5/15/2020 0 Comments The Science of KindnessDid you know that random acts of kindness are good for your health? The good feelings that we experience when being kind are produced by endorphins. They activate areas of the brain that are associated with trust, pleasure and social connection. Think about a time when you acted with kindness towards others. How did it make you feel? Check out the video below to learn about the science of kindness! Then click on Comments and share how showing kindness to others makes you feel?
0 Comments
5/14/2020 0 Comments Did you know music therapy can facilitate development in communication and sensory-motor skills, promote learning and skill acquisition, stimulate attention, and increase motivation to participate more fully in other aspects of the educational setting?Watch the short video below and then reflect on the following: How can making mistakes help you grow? What do mistakes teach you? Click on COMMENTS to share your thoughts! According to Psychology Today, showing gratitude can lead to several benefits such as improved physical and mental health, better sleep, and improved self-esteem. Who knew giving thanks could be so good for you!
Reflect on some things you are grateful/thankful for at this moment. How does showing gratitude make you feel? How do you think it makes others feel? Share your thoughts with us by clicking on COMMENTS! 5/7/2020 0 Comments What are you good at that nobody (or very few people) know? Do you have any hidden talents?Comment below with your answer.
It's Teacher Appreciation Week! Most of us have had a teacher who has made a difference in our lives. Teachers may help us to see the world differently, make us feel proud, and motivate us.
Has a teacher ever inspired you? When? Please comment below. We all face obstacles in our lives. Sometimes once we face those obstacles and perhaps overcome them, we can feel a sense of accomplishment. You may even want to celebrate.
Comment with an obstacle you have overcome. If you can't think of one, comment with something you enjoy celebrating. 5/1/2020 1 Comment Reflection: What has changed most for you since the start of COVID-19? Please comment below.For some people, their role model is their mom or dad (or both!), or perhaps even their older sibling. For others, it is their favorite athlete or musician. Role models serve important roles because they help set examples for others, and they inspire others with their good values, attitudes, and behaviors. Watch the videos below to see others' opinions on role models! Click on COMMENTS to share your thoughts!
4/28/2020 0 Comments How do I Relax....7 Mindfulness Exercises with Kids
http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-18136/7-fun-ways-to-teach-your-kids-mindfulness.html 1. The Bell Listening Exercise Ring a bell and ask the kids to listen closely to the vibration of the ringing sound. Tell them to remain silent and raise their hands when they no longer hear the sound of the bell. Then tell them to remain silent for one minute and pay close attention to the other sounds they hear once the ringing has stopped. After, go around in a circle and ask the kids to tell you every sound they noticed during that minute. This exercise is not only fun and gets the kids excited about sharing their experiences with others, but really helps them connect to the present moment and the sensitivity of their perceptions. 2. Breathing Buddies Hand out a stuffed animal to each child (or another small object). If room allows, have the children lie down on the floor and place the stuffed animals on their bellies. Tell them to breathe in silence for one minute and notice how their Breathing Buddy moves up and down, and any other sensations that they notice. Tell them to imagine that the thoughts that come into their minds turn into bubbles and float away. The presence of the Breathing Buddy makes the meditation a little friendlier, and allows the kids to see how a playful activity doesn't necessarily have to be rowdy. 3. The Squish & Relax Meditation While the kids are lying down with their eyes closed, have them squish and squeeze every muscle in their bodies as tightly as they can. Tell them to squish their toes and feet, tighten the muscles in their legs all the way up to their hips, suck in their bellies, squeeze their hands into fists and raise their shoulders up to their heads. Have them hold themselves in their squished up positions for a few seconds, and then fully release and relax. This is a great, fun activity for "loosening up" the body and mind, and is a totally accessible way to get the kids to understand the art of "being present." 4. Smell & Tell Pass something fragrant out to each child, such as a piece of fresh orange peel, a sprig of lavender or a jasmine flower. Ask them to close their eyes and breathe in the scent, focusing all of their attention only on the smell of that object. Scent can really be a powerful tool for anxiety-relief (among other things!). 5. The Art Of Touch Give each child an object to touch, such as a ball, a feather, a soft toy, a stone, etc. Ask them to close their eyes and describe what the object feels like to a partner. Then have the partners trade places. Both this exercise and the previous one are simple, but compelling, ways to teach the kids the practice of isolating their senses from one another, and tuning into distinct experiences. 6. The Heartbeat Exercise Have the kids jump up and down in place for one minute. Then have them sit back down and place their hands on their hearts. Tell them to close their eyes and feel their heartbeats, their breath, and see what else they notice about their bodies. 7. Heart-To-Heart In this exercise, the meaning of "heart" is less literal. In other words, this activity could also simply be called "Let's talk about feelings." So sit down and casually, comfortably ask the children to tell you about their feelings. What feelings do they feel? How do they know they are feeling those feelings? Where do they feel them in their bodies? Ask them which feelings they like the best. Then ask them what they can do to feel better when they aren’t feeling the feelings they like best. Remind them that they can always practice turning their thoughts into bubbles if they are upset, they can do the Squish and Relax Meditation if they need to calm down, and they can take a few minutes to listen to their breath or feel their heartbeats if they want to relax. My hope for the mindfulness class was to give the kids some tools they can use anytime: tools to calm down, slow down and feel better when they are troubled. I sure wish I had these tools at my disposal when I was their age. Imagine if all the children around the Earth learned to use these tools during their childhoods. What a change our world would experience within just one generation! 4/27/2020 1 Comment What did you do this weekend to...have some fun or relax?
keep your body strong and healthy? keep your mind strong and healthy? Click the Comments to share with us one or more of your answers. Click HERE to go to the Activity of the Day to try a few ways to keep your mind strong and healthy. We all have different things that make us different and unique. We have various interests and qualities that make us special. Take time to watch the short video and click on Comments to share your answers. Remember you are perfectly perfect! |
Welcome to our Question of the Day! Every weekday, a question will post for you to answer! We encourage you to type your answer in the comments section. We would LOVE to read your answers. Questions will take on a variety of topics which we hope you will enjoy. If you don't want to share your answer, that's great too! Share your answer with a friend, parent, sibling, pet, or keep to yourself. The power to chose is up to you!
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |
Photos used under Creative Commons from John Brighenti, Steven Pisano, kennethkonica, verchmarco