At Kidevolve, we're always thrilled to hear about real-world, practical applications for kids using mindfulness. Check out this piece about a US elementary school that has taken the bold step to replace the outdated, punitive detention model with a positive and beneficial Mindful Moment room! The results are pretty clear...
Kidevolve is all about empowering families with tools that let kids strengthen and expand their capacities for kindness, compassion, focus and inner calm. Here's an amazing list of books, curated by Sharon Rawlins (youth services specialist at the New Jersey State Library) that help kids make sense of their worlds and feel more confident emotionally. When your done reading this list, check out Kidevolve's Bookshelf too (here, you can find even more books that focus specifically on transferring valuable EQ skills).
Kidevolve has just released our first ever 'Creative Mind Journeys' into beta testing (new mindfulness audio tracks developed specially for kids aged 5-10), and our Family Testing panel (located all over the world, from Canada and the US through to Singapore) is well underway giving us feedback straight from the mouths of real kids, parents, educators and researchers. The science is out, whether it's boosting social skills, improving performance at school, encouraging independent thinking or augmenting overall creativity, teaching children mindfulness techniques has big benefits... Delve into this article by child development expert Sean Grover, to learn more about recent studies and confirm why it's important to take time to teach and expose kids to these key life skills...
At Kidevolve, we know that delivering mindfulness to kids takes special planning and a unique approach. Simply modifying what works for adults just doesn't fly. Check out these simple ways to capture little ones attention. We use most of these techniques to some extent or another when we deliver our creative EQ training programs. Stay tuned for more information about Kidevolve's new programming for Fall...
Why is it so important to teach mindfulness techniques to young children? A new CAMH Study, released July 21, 2016, shows that teens are experiencing more and more psychological distress (depression and anxiety), and too few know where to turn for help, or have coping skills in their arsenals to manage and reduce stress. To learn more about this study and what impacts teens today, read on...
Not knowing can be both thrilling, and intimidating. But if you think about it, kids are in the constant state of not knowing the why, how, when, who of so many things. This is a wonderful state of exploration and wonder. Although, sometimes kids get a sense from adults that 'NOT knowing' is bad place to be. Asking too many questions is tedious, and pointless. This powerful book by Annika Harris explores the idea that adults can give kids the confidence to say, "I don't know", and instead of feeling stuck, or frustrated, children need to be encouraged to wonder in the vastness of life and everything around them. Kids and adults are invited to explore new things together, both not knowing answers immediately. There's a whole world of things to figure out the why, how, when and who together. And you never know adults, kids may end up teaching you a few things about what you don't know!
Mindful eating for kids?! You bet. This article from @Mindfulschools shares a mindful eating tool that Kidevolve uses in our own physical programs. It's simple, fun and extremely effective in encouraging kids to experience real foods using their senses. The mindful steps urge kids to slow down, appreciate how rich and interesting even the most simple foods can be, and reminds kids to check in with how food makes them feel. Imagine if people (of all ages) engaged in a little more mindful eating? We might just have better eating habits?
Kids flourish when they take part in activities that encourage them to become mindful, kind, compassionate and aware little people. But what about parents? They shouldn't be left out of the equation. Grown ups who are parenting need support on how to build mindfulness into their daily family lives. This article via the Huffington Post is right up Kidevolve's alley. It promotes family group practice of interactive, fun exercises that bring the young and old together in a state of mindfulness. We especially like the bedtime meditation suggestion and are working on our own Kidevolve resources to share with families soon...stay tuned....
What happens when you start nurturing a culture that supports kids becoming compassionate, aware and emotionally intelligent little people? People respond. A natural network starts emerging.
The last year has been a fascinating, fun and inspiring journey. As soon as Kidevolve began offering hands-on, physical programs to kids around mindfulness training, heaps of businesses, leaders, parents, teachers, researchers, academics, kids have hopped aboard to help influence the Kidevolve Space. Everyone recognizes that there is a very important spark here. Kids need mindfulness tools. And grown ups really need them!
Research suggests that intellect may not define success nearly as much as we’ve thought. Being smart can take you far, but emotional intelligence may be even more important than an exceptional intellect. Click here to find out more...
