Cooking is a great life-skill! When we let our children plan and prepare snacks, we can talk about healthy choices, measurement, reading, kitchen safety, science and following directions. When we share time together, we focus on social emotional learning, including conversation, relationship, decision-making and awareness. We can be present, focused and have some fun together. […]
Bring Back the Dinner Bell
History of the dinner bell: In 1908, the Sears, Roebuck & Company catalog advertised the dinner bell for families. For years, the noon dinner bell signaled a time for all who were at work and school to return to the family farmhouse for a hot meal gathering that would nourish the body, mind, and spirit. […]
Why Literature is a Great Tool for Social Emotional Learning
We continue to be asked which social emotional learning (SEL) program is best for children and the answer is there isn’t one. We need to be begin with mindfulness and modeling. SEL has to be integrated into ours and our children’s lives. In a time where few of us can think of one more thing […]
Best Breakfast Cookies
There is no question mornings can be the hardest time for self-care. With all there is to do get everyone ready to start the day, we can feel stressed before we know it. Why not create delicious and nutritious cookies ahead of time to fuel up and slow down in the morning? Baking cookies with […]
Self-care While Coping with Stress
People all over the world are worried about Covid-19. On top of that, families working and learning at home has added to our anxiety we are feeling. We know tension can be contagious, but there is good news! Here is a list of things you can do to take care of your body, your mind […]
Exercise Memory Game
Our kids need brain breaks at school and at home! Here is a great memory game played as any other match game where the pair is kept by the participant finding them, but everyone does the activity once the pair is matched and removed! A workout for the mind and body! Directions: Print off this […]
Fun Mindful Eating Lesson for Home and School
I am seeing a lot of parents posting questions on how to stop all day grazing, but healthy eating involves small planned portions! My favorite lesson in mindfulness is mindful eating. During our teacher trainings, who doesn’t want to savor a small piece of dark chocolate for a few minutes during professional development? But kids […]
What Do You See? Mindfulness Activity
Activity: What Did You See? Directions: Put an item in the center of the room. Place children in a circle around the room so they all have a different but clear view. Give them a few minutes to quietly study the item. Encourage them to focus on small details. Taking turns around the circle, each […]
When Anxiety Captures Your Thoughts
For years now, we have been aware of stress invading our homes, schools and workplaces. Our students are at risk. We also know that Adverse Childhood Experiences can cause Toxic Stress, which can lead to long-term health issues. Our first line of protecting our students needs to be to reduce the source of stress through […]
Responsible Decision-making, answering, “yes” and adding, “what if…”
There is a positive energy after returning from break! The New Year is a great time to focus on the Social Emotional Learning component: Responsible Decision Making. New Year intentions, or a one-word focus, is on decision many of us tackle. Goals and bucket lists are other activities we look at this time of year. […]