As you can tell, it's been a long time since I've written something and posted it to the blog here. I'm much more active on social media (Facebook and Instagram), where you can follow along with news about upcoming classes, activity ideas, daily inspiration, and general mindfulness practices. I may decide to pick up the blog again in the future, but until then, please come say hi on FB or IG outlets. Sending you much love! #activities #personalpractice #classroomactivities #a

There are a lot of things around the house that we can use as tools to help us and our little ones be mindful. Here are some of my favorites! Snow Globes Seriously, snow globes are PERFECT mindfulness tools. Have kids shake the snow globe really hard and then take deep breaths in and out as they hold it still and let the “snow” settle. As always with breathwork, have them practice first when in a positive headspace, but then use as a tool when they are upset to calm themselve

“Throw kindness around like confetti.” I came across this quote recently and it really resonated with me. Being kind - to others, to the environment, and maybe most importantly, to ourselves - is probably the most key aspect of living well. It’s even a word in the short definition of mindfulness I like to use! If you work with kids (and are anything like me), thinking of confetti or glitter crafts sends a shiver down your spine as you recall past messes where you were still f

My good friend Emma has mentioned to me that it can get hard to find ways to entertain her kids or get their energy out on days when they can’t go outside. Whether at home or in the classroom, these long days can drive any kid-and adult- stir crazy! While many people think that mindfulness is all about being still, calm, and quiet, there are a lot of fun ways to get kids moving while practicing mindfulness. Color Search A color search is a great way to bring kids’ awareness t

We are on our third post exploring Alphabreaths! This is a fun way to have kids try out new breathing techniques, while also practicing concepts like letters, animals, and visualizations. Even if your goal is for your child to use breathing exercises when feeling upset, make sure you introduce and practice new ones when your children are happy. Connecting to your breath should have a positive connotation, not feel like a “punishment” when sad or mad. N: Ninja Breath Place you

Yesterday we started exploring a fun way to introduce breathing exercises - Alphabreaths! If you missed it, check it out. Today we’ll continue the series with G - M. G: Gratitude Breath Breathing in, pick a person you are thankful for and breathing out, send them good vibes! H: Hug Breath As you breathe in, open your arms to your sides, and as you breathe out, bring your arms in to give yourself a hug. I: Ice Breath Breathing in, imagine you are an ice cube - stiff and unmovi

Teaching and exploring new breathing techniques is a fun way to try out mindfulness with kids, as well as to teach or reinforce other concepts. In an online mindfulness course I’ve been taking, psychologist Dr. Chris Willard shared his idea for Alphabreaths. Each letter of the alphabet stands for a particular breath! This is a great way to teach the alphabet to younger children, and it also features different animals, natural elements, and visualizations that bring it alive f

Between the freezing weather here this weekend and watching the Superbowl, I thought about what we need to tackle in our own lives. And the first thing that came to mind was the Winter Blues. We are now deep into winter and it can begin to feel like spring will never come. With the shorter days, reduced sunlight, and colder weather, this season often takes a toll on many of our moods. However, controlling the weather is out of our hands, so what can we do to improve our well

New Years can be an emotional time. We reflect on the past year and look forward to the next. And often, people use it as a time to make New Years Resolutions. I’m not the first person to say this, but: I HATE NEW YEARS RESOLUTIONS. Issue #1: Often they are made out of some form of guilt or to change in some way that we are told we should. Most are not made mindfully or with genuine intention, which is why they fail within days. And when we “fail” at our resolutions, it just

How much do we miss even in one moment? If you are looking for a fun and visual way to start a mindfulness conversation, try this music video from the group OK Go. The song is called "The One Moment" and starts by showing 4.2 seconds in real time. The video then slows those seconds down to show you everything that actually happened. It's really a visual masterpiece. I've watched the video at least 10 times this week and every time it blows me away! This video really illustra