Under The Oak

01/29/2026

Serve, Spike, and Play With Spikeball 🏐🌞

Get ready for fast-paced fun with Spikeball, the ultimate game for backyard gatherings, beach days, or park hangouts. Perfect for players of all skill levels, it turns any space into an energetic arena of teamwork, quick reflexes, and endless laughs. Whether you’re spiking, diving, or setting up your next shot, Spikeball is a surefire way to get everyone moving and smiling.

Here’s what makes this game special:

🏐 Exciting, fast-paced gameplay that keeps everyone active
🏐 Easy to learn, fun to master for all ages
🏐 Perfect for outdoor spaces, from beaches to backyards
🏐 Great for friends, family, or casual competitive play

01/27/2026

Unwind and Connect With The Ungame 🎲💬

Discover the joy of meaningful conversation with The Ungame, a unique game designed to spark connection, reflection, and laughter. Perfect for families, friends, or classrooms, it turns simple moments into opportunities for sharing thoughts, feelings, and stories. Whether you’re breaking the ice or deepening relationships, The Ungame helps everyone feel heard and understood.

Here’s what makes this game special:
♦️Encourages open, honest communication in a safe, playful way
♦️Fun, thought-provoking questions suitable for all ages
♦️Great for family nights, classroom activities, or friend gatherings
♦️Helps build empathy, listening skills, and self-expression

01/26/2026

Passive, Aggressive, or Assertive? Helping Kids Communicate with Confidence

Kids communicate in different ways—sometimes by staying quiet, sometimes by reacting strongly, and sometimes by speaking up clearly and respectfully. Understanding the differences can help parents support children in expressing themselves and navigating social situations.

⚡Passive communication: Putting others first while ignoring one’s own needs.
May look like staying quiet, avoiding eye contact, or letting others go first even when it’s uncomfortable.

⚡ Aggressive communication: Putting one’s own needs first without considering others. Can include yelling, demanding, or invading personal space.

⚡ Assertive communication: Respecting both self and others.
Involves speaking clearly and calmly while setting healthy boundaries.

Helping kids recognize these styles can support emotional regulation, self-confidence, and stronger peer relationships.

01/25/2026

✨ Family Conversation Prompt of the Week: “How Will You Know You’re Grown Up?” ✨

This week’s family conversation prompt is all about imagining the future and thinking about what it means to grow up! 🌟🧩🎈

Ask your child: “How will you know when you’re grown up?”
It’s a simple question that sparks curiosity, self-reflection, and meaningful conversation. 💬

Use this moment to listen, laugh, and explore your child’s ideas — because connection grows strongest through everyday moments together. 💖

01/23/2026

Courtney is a registered Assistant to a Psychologist here at Under the Oak originally from Minden, LA. She completed her BS in psychology at Louisiana State University. She is now at Southern University working towards her MS in clinical mental health counseling to become an LPC!! Outside of work she enjoys traveling, going for walks, and spending time with family and friends.

01/22/2026

Thursday Activity Post: Kite Design + Fly Off 🪁🌈

Get ready for a fun, hands-on activity that lets creativity soar! Participants will make and decorate simple kites using colors, patterns, and designs of their choice—then head outside for a friendly Fly Off to see whose kite stays in the air the longest. This activity encourages self-expression, patience, and joyful movement while building confidence and connection through play.

Here’s what makes this activity special:
📌 Creative expression through art and design
📌 Supports focus, problem-solving, and fine motor skills
📌 Encourages outdoor movement and emotional regulation
📌 Fun, low-pressure competition that promotes confidence
📌 Great for individuals or groups of all ages

01/21/2026

01/21/2026

PMT can help parents manage and reduce challenging behaviors such as:

🔎 Defiance and noncompliance

🔎 Task avoidance (like homework struggles)

🔎 Tantrums and emotional outbursts

🔎 Attention-seeking behaviors

🔎 Aggression or inappropriate social behavior

🔎 Excessive screen time or resistance/negotiation

✨ PMT gives caregivers practical strategies to guide children toward positive behaviors while strengthening parent-child relationships.

01/20/2026

Wind Down With The Going to Bed Book 🌙🛁

Get ready to say goodnight with Sandra Boynton’s The Going to Bed Book, a beloved bedtime classic that turns nighttime routines into a giggle-filled adventure.

From splashing in the tub to brushing teeth and rocking gently to sleep, this story is perfect for helping little ones transition calmly (and happily!) to bedtime.
Here’s what makes this book special:
Playful, bold illustrations toddlers love

Rhythmic, simple text perfect for read-alouds

A comforting bedtime routine kids can relate to

Ideal for babies and toddlers ages 0–3

01/19/2026

“Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase.”
— Martin Luther King Jr.

01/18/2026

✨ Family Conversation Prompt of the Week ✨

This week’s prompt invites reflection and self-awareness — in a kid-friendly way. 🌱💬

Ask your child: “What personality trait of yours has gotten you in the most trouble?”

This simple question can open the door to meaningful conversations about emotions, choices, and growth. Listen with curiosity, normalize mistakes, and explore how strengths can sometimes feel tricky, too. 💛

Moments like these help build insight, empathy, and connection — one conversation at a time.

01/15/2026

Let the Games Begin: Hide & Seek Fun for Kids 🔦👀

Ready, set… HIDE! Hide and Seek is a timeless favorite that gets kids moving, thinking, and laughing together. This slide highlights fun twists on the classic game that add excitement, teamwork, and a little mystery—perfect for parties, playdates, or family fun.

Try these ideas out:
🙈 Countdown Hide & Seek – Count down fast to keep the energy high
🔦 Flashlight Seek – Turn off the lights and search with a flashlight for extra thrill
🤝 Team Hide & Seek – Work together to hide or seek as a group
✨ Glow Spot Hide & Seek – Use glow sticks or glow spots for a magical twist

Why kids love it:
✔ Encourages movement and active play
✔ Builds teamwork and problem-solving skills
✔ Easy to play indoors or outdoors
✔ Perfect for mixed-age groups