Mindfulness

Five Mindful Habits to teach mindfulness and self-regulation at home and school 

1.  Be present: Plan purposeful quality time, which may mean leaving the cell phones and computers tucked away while doing an activity that promotes family togetherness, like playing a board game or going on a hike. Practice active listening, which requires everyone to make eye contact, and avoid interrupting each other during discussions.

2. . Be calm:  Practice breath work, yoga and meditation daily.  Coach children through emotionally challenging conflicts by validating their feelings, helping them reflect on misbehaviors through perspective-taking, and brainstorming healthy solutions to conflict or processing extreme emotions. 

3. Be compassionate:  Model compassion as a family by doing acts of kindness for others in the family and community. Read books about compassion, like Carol McCloud’s Have You Filled a Bucket Today? 

4. Be grateful: Model gratitude for children by practicing it yourself with other family members, school staff, service providers, and anyone who helps out.  Create a gratitude routine where each family member shares three things they are grateful for that day. 

5. Reflect:  Express difficult emotions through journaling, creating art, dancing, or some other way.   Find quiet moments in the day to pause, breathe, and reflect.