Nakya Reeves, LMFT cited in Ebony Magazine article - "16 Rules for Back to School"

Just in time for the back to school season, Ebony Magazine has released an article, "16 Rules for Back to School" by Nina Malkin, in their August 2015 issue - in which I had the pleasure of being cited as an expert source! The article is a wonderful aid for parents who are getting ready for the upcoming school year, whether dealing with first time Kindergarteners or children who transitioning back into the groove. "Ebony got together with experts, bloggers, and real parents like you, culling their best tips and techniquest to make the school year as easy as A-B-C" (quote from the article).

It covers helpful routines, handling the morning, what to do about bullying, learning challenges, and more! I was able to give a little insight that relates to the issues I encounter with families I see in therapy.

Here's a little of what I had to say for the article:


Tip: "Make time to de-stress"
"Help children gain the energy needed for homework mode by allowing them time to relax and recharge" - in this tip, I also discuss suggestions for helping children to relax, as well as emphasizing balance by setting a limit on recharging time so productivity is not affected. This is important, as parents often forget how stressful the school day is for children and it can be unrealistic to expect them to come home and immediately jump into homework.

Tip: "Establish a homework station"
To be effective, there has to be a set time and place for homework - "free of clutter and away from distractions." Quoting from the article: "And as Reeves points out, children tend to mirror their parents, so make sure they see you having an organized, dedicated work ethic." It's important to show our children positive behaviors by doing these actions ourselves! We can't expect something from them when we haven't first shown the example.

Check out more of the article in the August 2015 issue of Ebony Magazine, in stores now! Find it on pages 57-60.

And I would love to hear from you - What tips do you have that may help other families? What are the most useful things your family does to handle the school year?


-written by Nakya Reeves, LMFT. I am a therapist and owner of a private practice where my main focus is working with families on communication issues, especially the parent-teen relationship. I also utilize PhotoTherapy techniques in my practice, which integrates bringing in photos that the client has taken or collected as a part of the therapy process. To find out more about my therapy practice, visit www.csolutionstherapy.com. I can be contacted any time at csolutionstherapy@gmail.com