Mindful Moments Blog

An Improv Game To Address Bullying Behavior

Mindful Moments Blog

An Improv Game To Address Bullying Behavior

by Guest Author on Dec 13 2021
Is there a way to play an improv game that encourages a productive conversation about bullying behavior? The answer is yes. We have it for you here. 
Santa's 'Naughty List' Has Been Canceled This Holiday Season

Mindful Moments Blog

Santa's 'Naughty List' Has Been Canceled This Holiday Season

by Ashley Patek on Dec 06 2021
The holiday season is meant to be a magical time, but often it is used as leverage to control a child’s behavior. We have a real opportunity to rewrite the narrative. Here's how.
7 Meaningful Holiday Gifts For 2021

Mindful Moments Blog

6 Meaningful Holiday Gifts For 2021

by Ashley Patek on Dec 06 2021
Rather than storing unnoticed toys in the closet this year, give the children on your list meaningful memories instead. Here are six connection-based gift ideas for ages two and up that we love for the holidays and all year long.
Parenting In This Day And Age Is Hard AF

Mindful Moments Blog

Parenting In This Day And Age Is Hard As #*@%

by Guest Author on Dec 06 2021
Parenting will trigger parts of you that you didn’t even know could be triggered. Things that have been pushed down inside of you (consciously or subconsciously) will surface and leave you in the ultimate WTF moment! Nonetheless, we are all in the beautiful struggle of parenting together and I remind myself that I am not alone. 
Giving And Receiving

Mindful Moments Blog

Giving And Receiving

by Suzanne Tucker on Dec 03 2021
Join Selina as she plays an improv game called Gift Giving. You can play with friends and family to nurture creativity, flexible thinking, and expand social-emotional skills. Plus, it's fun!
I Didn't Make My Kids Sit On Santa's Lap And They Are Better For It

Mindful Moments Blog

I Didn't Make My Kids Sit On Santa's Lap And They Are Better For It

by Ashley Patek on Nov 29 2021
Children are wired to seek approval from their caregivers because it is how they are designed to survive. How we respond as parents to our children’s intuition and their bids to voice their consent greatly impacts their ability to speak their truth, set boundaries, and trust who they are. Read more. 
5 Winter-Themed Sensory Activities for Your Calming Corner

Mindful Moments Blog

5 Winter-Themed Sensory Activities for Your Calming Corner

by Rebecca Eanes on Nov 29 2021
Could your Calming Corner use a little seasonal cheer? Here are 5 winter-themed sensory activities to add into your space!
Acts Of Service Boosts Emotional Intelligence. Here's How.

Mindful Moments Blog

Acts Of Service Boosts Emotional Intelligence. Here's How.

by Ashley Patek on Nov 29 2021
Toddlers and teens alike have brains that are going through major biological transformations and family rituals like volunteering can help nurture their social-emotional intelligence. Here are 10 acts of service to do as a family this holiday season. 
Gratitude Builds The Brain For Emotional Intelligence

Mindful Moments Blog

Gratitude Builds The Brain For Emotional Intelligence

by Ashley Patek on Nov 22 2021
Whether we are thanking our spouse, our kids, Mother Nature, or receiving thanks in return, gratitude in any form can help stabilize emotions, help us parent from our center, and offer our children the safety and connection to learn and grow. 
Little boy looking out the window

Mindful Moments Blog

The Blessing of Now

by Guest Author on Nov 22 2021
The tasks we need to get done, the clean house, the money we chase for the next bill, the wanting better, the material things in life, more of this and of more of that. None of it matters.
Teaching Children To Trust Their Intuition

Mindful Moments Blog

Teaching Children To Trust Their Intuition

by Ashley Patek on Nov 16 2021
Intuition is vital for our children to feel safe. When we send messages that gaslight or override our children's intuition, we dismiss life through their lens. Children need to know that we will support them in tuning in and trusting what they find. Read more. 
Why Kids Ignore "No" And What You Can Do About It

Mindful Moments Blog

Why Kids Ignore "No" And What You Can Do About It

by Ashley Patek on Nov 15 2021
If no, don’t, and stop are part of your daily parenting language, you are not alone. But if you find that these phrases are not effective in getting your child to listen, use these seven tools instead. 
Is My Child Too Old To Use A Calming Space?

Mindful Moments Blog

Is My Child Too Old To Use A Calming Space?

by Ashley Patek on Nov 08 2021
How do you use a Calming Space with kids beyond the toddler stage? Here are 5 tips.
I Am Not Mad. I Am Feeling Mad. And There Is A Difference.

Mindful Moments Blog

I Am Not Mad. I Am Feeling Mad. And There Is A Difference.

by Ashley Patek on Nov 08 2021
Our identity is not the way we feel. The way we feel is a state of being. Here's why that's important (spoiler alert - it affects your child's brain development), and strategies for adults and children to balance their emotions.
5 Powerful Phrases To Say To Children That Boosts Brain Development

Mindful Moments Blog

5 Powerful Phrases To Say To Children That Boost Brain Development

by Ashley Patek on Nov 05 2021
Our words have the power to build up our children, nurture and guide them. They also have the power to cripple, shrink, and wound. It is these 5 phrases, spoken by well-intended parents, that tend to miss the mark on paving pathways for self-discipline and emotional regulation. Here's what to say instead. 
That Friday Feeling - Feeling Gratitude

Mindful Moments Blog

That Friday Feeling - Feeling Gratitude

by Suzanne Tucker on Nov 05 2021
Join Selina as she leads a mindful moment to help us exercise our gratitude muscle with a mental scavenger hunt and breathing techniques. 
Why Being A Perfect Parent Is Too Much

Mindful Moments Blog

Why Being A Perfect Parent Is Too Much

by Guest Author on Nov 02 2021
In the face of her daughter's meltdowns, this mama strived to be perfect by suppressing her own emotions. What she learned is that abandoning herself was a trauma response to her own childhood, and that what she and her daughter both needed was this ...
The Power of Positive Affirmations for Kids

Mindful Moments Blog

The Power of Positive Affirmations for Kids

by Ashley Patek on Nov 01 2021
Get 51 positive affirmations for kids that you can start using today. Plus, learn how they work, why they work, and fun ways to implement them at home.
Raising Emotionally-Intelligent Boys: One Mom's Journey

Mindful Moments Blog

Raising Emotionally-Intelligent Boys: One Mom's Journey

by Ashley Patek on Nov 01 2021
What do you do when the world around you tells you that you are too sensitive?  Do you adapt to the social norms and shift who you are, or do you hush the noise of society to listen to your inner wisdom?
Friendship: Using Improv Games To Create Peer Connection

Mindful Moments Blog

Friendship: Using Improv Games To Create Peer Connection

by Guest Author on Nov 01 2021
Social skills can be practiced, and the more we teach by actually doing, the more beneficial the approach will be when teaching social skills for friendships and peer engagement. This improv game is designed just for that!