Mindful Moments Blog

60 Ideas For Summer Family Fun

Mindful Moments Blog

60 Ideas For Summer Family Fun

by Ashley Patek on May 31 2021
If you are looking for some simple summer fun to do with your kids to dose up connection, then this FREE printable of 60 summer activities is for you. Try these out and make your own bucket list, too!
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.
Building Resilience Through Connection

Mindful Moments Blog

Building Resilience Through Connection

by Ashley Patek on May 17 2021
Children are wired to bounce back from trauma when they have protective factors in place. Through connection with a supportive adult, and through increasing their social-emotional skills, a child's health and development can tip towards positive outcomes.
Perspective Shifts Part 2

Mindful Moments Blog

Perspective Influences Reality

by Suzanne Tucker on May 14 2021
Join Selina as she leads a mindful moment to dive deeper into how perspective influences our reality, especially as it relates to parenting. 
Raising Emotionally Healthy Boys

Mindful Moments Blog

Raising Emotionally Healthy Boys

by Guest Author on May 12 2021
Forcing boys to repress their emotions is quite literally killing them, leaving lasting mental and physical health implications. Here are 4 things we can do to free our boys and men from social constructs of man up, toughen up, and dry up. 
Using Social Stories To Nurture Connection During Home Visits

Mindful Moments Blog

Creating Safe Spaces and Nurturing Connection Using Social Stories and More

by Ashley Patek on May 11 2021
Home visits can play an important role in alleviating the intergenerational transmission of trauma by helping parents and caregivers build positive and healthy attachments with their children. And, in using social stories for home visits, children can better navigate challenging situations. Here's how. Plus FREE Scripted Social Stories Printable.
How Childhood Trauma Affects Health Outcomes

Mindful Moments Blog

How Childhood Trauma Affects Health Outcomes

by Ashley Patek on May 10 2021
Childhood trauma isn’t something you just get over as you grow up. Pediatrician Nadine Burke Harris explains that the repeated stress of abuse, neglect, and parents struggling with mental health or substance abuse issues has real, tangible effects on the development of the brain.
The Battle Between Positive and Negative Reinforcement

Mindful Moments Blog

The Battle Between Positive and Negative Reinforcement

by Traci Esposito on May 10 2021
We parents have long searched for a solution when it comes to behavior modification, asking ourselves, which is more effective, positive or negative reinforcement? We have the scoop here.
Shifting Perspectives

Mindful Moments Blog

Shifting Perspectives

by Suzanne Tucker on May 07 2021
Join Selina as she leads a mindful moment, inviting us to examine our perspectives so that we can remain curious to our children and see them through the lens of love. When we shift the way we view the world and others, the way we see them changes and we can show up more centered and connected. 
My Self-Care Sunday Fail

Mindful Moments Blog

My Self-Care Sunday Fail

by Guest Author on May 04 2021
Self-care looks different for everyone. And it’s certainly not just one big thing you do because someone else tells you it will be therapeutic. Instead, we can put small systems in place that make nurturing our own well-being too small and too easy to fail, and here's how. 
5 Ways To Use Positive Affirmations With Kids

Mindful Moments Blog

5 Ways To Use Positive Affirmations With Kids

by Ashley Patek on May 03 2021
Positive affirmations help build a child's learning brain to nurture self-awareness, self-esteem, problem-solving, and emotional regulation. Here are 5 ways to use affirmations with kids so they'll stick.
Sixteen-Year-Old's Poem on Being A Man Challenges Definitions of Masculinity

Mindful Moments Blog

Sixteen-Year-Old's Poem on Being A Man Challenges Definitions of Masculinity

by Ashley Patek on May 03 2021
Sixteen-year-old Simar Singh shares his poem "How To Be A Man" to shine light on what happens when we tell young boys it is wrong, unsafe, and weak to feel. He challenges the socially constructed notions attached to manhood to change the narrative while raising awareness about mental disorders, especially depression.
Slowing Down - That Friday Feeling

Mindful Moments Blog

Slowing Down

by Suzanne Tucker on Apr 30 2021
If we are always racing to the next moment, what happens to the one we are in? Join Selina as she leads a mindful moment to help us slow down and enjoy where we are. 
Mom Of Two Advocates For Her Neurodiverse Daughters

Mindful Moments Blog

Mom Of Two Advocates For Her Neurodiverse Daughters

by Ashley Patek on Apr 28 2021
Natasha is a mama of two neurodiverse daughters and she has one big focus: teaching her girls social-emotional skills, not only to help them express themselves but to advocate for themselves.