KIDS NEED GRIT
GRIT is the ability to sustain long term goals in the face of adversity. Resilience becomes the byproduct, which is necessary for independence— and what more could we want for our children. Through curiosity about our thoughts and feelings, we grow the insight to develop, evolve, adapt and transform.
Let's cultivate this as soon as possible.
WHO ARE GRIT KIDS?
GRIT Kids are bold, timid, curious, cautious, serious, and playful youth between the ages of 2 and 12 years of age. GRIT Kids exists to allow parents or caregivers to aid their children in the work of self-awareness—at every developmental stage— to better understand themselves and the world around them. Simple behavioral management fails to develop the internal locus of control that is necessary for developing character and self-discipline. Forming a self-identify and a learning to live with purpose is a necessary life skill for children to learn in order to live into their fullest self. GRIT Kids Coaches are trained to help you do the work of raising your child with intention so you can see that little persons grow into all they are capable of.
GRIT KIDS MAY:
Throw tantrums
Struggle to pay attention or complete school work
Have difficulty going to sleep and/or staying asleep
Sensory issues – this could be seeking or avoiding sensory input
Seem to have difficulty focusing and concentrating
Pick on or bully siblings
Become defiant during nonpreferred activities
Struggle during family outings
Wrestle expressing big emotions
Experience conflict with peers
Have difficulty expressing strong emotions
“Hardship often prepares an ordinary person for an extraordinary destiny.”
THE GRIT PHILOSOPHY
A child’s job is to grow in many dimensions. Sometimes a child becomes stuck in one or more of these dimensions-developmental, emotional, social, academic, and many others. When this occurs, a child needs support to achieve the many milestones.
GRIT Coaches help children with academic skills, emotional regulation, fine and gross motor, social skills and more. Our coaches will help you identify where your child needs to grow and develop a targeted plan to enable your child to thrive.
Sometimes children experience difficult, stressful or even traumatic experiences. When a stressful or traumatic experience can impact a child’s ability to regulate emotions, make sense of the world or even develop a strong self identity.
GRIT Coaches help children cope with these difficult experiences, manage and regulate their emotions, and make sense of the world and encounter it with curiosity. Coping with and overcoming adversity is how we develop resiliency.
Insight is an awareness and understanding of our internal self and the experience of another. Insight allows children to reflect on their inner experience and consider possible causes, effects, and implications of potential responses.
GRIT Coaches guide children in exploring, identifying, and expressing their inner world, Coaches teach tools to examine their mind, body and emotions and aid them in practicing different ways of expressing these experiences.
Children want to explore the world, experience joy, and be loved in connected and safe relationships. When children are able to express themselves and when parents are able to identify needs, the problematic behaviors are no longer necessary
GRIT Coaches help children and families build their capabilities and create opportunities for engagement. Families learn to effectively connect to one another and cultivate a relationship that supports the developmental needs of the child.
HOW DOES GRIT COACHING WORK?
GRIT Kids pulls on child development and psychological research to formulate the model to best allow your family to succeed. GRIT Kids coaches work with the individual child, and the family. Our program supports social support for both children (The GRIT Pit) and parents and caregivers (The Parent Pit). Coaches trained and supervised by our youth and family expert, Shannon Walker, MA, LMFT, meet with children and families to conduct an initial assessment. This enables your coach to develop the plan that allows your child to succeed.
Your family’s trained coach will meet in the home or via virtual platform (we use Zoom) to learn, grow, and develop essential skills. Your child and coach will meet during the week
The in home session time is a mix of:
One-on-one time with your child to cultivate self-awareness, to target behavioral goals, develop emotion management, resolve stressful or traumatic experiences, and more.
Joint parent-child time to improve communication, clarify and set expectations to allow you to cultivate a healthy relationship with your child.
Individual time with parents or caregivers to work on skills to support your child’s transformation. We provide concrete tools to allow your child to flourish, enable you to explore the frustrations that are encountered while parenting, and have an opportunity heal the wounds that arise through the hard work of parenting. Raising children takes GRIT!
THE GRIT PIT
This is the place where kids get to be real, raw, and reassured that their voice counts.
Through learning compassion and empathy, children will get to reinforce that internal drive for connection while cultivating strength and accountability.
HOW DOES THAT WORK?
For older GRIT Kids, we have optional groups to enable kids to practice certain skills in a group setting, to discuss common interests, goals or concerns, and to play and learn new things. These group GRIT Pit experiences are facilitated by our trained coaches.
THE PARENT PIT
Parents get support, too. The Parent Pit is the place where parents and caregivers get to regroup, refresh, and reassure one another that the trying experiences will be worth it. The thankless daily acts that feel unnoticed truly do amount to immeasurable influence. Parenting is tough, but persistence is treasured. The Parent Pit is where you can be reminded of this. Join us and reset and refuel for another week of caring for the tiny humans who want your love and reassurance.
HOW DOES THAT WORK?
We have GRIT families across the US. Throughout the week we have times for parents to log on and connect with one another. During these Parent Pit sessions, a coach will help hone skills, allow parents to express their frustrations, and offer concrete solutions with observable impact. Parenting can be hard, parenting together is still hard— and also validating, comforting and connecting.
IN HOME AND VIRTUAL COACHING
We are right in your home.
There is no need to fight to get your child to sessions.
There is no need to worry about child care for other children in the home.
Children are comfortable at home. Your coach can observe your child as you experience him or her.
Your coach can work with your child on specific tasks in the home.