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Welcome to the Mindful Families May Newsletter With practice ideas, articles, book recommendations and upcoming events. Feel free to share. Highlig
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Welcome to the Mindful Families May Newsletter
With practice ideas, articles, book recommendations and upcoming events.
Feel free to share.
Highlights include Breathe In & Shine: Mindfulness for Children (5-8 years) & Families 4 weeks, starting June 1, 2014. ONE SPOT REMAINING
An invitation to get involved!
Do you have a favourite mindfulness practice that you would like to share with readers? Please send it along with how you would like to be credited and I can include it in future newsletters.
Have a fabulous book you think others would like to read? Please email me with a brief blurb about it and I can share with newsletter readers. |
Practice Idea for May
I recently had the privilege of attending a couple of workshops with Dr. Dan Siegel where he spoke about Interpersonal Neurobiology -- and how mindfulness practice and cultivating relationships can continue to develop our brains - leading to richer, fuller lives. One area that he focused on was empathy. He spoke about the importance of building a stronger sense of connection through empathy - i.e.trying to understand what a challenging situation might be like for another person. He also then spoke about the importance of going beyond empathy that responds to people's suffering and practicng what he called 'empathic joy.' Empathic joy (also known as sympathetic joy in Buddhist practice) is about celebrating the successes of others - sharing in their delight. He offered this practice as a way to develop what he calls "Narrative Integration," where we come to understand our interconnection to others and the planet (and yes, he is speaking about this in scientific terms!). He named the goal of this type of integration MWe, where people come to recognize our connection with all living beings.
Later on in the conference, I invited participants in a workshop I facilitated to engage in the practice of empathic joy - where they reflected on and shared in the joy of others' successes. The attached image is the "MWe Mural" they created (thanks participants for sharing).
How about introducing this practice in our lives and sharing it with our families? With older children, we could invite them to notice successes and joys of others and to express joy for them. With younger children, we could be sure to talk about taking delight in the successes and joys of others - so that they hear us engaging in this practice. And for ourselves, a wonderful antidote to the suffering that comes around when we are visited by jealousy...
Just as with the recommended book for this month - raising HAPPINESS, this practice is a fun way to bring on some warm fuzzies - scientifically proven to be good for us! |
Adventures in Mindful Parenting: Fumbling my way through, one breath at a time...
"The best predictor of a child's well-being is the parent's self-understanding."__ - Dr. Daniel Siegel
Does having the self-understanding that we are totally confused count?
A relaxed evening at home with my 3 and-a-bit-year-old son. I reach for my guitar, looking to recreate a fun jam we had last month, where we made up silly verses to 'Down by the Bay.' "Did you ever see a tiger, eating a 'liger'? Down by the Bay."
"I don't want to sing," he says.
"Ok," I reply. I keep playing the guitar. I sing on my own.
"I don't want you to sing" he says.
[read full post] |
Book Pick of the Month
raising HAPPINESS: 10 Simple Steps for More Joyful Kids and Happier Parents by Christine Carter, PH.D.
I love this book. No, I REALLY love this book. Through personal anecdotes and research, Carter provides 10 concrete steps for teaching our children (and ourselves) how to develop and practice 'happiness habits.' From how to put our own happiness first to teaching our children self-discipline, Carter offers clear, fun, do-able and scientifically -based ways to foster what parents want most for our kids... HAPPINESS. A must-have reference for everyone with children in their lives.
Visit Carter's website for downloadable worksheets. |
Upcoming Events
Breathe In & Shine: Mindfulness for Children and Families
Are you interested in bringing some stillness into your busy family life?
In this 4-week program (for children 5-8 yrs.), Sara will teach child-friendly mindfulness practices to children and their families that they can then practice together at home. Practices include games, songs, stories, art activities and everyday mindful awareness practices. Mindfulness can help to reduce stress, provide tools for responding to strong feelings such as anxiety, anger, worry & frustration as well as to support connection in todays often-hectic households.
WHEN: June 1 - June 22, 2014 (4 Sunday mornings)
TIMES: 10:30 - 11:30 a.m.
WHERE: Story Planet. 1165 Bloor St. W. (just West of Dufferin)
COST: $120 for one child and up to 2 parents. Additional sibling fee: $40 - includes all art materials, a mindfulness activity booklet and a copy of "No Ordinary Apple: A Story about Eating Mindfully."
Sara is a Registered Social Worker (MSW, RSW) and so the program may be covered by some extended benefits plans. Please discuss with your insurance provider.
Click HERE for more information. |
Mindfulness Practice with Children - Professional Development Workshop
Mindfulness is increasingly being shared with children in schools, community settings and homes throughout North America. Through mindfulness practice, children can develop tools to respond to the stresses and pressures they face in their lives, thus increasing their inner resiliency. This experiential module will offer an introduction to teaching mindfulness to children. Through story, art, music, movement and practice, participants will learn how to share mindfulness with children in age-appropriate, playful and creative ways in educational, community and home settings. Key principles and considerations for teaching mindfulness to children will be explored. Participants will also have the opportunity to engage in practice teaching and further develop their skill and confidence with teaching mindfulness to children.
Streams
Date & Time: Friday, June 6 to Saturday, June 7, 2014
9am - 4pm
Fee: $280.00(HST included)
Click HERE for info. |
Breathe In, Sing Out: Music, Mindfulness & Fun for You and Your Little One.
Breathe In, Sing Out offers a fun way for parents to practice mindfulness, nurture connection & have fun with their little ones.
In this mindfulness-based music program, Sara Marlowe, MSW, RSW will teach both original and classic songs, mindfulness activities and breath practices that are engaging for little ones, while also planting seeds of mindfulness, relaxation, awareness, connection, kindness and gratitude.
For babies, toddler, preschoolers & caregivers.
Fall programs will be posted HERE sometime over the summer. |
Individual, Family & Group Counseling offered by Sara Marlowe, MSW, RSW
I am now offering counselling services to individual children, youth, and adults as well as families in the West Toronto area. I also support families wanting to learn mindfulness practice but who are unable to attend a group. You can read more about my services at Psychology Today |
Looking Ahead
Introduction to Mindful Parenting
The Centre for Mindfulness Studies.
Saturday, September 20
10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Discover how mindfulness can help you navigate the ups and downs of parenting.
Parents can learn to be fully present with their children – in both shared moments of joy as well as when their buttons have been pushed to the limit. Mindfulness meditation teaches people how to develop a non-reactive, non-judgmental stance and to approach themselves and others with compassion. It can help parents facing common challenges such as comforting a colicky baby, responding to toddler tantrums, helping children cope with school or communicating with teenagers. Mindful parenting can also remind parents to savour the richness of parenting through slowing down and sharing in their children’s day-to-day experiences.
In this experiential workshop, participants will learn:
▪ A variety of mindfulness practices and how they apply to parenting
▪ How to develop present-moment awareness in day-to-day parenting
▪ Ways to avoid ‘knee-jerk’ parenting responses
Click HERE for more information and to register. |
Click Here to view past newsletters. |
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