Kindness is a common topic in Life Skills lessons (as well as in the classrooms). Most recently, I have grown an even stronger interest in the positive benefits of children helping others. I discovered an article on Why Teaching Kindness in School is Essential. This article discusses how showing acts of kindness can physically alter a child's brain, for the better! Allow your child to help out at home or organize a day (or even an hour) where the whole family volunteers their time (such as at the humane society). Benefits of helping include: greater sense of belonging, increased self-esteem, improved health, less stress, increased feelings of gratitude, better concentration, and the list continues. Often when students get into trouble at school, we can see that their leadership qualities are strong, but just need to be redirected in a more positive direction. Any human is capable of helping another. For ideas on how your child can help click here for a list of 40 Ways Kids Can Volunteer. If your child is allowed to use the internet, PBS kids has a neat webpage with ideas on how they can help out as well.
Good afternoon! I hope you are all enjoying this wonderfully sunny day. Below are eight short guided relaxation scripts to read to your child. The first, called "Peaceful Butterfly" is an example and the scripts below it are in similar formats, but different themes. Most of them suggest that they are most beneficial when used right before bedtime since they are intended to relax the body and mind. According to the creator, Mellisa Dormoy of Shambala Kids, "The more the scripts are used, the easier your child will relax and be able to concentrate." Younger children may struggle with some of the scripts at first due to limited attention span, but with practice, most children (or adults) can benefit from these scripts:
Check out the documents below for updated Life Skills lessons in your child's class:
|
Archives
March 2016
CategoriesAuthorBrooke Peterson: |