Navigating Tough Conversations
Has your mentee ever asked you a question or brought up a topic you found difficult to discuss? How prepared are you to have difficult conversations with your mentee? Topics like sex, politics, drugs or religion can be hard to talk about, especially with children....
Setting Goals in Mentoring
Have you ever created a goal you wanted to achieve while mentoring? You may have a goal to remember your mentee’s birthday, or to show up to your visits earlier, you may even want to make a goal with your mentee for this school year. Whatever your goal may be, putting...
The Seedling Mentor Portal
Using the Mentor Portal is a requirement for mentoring with Seedling. Your Mentor Director sent you a link when you had your first visit. If you no longer have the link, simply ask your Mentor Director to resend it to you; they’ll be happy to do so. You can sign in...
Seedling Nurturing
I have a super handy app on my iphone, a life saver for any novice who enjoys growing plants. It is my go-to if my beloved flora is looking droopy or sad. All I have to do is pull up the app, snap a picture and presto, a specific Rx pops up to tell me how to care for...
Where Do We Go From Here?
As vaccines become more available and the world takes a few shy steps towards normalcy, we can’t help but think: “where do we go from here?” What has this past year meant for our mentees? And how do we move forward? Below are thoughts to consider as you begin thinking...
Transitions: Tips for Mentors
In a normal school year, transitioning to a new school (such as Elementary to Middle or Middle to High school) can be daunting. COVID has only compounded anxiety about any changes, and that’s before considering things like returning to full classrooms. Many of our...
It’s Important
Given the significant social, environmental, and political events of the past year, it may feel like it’s more important now than ever to spend time with your mentee simply talking about their feelings to process all of the changes we’re experiencing. We always...
Processing Racism-Related Trauma through Creative Expression
In the last few years, our country has begun confronting racism and racial injustice on a scale that we haven’t seen since the Civil Rights Movement of the late 1960s. Understanding the history, scope, and implications of systemic racism is a complicated undertaking...
It Matters: Building Representation in Mentoring Relationships
On January 20, 2021, Kamala Harris was sworn in as Vice President, becoming the first woman, the first Black American, and the first South Asian American to hold the office. The importance of the moment was not lost – across social media, posts celebrating this...
Talking About Current Events
We’ve all been shaken by the acts of violence that took place this week in Washington D.C. and at several state capitals across the nation. The violent actions have left a significant impact on us as a nation and as individuals and may lead to conversations...
Reconnections
Your Impact on your mentee is bigger than you think! They still giggle when they think of that funny thing you said, still smile when they think of the compliment you gave them. Your impact has made them think twice, your support has made their day! Your...
Somatic Experiencing and Mentoring
“The super-power of human kind is our capacity to connect; it is regulating, rewarding, and the major route by which we can teach, coach, parent, heal, mentor and learn.” Dr. Bruce Perry At Seedling we often refer to our mentors as having “super powers.” You have...
The Holidays and Practicing Gratitude
Navigating the holidays in a mentoring relationship can be tricky. As Seedling mentors, we are sensitive to the fact that some households may not celebrate holidays we hold dear. This reality might be due to religious practice, financial distress or family strife. The...
Talking about Incarceration
Have you ever considered what it might be like for your mentee to have communication with their incarcerated or deported parent? Maybe it is only through letters, an infrequent phone call, or on rare occasions talking on a phone while looking at one another...
Mentoring and the Art of Validation
When little people are overwhelmed by big emotions, it is our job to share our calm, not join their chaos” -L.R. Knost As Seedling mentors, our goal is to be a trusted friend, boost our mentee’s positive self-esteem and safeguard their opportunity to thrive!...
Politics Anyone?
Presidential elections always come with a bit of apprehension, but this year’s upcoming election carries significantly more heated rhetoric and tension. In recent years, psychologists and child experts have repeatedly documented how political discourse has had a...
Talking With Your Mentee About Being Online
Mentoring online provides you the unique opportunity to reconnect with your mentee virtually, but also to facilitate a conversation with them about their online experiences. A conversation with your mentee doesn’t have to revolve exclusively around internet safety,...
From the Mentor Directors
The new school year is a time of transitions and new beginnings for all of us. For all of our mentors, it will mark a new chapter in your mentoring relationship, for some of you it may be the big jump from elementary to middle school. And some of you may be...
Self-Care in Uncertain Times
In uncertain times, it’s easy for stress and anxiety to take over our emotions and color our daily interactions without us even recognizing that it’s happening. That’s why it’s important now more than ever to establish some healthy routines that allow us to check in...
Communicating with Kids about COVID-19
With Seedling’s temporary communication policies in place, mentors will soon have the opportunity to communicate with their mentee in a safe and intentional way. As the COVID-19 pandemic alters our everyday lives, your mentee may have questions or have daunting...
Mentor Tested, Kid Approved!
Mentors may struggle from time to time with conversation, meaningful interaction, or even sustained eye contact with their mentee. When mentoring is a challenge, remembering to use creativity and having a few simple activities to pull out of your pocket can help! We...