Stress in kids? There's a lot going around. And it's not just the day-to-day living stress. Researchers are also noting rising levels of kids' overall anxiety, depression and more cases of diagnosed attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). We found this excellent article written by Jenny Anderson via Quartz. She explains some suggested reasons behind this shift. Why are many of our kids not developing key life coping skills?
Check our LEAH MCLAREN's new Globe and Mail piece...
Have any of your heard the term 'mindful parenting'?. There is a new form of engaged or “conscious” parenting emerging. It may appear to older generations (or a behaviourist like Leonard Sax) to be overly permissive or lacking in boundaries, even if, in fact, it’s anything but. “Our generation of parents needs to have an honest conversation with our own parents, and say, "My parenting looks a lot different than your parenting, but I need you to trust me not be to a doormat, okay?"
A child's brain has more connections than the entire internet! Check out this incredible video by the The Hawn Foundation. How do you engage with kids in your life?
How many parents, teachers, and grandparents out there are wading through episodes of kid-trantrums and meltdowns? What's the best way to handle them? Experts say that rather than just wait for kids to outgrow this phase, dive in with supportive emotional literacy training. And what exactly does that look like? This article gives a number of helpful and practical examples. The point—there are many benefits from teaching emotional literacy skills to young children. When they learn how to calm themselves down, use language to express their feelings and treat others with kindness, they are laying the foundation for future success and wellness.
Awesome Is Everywhere by Neil Pasricha. This graphic and tactical adventure draws attention to the simple pleasures. Neil and his stellar team have zeroed in on the sense of gratitude and appreciation of all that’s AWESOME in the world. Don't you find that kids seem to gravitate to the general-awesomeness of their surroundings? This book hones in on this inherent spark and encourages kids (and grown ups) to take a mini-journey of awareness. Check it out and fly your mind to anywhere on the earth via a book!
If you want to do a deep dive into the research on the benefits of mindfulness for kids, this article is for you! Traditionally, science has directed its attention to studying the impact of mindfulness on adults only. Although we could make logical inferences for kids, there was not a lot of conclusive evidence. Enter a whole host of new research showing that mindfulness for kids can offer some truly distinct benefits...
