As we hunker down with our kids during this unusually long time period - where close quarters, loss, change and the stress of the unknown remain constants - why not give them some new, easy ways to self-regulate? Enter Level 1 Ninja Training! Designed especially for 6-10 year olds. This easy, 5 minute audio journey helps build: anxiety relief, inner calm, focus, and self-control.
As nerves understandably become a bit frazzled the longer we stay at home together, one thing seems to help: practicing kindness. Studies report that showing compassion or gratitude can boost those feel-good hormones (serotonin and dopamine) in your brain. So encouraging children to bring a snack to someone without being asked or to give a random hug to an annoying sibling isn’t simply being nice—it might also be helping to boost their mental health.
Welcome to Kidevolve’s Imaginarium and the awesome world of Creative Mind Journeys. We’re thrilled to announce that our soothing, zesty, zany, inspiring (re: NOT BORING) audio stories are finally LIVE on YouTube! Kids who’ve come to know and cherish our stories in audio format, can now see the characters they love come alive in epic settings that enhance the overall experience. We have a huge selection of free mindfulness training videos for kids, with more coming all the time. Check out brand new learning playlists like: Self-Control, Sleep Zone, Gratitude and Anxiety Helper…
This moving video uses positive, calming, forward-thinking framing, to tackle the topic of the pandemic with kids. As parents and educators struggle to cope with messaging around the pandemic - in an effort to be honest (but not add to increasing feelings of anxiety and stress) - this uber-creative narrative provides much-needed optimism, engaging children fully at all ages (and giving adults a hopeful pause as well). Hats off to Tomfoolery… they’ve offered a thoughtful meditation our kids can spin into a positive future for themselves, despite the changes, hardships and challenges we’re all collectively facing.
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!
COVID-19 has changed our lives in ways we never would have imagined. Kids, at this unique time, may be feeling extra worried (especially if they already have an anxiety disorder). Fortunately, there are things we can do to help our kids cope - including providing creative outlets to express how they’re feeling in an open way. Check out Kidevolve’s silly and enticing IMAGINARY FRIEND DRAWING EXERCISE (Course 7.3: Joy & Energy) which gives kids a super fun outlet to draw their inner monsters and let their imaginations run wild to a whacky array of musical cues in a game-like setting. Get your coloured pencils, markers and papers ready! You might even think about doing this exercise with your kids and then discussing everyone’s monsters afterwards… when you're finished, you might just have a new friend (who's been waiting for you all this time!).
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 Facebook groups, text chains, and blogs, moms and dads are debating whether kids should have play dates or visit grandparents, have a babysitter, engage in street play, go to the playground. We are collectively wondering about what to do if someone in the house gets a fever, the best ways to minimize germ transmission, and how we’re all supposed to stay safe and sane. At a baseline, we must not forget to address our children’s mental health (and our own) when dealing with the onslaught of media and news that keeps us informed (while also scaring the pants off us).
With the advent of the coronavirus, and our rapidly changing responding world, many parents are wondering about playdates, programs and neighbourhood play, especially for kids (many now cooped up at home & off school for weeks), while we all do our part to “flatten the curve”. Shall our kids be engaged in close physical play with neighbours and friends right now? What kids of playdates and activities should be restricted? And how do we make sure kids can get outdoors (and be social and physical - very important) without contradicting the work adults are doing as we stay home from work to self-isolate, suspend businesses, cancel events and kid’s programs?
