This activity is based on the renowned teachings of the Vietnamese Buddhist teacher, author and Nobel Peace Prize nominee, Thich Nhat Hanh. Breathing in with focused awareness is a simple way to integrate mindfulness practice into daily life. Take a couple of...
Last weekend, as the weather turned into spring, I turned my back patio into a labyrinth activity center. My children and I created a heart-shaped spiral and a simple circular spiral labyrinth with sidewalk chalk and began to walk. Paying attention to our in-breath...
Mind Coach: How to Teach Kids and Teenagers to Think Positive and Feel Good by Daniel G. Amen, M.D. http://www.amazon.com/Mind-Coach-Children-Teenagers-Positive/dp/1886554072/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1300068723&sr=8-1...
I often encourage children to do "turtle time" when they are feeling overwhelmed or experiencing a state of unease or anger. When our emotions run high, having a code word or signal to initiate a calming activity is important. "Turtle Time" can serve as that...
Soothe and calm the brain waves by drawing and re-tracing the infinity symbol. Draw the infinity symbol lying on it's side. Begin by placing a dot in the center of the paper. Start at the dot and draw a loop up to the left, circle around to the center and then...
A mandala is a sacred circle. Mandalas can be found throughout nature, right down to the cellular level. We are literally swimming in a universal tapestry of interwoven sacred circles. I believe there is a function or an unmet need behind every behavior. When we...
We can teach children to lift relaxing positive thoughts like we lift weights. Relaxing positive thoughts carry much more weight and influence than negative thoughts. Therefore, just like we work out physically, a little work out daily, goes a long way. We know...
When our bodies are feeling tense and we need to take a break, it is fun to build a massage snake. Instruct everyone to sit in a "curvy snake line" and place your hands gently on the shoulders of the person in front of you. Then guide the "snake" participants in the...
Pull your hands into very tight fists. Ahh, let them go with a swish, swish, swish. Squeeze tight, tight, tight with all your might. Now just relax and make them light. Curl your toes into a ball. Now let them go, release them all. Squeeze tight, tight, tight with all...
This is a game that can be played by the family at bedtime in order to foster feelings of peace and relaxation. It is an excellent way to let go of anything during the day that is no longer supportive or needed. Arrange pillows in a circle to form your "cloud...
