Back to Smiles Counseling

09/10/2025

Now that school has been in for several weeks, your child should be routinely separating from you and going to class without much hesitation. If drop-off or getting onto the bus is still a stressor multiple times each week, it might be time to seek professional assistance. Starting the day with high levels of stress can make the whole rest of the day difficult, which of course can negatively affect grades (and more). (Separation anxiety is a very common issue and can occur not only with young children, but also older children and even teens. Fortunately, it is one of the 'easier' issues to treat with proper guidance and support.)

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07/12/2025

As the first day of school approaches, it’s easy to feel the pressure of preparation — but don’t forget to slow down and soak in these final summer moments with your kids. Shared experiences are powerful for connection and emotional well-being — for both children and parents.

Here are a few simple, meaningful ways to make the most of this time together:

Nature Walk & Talk – Go for a walk at a park or trail and let your child lead the conversation. You’d be surprised what comes up when the mind and body are both in motion.

Backyard Art Day – Set up a mini art station outside with paint, chalk, or water balloons filled with color. Creativity is a great way for kids to express feelings about the upcoming changes.

Make a “Back-to-School Breakfast” Together – Practice a school morning but make it fun! Cook together, talk about hopes for the new year, and share some laughs.

Storytime with a Twist – Read a book together, then act it out, draw alternate endings, or talk about the characters’ feelings. It helps build emotional intelligence while having fun.

One Last Summer Night – Have a late bedtime night with s’mores, star-gazing, or flashlight tag. Let them stay up, just a little longer, for one last memory.

Remember — these don’t have to be elaborate. It’s the connection that matters most.

07/04/2025

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Ted Buckenham Mental Health Services offers Counseling based in Rome, Georgia; specialized in trauma, anxiety, life transitions, among other areas; children, adolescents, adults

03/23/2025

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Teachers say children can’t hold pencils, tie shoes, or use scissors.

Children today are struggling with basic fine motor skills, and experts believe increased screen time is a major culprit. Teachers report that young students are arriving at school unable to even turn the pages of a book.

Researchers say the decline in hands-on activities — like crafting, outdoor play, and puzzles — is being supplemented by screen time for years.

The problem? With screens replacing traditional playtime, kids are missing out on crucial movements that develop dexterity, patience, and focus.

To help reverse this decline, we must allow children plenty of outdoor play, which naturally incorporates endless fine motor opportunities (i.e., digging in the dirt, grasping & hanging from tree limbs, picking up small pebbles, etc.).

Let the children play!

03/06/2025

Research continues to emerge on the negative effects of smartphone usage and 'screentime' in young children. "Introducing smartphones too early can interrupt childhood's most precious moments. Excessive screen time is linked to anxiety, reduced attention spans, disrupted sleep, brain damage, and decreased creativity in young children."

11/28/2024

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving! 🦃

11/22/2024

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving break! Remember to balance the go-go-go with relax time. If you're traveling with children, try turning off the screen for part of the journey and play a game of "I spy" or something else interactive.

10/29/2024

Same quality services, fewer syllables in the name. Ted Buckenham Mental Health Services is now Back To Smiles Counseling. "Every challenge you face is an opportunity to grow stronger. With resilience from within and support from around, you can get back to smiles." See the refreshed website: backtosmiles.com

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09/22/2024

Want less pouting and rolling eyes when you ask your tween or teen to do something? Instead of telling them 'take out the trash', 'go get a shower', 'do your homework', 'clean your room', give a declarative statement with a time frame. So these statements become, "You need to take a shower before leaving for school tomorrow.".. "Homework needs to be completed by 8:30 tonight.".. "Your bedroom needs to be cleaned by Thursday at 8PM." The key here is it gives your child CHOICES on when to complete a task. The more time between the statement and the deadline the better. If you have 80% chance or less confidence it will get done, add a consequence: "The trash needs to be taken out by 7PM or 30 minutes off of tablet time." About 75% through the time frame, a simple reminder is appropriate. There should be no more than 2 reminders (any more and you're nagging) ~ "It's 6:00, reminder that trash needs to go out by 7PM tonight." This strategy won't be perfect, but it will reduce your overall stress. Giving your child this time window provides for them a sense of control because you're telling them what to do without TELLING them what to do. It also allows them to begin managing their own time.

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08/14/2024

Back to school can be a nervous experience for some children. By this point (2 weeks of school completed), if your child is still experiencing intense distress and difficulty separating from you despite your consistent support, it might be time to seek professional help. Addressing this anxiety early in the academic year can provide your child with the tools they need to cope and thrive in the school environment.

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05/13/2024

The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) recently created an interactive film that shows how children and teens are lured into sending inappropriate pictures, and then threatened if they don't send more pictures and/or send money. See if you can make the right decisions and not get lured:

An interactive film that shows how teens get trapped in sextortion. Learn firsthand how it can happen to any kid—and what you can do to help.

01/24/2024

https://www.sciencealert.com/screen-time-could-have-a-surprising-effect-on-our-childrens-ability-to-process-sensations