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Mental Wellness

Kids Ranch programs year-round include Mental Wellness assessment and counseling for the children we serve.  Our goal is to help them:

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  • Increase their reading and spelling abilities

  • Improve their self esteem

  • Strengthen their emotional resiliency

  • Gain life skills

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In both individual and group settings, we nurture each child with tools and skills for reducing stress, managing inner conflict, and self-soothing.  We help them discover that they are powerful and capable of choosing positive thoughts and behaviors.  We teach them to work toward accepting what has happened in the past, and to reach for what can be in the future.

Boy sitting outside at Kids Ranch.

Self care Techniques That Work

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  • Mindful breathing

  • Progressive relaxation exercises

  • Physical exercise

  • Mood management

  • Problem solving skills

  • Reframing situations to seek change

Child visiting with Mental Wellness Coordinator Teresa Parker.
Two children pose with a volunteer on the porch at Kids Ranch.

Why a Mental Wellness program?

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The Kids Ranch mission is to seek out and serve at-risk children: those who live in chronic poverty, or who have suffered the loss or abandonment of a parent or who live with the chaos and pain of addiction in their families or who have experienced abuse.  The children we serve are often suffering from depression, anxiety, undiagnosed learning disabilities, anger problems, grief and trauma.

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Through the dual focus of literacy and mental health services, Kids Ranch is building caring, capable and confident children. Indeed, we are building up the next generation of healthy, effective and successful adults. We are helping these children break the generational cycle of poverty and abuse.

5 Ways to Improve Self Esteem in Children

 

1. Be Positive! Each day encourage children by telling them what they do that pleases you. Avoid consistently saying no and especially avoid put downs. Belittling and disapproving of a child will cause self- doubt and low self- esteem.

 

2.  Give children choices; and also allow them to think of responsibilities they can complete.

 

3. Praise children’s improvements and effort by letting them know they are working hard. Instead of saying they are a good boy/girl, comment positively on the job they are doing. 

 

4. Encourage children to express their feelings, and especially express their anger. Invite them to talk about how they feel. If necessary, help them identify how they feel. Ex: “You look really mad.”

 

5. Listen to children when they speak- avoid interrupting and ignoring them. Find time each day to talk individually with your child. 

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