KIDZ, Inc

11/20/2025

🌟 Why Downtime After School Matters 🌟

After a long day of learning, social interactions, and following directions, kids need time to decompress, just like adults do after work.

Downtime gives children a chance to:
🧠 Reset their minds and bodies
💬 Process the emotions and experiences of their day
🎨 Reconnect with creativity and play
💞 Transition smoothly from “school mode” to “home mode”

When we rush straight into homework or activities, kids can become overwhelmed or shut down. Giving them 30–60 minutes of calm, unstructured time (reading, drawing, playing outside, or simply relaxing) helps regulate emotions and restore energy.

Building in this buffer teaches children that rest is not laziness, it’s part of healthy emotional balance. 🌈

11/18/2025

🌻 Encouraging Gratitude This Thanksgiving Month 🌻

November is the perfect time to pause and appreciate the small moments that fill our days with joy, a kind word, a shared laugh, a comforting hug, or even a quiet breath of peace.

Gratitude isn’t just about saying “thank you.” It’s about noticing the good around us especially when life feels busy or heavy. When we practice gratitude regularly, we strengthen our sense of connection, calm, and hope.

✨ Try this week:
• Share one thing you’re grateful for each day.
• Write a note or text of appreciation to someone who’s made a difference in your life.
• Take a moment at dinner to go around the table and name a “gratitude win” from the week.

Small acts of gratitude can transform hearts, including your own. 💛

11/15/2025

🌿 Kindness Starts with Connection 🌿

True kindness grows from understanding, not obligation.

When we take the time to connect (with a child, a friend, or even ourselves) we begin to see the why behind feelings and behaviors.

✨Connection turns frustration into empathy.
✨It transforms correction into guidance.
✨And it reminds us that every act of kindness begins with seeing and valuing another person’s experience.

💛 Start small today: make eye contact, listen without fixing, offer a smile.

Because kindness that’s rooted in connection changes everything.

11/12/2025

Helping Kids Balance Homework & Rest

Finding the right rhythm between schoolwork and downtime is key to both learning and emotional well-being.

✨ Elementary aged children:
Younger kids need structure with flexibility. Try setting a routine (snack, homework, play, dinner, relax) and keep total homework time short (20–40 minutes depending on grade). Build in brain breaks and outdoor time to reset focus.

🎓 Middle & high school students:
Teens often juggle heavier workloads and activities. Encourage them to use a planner, prioritize tasks, and schedule study blocks but also remind them that rest, social time, and sleep are productive too. Balance teaches self-discipline and self-care.

When kids feel rested, they learn better, cope better, and feel better. 💛

11/10/2025

11/08/2025

🌱 Why Validation Matters More Than Advice

When someone is struggling (especially a child or teen) our instinct is often to fix it.
But what most kids truly need isn’t advice… it’s understanding.

💬 Validation sounds like:
• “That sounds really hard.”
• “I can see why you feel that way.”
• “It makes sense that you’re upset.”

Validation tells them:
✨ “Your feelings are real.”
✨ “You matter.”
✨ “You’re not alone.”

Once a child feels heard and understood, their brain can shift from defense to connection. That’s when problem solving becomes possible.

So before offering advice, pause…..and validate.
It’s one of the most powerful forms of emotional support you can give. 💛

11/05/2025

📓 Journaling Prompts for Tweens & Teens

Journaling gives kids and teens a safe space to unpack their thoughts, explore feelings, and make sense of daily experiences. It’s a simple tool that builds emotional awareness and self reflection.

Here are a few prompts to help them get started:
🖊️ “Today I felt ___ because…”
🖊️ “Something that made me smile this week was…”
🖊️ “One thing I wish others understood about me is…”
🖊️ “When I feel stressed, I can help myself by…”
🖊️ “A time I was proud of myself was…”
🖊️ “Something I’m learning to let go of is…”

✨ Encourage your tween or teen to write freely, there are no right or wrong answers, just a chance to express and understand themselves better.

11/03/2025

Have you ever heard of the Feelings Thermometer?

It’s a simple visual tool that helps kids of any age (and adults!) recognize how their emotions build up from calm to overwhelmed.

Just like a real thermometer measures temperature, a feelings thermometer measures emotional intensity, from cool and calm to heated and upset.

Why it’s helpful:
• Encourages emotional vocabulary (“I’m at a 3, not a 10”)
• Builds self-awareness and self-regulation skills
• Gives parents and teachers an easy way to check in

Try creating one together as a family or in session this week! You might be surprised how much insight it brings.

10/30/2025

🔥 Why Anger is Often a Cover for Sadness or Fear 🔥

Anger is what we see on the surface but underneath, there’s often something deeper. For many kids and teens, anger is a protective shield hiding more vulnerable emotions.

💔 Sadness: When loss or disappointment feels too painful, anger can feel like an easier outlet.
😟 Fear: When a situation feels scary or overwhelming, anger can give a sense of control.
😶 Confusion or shame: When kids can’t find the right words, anger often steps in.
👉 Helping kids recognize what’s beneath the anger allows them to feel understood and teaches healthier ways to cope.

💡 Next time you see anger, try asking gently:
• “What’s really going on inside?”
• “Are you feeling worried or sad right now?”

✨ When we look past the anger, we can truly support healing.

10/27/2025

💬 How to Talk to Teens Who Shut Down Emotionally 💬

It’s common for teens to pull away or “shut down” when emotions feel too big. Here are some gentle ways to keep the lines of communication open:

• 🕰️ Give them space: Sometimes silence is their way of processing.
• 👂 Listen without judgment: Resist the urge to fix everything right away.
• 🙋 Be present, not pushy: Let them know you’re available whenever they’re ready to talk.
• ❤️ Validate their feelings: Acknowledge that their emotions are real and important.
• 🌱 Offer alternative outlets: Journaling, sports, or creative activities can help them express what words can’t.

✨ Remember: Consistency and patience go a long way. Even when your teen shuts down, your calm presence shows them it’s safe to open up again.

10/23/2025

🌟 What is Emotional Regulation? 🌟

Emotional regulation is the ability to recognize, manage, and respond to feelings in healthy ways. For kids, this means learning how to handle big emotions like frustration, sadness, or excitement without feeling overwhelmed.

👧🧒 How can kids learn it?

🗣️ Naming their feelings (“I feel angry” or “I feel nervous”)

🧘 Practicing calming strategies like deep breathing or movement

🎨 Using play, art, or journaling to express themselves

🤝 Building strong connections with caregivers who model healthy coping

💡 With practice and support, kids can learn that emotions aren’t “good” or “bad”, they’re signals we can learn to understand and navigate.

✨ Helping kids regulate their emotions builds resilience, confidence, and stronger relationships.

10/20/2025

🌱 When Should I Bring My Child to See a Counselor? 🌱

Every child and teen goes through ups and downs, but sometimes extra support can make a world of difference. Here are some signs it may be time to reach out for counseling:

👧 For Kids

• Persistent sadness, worry, or anger that doesn’t improve
• Sudden changes in sleep, appetite, or mood
• Difficulty making or keeping friends
• Trouble focusing or falling behind in school
• Big life changes (divorce, loss, moving, new sibling)

👦 For Teens

• Withdrawing from friends and family
• Struggling with self-esteem or identity
• Risky behaviors or sudden changes in interests
• Trouble managing stress, anxiety, or depression
• Talking about feeling hopeless or overwhelmed

✨ Reaching out for help isn’t a sign of weakness, it’s a step toward healing and growth. Whether your child is 7 or 17, counseling can give them tools to cope, thrive, and feel supported.

💬 If you’re noticing these signs, don’t wait, early support can make a big difference.

KIDZ, Inc. is led by Scott Riviere, MS, LPC, LMFT, RPT-S, a licensed professional counselor based in Lake Charles, Louisiana, specializing in child and adolescent therapy for ages 2 to 18. With advanced training in play therapy and creative therapeutic techniques, Scott provides individualized couns...