sweptaway
Ruby
Posts: 24,644 Likes: 83,049
Member is Online
|
Post by sweptaway on Feb 1, 2024 10:19:57 GMT -6
This is probably an insanely dumb question with an obvious answer, but what does he use to listen to music if his phone/tablet are off? This is always DS's request for screen free time and I somehow can't figure it out because everything is on his phone? Otherwise this is pretty much exactly what we do with DS, who is 11. We all have smart clocks in our rooms and use those. Ours are Lenovo brand, let me know if you want a link. We are a google family, so ours are google assistant enabled, and we also have a family subscription to youtube music, but that isn't necessary as it will also play stuff from other services (like I listen to the morning radio show from our local station and it plays that through Audacy). It can do the same basic functions of an echo or google assistant, and although it is technically a 'screen' they can't do anything with the actual screen other than change the background, so that is something we allow our kids to use in their rooms at all hours. There was a way to set it to 'downtime' when they were younger though so that it wouldn't do any function other than an alarm clock overnight. Oh yes! We are a google/YTM house too so I would love that link.
|
|
sweptaway
Ruby
Posts: 24,644 Likes: 83,049
Member is Online
|
Post by sweptaway on Feb 1, 2024 10:20:11 GMT -6
Oh yeah we have Google home but I'd be listening to DS yell at Google all night instead of sleeping haha. I’ve taken the echo away for the night for this. I believe my exact words were “pick one relaxing thing and leave it or you lose it.” Playing 20 seconds of every Metallica song was driving me crazy. OMG YESSSSSS
|
|
sweptaway
Ruby
Posts: 24,644 Likes: 83,049
Member is Online
|
Post by sweptaway on Feb 1, 2024 10:23:21 GMT -6
So the guidance counsellor called me and said she referred DS for group sessions earlier in the year because he was showing some trouble with impulse control, distraction, test anxiety- all of these are things we already knew about so no worries there.
I told her how jarring it was to get an email like that because of course your mind goes to the worst case scenario. She was very contrite and apologetic and told me they would reevaluate their process for referrals and informing parents. I hope they really do!
|
|
gingy
Opal
Posts: 7,662 Likes: 35,414
|
Post by gingy on Feb 1, 2024 10:42:02 GMT -6
Oh yeah we have Google home but I'd be listening to DS yell at Google all night instead of sleeping haha. I’ve taken the echo away for the night for this. I believe my exact words were “pick one relaxing thing and leave it or you lose it.” Playing 20 seconds of every Metallica song was driving me crazy. That would be DS. He currently has a bluetooth speaker that I control when he needs white noise or a sleep meditation. SD has a CD player and now a record player too. I'd like to get DS a CD player also so he has a way to listen to something without a screen. I've thought about Yoto/Tonies but I think he'd outgrow that faster than it's worth.
|
|
adelbert
Amethyst
Posts: 7,000 Likes: 40,193
|
Post by adelbert on Feb 1, 2024 10:49:43 GMT -6
So the guidance counsellor called me and said she referred DS for group sessions earlier in the year because he was showing some trouble with impulse control, distraction, test anxiety- all of these are things we already knew about so no worries there. I told her how jarring it was to get an email like that because of course your mind goes to the worst case scenario. She was very contrite and apologetic and told me they would reevaluate their process for referrals and informing parents. I hope they really do! How great that with your feedback the process will hopefully be different in the future!
|
|
emma
Ruby
Posts: 18,827 Likes: 86,503
|
Post by emma on Feb 1, 2024 10:58:09 GMT -6
I’ve taken the echo away for the night for this. I believe my exact words were “pick one relaxing thing and leave it or you lose it.” Playing 20 seconds of every Metallica song was driving me crazy. That would be DS. He currently has a bluetooth speaker that I control when he needs white noise or a sleep meditation. SD has a CD player and now a record player too. I'd like to get DS a CD player also so he has a way to listen to something without a screen. I've thought about Yoto/Tonies but I think he'd outgrow that faster than it's worth. my kid has an old school discman and it’s a great way to have access to music and audio books without a screen. Although finding audiobooks on CD is getting difficult
|
|
gingy
Opal
Posts: 7,662 Likes: 35,414
|
Post by gingy on Feb 1, 2024 11:05:05 GMT -6
That would be DS. He currently has a bluetooth speaker that I control when he needs white noise or a sleep meditation. SD has a CD player and now a record player too. I'd like to get DS a CD player also so he has a way to listen to something without a screen. I've thought about Yoto/Tonies but I think he'd outgrow that faster than it's worth. my kid has an old school discman and it’s a great way to have access to music and audio books without a screen. Although finding audiobooks on CD is getting difficult We haven't gotten to that point for him yet, but I could see that. Our library still has a pretty full shelf of audiobooks in the kids' section but I have no idea how often they get new material anymore.
|
|
|
Post by angelashly on Feb 1, 2024 11:20:56 GMT -6
((Hugs)) abs I hate that she didn’t feel comfortable with the guidance counselor
|
|
|
Post by angelashly on Feb 1, 2024 11:22:22 GMT -6
So the guidance counsellor called me and said she referred DS for group sessions earlier in the year because he was showing some trouble with impulse control, distraction, test anxiety- all of these are things we already knew about so no worries there. I told her how jarring it was to get an email like that because of course your mind goes to the worst case scenario. She was very contrite and apologetic and told me they would reevaluate their process for referrals and informing parents. I hope they really do! My gosh Maybe don’t use a form email for referrals 🤷♀️
|
|
|
Post by ponyhairs on Feb 1, 2024 11:41:53 GMT -6
I’m so sorry [mention]abs [/mention]. I’ve gotten a couple of calls from the school needing me to come in and we have been so lucky that C has developed a great relationship with the school counselor and does really trust her. I’m so panicked about her going to middle school next year because she will be losing her whole support system. [mention]sweptaway [/mention] I can’t believe they wouldn’t call you before sending an email like that or even elaborate more in the email with the permission form. I’m also pretty surprised his teacher didn’t reach out to you with her concerns when she put in the recommendation. I understand they are overwhelmed, but a quick email isn’t too much to ask for.
|
|
sweptaway
Ruby
Posts: 24,644 Likes: 83,049
Member is Online
|
Post by sweptaway on Feb 1, 2024 11:50:05 GMT -6
I’m so sorry [mention]abs [/mention]. I’ve gotten a couple of calls from the school needing me to come in and we have been so lucky that C has developed a great relationship with the school counselor and does really trust her. I’m so panicked about her going to middle school next year because she will be losing her whole support system. [mention]sweptaway [/mention] I can’t believe they wouldn’t call you before sending an email like that or even elaborate more in the email with the permission form. I’m also pretty surprised his teacher didn’t reach out to you with her concerns when she put in the recommendation. I understand they are overwhelmed, but a quick email isn’t too much to ask for. Yeah in this case I would have been totally fine with an email. I also told them we like to reinforce what's going on at school at home, and we didn't have an opportunity to do that here. So, ya know. But I will say overall this first year of middle school has been good for us. Your daughter could really thrive, and she'll still have lots of support!
|
|
|
Post by coffeandnaps on Feb 1, 2024 13:04:27 GMT -6
My daughter has had an old school clock radio in her room for night time music since she was a toddler. In the early days we just picked a station that played soft rock or oldies and set the sleep timer on it. She doesn’t have particular music preferences but it works for providing something to listen to.
|
|
roselab
Silver
Posts: 310 Likes: 535
|
Post by roselab on Feb 1, 2024 14:09:09 GMT -6
We all have smart clocks in our rooms and use those. Ours are Lenovo brand, let me know if you want a link. We are a google family, so ours are google assistant enabled, and we also have a family subscription to youtube music, but that isn't necessary as it will also play stuff from other services (like I listen to the morning radio show from our local station and it plays that through Audacy). It can do the same basic functions of an echo or google assistant, and although it is technically a 'screen' they can't do anything with the actual screen other than change the background, so that is something we allow our kids to use in their rooms at all hours. There was a way to set it to 'downtime' when they were younger though so that it wouldn't do any function other than an alarm clock overnight. Oh yes! We are a google/YTM house too so I would love that link. Well apparently it's not being made anymore. The version we have is the SmartClock 2, and we have one of the Essential ones in our guest room and it has slightly less features (I think it's not a touch screen and you can't change the background to some we liked), and it's only available at Walmart. When we got them, they were available at best buy, amazon, etc. www.walmart.com/ip/Lenovo-Smart-Clock-Essential/622792220?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=8537&adid=22222222227622792220_8537_14069003552_202077872&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=c&wl3=42423897272&wl4=aud-393207457166:pla-295289030566&wl5=9005950&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=152186001&wl11=online&wl12=622792220_8537&veh=sem&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiAn-2tBhDVARIsAGmStVmj7NOYVtmCv9k_Q50AXvgjHAbaAgql5iDIGyjewizM_WtFE_12vL8aAoGmEALw_wcB
|
|
McBenny
Unicorn
#sickomode
Posts: 52,186 Likes: 296,694
|
Post by McBenny on Feb 2, 2024 9:58:44 GMT -6
My apologies. When I see game playing, I am not thinking about being on the phone playing a game. I am thinking Xbox, which needs wifi. My kids haven't played phone games in about 7 years.
Youngest cannot download apps without my password. Screen time shuts down the apps I pick at a certain time. This is for the phone and or ipad etc.
In addition to these, I can also go in the phone and check what activity was done during what time of day on the phone.
The major factor has been keeping them busy. They are too tired to do anything all night anyway when you start your time at school at 630am.
|
|
McBenny
Unicorn
#sickomode
Posts: 52,186 Likes: 296,694
|
Post by McBenny on Feb 2, 2024 9:59:26 GMT -6
DH and I both have covid. 3rd time getting it. All 3 times were within 2 months of getting boosters. My anti covid vax (pro all other vaccines) cousin is positive that the Vax caused all 3. Causation vs. correlation ain't got nothing on this girl. I hope you feel better soon. COVID sucks and I want to throat punch people who say it's just a cold.
|
|
McBenny
Unicorn
#sickomode
Posts: 52,186 Likes: 296,694
|
Post by McBenny on Feb 2, 2024 10:01:00 GMT -6
For music, they can play spotify on their TV. Again, I can knock the TV off wifi at a certain time.
|
|
McBenny
Unicorn
#sickomode
Posts: 52,186 Likes: 296,694
|
Post by McBenny on Feb 2, 2024 10:09:26 GMT -6
Oh gosh abs , I'm so sorry. That must have just been awful. She called me back and said DS's guidance counsellor referred him to group sessions because he could use help with "boundary setting." She had no additional information and was unaware that the guidance counsellor hadn't been in touch with us first. So I emailed the guidance counsellor and copied the VP and it was.. probably not a nice email. I read and re-read and I guess I don't understand why your reaction was to get angry? I see being confused about did something new happen or is there a new issue? However, from reading your posts it just seems like you and your child have a relationship with his counselor in that they are involved with your child already. I guess I don't see what would be so jarring? I know when I am looking through children cases how we notify varies if there is already a relationship or prior discussion of issues vs someone who has no notification of any issues with their child. Your post will have me re-evaluate this in children's cases moving forward. I guess I would be more confused why the guidance counselor recommended something earlier in the year and now here it is Feb and some action is just being taken?
|
|
sweptaway
Ruby
Posts: 24,644 Likes: 83,049
Member is Online
|
Post by sweptaway on Feb 2, 2024 10:53:03 GMT -6
Oh gosh abs , I'm so sorry. That must have just been awful. She called me back and said DS's guidance counsellor referred him to group sessions because he could use help with "boundary setting." She had no additional information and was unaware that the guidance counsellor hadn't been in touch with us first. So I emailed the guidance counsellor and copied the VP and it was.. probably not a nice email. I read and re-read and I guess I don't understand why your reaction was to get angry? I see being confused about did something new happen or is there a new issue? However, from reading your posts it just seems like you and your child have a relationship with his counselor in that they are involved with your child already. I guess I don't see what would be so jarring? I know when I am looking through children cases how we notify varies if there is already a relationship or prior discussion of issues vs someone who has no notification of any issues with their child. Your post will have me re-evaluate this in children's cases moving forward. I guess I would be more confused why the guidance counselor recommended something earlier in the year and now here it is Feb and some action is just being taken? No I have no previous relationship or contact with the guidance counselor. I received a form email out of the blue that said my child was recommended for mental health counselling without any further information. You don't see why that was upsetting? And yes the lag time is obviously an issue as well.
|
|
McBenny
Unicorn
#sickomode
Posts: 52,186 Likes: 296,694
|
Post by McBenny on Feb 2, 2024 11:05:37 GMT -6
I read and re-read and I guess I don't understand why your reaction was to get angry? I see being confused about did something new happen or is there a new issue? However, from reading your posts it just seems like you and your child have a relationship with his counselor in that they are involved with your child already. I guess I don't see what would be so jarring? I know when I am looking through children cases how we notify varies if there is already a relationship or prior discussion of issues vs someone who has no notification of any issues with their child. Your post will have me re-evaluate this in children's cases moving forward. I guess I would be more confused why the guidance counselor recommended something earlier in the year and now here it is Feb and some action is just being taken? No I have no previous relationship or contact with the guidance counselor. I received a form email out of the blue that said my child was recommended for mental health counselling without any further information. You don't see why that was upsetting? And yes the lag time is obviously an issue as well. I guess I misunderstood the whole thing then. You said the counselor said she referred him for group because of .....things we already knew about so no worries there. I took that to mean there was a prior relationship with the counselor to your son. I see the cause for concern. It was that you said you were angry that had me confused.
|
|
sweptaway
Ruby
Posts: 24,644 Likes: 83,049
Member is Online
|
Post by sweptaway on Feb 2, 2024 11:18:47 GMT -6
No I have no previous relationship or contact with the guidance counselor. I received a form email out of the blue that said my child was recommended for mental health counselling without any further information. You don't see why that was upsetting? And yes the lag time is obviously an issue as well. I guess I misunderstood the whole thing then. You said the counselor said she referred him for group because of .....things we already knew about so no worries there. I took that to mean there was a prior relationship with the counselor to your son. I see the cause for concern. It was that you said you were angry that had me confused. When I said things we already knew about I meant over the course of his entire school career. He's now in middle school so new school, new teachers and counsellors, and no one has been in touch with us yet this school year prior to yesterday.
|
|
McBenny
Unicorn
#sickomode
Posts: 52,186 Likes: 296,694
|
Post by McBenny on Feb 2, 2024 12:51:55 GMT -6
I guess I misunderstood the whole thing then. You said the counselor said she referred him for group because of .....things we already knew about so no worries there. I took that to mean there was a prior relationship with the counselor to your son. I see the cause for concern. It was that you said you were angry that had me confused. When I said things we already knew about I meant over the course of his entire school career. He's now in middle school so new school, new teachers and counsellors, and no one has been in touch with us yet this school year prior to yesterday. I still don't see why it would make someone angrier by the minute and all of that. Again it was just eye opening and something I will ask school counselors and districts about moving further (how they have communicated with parents etc). Never in a million years would I think a parent would get angry over a referral. That's it. The end.
|
|
sweptaway
Ruby
Posts: 24,644 Likes: 83,049
Member is Online
|
Post by sweptaway on Feb 2, 2024 13:07:44 GMT -6
McBenny, I was angry because they sent the referral without explaining why. He hadn't been evaluated for anything. He had not had any counselling sessions. Out of the blue I get a message that my kid needs mental health counselling with no explanation. That's shitty communication and yes it made me angry. They had me thinking there was a serious concern.
|
|