MINDFULNESS.
Our brain is the most complex thing about us.
We each need to take time to learn how to be the captain of this ship.
Week 1: Breathing
“One deep breath can change our world.”
-Oprah (or one of Oprah’s writers).
Regardless of where the sentiment comes from it is a very powerful statement indeed. If we think about our child’s brain development, we see that there is a gap in the education of their overall well- being.
Teaching mindfulness to our children from an early age will give them the tools that they need to develop emotional maturity, understand how their brain and body work and develop a deeply connected sense of self, safety and happiness.
Each week we will focus on one easy technique to teach our children (and perhaps ourselves) to bring our families into a state of mindfulness and wisdom about ourselves.
I have talked about breathing techniques before. I talk about them a lot because they are important, infinitely handy and free! You have to focus to do a deep breathing exercise, this is being mindful. Every person can deep breathe to change the chemistry of their body and brain at any given moment. Even one deep breath taken in a stressful situation has been scientifically proven to lower heart rate and blood pressure.
BUBBLE BLOWING BREATH:
1) Have child breathe in through their nose for 3-4 seconds
2) Release breath through mouth slowly
3) Wait 2 seconds
4) Repeat
*Practice this technique with your children by actually blowing bubbles with them. The same breath is used, hence the name. You can even tell them to “blow bubbles” as a reminder to use their new breathing technique in a stressful situation.
Patient Parenting 101 