience ongoing training and get renewed motivation for mentoring!"  


While we offer four chat groups a year, mentors commit to attend 2 in order to further their ongoing training  - though many of our mentors attend all - which is great!


Please look for upcoming chats and make sure to subscribe to the blog for more information!!

Emotional Intellegence

It has been said that "emotional intelligence is the key to both personal and professional success"

 (source)

Have you heard the term emotional intelligence? Are you curious? Do you know what it means?

e·mo·tion·al in·tel·li·gence (noun)
the capacity to be aware of, control, and express one's emotions, and to handle interpersonal relationships judiciously and empathetically.

Simply put:emotional intelligence is your individual ability to identify, manage, and express your emotions, and to identify and empathize with the emotions of others.

How does having it improve your life? Is it something that you’re just born with? Can you learn it? Does it matter? Yes, I think it does. I believe that it positively effects your self-esteem, your physical health, your mental health, your job performance, and enhances your relationships.

While heightened emotional intelligence isn’t a requirement to grow in life, it certainly helps with a lot of significant areas. And, I would argue, that emotional intelligence is becoming increasingly beneficial as our world turns more and more towards technology.

Emotional intelligence can be broken down into four primary skill sets:

Emotional Awareness (or self-awareness): being aware of your own emotions, moment to moment, and understanding how your emotions influence your thoughts and behavioral choices
Emotional Management (or self-management): being able to shift, manage, and consciously suppress your emotions when necessary.
Social awareness: being aware of the emotional realities of others.
Relationship management: knowing how to develop and maintain healthy personal relationships with others

Want to see what yours might be?  Go here to download a quiz !!

Download the form and see yours!! Try it with your mentee too!! Are they similar?

Additional information found at here and here