Dear Parents and Colleagues,

To better help you schedule all your child’s activities this upcoming school-year, we wanted to give you details on when our “Social Skills”, “Executive Functioning”, “Bully-Proofing “and “Life-Skills and College Preparation” groups will be meeting.

(All groups meet for 1 hour, applications and interviews are required for all new clients)


Therapeutic Social Skills Groups

*Elementary school aged groups meet: Tuesday’s, or Thursday’s at 4:00 or for a mixed, elementary and middle school group on Friday at 5:15
*Elementary/Middle school aged mixed-groups meet: Friday at 5:15
*Middle School aged mixed groups meet: Tuesday’s at 6:45
*Teen Girls, ages 12 and over group: Wednesday 6:15
*Teen Boys, ages 12 and over group: Thursday 5:30
*Adult group, ages 15 and over: Thursday’s at 7:30


Executive Functioning Groups

(How to plan, organize and follow-through)

*Elementary (grade 3+) and Middle School aged meet: Tuesday’s at 5:30
*Middle and High School aged meet: Wednesday’s at 5:15


Bully-Proofing Program

*Elementary and Middle School aged meet: Monday’s at 5:30
*Middle and High School aged meet: Monday’s at 6:45


Life-Skills and College Preparation

*Ages 15- adult meet: Thursday’s at 6:30


Call us or watch our website as additional group sections will open based on need.
Download the 2018 parent schedule

Dr. Eric Nach, Ph.D., M.Ed., A.S.D.
Cert. Developmental and Behavioral Specialist and Associates
5458 Town Center Rd, #8, Boca Raton, FL 33486
561-990-7305(Boca office) 561-465-3564(Fax)
Info@SuportForStudentsGrowthCenter.com
www.SuportForStudentsGrowthCenter.com

How Organizational Skills Can Increase Joy and Productivity

Good organizational skills can prove beneficial in many areas of life, including personal, school, and business areas. Organization can increase a person’s general productivity, assignment completion, project management, and can even affect his memory and retention skills. These skills are not acquired overnight – it will take a lot of hard work and practice. But with a little guidance and the right tools, anyone can learn how to stop hunting for missing things and become better organized.

To effectively learn better organization skills, a person must first learn efficient training tools and tips to help him reach his goals. With this help, everyone can take a better look at their current habits and form a new plan to become better organized in life.

  • Examine current habits and routines that are not organized
  • Learn to prioritize your time schedule and daily tasks
  • Determine ways of storing information and supplies
  • Learn to organize personal, school, and work space
  • Learn to resist procrastination
  • Make plans to stay organized in the future

Out of clutter, find simplicity.
Albert Einstein

Minimize the Distractions

One of the hardest parts about getting organized is going through and minimizing the things that cause distractions. When you find yourself among the many things we want and need to do, it can seem overwhelming. But by taking it one step at a time, and remembering to breathe, and monitoring your thoughts, you can begin to de-clutter your life and start on the path to successful organization.

Just Do it

Sometimes we can feel overwhelmed about taking on the task of removing our clutter and tend to make excuses as to why it doesn’t get done. We can claim that we don’t have the time, or that there is too much to do at once. But as Nike says, we have to “Just Do It” and we have to throw away our excuses and dive in. Make a plan on how you can get started, such as making a ‘Things To-Do calendar’. Stick with your plan until the job is complete, and don’t let excuses hinder your success.

Helpful tips

  • Make a calendar with time to do priorities
  • Divide the areas that need to be conquered into manageable pieces
  • Make a list of all tasks (those things we want to do and need to do)
  • Decide what activities need to take priority

Three Boxes: Keep, Donate, and Trash

The most common approach to clearing out clutter is the Three Boxes method. This method forces a decision to be made about each item you touch as you go through your clutter. You don’t get to put it aside or come back to it later. Pick up an item, one at a time, and think about which box it should go in. Try not to release the item until a decision is made. (Ask a trusted friend, or relative, or counselor, for help if needed.

Box 1 – Items to Keep: This box is for items you would like to keep in your area or maybe even put away for safe keeping (such as heirlooms or special gifts). This is not to be confused with the ‘things I might need later’ type of thinking. Only keep items that have value and meaning to you.

Box 2 – Items to Donate: This box is for items that you realize you no longer need or want. Items in this box can be donated or sold at a rummage sale, just as long as it leaves the clutter!

Box 3 – Trash: This box is for the things that you do not need or want and cannot be donated or given away. This often includes old papers or documents, mail, or broken items. Once this box is full or complete, remove it from the area right away and don’t give it a second look.

Learn more about Dr. Eric J. Nach, Ph.D., M.Ed., A.S.D. Certified, owner of the Support for Students Growth Center and Associates in Boca Raton, Florida, services, groups, classes and workshops at https://www.supportforstudentsgrowthcenter.com

Independence Day and Our Love Ones with Autism, ADHD or PTSD

For most people celebrating Independence Day, the Fourth of July, is a time for the “4 F’s”, fun, food, family and friends. As a child growing up in Brooklyn my friends and family enjoyed many years of spectacular firework displays. I can recall wonderful times watching and participating in 4th of July picnics and firework displays.

My childhood memories of the Fourth of July may be different from some others. For some people the sight and sound of M80’s and firecrackers exploding and bottle rockets and mortars exploding in the sky is a sensory rich “horror show”. Many of the people who may have an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) or other life challenges may be hypersensitive to sensory rich activities. They may experience heightened levels of stress and anxiety due to overstimulation to sight, sound, smell, touch and even past memories being triggered. Most of the people experiencing these types of life challenges often do best in consistent and predictable environments.

To help increase further understanding as to why some people may become overly anxious or stressed during times of celebrations and parties we can look to the work of the American psychologist Abraham Maslow. Maslow identified that human beings have five basic human needs and the unpredictability and sensory stimulation prevents the basic needs of feeling “safe” and “belonging”. This lack of feeling safe and belonging triggers the Fight or Flight response and therefore lead to the reactive “meltdowns” behaviors or elopement we may see from our loved ones.

Fortunately, there are measures we can take to help those children and others who can become overwhelmed by the festivities and celebration of our Countries Independence.

  1. We can prepare those who may be sensitive to fireworks and crowds by “modeling” what they should expect.
  2. During the times of greatest stimulation encourage our child to use a “stim” toy, such as a spinner, squeeze toy, or glow sticks.
  3. We can look for a quieter and less congested area to watch the show.
  4. We can plan ahead for the direction smoke may blow and look to avoid, nose plugs may work for some.
  5. We can encourage the child to use noise cancelling headphones, earplugs, sunglasses, or listen to music.
  6. We may choose to watch the fireworks show from indoors or inside an air-conditioned car with the child or others.
  7. We must provide our loved ones with unconditional love and not be judgmental or critical of their actions.

Ultimately, by getting to know how our loved ones react to sensory rich situations we can adapt their environment so that they can still participate and not be excluded from the fun.

Thank you to all the parents and children who shared their experiences in creating this overview.

Dr. Eric J. Nach

https://www.supportforstudentsgrowthcenter.com