“Neuroplasticity refers to the brain’s ability to change itself.
On a side note… this is some research showing how mindfulness can change the pathways in our brains, through practice. It really does a fantastic job making it kid friendly! My students love learning about their own brains through the MindUP Curriculum.
Prefrontal Cortex – Helps you make smart choices.So… what DOES it help with?įor starters, it helps activate certain parts of the brain… I believe with instruction and practice, children can benefit from daily mindfulness practices. I think introducing it to students early in life can enhance their coping abilities for later on. It takes a lot of practice to master or obtain these skills. On the child’s level, it would look like finding their natural breath and refocusing their attention to find a sense of calmness within them. You might be thinking this sounds hard even for adults because it is! However, I have seen young children be curious, kind, trustworthy, and accepting by nature, so having kids put aside their sillies, they do take to it naturally.
PINTEREST MINDUP LESSONS HOW TO
Doing this, allows the person to become non-judgmental and have the ability to look at things from a different perspective.ĭo you see where I’m going here… have kids not paying attention? Well, here’s your answer, mindfulness helps teach kids how to focus and pay attention! Mindfulness is the ability to be in the present moment and being able to focus your attention to something specific. It’s like mindfulness on steroids! Mindfulness, on the other hand, is explained like this… “Mindfulness means paying attention in a particular way On purpose, in the present moment, and non-judgmentally.” ~Jon Kabat-ZinnĪt school, I notice some children find it very difficult to pay attention and retain the information given. That is because they are very alike! Meditation is the formal practice of being mindful. I often hear the terms mindfulness and meditation used interchangeably. Step #1: Understand the Differences in Mindfulness vs. So, let’s look at some ways to start incorporating mindfulness into your school counseling program effectively. Now, is every kid going to be like this? Absolutely NOT! He started to recognize when it was time to take a break. Once I did a lesson on how our brains work and what it makes our body do, he started to realize before it got to the point of explosion. For example, I had a little guy who often got worked up about stuff in his classroom. If you set up awareness about how the body and brain work together… kids will grasp the concept and start to realize when they are feeling heavy emotions.
I mean, that’s why we became School Counselors, right? We love doing what we do! So, with that being said, how can we start the year promoting and developing a culture of being mindful? Let’s Get Started… It really does make the transition way easier. BAM! It’s back to school time!īut, I sure am glad I absolutely LOVE my job and all the people I work with. Ummm… where did summer go? I feel like it blew past me all too fast! We were ending the school year, there were lots of fun and games, and it was finally time for me to spend my mornings snuggling my own kiddos. Read below to find my 3-Step process for incorporating focus, attention, and presence in your school. How to start a Mindful School Year with School Counseling.
0 kommentar(er)
