Why Mindfulness and Yoga for Kids?
By their very nature, young children are present in what they are doing. They notice the butterflies, the rainbows and the beautiful flowers. They fully experience their emotions without thought. When they are sad they cry and when they are happy they laugh and they giggle. As children enter school age, they become exposed to […]
Self awareness and emotional regulation
At the core of self-awareness lies the ability to observe our own nature, genuinely understand it and notice how it influences our interactions with the world around us. In every situation we can either unconsciously react or mindfully respond. I often ask teachers to imagine a situation that could have had a more positive outcome, […]
Anxiety in Children: How To Recognise It
I have personally seen an incredible increase in anxiety in schools over the past ten years. I believe it has a lot to do with the pace of life and the accessibility we have to events happening all around the world, at any given moment. I know I get overwhelmed as an adult! So think […]
The Impact of Gratitude on Wellbeing
The festive season is upon us and it is a time of giving, sharing, reflecting and gratitude. However, it can become a time of stress, rushing and forgetting the importance of wellbeing. Gratitude is strongly linked to wellbeing. We all need to feel appreciated in order to be well and productive. There are ways to […]
Focused Attention and It’s Effect on Wellbeing
Psychologists have identified differing types of attention that help us to process information. They are generally known as Alternating Attention, Divided Attention, Selected Attention and Focused Attention. Understanding the types of attention we use for cognition is important so we can better control it, thus improving our wellbeing and outlook, reducing our stress levels and […]
How to Reduce Anxiety in Children and Teenagers
Anxiety is a natural process for the mind to process troubles and problems in our lives. But when anxiety starts to become overwhelming, it is positive to have some processes in place to overcome anxiety and develop coping mechanisms to deal with them. We have listed some helpful information about children and teenagers with anxiety […]
5 Ways to Help Build Resilience in Your Child
Many parents and teachers can attest to seeing their child throw their hands in the air and give up because a task is too hard, but how do we teach resilience so our children can build skills to tackle larger tasks throughout their lives. According to family psychologist Sally-Anne McCormack building resilience is a “matter […]
Basics of Mindfulness for Adults and Kids – Why Do We Need It In Schools?
Mindfulness is all about training yourself to focus on the present moment and accept your feelings, physical condition, and thoughts. According to mindfulness.org, mindfulness “suggests that the mind is fully attending to what’s happening, to what you’re doing, to the space you’re moving through. That might seem trivial, except … that we so often veer […]
5 Ways the Physical Education Curriculum Improves Wellbeing
Wellbeing in schools can be achieved in many ways. The mindfulness and wellbeing of students should always be at the centre of classroom teaching and within the hidden curriculum, but in terms of pedagogy, wellbeing can be incorporated in lesson plans and individual tasks. It is widely known that physical activity contributes positively to wellbeing, […]
Mindfulness in Action in Schools – Who Gets the Benefits?
Mindfulness is the state of being fully aware and focused, which helps alleviate stress, encourage proficiency and enhance wellbeing. Mindfulness can be incorporated as a philosophy behind many curricula in schools, which benefits students as well as teachers. By teaching mindfulness, students develop increased self-discipline, self-regulation and self-responsibility, which allows them to be more diligent […]