Teachers are unsung heroes in our society. Their tireless dedication to nurturing the minds of our children is incredibly noble. But it comes at a price. Teacher self-care is often neglected and a hot topic in the media. Educators know they should care for themselves but the demands of their profession leaves them little time to…
During this worrying time of COVID-19 with isolation and distance learning, some children are feeling scared and may even experience some anxiety. Being in Melbourne, with a very strict lockdown, kids have been learning from home for many months. This has caused a lot of worry and confusion for one fifth grader I know. He…
There are so many wonderful people in our communities who go out of their way and even risk their lives for us every single day. Often these people go about their jobs without ever really being thanked for the extraordinary things they do. Here are some fun ways to show community workers how much they really…
Help them experience the joy of giving with these fun DIY gifts!Have you ever had a discussion with your children about gift giving? Most children see the act of giving as customary at particular times of the year but do they really understand the reason behind giving a present?If you haven’t talked about the difference…
Most children enjoy getting creative with pencils and crayons. But did you know there are impressive reasons beyond fun to encourage the use of mindful coloring pages for kids and adults?The significant benefits of mindful coloring pages are now being realized for all age groups as it takes its place alongside yoga and meditation as an…
I’m not sure who originally told the mayonnaise jar story, but this powerful lesson has been replicated over the years and there are now quite a few versions to be found on the net. Regardless of its source or how it’s been changed, the mayonnaise jar story shares a valuable lesson for a happier life. This…
I just love a funky little mind jar! They’re so easy to make but can have a powerful impact on children who are distracted or stressed. Also called calm down jars, they’re a wonderful visual aid for helping kids relax when they experience stress, anxiety, or are overwhelmed for any reason. Because they’re so effective,…
The business world usually gets described as competitive, cutthroat, or aggressive. You’re obliged to be a “growth hacker” who “contributes to the bottom line” and is considered “higher-performing than their peers” at the annual review. I had been in the high-stress corporate world at Microsoft where stack-ranking ruled twice a year. Employees almost universally breathed…
When one of your children, (student or biological) is hysterical because they’ve just had an accident or some sort of perceived trauma, what’s your first challenge? You need to understand what has happened, so you can soothe them. This of course is impossible if the child is blabbering and sobbing incomprehensibly. Your naturally wise self…
Gratitude … goes beyond the “mine” and “thine” and claims the truth that all of life is a pure gift. In the past, I always thought of gratitude as a spontaneous response to the awareness of gifts received, but now I realize that gratitude can also be lived as a discipline. The discipline of gratitude…
The older I get, the more I’m hearing people complain of a lack of joy and fulfillment in their lives. Personally, I think this is often caused by an imbalance in physical, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual needs. In other words, people are not allowing themselves the right amount of sleep, nutrition, exercise, work, security, intellectual…
As a mother of three teenage daughters and an experienced elementary school teacher, I am deeply concerned about our kids and how resilient they are. Let me explain. Children today live in a world filled with technology — iPad interaction from birth, social media from pre-teens and access to everything and anything on the Internet from…