“Living simply makes loving simple.” — bell hooks, American author and activist The pervasive drive for more stuff complicates parenting. When we promise kids a treat or toy for good behavior, we condition them to depend on things to validate their worth. These children grow up to be more materialistic adults, and materialism, as studies …
Simple Living for Kids: Knowing What “Enough” Feels Like Read More »
“Children who are raised with a robust and well-developed spiritual life are happier, more optimistic, more thriving, more flexible, and better equipped to deal with life’s ordinary (and even extraordinary) traumas than those who are not.” — Lisa Miller, professor of psychology When children grow up having spiritual experiences — or embodied experiences of feeling …
No matter who you are, you already hold the wisdom, intelligence, and insight to guide your child into adulthood. By healing and growing yourself, you can remove the barriers that sometimes block you from parenting from your highest self. Here are a few ways to practice healthy growth. Learn to regulate. Teach emotional regulation by …
How to Grow as a Parent: Regulate, Re-parent, and Reflect Read More »
“No legacy is so rich as honesty.” — William Shakespeare It’s normal for kids to get creative with the truth. It’s part of growing up. You can help your child see the natural consequences of dishonesty — losing trust, hurting others, harming relationships, and feeling less in integrity — while maintaining a loving connection. Look …
Suggestions for this guide stem from direct experience in school counseling, coupled with advice given by Dr. Laura Markham, clinical psychologist and parenting expert, Julia Samuel, psychotherapist and grief expert, and Dr. Christine Carter, Core Principle: Make It Simple and Adapted for Each ChildWhen you talk to your child, use language that is simple, honest, …
How to Talk to Kids about Death (Including Scripts to Use) Read More »
Wednesday, Feb 22 “When meditation is mastered, the mind is unwavering like the flame of a candle in a windless place.” — Bhagavad Gita THIS WEEK’S LESSON Meditation Today’s Excerpt: How long can you stay focused on breathing in and out without getting distracted? (Try it!) You can hold your breath, but you won’t last …
Tuesday, Feb 21 “When the breath wanders the mind also is unsteady. But when the breath is calmed the mind too will be still.” – Hatha Yoga Pradipika, Hindu text THIS WEEK’S LESSON Meditation Today’s Excerpt: Sentence stem: “If I feel stressed, I can…” Follow along with “Mini-meditation: Breathe” (1-min video and optional 5-min article) …
Monday, Feb 20 “Now I will do nothing but listen…” — Walt Whitman THIS WEEK’S LESSON Meditation Today’s Excerpt: Stop for a moment: How many things can you hear right now? Try this simple listening meditation: Sit as comfortably and still as you can. Take 3 breaths. Listen to the outside world. How many different …
Sunday, Feb 19 “Breathe deeply to bring your mind home to your body.” — Thich Nhat Hanh, Buddhist monk THIS WEEK’S LESSON Meditation Today’s Excerpt: Opening Activity Start by inviting each person to put their hand on their chest, throat, or wrist and find their heartbeat, getting a sense of pattern and rhythm. After they …
Too often, life feels designed for distraction. Between school, work, and devices that offer us unlimited entertainment, it can be hard to be fully aware of what’s actually happening at any given moment. As a result, we feel fried. Our kids feel fried. And before we know it, we experience the consequences: tension, anxiety, temper, …
Teach Meditation to Kids: The Best Methods and Resources Read More »