Parents who raise emotionally intelligent kids teach this important skill —here’s how (CNBC)
One of our children’s deepest needs is to feel heard, and by listening carefully and expressing empathy, parents can help fill this need. More importantly, research has found that if someone feels empathy, even if it’s just from watching a touching video, it can make them feel more connected to — and generous toward — others. In other words, practicing empathy with your kids can help them grow up to be emotionally intelligent adults.
8 Vital Reasons to Teach Your Child About Feelings (Nature & Thrive)
5 Tips for Cultivating Empathy (Harvard)
Empathy is at the heart of what it means to be human. It’s a foundation for acting ethically, for good relationships of many kinds, for loving well, and for professional success. And it’s key to preventing bullying and many other forms of cruelty. How can parents cultivate empathy? The following are five guideposts based on research and the wisdom of practitioners.
The Benefits of Meditation For Kids (Thrive Global)
8-Year-Olds in Despair: The Mental Health Crisis Is Getting Younger (The New York Times)
The number of children who need urgent mental health care has been on the rise for years, and spiked during the pandemic. Between April and October of 2020, there was a 24 percent increase in the proportion of mental health emergency department visits for kids ages 5 to 11 compared with the same period in 2019.
How to Stop Negative Emotions From Spreading Like COVID-19 (Psychology Today)
During pandemics, personal choices determine whether we contain or spread the virus. Our decisions also govern something even more contagious—our emotions. When they’re out of control, one person’s irritability can upset the whole family’s happiness. But, if we understand and harness transmissible emotions, they can (like a vaccine) protect family wellbeing.
Wednesday Kid's Mindfulness Challenge - Test those Advanced Ninja Skills!
Kids who have explored building self control and focus in Be a Ninja and Ninja School 2 are now ready for our latest and final Ninja installment: Ninja School 3. In this advanced story, they can test out their new Ninja powers and practice feeling dignified and in control. At the end, they’ll have honed a key Ninja superpower - the ancient art of self-control - even when difficult feelings try to hijack the scene!
Friday Kid's Mindfulness Challenge - Hone Your Inner Ninja!
We invite you to clear some active space (where kids can bounce around), and line up this giggly, zesty 6.5 minute journey for Friday’s home-school curriculum. This story is all about flexibility. Kids learn to switch back and forth between being DELIGHTFULLY bouncy and PEACEFULLY calm - on a dime - think about it like a giant freeze game (with audio and visual cues for both kinds of learners). At the end, kids gain a key Ninja power - the ancient art of self-control.
As Adults Learn to Cope, Kids are Watching, Modelling, Mirroring
During this unprecedented global pandemic, kids of all ages are suddenly living in closer quarters with family (and for the first time, there are less external programs, activities and fewer ‘alternate adults’ to model how to cope with life’s challenges). Kids are now observing the adults in their lives more regularly (and with more granularity!) … and taking direct cues around self-management. Things can feel overwhelming with so much uncertainty, and kids pick up on anxiety and stress, and often come to mirror it quickly. This can create an unhealthy cycle within the family unit, where stress can actually become contagious. As adults struggle to keep emotions regulated and not flip out, here are 5 videos offering simple strategies for keeping things more calm, open, proactive and healthy. Parents and kids can watch them together and talk about how to make things feel less stressful at home, while we’re thrust into our new, unusual circumstances - try these out today!