Mindfulness
Dear Subscribers:
If you have limited time to read through the entire blog, here are a few play-based activities focusing on activities to enjoy together as you support your child’s growth and practice of mindfulness. Mindfulness, involving all our senses, happens when we intentionally observe, describe, participate, and focus on the present in a thoughtful and open manner.
1. Read and Sing together 📚
- When Stars Are Scattered – the first chapter read by author Omar Mohamed. (20:17 mins.) This graphic novel follows the real-life story of two young Somali brothers coming of age in a refugee camp. The story explores the difficulties and grief that Omar and Hassan share, but it also communicates their resilience through unspeakable hardship as well as their love and loyalty for each other. Recipient of the National Book Award.
- Thank-you Omu! by Oge Mora is about being generous. Everyone in the neighborhood dreams of a taste of Omu”s delicious stew! One by one, they follow their noses toward the scrumptious scent and one by one, Omu offers a portion of her meal. Encourage children to use their senses as they describe their favorite foods.
- You Hold Me Up by Monique Gray Smith prompts a dialogue among young people, their care providers and educators about reconciliation and the importance of the connections children make with others. This foundational book is about building relationships, fostering empathy and encouraging respect between peers, starting with our snallest citizens.
- What a Wonderful World (3:41 mins.)
- Thank-you Song by Cocomelon (3:25 mins.)
2. Create together: Puzzles, Crafts, Drawing and Constructing 🧩
- After reading You Hold Me Up together, consider creating and enjoying these 5 activities.
3. Explore together 🌍
- Another family or classroom fall activity that encourages mindfulness involving the senses is an activity in a nearby park or wooded area. Enjoy a picnic with the changing leaves. Download Leafsnap App, a free mobile app that helps identify tree species from photographs of their leaves. If you are in the lower mainland and are not sure where to go check out the best places to see fall colours around Vancouver
- 15 Sensory Activities to teach mindfulness. Sensory play can be anything that involves the sense of sight, smell, sound, taste, touch and even internal emotions and physical movement. With some conversational prompting any sensory activity can teach mindfulness.
4. Engage and Interact: 👭
- Raisin Meditation engages children to use all of their senses in this mindful activity.
- What better fun then to go through the Chiliwack Corn Maze as you stay present and wander through avoiding confusion and taking wrong turns. This year there is an interactive story “The Boy Who Spoke to the Earth” featured about a boy looking for happiness and the magic that happens when you take the time to stand still, be present and mindful of your remarkable surroundings
5. Reflect: Thoughts of the Day about Outdoor Play and Learning 💭
