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.
At Kidevolve, we’re all about family training tools to foster healthier relationships and more empowered, self-reliant kids! Kids don’t come with a training manual, but this is the closest thing to it. In this special episode of The Next Big Idea podcast, they share three book bites that demystify the art and science of parenting.
Getting back to the Fall school routine is exhilarating, yet can also be anxiety-producing for kids and families alike - especially given our last few years dealing with the many pandemic changes. Check out these tips from the Child Mind Institute to reduce stress at home, and gear up for success. Adding a sprinkle of mindfulness to your daily routine can also be a powerful antidote to stress. Check out Kidevolve’s Can of Delight or Worry Box (by Jeff Warren) to boost confidence and cope with worries, or Heart Medicine (by Christine Alevizakis) to get a head start on self-care! And you can listen to audio-only versions of these cool Creative Mind Journeys here.
Last week, Kidoevolve founder Kirsten Chase had the opportunity to participate in Knowledgehook’s Leadership Series on Children’s Mental Health and Wellbeing. It was a rich discussion, with host Jennifer Adams and parenting experts Alyson Schafer and Jennifer Kolari (bios below). They covered an interesting mix of current and key aspects of children’s health and school experiences - including the idea that learning mindfulness early in life can bring about positive and powerful wellbeing outcomes for kids, their families and society at large! If you didn’t get a chance to watch live, check it out here!
The easiest and quickest way to calm an anxious mind is to breathe in and breathe out. But if you find “breath work” boring, you’re not alone! Here’s a shortlist of techniques we love, so you can find the one that’s easy and right for you. Scan this list and try a few. Then, teach your kids and students! As always, most kids pick up on these techniques effortlessly (when compared with adults). If you teach children while they’re young, you give them crucial EQ skills to draw on for life.
At Kidevolve, we’re all about sharing tools, teachings and new approaches that help kids foster more robust EQ and strengthen self-awareness skills. Especially when kids today are coping with home-schooling, extra family stressors and navigating our ever-evolving pandemic realities.
Enter Hornville - a unique and simple card game where kids, starting at age seven, learn to improve critical thinking skills while having loads of fun!
Living in a time where fact and opinion are interchangeable, critical thinking is incredibly important. Unfortunately, this isn’t something that comes naturally to everyone. It takes practice and exposure, which can start at a young age.
Founder Darlyn Reyes notes: “As a family who loves game night with the kids and board game marathons with friends it became obvious, we needed to make critical and creative thinking fun.”
And so, at the start of Covid19, Hornville was born. Hornville is a simple card game about bringing fun to better decision-making through serious debates about horns, glitter, and teacup dragons. A learning tool disguised as a game by using silly topics and sassy illustrations that will make kids giggle (7+) and keep adults engaged.
Visit www.WelcometoHornville.com to learn more and sign up for updates.
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At Kidevolve, we’re all about giving kids a variety of tools for greater self-awareness, resiliency and self-control - delve into our Imaginarium on Youtube or listen to our Creative Mind Journeys™ as audio experiences on Apple podcasts or at Kidevolve.com. Our uniquely sticky stories are designed for kids aged 6 through 10 - to help them find a new routes into learning mindfulness techniques. We mix music, sound fx, incredible voice talent and pure whimsy to deliver highly imaginative tales that double as smart guided practices!
The Child Mind Institute’s experts say that dealing with your own anxiety can be the most powerful way to make sure your kids feel secure. If you or your children are feeling worried, learning how to deal with that anxiety in a healthy way can help the whole family be more resilient, both now and when the pandemic is finally over.
