Wynne Kinder Calm Mindfulness for Kids

Wynne Kinder Calm Mindfulness for Kids

Are you looking for ways to help kids be calm, overcome anxiety, and live happy, healthy lives?

Wynne Kinder shares her extensive knowledge on mindfulness for kids in her new book Calm. For years Wynne has been involved with developing amazing resources for schools and families to use to invite more mindful moments into their day. It’s a delight to reconnect with her and highlight the amazing work being done.

Join us as we talk all things mindfulness, ways to get buy in from reluctant participants, and goats. Let’s not forget the goats.

Listen here

 

 

Enter to win a copy of Wynne’s new book Calm: Mindfulness for Kids

This contest runs Feb 20 to Feb 26 midnight. Multiple entries allowed.

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Body, Mind, Mood, Breath: A Mindfulness Activity

This is one of my favorite mindfulness techniques. I often use it at the beginning of class to set the tone and allow everyone the opportunity to slow down and check in. The activity can be done anywhere but this script is for a classroom where students are seated at their desks. I highly recommend it, especially for teens and tweens. Speak slowly, allow for pauses and space for participants to look inward.

Body, Mind, Mood, Breath

Invite everyone to get comfortable sitting back in their chair or with heads down on desks. Maybe eyes are closed or turned down to encourage focus and minimize distractions.

Turn the attention inward to how you are feeling.

  • What is going on in your body? Is there any tension? Softness? Aches? Openness? Just notice without judging or trying to change it.
  • Now observe your mind. What is it’s level of activity? It is busy? Calm? Stuck on one thing? Or jumping from thought to thought?
  • Now notice your mood. How are you feeling today? What are you bringing into class? Can you name the mood you are currently in? Allow whatever it is to be without judgement.
  • Now turn your attention to your breath. Notice the inhalation and the exhalation. Is it fast, slow, steady, ragged, smooth, warm, cool? Where in your body do you feel the breath?

Take two more breaths. Simply observe. When you are ready open your eyes.

Ride the Wind: Teaching Mindfulness to Children

Ride the Wind: Teaching Mindfulness to Children

Kids have big emotions. Often they don’t know how to manage these emotions, what to do, how to express themselves or how to find that place of calm inside.

Today’s guest on the Yoga In My School podcast is Sara Pletcher. Sara is a teacher and author passionate about helping teachers help kids. She writes about topics that lead to important conversations to foster awareness, self regulation and integration. Her latest book, Ride the Wind, is a colorful exploration of feelings and thoughts.In her creative way our heroine Genelle, taught by her Mom, shows us how to Ride the Wind through mindfulness and visualizations.

Join us as we explore contemplative practices for young children. Discover tips on teaching kids how to manage emotions and ways you can support your children in fostering mindfulness and meditation practices to last a lifetime.

Listen to the Interview w Sarah Pletcher

Access the research at Erickson that Sara refers to in the interview

 

Enter to win a copy of Ride the Wind

Contest runs midnight Sept 14 to midnight Sept 21. Open to residents of Canada and USA. Thanks for your participation.

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Fostering Positive Behavior and Leadership in Youth

Fostering Positive Behavior and Leadership in Youth

Donna Freeman hosts as Karma Carpenter Shea of K-12yoga.org leads a discussion about how mindfulness and yoga in schools foster positive behavior and youth leadership skills.

Discover how to develop leadership skills, improve self-regulation and build social emotional skills in children. Teaching mindfulness and yoga skills in schools reaches 100% of kids, as well as teachers, parents and the greater community helping all to live healthier lives, get along better, reduce anxiety and succeed at life’s many challenges.

Special guests include Amy Haysman of Grounded and Susan Solvang of Growing Minds.

 

 

For more information about Positive Behavior Interventions and Support (PBIS) visit PBIS.org

For more information about Response to Intervention (RTI) visit National Center on Response to Intervention

 

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If you enjoyed this interview rate and review the show so others can find it.

+100 more on the Yoga In My School podcast on iTunes.

Mindfulness for Youth with Dr Dan Siegel

Mindfulness for Youth with Dr Dan Siegel

Author of Mindsight and The Whole Brain ChildDr Dan Siegel is an expert in how the mind, brain and relationships interconnect and influence our lives. He joins us to address the importance of mindful awareness in youth to foster positive mental, physical and relational health and well-being. With the science to prove it works, Dr Siegel shows us how to focus our attention on the internal workings of the mind helping us to acknowldege thoughts & feelings, let go of that which does not serve, and transform our lives leading to greater health and happiness. Learn more about this essential component to emotional and social intelligence and the easy to implement Wheel of Awareness during this 30 minute interview. Dr. Siegel is the keynote speaker at the International Conference on Mindfulness with Youth held in Banff, Alberta July 15-17, 2011.

 

 

itunesYoga In My School podcast on iTunes

If you enjoyed this interview rate and review the show so others can find it.

+100 more on the Yoga In My School podcast on iTunes.

Kids Yoga Games – Body Chalk Board

Kids Yoga Games – Body Chalk Board

Body Chalk Board is a great way to increase body awareness and sensory perception. Learning to rely on touch alone is a challenging skill and helps to focus attention and improve mindfulness. In the ‘olden days’ my sisters and I would play Body Chalk Board on long car trips. (Yes, we did have cars back then.) Today, I often use this technique when reviewing spelling words with my own children or often to simply tell them I love them with a short message written on their palm. It is always a hit when we pair up during kids yoga class and children try to spell the names of the poses on one another’s backs before practicing them.  This game is also fantastic for learning cooperation and communication skills. You may even want to try it with your teens to keep them connected to their body.

Body Chalk Board

Divide group into pairs. Sitting in easy pose (sukhasana), often referred to as criss cross, with one partner in front of the other use your partner’s back as a chalk board. Using a finger draw numbers, shapes or letters of the alphabet on the ‘chalk board’. The person whose back is the ‘chalk board’ guesses what is being drawn. Wipe the ‘chalk board’ clean with flat palms from top to bottom or side to side before switching roles.

For more of a challenge send a message via the ‘chalk board’ that the person in front writes down letter by letter as it is received.

To encourage sensory development and awareness do the same thing using other parts of the body: stomach, soles of feet, palms of hands. This is a wonderful game for children with sensory processing challenges (SPD, Autism, ADHD, etc).

Visit our Yoga Games page for more amazing & fun yoga games to enjoy yoga with kids and teens.

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