mindfulness activities sensory bottle summer slide covid slide glitter slide erica martinez lighthouse public schools

Nosotros are proud to share this guest post by Erica Martinez, MSW, who brings her expertise in mindfulness activities for kids and self-care from Lighthouse Public Schools to share timely, at-abode learning activities for families.

As we begin to put this school year behind us, let united states take a look at what we have been through in the past fourteen months. A highly contagious virus overtook the world in a thing of months causing us to drastically change our lives. Our children's spring breaks were extended by a calendar week, then another, so another, ultimately finishing the 2022 school yr off from abode. Parents were now embracing their new role as a faux teacher, while many were juggling their student'south online learning and working from home. In San Antonio, the number of Covid-nineteen positive cases rose and dipped like a roller coaster. Sadly, many of us lost loved ones and were fearful of the uncertain possibilities of what could happen if nosotros contradicted Covid-19. Within the coming months, the Covid-19 vaccines began to coil out and individuals began to roll up their sleeves. Every bit of today, certain vaccines are eligible for children ages 12 and older.

Whew!! What an emotional ride we have been on! At present to add together to all of this, parents are starting to hear about "the summer slide" PLUS "the Covid slide." Our hearts are racing as we read news article later on news article talking about how far backside our children are going to be, academically speaking. I respect our educators and totally understand the lens they are coming from, simply I'm coming to you lot from the social work lens, the lens of focusing on strengths and incorporating a mindfulness activity. Stay in the moment and acknowledge that nosotros have all been doing our best to stay safe and good for you. Requite yourself a loftier five for that and trust that if you can make information technology through a pandemic, you and your child can make information technology through the summer/covid slide.

Mindfulness Activities to Reinforce Strengths

So, what does it hateful to focus on strengths and comprise a mindfulness activity and what in the world is mindfulness? Well, what It means is that you are going to place and acknowledge something that your child does well and continue to reinforce that strength. If you are a parent, reading this post, and then I tin guarantee that yous care about the academic and emotional well-being of your child. And then, thanks and then much for taking a moment to read this web log post! In fact, at that place are even more posts similar this in the Charter a Voyage of Learning guide.

Now tin can you think of a strength that your child has? This could be that they are a skilful friend, they have a nurturing spirit, they can paint, skate, play guitar, get dressed all by themselves, or practise all the cool dance moves from that popular video game. At present, reinforce that strength by acknowledging and/or thanking your kid for it. While you're at it, identify some of your own strengths or enquire your kiddo what they recollect is your strength.

Now speaking of mindfulness—this is another buzzword that nosotros go along hearing most, but what is it? Simply stated, mindfulness, is existence aware of and focused on your senses in the present moment. Keep reading beneath for some mindfulness activities you lot can do with your children.

Mindfulness Activities for Kids by Age

Meditation for Preschoolers

For immature children, introduce this action past watching the Sesame Street video, Sesame Street Monster Meditation #i: I- Sense with Cookie Monster and Headspace. Have a family chat and talk well-nigh what mindfulness is, what was each person's favorite activity from the video and what each person would similar to start doing at home. Together, get through the I-Sense activeness from the video.

Take Magic Breaths with Grade Schoolers

For children in middle grades, talk most mindfulness. Lookout the read aloud of My Magic Breath. Take a family conversation almost how it felt to accept some magic breaths.

Did anyone notice any changes in their thoughts, their feelings or with the stride of their heart beats? Did anyone notice if they opened whatever closed fists during their magic breaths? Endeavour some magic breathings once more, this time, being mindful of your body'south physical response.

Make a Glitter Jar with Teens

For teens, build on their knowledge of mindfulness. Talk to them nigh stress and areas in their lives where they may exist feeling stress. Brand a glitter jar together! A quick glitter jar can be made with warm water, articulate mucilage and glitter. Let them pick the colors and types of glitter they want in their jar.

One time the jar is done, give information technology a good shaky milkshake!. Watch the glitter and it moves around in the water. Find how it reflects the light and flips and flops down from the top to the lesser of the jar. Did you lot put in any special shapes into your jar? Did you discover them? Accept note of any changes in your and your child's mood and actions. Talk about these responses. This article does a great chore of describing how to utilize the jar to have conversations with your child.

I hope these activities will inspire you and your family to overcome your worries nigh summer slide and Covid slide, and explore mindfulness together. Find more learning activities in our Charter a Voyage of Learning guide.

More than Mindfulness Activities for Kids at Lighthouse Public Schools

At our school, Lighthouse Public Schools, students and faculty have the opportunity to create a mindfulness jar. We go on them on the windowsill in the Date Function at our school and can be accessed someday someone needs a mindfulness break. Our overall mission is to educate the hearts and minds of our scholars. Nosotros are firm believers that the social and emotional needs of students must be met outset before learning can take identify. Come back to our site for updated information well-nigh learning resources.

Lighthouse Public Schools elementary students making art

Mindfulness Activities for Kids on Lease Moms Chats

Picket Erica Martinez, MSW talk about mindfulness activities from Lighthouse Public Schools with Inga Cotton on Charter Moms Chats on June 3, 2022 at 4:00 PM Key live on Facebook and YouTube.

Erica Martinez is a master-level social worker, currently working on a Ph.D. in social work, who brings her expertise to Lighthouse Public Schools. She is and then excited nigh eating in restaurants again with friends that her eye grows two sizes with each lunch date invite.

Read More Nigh Mindfulness and Self-Care

  • "Mindfulness for Kids,"Mindful
  • "Force-Based Parenting: Is It The Right Approach For Your Family unit?",FamilyEducation, March 2, 2021
  • "Family Self-Care Programme," Erica Martinez,San Antonio Lease Moms, March 19, 2021
  • "11 Means to Teach Mindfulness to Kids," Amy Morin, Verywell Family unit, December thirty, 2020
  • "Guide to Enrolling at Lighthouse Public Schools for 2021–2022,"San Antonio Charter Moms, Dec eight, 2020
  • "How to Be a Force-Based Parent for Kids with Learning Differences," Lea Waters, Greater Good Magazine, Oct 16, 2019
  • "How to Create a Glitter Jar for Kids," Christopher Willard, Mindful, May 30, 2019