Course Descriptions:
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Mindful Kids Course Information
What is Mindfulness for Kids?
- Both the goal and method of Mindful Awareness is to be present in every moment. To do so we must develop the ability to act or respond consciously (rather than unconsciously or habitually) with a clear understanding of whether our response is appropriate.
- People are excited by scientific research that shows mindful awareness has mental and physical health benefits. But it is important to recognize that these benefits are the result of systematic practice over time. We know that reading about playing piano is not the same as playing piano, and that piano playing improves with practice. The same is true with mindful awareness. It is one thing to think about mindful awareness conceptually. One must exerperience and practice mindfulness, however, to obtain its benefits.
- Mindful awareness is self-directed and emphasizes that each moment we intentionally choose where we focus our attention.
- When practicing mindful awareness with children the games and activities must be fun and teachers and parents must be realistic about what to expect.
- Teaching children the value of service (or giving) serves as a basis and preparation for mindful awareness.
- Practicing mindful awareness may not be for everyone. Children should not be pressured if they don’t want to practice.
Teaching Mindfulness for Kids:
The first objective in teaching mindful awareness to children is to help them develop ‘wise attention’. This is accomplished by playing games that nurture:
(a) awareness of where their attention is focused at any moment in time,
(b) skills to help better focus attention,
(c) the understanding that they decide what they are focusing on every minute of every day, and
(d) the importance of making wise choices about where to focus their attention.
Developing Mindfulness in Kids: A Class for Teachers, Parents, and Others Who Work With Children:
- This class helps adults in practicing mindfulness with children. Mindful awareness is a state of present attention where one clearly perceives thoughts, physical sensations, emotions, and events at the moment they occur without reacting in an automatic or habitual way.
- Each meeting of the class will involve a period of introspective investigation and contemplation as preparatory to the didactic portion of the seminar. Following the experiential portion of the session, different topics will be explored. Emphasis will be on (i) translating experience into conceptual understanding and (ii) utilizing simple self-directed games and activities that develop InnerKids New ABC's -- Attention, Balance and Clarity & Compassion. Areas of inquiry will include but not be limited to:
- The theoretical underpinnings of mindful awareness and how to adapt traditional practices for children.
- Games and activities that help children develop coping skills to manage difficult feelings, multiple stressors, and reduce the likelihood of turning to negative coping mechanisms.
- The role of movement in teaching mindful awareness to children.
- A background in mindfulness practice and a personal commitment to continuation of that practice is useful.
- The class is taught online as Part I and Part II: two separate 6-week sessions for a total of 12 classes.
Please note: The classes and programs offered by eMindful are intended to be educational and do not constitute any form of clinical treatment.
The eMindful classes and programs offered on this website do not constitute professional medical advice and should not be used as a substitute for medical diagnosis, advice or services.
Nursing CEUs are approved by the CA Board of Registered Nursing
Provider No. 11646
Scottsdale Institute for Health & Medicine
Authorized by CA Board of Behavioral Sciences
Provider No. PCE4036
eMindful
Please click here for the "Mindful Kids" program schedule.
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