Mindfulness and Purpose in Early Childhood Education

  WAYS TO PROTECT YOUR PEACE THIS HOLIDAY SEASON FOREST BATHING Developed in Japan during the 1980s, forest bathing, forest therapy (or shinrin-yoku) broadly means taking in, using all of one’s senses within the forest atmosphere. It is not simply a walk in the woods, it is the conscious and contemplative practice of being immersed in the sights, sounds, and smells of the forest. Think of it like a calming meditation that helps you appreciate the calm beauty of your surroundings that allows you to relax and reflect while improving your focus in a soothing setting. Leave your electronics or any other distractions behind, so you can be fully present to wander aimlessly and allow your body to take you wherever it wants to. Pause from time to time, to look more closely at a leaf or notice the sensation of the path beneath your feet. Walk slowly and stop often. Find a comfortable spot to take a seat and listen to the sounds around you.   SLOW LIVING Slow living is mak...

  SLOW DOWN SCHOOL AGE CHILD CARE Step back and breathe ·        Reduce the noise by slowing down your school age child care day. ·        Streamline activities and routines so they have more time to wander and play. ·        Plan for simple PD days ·        Use more exploration and inquiry ·        Provide more provocations and time for projects ·        Create a variety of journals ·        Show them how to make their own learning stories  Download a free copy

  A physical detox is always a good idea for your body's health, but have you considered a digital detox for your mental health? Digital detoxes are on the rise, and people are now going on technology free retreats to cleanse the body and mind with distraction free real life adventures and down time.   THE BENEFITS OF A DIGITAL HOLIDAY? Mind Calm – quiet without any beeping, pinging and ringing notifications.   You mind is free to just experience blissful quiet. Simplicity – Return to reading a hard copy book instead of a screen.   Let your mind wander and day dream.   Have a conversation without distractions and take some memory photos just for yourself and not social media.   A DIGITAL CLEANSE FOR THE WARY Start with a digital staycation: SHIFT FOCUS – now that technology is not within reach, notice how much you've come to depend upon it?   What did you do before you could just pick up your cell phone … to call … search for informa...

    In today's busy, multitasked households, getting the new online school work and homework done can be a challenge; however this time can be used to develop a child’s sense of responsibility, organization and feelings of independence.   It is never too early to teach children good study habits, and having a daily routine is the cornerstone of quality work practices.   Once a routine is created, your child can be supervised at a distance (depending on the age and ability) through the completion of their work.     WHAT PARENTS CAN DO Parents can, and should set the stage for children’s homework completion; however, they should not do it for them, no matter how much they want the child to succeed.   Children need to make mistakes, and have those mistakes corrected by their teacher.   Teachers need to be able to see what their students are capable of, and where more work needs to be done.   This is part of the process.   Parent s...

  MAINTAIN MENTAL and EMOTIONAL HYGIENE .   The first and most important thing is, don't over think or over analyze situations .   This will keep your mind out of repetitive thinking loops.   STAY AWAY from negative social media and doom scrolling.   Read that again.   A bsolutely no doom scrolling . Doom scrolling can lead to anxiety, depression and mental fatigue.   BE GENTLE and compassionate with yourself. Take some time to be quiet and drink hot tea or coffee.   Forgive yourself for past mistakes; treat them as learning experiences and move on.   DO NOT ruminate.   Ruminating is replaying a bad experience in your head. We all do it and it can become a habit, which is bad because the distress clutters our mind and can lead to a repetitive negative thinking loop. Concentrate on something else.   Look for five things around you to focus upon.   This will help your mind to change gears.   Then, focus on the pos...

  Ideas from Laura Fowler Massie at Calm Kids Yoga Holding Space - Role of the Educator Creating a loving environment for the children in our care is both an honour and a privilege. Cultivating a sense of inclusion, respect and friendliness supports and develops healthy social and emotional development. Through the practice of mindfulness & yoga educators can create spaces where children, all children, feel competent, safe and welcome. It is with great care and thoughtful intentional safe spaces emerge. It is from an accepting and open heart that educators are able to hold these safe spaces and welcome the children in. Teacher as Student Learning is a two-way street. As educators we are continuously learning and evolving. Remembering that each of us, big and small, are unique and bring something very special to this world. Each child has lessons to teach us if we are open their lessons. Through careful listening, thoughtful observation and with an open heart, we can b...