For caregivers and young people together

Strong Roots, Strong Minds

Think about different seasons of life, such as change, waiting, new beginnings and pressure, and write about the challenges and coping strategies in each. Your young person does the same, then you reflect together.

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Life moves in seasons, and each one brings its own challenges.

Then, think about new skills you can add to strengthen your roots for the future. Next, have your young person complete the same activity, and then reflect on your responses together.

Part 1: Caregiver

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For each season, write about a challenge you’ve faced, the coping strategies you used, and whether those strategies helped or hurt.
Item	What challenges showed up in that season?	Which coping strategies do you currently use? Which ones are healthy and which are not helpful?	Which coping strategies will strengthen your ability to cope with this challenging season in your life?
Think of an experience you had that was about transition/change.	What challenges showed up in that season?, Think of an experience you had that was about transition/change.	Which coping strategies do you currently use? Which ones are healthy and which are not helpful?, Think of an experience you had that was about transition/change.	Which coping strategies will strengthen your ability to cope with this challenging season in your life?, Think of an experience you had that was about transition/change.
Think of an experience you had that was dark, things came to end, or you felt like you were in a waiting/dormant period.	What challenges showed up in that season?, Think of an experience you had that was dark, things came to end, or you felt like you were in a waiting/dormant period.	Which coping strategies do you currently use? Which ones are healthy and which are not helpful?, Think of an experience you had that was dark, things came to end, or you felt like you were in a waiting/dormant period.	Which coping strategies will strengthen your ability to cope with this challenging season in your life?, Think of an experience you had that was dark, things came to end, or you felt like you were in a waiting/dormant period.
Think of an experience you had that was about new beginnings, starting something, growth.	What challenges showed up in that season?, Think of an experience you had that was about new beginnings, starting something, growth.	Which coping strategies do you currently use? Which ones are healthy and which are not helpful?, Think of an experience you had that was about new beginnings, starting something, growth.	Which coping strategies will strengthen your ability to cope with this challenging season in your life?, Think of an experience you had that was about new beginnings, starting something, growth.
Think of an experience you had/have that was filled with pressure, stress, grind.	What challenges showed up in that season?, Think of an experience you had/have that was filled with pressure, stress, grind.	Which coping strategies do you currently use? Which ones are healthy and which are not helpful?, Think of an experience you had/have that was filled with pressure, stress, grind.	Which coping strategies will strengthen your ability to cope with this challenging season in your life?, Think of an experience you had/have that was filled with pressure, stress, grind.

Part 2: Young Person

For each season, write about a challenge you’ve faced, the coping strategies you used, and whether those strategies helped or hurt.
Item	What challenges showed up in that season?	Which coping strategies do you currently use? Which ones are healthy and which are not helpful?	Which coping strategies will strengthen your ability to cope with this challenging season in your life?
Think of an experience you had that was about transition/change.	What challenges showed up in that season?, Think of an experience you had that was about transition/change.	Which coping strategies do you currently use? Which ones are healthy and which are not helpful?, Think of an experience you had that was about transition/change.	Which coping strategies will strengthen your ability to cope with this challenging season in your life?, Think of an experience you had that was about transition/change.
Think of an experience you had that was dark, things came to end, or you felt like you were in a waiting/dormant period.	What challenges showed up in that season?, Think of an experience you had that was dark, things came to end, or you felt like you were in a waiting/dormant period.	Which coping strategies do you currently use? Which ones are healthy and which are not helpful?, Think of an experience you had that was dark, things came to end, or you felt like you were in a waiting/dormant period.	Which coping strategies will strengthen your ability to cope with this challenging season in your life?, Think of an experience you had that was dark, things came to end, or you felt like you were in a waiting/dormant period.
Think of an experience you had that was about new beginnings, starting something, growth.	What challenges showed up in that season?, Think of an experience you had that was about new beginnings, starting something, growth.	Which coping strategies do you currently use? Which ones are healthy and which are not helpful?, Think of an experience you had that was about new beginnings, starting something, growth.	Which coping strategies will strengthen your ability to cope with this challenging season in your life?, Think of an experience you had that was about new beginnings, starting something, growth.
Think of an experience you had that was filled with pressure, stress, grind.	What challenges showed up in that season?, Think of an experience you had that was filled with pressure, stress, grind.	Which coping strategies do you currently use? Which ones are healthy and which are not helpful?, Think of an experience you had that was filled with pressure, stress, grind.	Which coping strategies will strengthen your ability to cope with this challenging season in your life?, Think of an experience you had that was filled with pressure, stress, grind.

Part 3: Together

Share your responses with each other and discuss:

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