Mindful Breathing

I don't know about you but taking a deep breath is the last thing I want to do when I am feel angry or anxious. This is because a deep breath simply isn't on the menu when I am in flght or flight mode. So the best thing I can do is practice breathing deeply during the calm times in life. This way, I am less likely to get into an agitated state to begin with and when I do it is shorter lived.
The same is true for our kids. Trying to talk a little one out of a melt down is useless. They simply aren't able to access the problem solving part of their brain. Better to practice deep breathing during quiet times. Bed time is optimal. You can have your little one use a cuddle toy as a tool for deep breathing. The stuffed animal goes for a ride on their tummy, up and down like a gentle wave. You can also have your little one put their head on your tummy so that they can feel your breath rising and falling beneath them as shown here. Give it a try and let me know how it went. Happy breathing

Belly Breathe!

Gotta love good old Sesame Street.  They understand the importance of social and emotional learning and self regulation.  Another terrific video!

The Six Movements of the Spine

Think about your spine as a super highway that sends messages from your brain to your body and back again. When you stretch your spine it helps both your brain and your body. I have the K kids take frequent movement breaks throughout the day. One standard mindful movement series is a sequence that moves the spine six ways: back and forth, side to side and twisting.  This simple series can help to calm and sooth the kids and get them ready to learn before each lesson.
To make it a little more fun, we incorporate these movements in partner stretches! The kids absolutely love it! Why not try it with your little one at home!

Welcome to our Peace Corner

 This is a place to take a break between tasks during our very busy days!  We have a balance ball for the kids to do some gentle bouncing, get some of those sillies out and develop their core strength.  We also have a balance board for some gentle rocking, as well as 2 rocking chairs. There is soft lighting and a flower arrangement to produce a calming affect.

The peace corner is designed to be a "time in" as opposed to a "time out" area.  I try to encourage the kids to take breaks as they need them.  We talk about our brains as if they were engines of a train.  If their engine is running too low or too high the peace corner is a place to go for a break to calm down or recharge.  This is a first step toward developing self regulation in order to enjoy social and emotional well being.

 Some students have talked about putting together a peace corner in their house!  You may want to try making one at home.  If you do, please feel free to add a comment and let me know how it's going!

Mindful Songs for Children

Music is the perfect portal into mindful moments.

Here are a few of my favorite artists:

Betsy's music has a beautiful "Folky" quality. My favorite tracks include "My Mind is A Clear Blue Sky, "I am Breathing", and "May you be Peaceful"

       

Kira Willey is a master!  She has such sweet songs that speak to the innocence and wonder of childhood.  Her music includes tracks where she guides little ones through mindful movement as well as music. Sure to delight the kid in everyone!

    

Red Grammer is a fantastic singer and songwriter for children.  This CD is filled with simple, beautiful songs about filling buckets, an important part of our Character Education Curriculum.

Happy Singing and Dancing!

Wake Up Series

Kids are super kinesthetic!  That's why we routinely use a self massage technique halfway through our days to wake up sleepy bodies and to calm down busy bodies!  This is a quick demonstration of the series.  Try it at home and let me know how it goes. 

Yoga Camp!

We're immersing ourselves in yoga this summer and loving every minute of it! Just finished the 2nd annual "yoga camp" (week 1).  It pure delight to be able to reconnect with students from years past and meet new kids in a joyful tangle of ages between 5 and 10.  
Our theme was "Hooray for the World" with projects and activities that consisted of an exploration of earth and sky.

We began each day with a bubble blowing ritual. Using our long, deep breaths to blow away anything that was tired or unhappy for any reason.  Bubble blowing is positively therapeutic! Please consider carrying a bottle of bubbles with you at all times.

Each day we pulled story stones out of a bag to learn or review a yoga posture.  After each kid got the chance to choose a stone we made up a story with them.  

The next day we would use each stone to do an "obstacle course" as a way to review each pose.

Then each camper went off to draw or write about their favorite pose-

The first day of camp we made a "mind jar" by pouring glitter glue into a large jar of warm water.  Then each day we shook up the jar and watched the glitter float down to the bottom.  This is a fun and easy way to introduce the idea of meditation to little ones. Each day we spent a little bit longer quietly watching and waiting for the glitter (and our thoughts) to settle so that we could be present in the here and now.  This was a magical time!  I hope you will make a mind jar to use at home.

There was a daily activity that involved paying attention in nature.  We went on a nature scavenger hunt, found objects and created nature stones.  

We also made meditation bracelets. These bracelets were designed to calm us and help us "change the channel in our brain" whenever we experience unpleasant feelings.  For example, the kids can touch a bead and remind them self to breathe in peace, and touch another bead  to remind them self to breathe out love.  Other qualities they chose to add to their meditations were joy, friendliness, courage and strength.

  

After we worked with the story stones for a few days, the kids picked their favorite poses, had their body traced in that pose and painted a life size replica.  It was a wild and wonderful time.  Everybody should paint a little bit every day.  It is so soothing  and yet delightfully messy!

The Ninja

The candle

The triangle

the dolphin

the lizard

Sponge boys!

Star fish girls!

We certainly had a mindful and fun time together! I will leave you with a short video that shows the yoga campers moving through their circular "obstacle course".  I hope you are as impressed as I am with the level of focus and concentration they exhibit as they move from mat to mat.

May you be peaceful and happy today.