Vital Minds Therapy

12/13/2025

If today was one of those heavy days, this is a reminder to be kind to yourself. You are doing great🌞

12/13/2025

Some children seem to manage so well at school — polite, quiet, compliant.
Then they come home and everything falls apart.

That shift isn’t manipulation.
It’s the crash that happens when a child has spent all day masking, suppressing, and holding it together.

At school they survive.
At home they release.

Our new visual explores what’s really happening beneath the surface — and why those meltdowns after school are actually signs of trust and safety, not defiance.

Explore our linked toolkits for deeper support:
Masking Toolkit – understanding the hidden effort of blending in
After-School Restraint Collapse Toolkit – practical strategies for recovery and regulation at home.
Instant electronic download with secure global checkout. at link in comments ⬇️ or via our Linktree Shop in Bio.

Save this post for when you need the reminder that 'coping' can come at a cost — and that behaviour always tells a story.

12/13/2025

In Denmark, empathy has been a fixed part of the school curriculum since the 1990s. Every week, students take time to openly talk about their own experiences, work through conflicts, and actively practice compassion. The goal goes far beyond teaching good manners. It is about deliberately strengthening the parts of the brain responsible for emotional regulation and perspective-taking, with research showing that this regular training creates measurable long-term effects.

The results are striking. Denmark now has the lowest bullying rates in Europe and is consistently ranked among the happiest countries in the world. Empathy education clearly proves that emotional intelligence is not a soft extra, but a core pillar of a healthy and well-functioning society.

12/13/2025

12/13/2025

Absolutely, here’s an expanded set that stays aligned with your message and your style, without crossing your preferences:

12/13/2025

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If you’re looking for a last minute gift idea, or just want to treat yourself (you deserve it!), all of my published books and poems are available, signed & personalized. (Link in comments) Your connection and support of my art means the world. Much love.
J. Raymond

12/13/2025

We forget sometimes — because they talk like us, argue like us, and push back like us — that they are not like us. Not yet.

Children are not mini adults.

Their brains are still forming.
Their nervous systems are still calibrating.
Their sense of self, their impulse control, their ability to see another’s perspective — it’s all still under construction.

The brain doesn’t finish developing until well into the twenties. And the parts responsible for emotional regulation, understanding consequences, and empathy? They’re among the last to mature.

So when we expect them to behave with the steadiness of someone fully grown, we’re not setting a boundary — we’re setting them up.

Every meltdown, every pushback, every wobble is a chance to learn, not a sign of failure. They need space to be loud, impulsive, reactive, and real. Not because they’re choosing to be difficult…

… But because they’re STILL developing the tools to do anything else.

Let them be little. That’s where the real growth begins. ❤️

12/13/2025

12/11/2025

Free HOW TO CO-REGULATE WITH A CHILD INFORMATION POSTER
Children cannot calm on their own when they feel overwhelmed. They rely on the adult to guide them back to safety. This image shows simple steps that help you co regulate with a child in moments of distress. Slow your breathing, soften your body, reduce demands, and keep your voice steady. These actions help the child feel grounded and understood. When the adult is the anchor, the child can settle and recover.

If you would like this as a free PDF, comment ANCHOR and we will send you a link to it.

12/09/2025

This poster can be displayed in classrooms, study areas, resource rooms, or used in individual student intervention plans. It is also ideal for teaching executive functioning skills, supporting IEP goals, and collaborating with families who want practical techniques to reinforce routines at home.