Resilient Mindset

28/06/2024

Sign up now and immediately receive 3 interviews with Bessel van der Kolk, Andrea Pennington and Richard Schwartz.

03/11/2021

For kids of all ages……

Mindfulness Breathing Exercises Resource http://bit.ly/BreathingExercisesforKids
For the classroom, home, any space you want to make trauma sensitive. The Breathing Exercises for Kids Book, Task Cards, Mindfulness Brain Breaks and Posters is now also in Google Slides™ for distance learning social emotional learning support.
These exercises will help bring mindfulness, focus and calm into your classroom or home. This resource teaches 15 different fun and effective mindful breathing techniques, reinforced with (adorable) illustrations that provide detailed visual support for all learners. Perfect for your Trauma Informed Classroom and Take a Break or Calm Corner space.

17/01/2020

Sticks and stones.... and apples

Today in one of our classes I introduced the children to two apples (the children didn't know this, but before the class I had repeatedly dropped one of the apples on the floor, you couldn't tell, both apples looked perfect). We talked about the apples and the children described how both apples looked the same; both were red, were of similar size and looked juicy enough to eat.

I picked up the apple I'd dropped on the floor and started to tell the children how I disliked this apple, that I thought it was disgusting, it was a horrible colour and the stem was just too short. I told them that because I didn't like it, I didn't want them to like it either, so they should call it names too.

Some children looked at me like I was insane, but we passed the apple around the circle calling it names, 'you're a smelly apple', 'I don't even know why you exist', 'you've probably got worms inside you' etc.

We really pulled this poor apple apart. I actually started to feel sorry for the little guy.

We then passed another apple around and started to say kind words to it, 'You're a lovely apple', 'Your skin is beautiful', 'What a beautiful colour you are' etc.

I then held up both apples, and again, we talked about the similarities and differences, there was no change, both apples still looked the same.

I then cut the apples open. The apple we'd been kind to was clear, fresh and juicy inside.

The apple we'd said unkind words to was bruised and all mushy inside.

I think there was a lightbulb moment for the children immediately. They really got it, what we saw inside that apple, the bruises, the mush and the broken bits is what is happening inside every one of us when someone mistreats us with their words or actions.

When people are bullied, especially children, they feel horrible inside and sometimes don't show or tell others how they are feeling. If we hadn't have cut that apple open, we would never have known how much pain we had caused it.

I shared my own experience of suffering someone's unkind words last week. On the outside I looked OK, I was still smiling. But, on the inside someone had caused me a lot of pain with their words and I was hurting.

Unlike an apple, we have the ability to stop this from happening. We can teach children that it's not ok to say unkind things to each other and discuss how it makes others feel. We can teach our children to stand up for each other and to stop any form of bullying, just as one little girl did today when she refused to say unkind words to the apple.

More and more hurt and damage happens inside if nobody does anything to stop the bullying. Let's create a generation of kind, caring children.

The tongue has no bones, but is strong enough to break a heart. So be careful with your words.

Taken from ❤️❤️
https://www.facebook.com/relaxkidstamworthrosiedutton/

Original Credit: Mum in the Moment

25/11/2019

We all need reminding of this sometimes...

Credit: Bryan Skavnak - Be the Nice Kid

02/10/2019

Interesting....

Why do we feel listless when we are recovering from an illness? The answer is, apparently, that low-grade chronic inflammation interferes with the dopaminergic signaling system in the brain that motivates us to do things.

13/08/2019

And breathe....

A new study reports the rhythm of your breathing can influence neural activity that enhances memory recall and emotional judgement.

05/08/2019

self management...

03/08/2019

Interesting...

Why do we feel listless when we are recovering from an illness? The answer is, apparently, that low-grade chronic inflammation interferes with the dopaminergic signaling system in the brain that motivates us to do things.

02/08/2019

Amazing vagus....

Could this be the secret to hacking your nervous system?