A Holiday Gift WITH LIFELONG VALUE


by Birgitta Jorgenson G


A holistic approach to personal and spiritual healing


Casandra Akins, M.S., LMHC


Casandra Akins, M.S., LMHC Licensed Mental Health Counselor


Individuals • Couples • Groups


Integrative Breathwork Deep Memory Process® SoulCollage®


407-740-0940 407-740-0940


2180 Park Avenue North #230 Winter Park, FL 32789 casandraakins@bellsouth.net www.akinscounselingcenter.com


Silence is a true friend who


never betrays. ~Confucius


Deep Memory Process® SoulCollage®


Individuals • Couples • Groups Integrative Breathwork


ive young children tools for their brains. For instance, many recognize and agree that


a child playing with wooden blocks is also implementing skills needed to being an engineer or an architect. When you observe children playing together, do you also notice that they are practicing essential skills in cooperation, negotiation, problem- solving and decision-making? The attitudes and actions you witness will depend greatly on the social and emotional skills the children learned during the early years of their brain development. A child who has had healthy social relationships with family, friends, teachers and coaches during the fi rst fi ve years of life, will also have a smooth transition into kindergarten and a strong foundation to build on as they mature. There are decades of research and scientifi c studies where results consistently show that students who have been in social and emotional learning programs do better academically, (Viadero, 2007; Weissberg & O’Brien, 2004). Although most of our society agrees that attending a preschool program before kindergarten gives children an early start on academic skills, many parents tend to measure their child’s learning by the worksheets they bring home from school. However, the true learning behind these academic skills is not something that can be presented on a sheet of paper. A child’s capacity and readiness for learning, reading, writing, math and other subjects is directly related to a child’s social and emotional development and depends on such skills as: listening, building resilience, task persistence, managing stress and group participation. The knowledge gained from learning academic subjects will remain with a child when it is naturally intertwined


26 Central Florida natural awakenings


with positive social and emotional experiences. Therefore, when choosing toys or learning opportunities, consider options where you can actively participate with your child. Activities such as cooperative board games (PeaceableKingdom.com), plain Lego bricks or art supplies are ways to build memories with your child while also modeling positive social skills. Other ideas include spending time outdoors in the garden and discussing what you see or creating a story together while going for a walk. This holiday season enjoy the time you have with your child and give them a priceless gift of a lifetime: your time, unconditional love, and the tools to build the foundation for their academic success.


Birgitta Jorgenson is the founder and visionary for Irblich Schools Holistic Preschool, opening January 2015in Winter Springs, FL. The school advocates social and emotional intelligence,


providing students a solid foundation for kindergarten and beyond. To further boost their brain development, the food served is 100% plant-strong. Pre-enrollment is happening now. Space is limited. For more information go to: www.irblichschools.com or call 407-542-0833.


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