Annaka Harris, best-selling author and mindfulness teacher (as well as wife of neuroscientist-philosopher-author-podcast creator Sam Harris), believes that teaching these skills to children is critical. She speaks often about her experience working with young children - and especially how she’s been surprised to learn that they are able pick up mindfulness techniques (and use them effectively) as young as four or five years old.
Fear, unease and anxiety around the current COVID-19 pandemic remains constant, and can cause strong emotions in adults and children. Coping with stress will make you, the people you care about, and your community stronger.
Families are interrelated systems and kids take cues from how parents position information, their tone of voice, their sense of urgency… and their overall optimism. Even in the presence of great challenge.
Dr. Deepak Chopra talks with Recode's Kara Swisher about how to cope with the global threat posed by coronavirus, the parallel "pandemic of panic," and how to not be overwhelmed by fear and anxiety. Comparing it to past pandemics and wars, he says the COVID-19 outbreak is an invitation to stop denying our shared humanity and finally recognize our power to use our creativity to save ourselves.
NASA astronauts know a thing or two about isolation, and kids will benefit from understanding how much time, thought and preparation goes into this activity alone. From preparing in advance for new pressures on interpersonal relationships and working to strengthen communication and awareness (especially when school and programs are postponed, placing parents, caregivers and kids in MUCH more regular contact), to the power of staying positive in our newly confined environments (TIP - focus on others and help kids think about a way to have "a higher purpose"), devising robust mental strategies in advance can help lessen anxiety and stress while bolstering self-regulation at every age.
In June, we launched our Imaginarium podcast - live on Apple Podcasts - getting unique mindfulness audio tracks out to kids in a way that resonates and has them asking for more. We now have over 9000 listeners across the globe! We want kids to have variety, spice, fun and creative freedom as they learn key EQ techniques, so our creators bring their own passions, interests and styles to delivering life stories that double as guided practices. Meet Marni Levitt - she’s an uber-talented, singer-songwriter, teacher, trainer and meditation facilitator who truly connects with kids. Go to Kidevolve’s Imaginarium Podcast on Apple to check out Marni’s 3 awesome CMJs - Switch to the Inside, Light Up your Day, and Magical Gratitude Wand!
At Kidevolve, we want kids to feel good inside everyday. As pressures and stresses abound at school, home, (and the endless, negative news cycle), it’s truly important to give kids real and uplifting data about the world we live in… so they can reflect on (and take in) all the positive things happening around us. Chris Hadfield is a superstar for positivity and focusing on what humankind does well. Show your kids this video and let it inspire the kinds of conversations for 2020 that build resilience, stamina, joy and compassion for others!
Happy 2020 everyone! We are excited to see that the UK is taking teaching kids mindfulness techniques very seriously. Hats off to the social and business leaders in England who have pushed this remarkable initiative forward; because of their efforts, the next generation of UK kids will be calmer, more able to deal with adversity/difficult emotions and more self-aware. Positioning kids for boosted EQ means the whole society reaps the rewards (with less antisocial behaviour, lower costs for treating mental health, lower crime and increased productivity). How great is this? Let’s allow this to be a template for all countries, so that kids can be empowered in this fundamental way.
Last June we launched our first Apple Podcast - Kidevolve’s Imaginarium - to warm, enthusiastic reviews! Along with Apple, we’ve also been picked up by: Castbox, Listen Notes, Podtail, TuneIn, Chartable, Poddtoppen, PodParadise, and iVOOX… just to name a few. We’re so excited about the momentum here, and in this post we share some engagement stats that we hope will get you even more motivated to listen in, share, care and subscribe.
Giving kids the tools to help them fend off negative thoughts and behaviors, build self-confidence, focus, and treat others and themselves with respect and appreciation is a gift they will have for the rest of their lives. Yet, less than 2% of kids in North America know how to meditate. Don’t know how to dive in? Try out these 3 simple practices to introduce kids to meditation and mindfulness… and don’t forget to check out what’s new in Kidevolve’s Imaginarium Podcast- first-of-their-kind audio tracks that get kids turned on to mindfulness in a totally novel, easy, super-fun way.
