Mindful Moments Blog

8 Children's Books To Nurture Inclusion

Mindful Moments Blog

8 Children's Books To Nurture Inclusion

by Ashley Patek on Jun 24 2021
While June is a month to honor and celebrate those in the LGBTQ+ community, inclusion is not a one-time or one-month conversation. It is an everyday lived experience. Here are 8 children's books to nurture inclusion. 
Moving Past Punishment With Compassion

Mindful Moments Blog

Moving Past Punishment With Compassion

by Ashley Patek on Jun 23 2021
Maybe what she needed was to be seen, heard, and validated. For someone to tell her that she didn’t have to be that scared child anymore. Here are 5 ways to show compassion to a fellow parent and 3 ways to re-parent your inner child.
There's What Parents Say And What Kids Hear

Mindful Moments Blog

There's What Parents Say And What Kids Hear

by Ashley Patek on Jun 22 2021
Does it ever feel like there is a disconnect between what you say and what your kids hear? Like, somehow, asking your child not to jump on the couch or slap her brother translates into more jumping and continued slapping. Here are common parenting phrases, what kids hear, and what we can say instead to get on the same page.
Ask Andrew: Prep For New Places

Mindful Moments Blog

Ask Andrew: Prep For New Places

by Andrew Patterson on Jun 21 2021
Andrew answers today's question: How can I help my three and half-year-old prepare for going to new places? He really struggles when we first get somewhere and when it's time to leave.
Woman Finds Self-Love After Childhood Accident Through Emotional Education

Mindful Moments Blog

Emotional Education Helps Woman Finds Self-Love After Childhood Accident

by Guest Author on Jun 21 2021
After being in a traumatic accident, I viewed the world differently than every other eleven-year-old. My brain didn’t adapt as well as my body, and I wondered, "What's wrong with me?" Then, I found the one thing that was lacking in my childhood: emotional education. Here's my journey. 
Ask Andrew: Understanding Neurodiversity

Mindful Moments Blog

Ask Andrew: Understanding Neurodiversity

by Guest Author on Jun 14 2021
Hi! I’m Andrew from Generation Mindful's newest recurring weekly feature, Ask Andrew. I’ll be taking any and all questions regarding the autism spectrum with particular emphasis on childhood development as an authentic autistic adult. Today Andrew answers: What do you wish your classmates had understood about you/did differently?
Ten Ways To Help Your Child Make Friends

Mindful Moments Blog

Ten Ways To Help Your Child Make Friends

by Ashley Patek on Jun 11 2021
Not only is having friends fun, but it also has a positive developmental influence on social-emotional skills. While parents can’t make friends for their children, decades of research suggest that parents play a big role in teaching children the skills required to make friends. Here are 10 ways.
Man Regulates Co-Worker Using Tools He Learned From His Daughters

Mindful Moments Blog

Man Regulates Co-Worker Using Tools He Learned From His Daughters' Calming Corner

by Ashley Patek on Jun 09 2021
Kevin is a supervisor for the federal government and dad of two daughters, ages seven and six. In using a Calming Corner for his daughters at home, he gained tools that he later integrated with a co-worker during an escalated moment. 
Attachment is Not a Reward; It’s a Lifeline

Mindful Moments Blog

Attachment is Not a Reward. It’s a Lifeline.

by Guest Author on Jun 08 2021
In using a time-in, my boys learned valuable skills they would never have learned by sitting in a corner. Did this produce perfect children? No. But this did produce securely attached children who no longer had to make desperate bids for the attachment they so instinctively desired. Read more. 
How To Use Storytime To Reduce Clinginess & Ease Transitions

Mindful Moments Blog

How To Use Storytime To Reduce Clinginess & Ease Transitions

by Courtney Tharpe on Jun 04 2021
Storytime is a time when our children's imaginations are fired up, operating in the frontal lobe of their brain, and primed for learning. If you are struggling with clingy behavior, transitions, or teaching new skills, a simple, scripted story may be the best tool in your toolbox! Get your FREE scripted story printable here!
The "And" Moments

Mindful Moments Blog

The "And" Moments

by Ashley Patek on Jun 04 2021
Join Selina as she leads a mindful moment to help us prepare for the "AND" moments in our lives with love and gratitude. 
Healing From A Childhood You Don't Remember

Mindful Moments Blog

Healing From A Childhood You Don't Remember

by Ashley Patek on Jun 02 2021
While we may not remember our childhood with our mind and verbal words, our body keeps the score and stores the information it receives from our formative years, namely which parts of us to grow and which to shrink. These downloads show up as patterns in adulthood and in our parenting. Read more. 
Parenting A Strong-Willed Child

Mindful Moments Blog

Parenting A Sensitive And Strong-Willed Child

by Ashley Patek on Jun 01 2021
Raising a strong-willed child? You're not alone. Gain access to tools that help you validate the emotions fueling their meltdown, plus tangible tips to redirect hitting, kicking, spitting, power struggles, and other challenging behaviors.
The Power Of Play

Mindful Moments Blog

The Power Of Play

by Suzanne Tucker on May 28 2021
When we join our children in their play, we join them in their world. Today Selina leads a mindful moment that invites us to tap into the playful parts of ourselves. 
Supporting Emotional-Intelligence for Neurodiverse Children Through Play

Mindful Moments Blog

Building Emotional-Intelligence Through Play

by Ashley Patek on May 27 2021
As parents we tend to put pressure on ourselves and our kids when it comes to play and learning. But when we step back and let nature and biology take over, we actually see that children are wired to learn through play. Learn how to use unstructured (free) play to teach children the emotional intelligence necessary for an enhanced academic quota down the road. Plus FREE Activity Calendar printable!  
5 Simple Daily Mindful Moments For Parents

Mindful Moments Blog

5 Simple Daily Mindful Moments For Parents

by Traci Esposito on May 26 2021
Whether the kid crew is acting mild or wild, chances are, your days would go a little more smoothly if you started and ended them with a few simple mindful moments. Here are 5 daily mindful moments you can add in (not on) to your day to have less yelling and more peace in your home. 
Resilient-Informed Care Removes Stigma From Trauma

Mindful Moments Blog

Resilient-Informed Care Removes Stigma From Trauma

by Ashley Patek on May 25 2021
When we label those with adverse experiences as “traumatized” we can create a stigma that there is something to fix, which shadows the wholeness of the individual. The resilience-informed approach is a strength-based framework that shifts the question of “What happened to you?” as seen in a trauma-informed approach to “What is right within you?” Here are 3 ways to mindfully become more resilient after trauma. 
Mom OF Autistic Son Thanks Man For His Kindness During Her Son's Meltdown

Mindful Moments Blog

Mom Of Autistic Son Thanks Man For His Kindness During Her Son's Meltdown

by Ashley Patek on May 24 2021
In the midst of a meltdown, five-year-old Rudy and his mother Natalie Fernando were met with kindness from a stranger. The man's shocking actions helped regulate her child. Fernando shares: When you see a parent and child struggling, offer compassion, not judgment. And that's exactly what Ian Shelley did.
Trust The Voice Within

Mindful Moments Blog

Trust The Voice Within

by Suzanne Tucker on May 21 2021
Join Selina as she leads a mindful moment, allowing us to notice and listen to the small whisper inside of us known as our intuition. How do we follow our own intuition when parenting and how do we afford our children the gift of tuning in and trusting what they find within themselves?
Using A Feelings Chart To Teach Emotions

Mindful Moments Blog

Using A Feelings Chart To Teach Emotions

by Ashley Patek on May 19 2021
If you feel like you are learning about emotional regulation right alongside your child, it’s because, very likely, you are. Here's how to use a feelings chart to teach your kids (and yourself) about emotions and calming strategies to decrease tantrums and nurture emotional intelligence.