Practicing Mindfulness with your Little Ones
Parents or teachers who approach impulsive, inappropriate behavior calmly and give them time, kids can learn to choose better ways to respond to that situation. The feedback kids need is non-judgmental and non-emotional: what went wrong, and why, and how they can fix it next time.
Studies show that when kids are part of an environment that’s reflective and analytic as opposed to emotional and fast-paced they can learn to make better choices. Slowing down allows children to become more thoughtful, reflective and self-aware. Mindfulness is good for everyone, but especially for children with self-regulation challenges.
The Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) has linked mindfulness to two core social-emotional skills: self-regulation and self-awareness. According to brain imaging research, practicing mindfulness can alter brain structure in a way that can improve a student’s reaction to stress. It thickens the cerebral cortex, which is responsible for perception and reasoning, and increases blood flow in the brain. Mindfulness training reduce stress levels, it can also help alleviate anxiety or depression.
Here are a few ways to practice mindfulness with your child!
1. Read a book or play a board game 2. Engage all five senses 3. Blow bubbles 4. Go on a nature walk 5. Do some yoga
Build a Pumpkin Sensory Box
You will need:
-Mini pumpkin buckets
-Black beans or lima beans
-Tweezers
-Mini shovel
-Orange or green pipe cleaners, pom-poms, or gems
Mindfulness is all about training the mind to spend some time in the present—an experience made possible by the five basic senses. Of course, sensory perception is occurring all the time, but mindfulness means not taking it for granted. In other words, any activity that puts sensory perception at the forefront of a child’s mind is likely to have a positive, meditative effect. As such, a sensory bin for kids is kind of a no-brainer, and the process of setting one up is just as straightforward as the benefits. There are endless possibilities when it comes to creating a tactile experience for your kid.
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Room on the broom by Julia Donaldson
Pippa the Pumpkin Fairy by Tim Bugbird
Skeleton Hiccups by Margery Cuyler
How Many Seeds in your Pumpkin by Margaret McNamara
How Big Could your Pumpkin Grow by Wendell Minor
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