ONLINE CLASSROOM
Kids Mindfulness Workshop
Course Objectives
Course Components
1. Reading & Videos. For each day there will be reading, visual aids and videos that are covered in class.
2. Practice.
3. Additional Resources.
Day 1
Anatomy of Mindfulness & Awareness
Day 1 Outline of topics/Reading & Video resources
What is Mindfulness?
Mindfulness really has to do with which part of your brain is in control.
How and why does it work?
The anatomy of fear
How does the fear response work in our bodies?
Read: Angry Octopus, Lori Lite
Let's Practice Together - intro to guided meditation
Additional Resources
Sitting Still Like a Frog: Mindfulness Exercises for Kids (and Their Parents), Eline Snell (there is also an app featuring some of the exercises)
Alphabreaths ABCs of Mindful Breathing, Christopher Willard PsyD
Day 2
Biology of Breathing
Day 2 Outline of topics/Reading & Video resources
How does breathing affect the brain?
Understanding the stress response. Harvard Health Newsletter 2011
https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/understanding-the-stress-response
Breathing to beat stress
Noticing our breath
Activity: blowing bubbles, Hoberman sphere exercise
Let's Practice Together - breathing meditation
Additional Resources
Day 3
Dealing with Difficult Emotions
Day 3 Outline of topics/Reading & Video resources
How can mindfulness help with emotional regulation
Mindfulness is not magic.
Separating thoughts from reality
Why noticing our breath and physical cues helps with emotional regulation?
Let's Practice Together - physical and emotional awareness meditation
Day 4
Practicing Your Skills
Day 4 Outline of topics/Reading & Video resources
Course review
You are not "bad" at meditation
https://www.tenpercent.com/meditationweeklyblog/is-your-mind-an-amusement-park
Partner Practice Exercise
Parting thoughts and continuing education.
Give yourself (and others) a break. Practicing gratitude and compassion towards yourself and others is a fundamental principle of most mindfulness practices.
Let's Practice Together - kindness meditation