Emotions Chart

Instructions:
Match each emotion to its facial expression, read the definition, circle how intense it seemed (1 = low, 5 = high), and then recall a moment when your child felt this emotion. Use the space under “My Example” to describe or draw what happened.

Session 1: Reflection & Discussion Guide

Purpose

Build on today’s work by reflecting on key insights, exploring challenges, and setting clear goals for practicing active listening at home.

Guidelines for the Coach

• Create a warm, non-judgmental space.
• Use open body language and maintain eye contact to model active listening.
• Validate every response ("Thank you for sharing that…").
• Encourage honesty about successes and struggles.

Discussion Questions

1. Emotion Identification
   • Question: "Looking at the Emotions Chart, which emotion did you notice most often in your child today?"
   – Follow-up: "What clues (tone, facial expression, words) helped you label that emotion?"
   – Follow-up: "How did naming that feeling change how you responded in the moment?"

2. Experiencing Reflection
   • Question: "When I practiced reflecting back your words, how did it feel to be heard?"
   – Follow-up: "Was it more or less comfortable than you expected? Why?"
   – Follow-up: "What part of reflecting back felt most natural? Most challenging?"

3. Applying Open Questions
   • Question: "What open question might you ask your child tonight to learn more about their day?"
   – Follow-up: "How do you think your child will respond differently than to a yes/no question?"
   – Follow-up: "What will you do if they don’t open up right away?"

4. Mood & Mental Health Check
   • Question: "How did your mood or energy levels today influence your ability to listen?"
   – Follow-up: "Did you notice any early warning signs of overwhelm or mood shifts?"
   – Follow-up: "What self-check (pause, breathe, step back) might help you stay present next time?"

5. Self-Care & Next Steps
   • Question: "Which self-care strategy discussed (breathing, brief walk, journaling) will you use before listening to your child?"
   – Follow-up: "When can you fit that into your daily routine?"
   – Follow-up: "How will you remind yourself to use it?"

Goal-Setting Check

• Ask: "Based on this discussion, what’s one specific goal you’ll set for our check-in before Session 2?"
• Encourage: be clear, doable, and tied to one listening skill (e.g., "Tonight, I’ll ask my child, ‘What was the funniest part of your day?’ and reflect back their answer.")
  
  
  Use this guide to lead an open-ended, supportive conversation that helps the mother integrate today’s learning and feel confident taking next steps.

Self-Awareness Journal Worksheet

Instructions: Reflect on recent moments when your mood shifted. For each entry below, describe the situation or trigger, rate how intense it felt, note your thoughts and feelings, and brainstorm a coping strategy you could use next time.

Entry 1

Date/Time:

Situation or Trigger:

Intensity (1–5): ☐ 1 ☐ 2 ☐ 3 ☐ 4 ☐ 5

My Thoughts & Feelings:

Coping Strategy Idea:

Entry 2

Date/Time:

Situation or Trigger:

Intensity (1–5): ☐ 1 ☐ 2 ☐ 3 ☐ 4 ☐ 5

My Thoughts & Feelings:

Coping Strategy Idea:

Entry 3

Date/Time:

Situation or Trigger:

Intensity (1–5): ☐ 1 ☐ 2 ☐ 3 ☐ 4 ☐ 5

My Thoughts & Feelings:

Coping Strategy Idea:

Session 2: Reflection & Discussion Guide

Purpose

Support the mother in reflecting on her self-awareness work and coping practice, exploring successes and challenges, and setting a clear goal to integrate self-care into listening interactions with her child.

Guidelines for the Coach

• Foster a warm, non-judgmental atmosphere.
• Use open body language and consistent eye contact to model presence.
• Validate every insight ("Thank you for noticing that…").
• Encourage honesty about what worked and what felt difficult.

Discussion Questions

1. Self-Awareness Check
   • Question: "Looking back at your entries in the Self-Awareness Journal Worksheet, which trigger showed up most often this week?"
   – Follow-up: "How did you notice early warning signs in your body or thoughts?"
   – Follow-up: "What cues helped you pause and choose a coping strategy?"

2. Coping Strategy Experience
   • Question: "Which technique from the Coping Strategies Slide Deck did you try before talking with your child?"
   – Follow-up: "How manageable was it to use in the moment?"
   – Follow-up: "What change did you notice in your energy, mood, or focus afterward?"

3. Self-Care Activity Reflection
   • Question: "When you picked a card from the Self-Care Activity Cards, which activity felt most realistic to fit into your day?"
   – Follow-up: "What might get in the way of doing it?"
   – Follow-up: "How could you adapt it to make it easier?"

4. Impact on Listening
   • Question: "After using a coping strategy, how did your listening experience with your child feel different?"
   – Follow-up: "Did you feel calmer or more present?"
   – Follow-up: "What did your child’s response tell you about the impact of your calmness?"

5. Support & Reminders
   • Question: "What system or reminder can you set up to check for triggers and use self-care before listening?"
   – Follow-up: "Could you set a phone alert, place a note by your child’s spot, or ask a friend for support?"
   – Follow-up: "Who in your life can help you stay accountable?"

Goal-Setting Check

• Ask: "Based on our conversation, what is one specific, measurable goal you will commit to before our next session?"
• Encourage clarity and realism: e.g., “Before tonight’s bedtime chat, I will do a two-minute grounding exercise from the Coping Strategies Slide Deck and then ask my child, ‘What was the best part of your day?’ and reflect back their answer.”

Use this guide to lead an open-ended, supportive discussion that integrates self-awareness and self-care into the mother’s listening practice.

Self-Care Activity Cards

Instructions: Print and cut these cards. When you notice stress or before listening to your child, shuffle and draw one card. Complete the activity, then return to your conversation feeling calmer and more present.

1. Deep Breathing
   Breathe in for 4 counts, hold 2, exhale for 6. Repeat 3 times.
   
   
   
2. 5-4-3-2-1 Grounding
   Name 5 things you see, 4 you feel, 3 you hear, 2 you smell, 1 you taste.
   
   
   
3. Gentle Stretch
   Raise arms overhead, stretch side to side. Roll shoulders back 5 times.
   
   
   
4. Quick Journaling
   Write for 2 minutes about what you’re feeling—no rules, just free write.
   
   
   
5. Sip of Water
   Slowly drink a full glass of water, noticing the taste and temperature.
   
   
   
6. Listen to a Song
   Play a 2-minute clip of a favorite uplifting song. Notice how it makes you feel.
   
   
   
7. Nature Pause
   Step outside (or look out a window) and notice one natural element—wind, sky, plants.
   
   
   
8. Positive Affirmation
   Choose or create an affirmation (e.g., “I am present and patient”). Repeat it aloud 3 times.
   
   
   
9. Mindful Visualization
   Close eyes and imagine a calm place for 1 minute—focus on colors, sounds, and feelings.
   
   
   
10. Share & Connect
    Send a quick text or call a trusted friend: “Just checking in—love you!”
    
    
    
    

Session 3 Role-Play Scenarios

Instructions:

• The coach reads one scenario aloud.
• The mother selects a self-care strategy from the Self-Care Activity Cards and practices it briefly.
• After self-care, the mother responds as the listener using active listening skills: maintain eye contact, label the emotion, reflect back, and ask an open-ended question.
• Debrief after each practice: Which coping strategy did you use? How did you identify the emotion? What felt effective or challenging?

Scenario 1: Anger at Limits

Child (age 6): “I hate you, Mom! You never let me do what I want! You’re so unfair!”
Emotion: Anger
Context: The child wanted extra screen time before bedtime and was told “no.”

Scenario 2: Sadness of Exclusion

Child (age 5): “My friend Emma didn’t invite me to her birthday party. It really hurts my feelings.”
Emotion: Sadness
Context: The child feels left out by classmates.

Scenario 3: Fear of Thunder

Child (age 4): “That thunder is so loud! I’m scared it will break the window and come inside!”
Emotion: Fear
Context: A sudden storm is causing the child anxiety.

Scenario 4: Frustration with Task

Child (age 7): “I can’t tie my shoes no matter how hard I try. This is so frustrating! I give up!”
Emotion: Frustration
Context: The child is struggling to learn a new skill and feels stuck.

Long-Term Communication Plan Worksheet

Instructions: Use this worksheet to plan and track your long-term communication and self-care routines. Fill out each section and revisit weekly to sustain progress and connection with your child.

1. Weekly Self-Care Check-In

Day/Date:

What coping strategies did I practice this week?

How effective were they (1–5)? ☐1 ☐2 ☐3 ☐4 ☐5

Barriers faced:

Solutions or adjustments:

2. Daily Listening Goals

Time of day for listening check-in (e.g., morning chat, after school):

Specific goal (example: “Ask what made you happy today and reflect back your answer.”)

My goal for this week (complete on at least 3 days):

• Day 1: ____________
  
• Day 2: ____________
  
• Day 3: ____________
  
  
  

3. Environment & Tools

Where will I practice my listening routine?

Materials I will keep handy (charts, cards, journal):

4. Accountability & Reminders

Person I will ask for support (friend/partner):

Reminder systems (e.g., phone alarm, sticky note):

5. Reflection & Next Steps

What progress am I proud of?

What challenge will I focus on improving next week?

Commitment statement: (I commit to…)

Revisit this plan each week to stay on track, celebrate successes, and adapt as needed to support your mental health and your connection with your child.

Session 3: Reflection & Discussion Guide

Purpose

Support the mother in reflecting on today’s integration practice, exploring barriers and solutions, and committing to a sustainable long-term plan that brings self-care and active listening together.

Guidelines for the Coach

• Maintain a warm, non-judgmental tone and open body language.
• Validate every insight ("Thank you for sharing…").
• Encourage problem-solving and celebrate small successes.
• Use eye contact and attentive posture to model active listening.

Discussion Questions

1. Integration Reflection
   • Question: "Looking back at our practice with the Integration of Skills Slide Deck, which part felt most natural when you combined self-care and listening?"
   – Follow-up: "What step (pause, strategy, label, question) felt most challenging?"
   – Follow-up: "How did using a coping strategy first affect your ability to stay present?"

2. Role-Play Experience
   • Question: "During the role-plays from Session 3 Role-Play Scenarios, which self-care strategy did you choose and why?"
   – Follow-up: "How did you identify and label your child’s emotion?
   – Follow-up: "What did you notice in your child’s response when you reflected back and asked an open question?"

3. Barrier Reflection
   • Question: "What obstacles have you encountered when trying to practice these skills at home? (e.g., time pressure, mood shifts, distractions)"
   – Follow-up: "Which solution or adaptation feels most realistic?"
   – Follow-up: "Who or what could support you when you face this barrier?"

4. Tools & Environment
   • Question: "How will you set up your space and materials for success?"
   – Follow-up: "Where will you keep your Self-Care Activity Cards, Emotions Chart, or journals?"
   – Follow-up: "What reminder systems (alarms, notes) will prompt you to pause and practice self-care before listening?"

5. Long-Term Planning & Accountability
   • Question: "Using the Long-Term Communication Plan Worksheet, what weekly check-in or tracker will you commit to?"
   – Follow-up: "Who in your life will help keep you accountable?"
   – Follow-up: "How will you celebrate your progress?"

Goal-Setting Check

• Ask: "Based on this discussion, what is one specific, measurable commitment you will make for the next week?"
• Encourage clarity and routine (e.g., “Each evening at 6:30 pm, I will draw a Self-Care Activity Card, practice that strategy, then ask my child, ‘What was the best part of your day?’ and reflect back their answer.”)

Use this guide to foster an open, supportive conversation that cements the mother’s long-term plan for integrating self-care and active listening.