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Welcome to the Mindful Families September Newsletter With practice tips, articles, book recommendations and upcoming events. Feel free to share. Pr
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Welcome to the Mindful Families September Newsletter
With practice tips, articles, book recommendations and upcoming events.
Feel free to share. |
Practice Tip for September
"What's Good about Me"
"What's Good about Me" is a great practice to activate the 'positive' sides of our brain and to develop a habit of seeing ourselves in a positive light. We are so good at pointing out our own (as well as others') perceived 'faults.' This is a practice to train us to point out what we love and appreciate about ourselves. What a great habit for a child to develop! (Adults too).
Pick a time each day to reflect with your child/ren on something that you each appreciate about yourself. Each person can take a turn and share something that is good about them. Parents may need to do it first to give children some ideas.
That's it. Simple. Takes just a few moments. The trickiest part is remembering.
It's ok if people aren't sure of what to say. Even if they say "I don't know," it is still good to invite the reflection. They may say the same thing for a while. That is fine too. It is the act of inviting reflection on self-appreciation that is important, rather than the outcome. It is activating and training our positive neural pathways.
Here is the back-story of how I brought this practice into my family's life.
I was gifted with this practice while speaking with my host after presenting a workshop for Social Work Rounds at Toronto' Hospital for Sick Children. While I don't know the originator of the practice, I can thank Barbara for passing it on to me! She had read it in a newsletter years ago and practiced it with her son after bedtime stories. Even after he outgrew bedtime stories, he maintained the practice. I was intrigued... We started that evening.
After bedtime stories, I asked my 2 1/2 year-old-son, "What's good about you?" He looked at me, mildly confused. I then told him something that is good about me: "I can have lots of fun!" I then asked him again. He said, "Cows." I smiled. The next evening I asked again. He said, "Watching videos with Grandpa." Yes, I admit I was hoping for something a little different, but I let go of expectation and smiled. He has turned it more into a practice of reflecting on what he likes, but hey he's 2 1/2! And, he actually answers, so that's wonderful. It has become quite a delight to hear what he comes up with... and it also makes me reflect on what's good about me. Very useful, especially after a challenging day. |
Sara's Blog:
_Adventures in Mindful Parenting: Fumbling my way through, one breath at a time_...
Reacting with Laughter – Imagine the Possibilities…
“We have more possibilities available in each moment than we realize.__” - Thich Nhat Hanh
Everybody knows there's no use crying over spilled milk... but how about spilled yoghurt? A few evenings ago, I was in the kitchen with my 2 ½ yr-old son. We were getting dinner ready when he asks his favourite kitchen question: “Can I look in the fridge?” 'Please wait a moment,' I reply. In he goes (I guess he didn’t hear me…:-) and before you know it, SPLAT. Yoghurt is all over the floor and kitchen rug. He looks at me. I look at him. With wide eyes, he does nothing but waits for my reaction. Surprisingly, I do the same. I wait. No deep breath, no counting to ten, just waiting, still. But while I am waiting, I am not reacting. - read full post |
Book Pick of the Month
A Handful of Quiet: Happiness in Four Pebbles by Thich Nhat Hanh
This is a perfect book to pick up as we get into the full swing of another busy school year. Thich Nhat Hanh offers a lovely practice to bring stillness and nature into our often hectic lives.
This easy-to-read book teaches children Thich Nhat Hanh's pebble meditation. Children are instructed to find 4 pebbles - each one representing an element of nature; flower, mountain, water and space. They are invited to breathe in and out three times with each pebble while reflecting on a quality of the element. For example, with mountain: "Breathing in, I see myself as a mountain. Breathing out I feel solid."
Children are then invited to make their own meditation cards, with their own words and drawings. Instructions for making a pebble meditation bag are also included.
I love this little gem of a book because it clearly outlines an engaging mindfulness practice for children that integrates breath, nature, art and individual creativity. |
No Ordinary Apple: A Story About Eating Mindfully
Would you like Sara to come to your child/ren's school or community group to read No Ordinary Apple and share interactive mindfulness practices?
Before school ended last June, Sara had so much fun sharing her book with children at a number of schools in the GTA. Please email info@mindfulfamilies.ca to arrange a book reading and mindfulness workshop.
LIKE /renNo Ordinary Apple on Facebook and help share mindfulness with children. |
Upcoming Events
In This Moment: Images by Sara & Lee
Photographs by Lee & Sara will be on display through September 2013
Playful Grounds, 605 College St.
Gala, Sept. 21, 3-5 p.m.
light refreshments will be served
www.playfulgrounds.com (a child-friendly cafe)
"The camera invites an intention to visually pay attention to the world around us with acceptance and wonder. When our hearts connect with the subject of the image, we are moved to click, thus creating an image in the moment." - Lee & Sara |
”Nurturing our Children, Nurturing Ourselves: An Introduction to Mindful Parenting”
Sara will be speaking at 2:00 p.m. at the Learning Disabilities Association of Peel's 12th Annual Resource Fair and Speaker Corner Conference
From mealtime to bedtime, homework to playtime, mindfulness offers a way to develop a non-judgement, non reactive, compassionate approach to everyday life, thus fostering emotional well-being and resilience in both our children and ourselves. In this workshop, participants will learn mindfulness practices that can support them in everyday parenting and with the unique stresses that can arise when parenting a child diagnosed with a disability.
Thursday, November 21, 2013
1:00pm to 6:30pm.
This event will include a panel of experts include a Nutritionist, Dietitian, and a Naturopathic Doctor and a resource fair of alternatives approaches, services, and programs that treat and improve overall health and learning/attention difficulties. This event is for parents, caregivers, educators and professionals who work with individuals with learning disabilities/AD(H)D and their families. www.ldapr.ca |
Looking ahead...
Author Event:
Saturday, October 19, 2:00 - 3:30 p.m. The Bloor Gladstone Library is hosting a local author event to celebrate 100 years! Sara will be there with her book No Ordinary Apple.
Workshops:
Sara has recently connected with Story Planet and will be offering mindfulness workshops fro children and parents this fall. Final dates to be determined, but check mindfulfamilies.ca or StoryPlanet.ca for details.
Mindfulness for Children:
Sara is in the process of arranging a 4-week mindfulness program for children, ages 6-9. Please email info@mindfulfamilies.ca for more information or if you might be interested in enrolling a child. |
Some Great Mindfulness Resources
Mindfulness Everyday
Toronto-based Mindfulness Everyday, a registered charitable organization, has assembled a dedicated team of professionals, experienced in conducting mindfulness programs. Mindfulness Everyday offers MBSR (Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction) workshops, in non-clinical settings, as well as programs for youth, parents and educators. mindfulnesseveryday.com
Cultivating Presence:
A Weekend Retreat of Mindful Drumming, Photography and Meditation
Beaver Valley in Grey Highlands - Northeast of Flesherton
Saturday, Oct. 19th 2013: 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 20th 2013: 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
For further information or registration please contact: Camilla at trmworkshops@gmail.com
www.sharigeller.ca
The Centre for Mindfulness Studies
The Centre for Mindfulness Studies in Toronto provides mindfulness-based therapies for conditions such as anxiety and depression, eating disorders, ADHD, substance abuse and chronic pain. The Centre provides accredited professional development in mindfulness-based interventions for physicians and allied health professionals.
www.mindfulnessstudies.com
Thank The Now - a Lovely online resource to remind us to enjoy the present.
www.thankthenow.com |
Click Here to view past newsletters. |
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