The Whole-Brain Child: How To Nurture A Child's Developing Mind (adults feel free to use the strategies too!!)

When my public library branch did not have the book I intended to check out last week I began looking at book covers…something that makes me relatively uncomfortable, but not as uncomfortable as leaving the library empty-handed.  I decided on “The Whole-Brain Child: 12 Revolutionary Strategies to Nurture Your Child’s Developing Mind”.  Written by neuropsychiatrist and bestselling author, Daniel J. Siegel, along with parenting expert, Tina Payne Bryson, it clearly explains 12 strategies to help you “cultivate healthy emotional and intellectual development in children, so that they may lead balanced, meaningful, and connected lives”.  I am half way through the book and 100% convinced that the strategies they teach, all of which are based on the science of how a child’s brain is wired and how it matures, can ensure that parents, teachers, and other adults are not only surviving everyday struggles with children, but helping the family unit, class, & larger community thrive!

What I love most about this these strategies is that they do not require adults to designate specific time each day or each week to help children thrive.  Instead, you use ALL of the interactions you have with children (from the most angry to the most adorable) to help them become caring, compassionate, responsible, hard working people, who feel great about themselves.  It’s all about using everyday moments to help children reach their true potential.

As I continue the 6-part series on the benefits of massage for different age groups, I will also begin a 12-part series summarizing the 12 strategies outlined in “The Whole-Brain Child".  Throughout this series you will learn simple techniques to integrate a child's left & right brain, upstairs & downstairs brain, memory, many parts of the self, and self with others.  Read along, apply the strategies, and turn any “outburst, argument, or fear into a chance to integrate your child’s brain and foster vital growth.” 

10 Empowering Things To Say To A Child

written by The Joyful Mother ~ Sigrid Kjeldsen

Are you conscious of how you speak to your child and the content of that communication? Most of us are not. We rush about our day, getting sucked into the doings of life. Sound familiar? There is nothing wrong with a busy life full of fun and rewarding activities! But what tends to happen is that from this place we simply react to the things, people and circumstances around us. 

As we get more conscious of our thoughts and feelings, our actions reflect this and we are able to steer and control our inner world to make our outer world feel great!

What if you could have 10 powerful statements that could help bring presence, love and empathy into your relationship with your child? I see these statements and questions below as a simple vitamin injection in the life of you and your child!

  

1. I believe in you

This is one of the most powerful things you can say to a child. It tells them you SEE them. 

2. What do you think you should do?

This was one of the things my father used to say to me often. It empowered me to find solutions for myself.

3. I trust you

This is a powerful one for instilling a sense of responsibility and independence in your child

4. If you believe you can do something, you can!

If you teach a child to use his mind to create his reality at an early age, your child will grown in confidence and begin to develop a true sense of empowerment.

5. What do you think?

This one throws the decision making into the family arena - deciding as a group on something gives everyone ownership to the final decision. It also makes them feel important.

6. What do you need right now?

I use this one a lot to cut through emotional turmoil and get to the root of a problem. Sometimes they don't know what they need, but the more you ask this question the more they will!

7. Just feel it, its ok...

A lot of the time, as parents, we want to support our kids by making the bad feelings go away. I try to help my children really feel an emotion. As children learn to do this they become more familiar with their emotional ranges and it allows them to see that emotions come and go - that they are in charge of how they feel. 

8.  What can you do to help?

This is a question that simply inspires kids to think about helping others in need. Kids sometimes may need help thinking past their own needs and desires, this one gets them thinking outside of that box.

9. What are 3 words that best describes you?

This questions helps your child begin to cultivate self insight and also lets them know you are curious about who they are!

10. I love you...

Ok, you knew this one was coming! Most of us do this, but how often do you say these three simple words and really mean it? Also, sometimes saying it less often can make these words really feel meaningful when they are said!

For each of these statements or questions, the key to them being empowering is how much HEART and PRESENCE you put into them - how you show up WITHOUT words. 

Helping Children Grow Into Smart READERS!

Storytime Yoga is an opportunity for your child to acquire listening, oral and literary skills, in addition to body-awareness and character education in a fun way that stimulates self-reflection & awareness, while they bring their bodies into harmony with the environment.  The result is mentally, physically, and emotionally healthy children who are peaceful and literate!! 

Massage Series Part 3 of 6: Benefits of Massage for Teenagers

Adolesence is one of the most turbulent stages of our lives. During this dynamic period, teenagers are often self-conscious and shy of their bodies as they transition from being a child to an adult, requiring education and feedback to build self-esteem.  While teens may be reluctant to get or give a massage, there are plenty of reasons why this age group should be encouraged to give it a try.

Massage during the teen years helps a young adult understand and accept healthy nurturing touch, manage stress, reduce the impact of emotional/hormonal transitions, relieve muscle tension, improve immune function, experience heightened concentration, and improve sleep and study patterns.  Actually, massage at any age results in many of those same benefits…but for teens there is an added payback!

TEENAGE TRANSITIONS

The teenage body is in the midst of transformation -- exponential growth and development in a rapid period of time.  On the physical side, teens may be at increased risk for aches, pains, and injury.  Many teens strain their bodies with competitive sports, get erratic sleep, and consume a less-than-optimal diet.  Massage can help muscles recover from overuse, and help balance the body and maintain that stability.  This bodywork has also been proven to help mediate eating disorders, a growing concern among teens.  

IMPROVED BODY IMAGE

Bombarded by messages from the media, peers and even their parents about their bodies, adolescents can be confused about healthy body images. Home massage takes the focus away from how they look and teaches them the importance of being aware of how their body feels.  Even as a teen’s body changes in awkward ways massage helps teens stay grounded and connected to their bodies.

STRESS

Hormonal pressures, parental expectations, peer pressure and overloaded schedules create stress for teenagers. Suicide is the third leading cause of death among teenagers. Home massage can be invaluable for teenagers to reduce stress & anxiety, lift depression and relax their mind, body and spirit.

CONNECTING WITH YOUR TEEN

Adolescents crave intimacy but often look for it in the wrong places. If they experience touch in the home through the natural connection of massage, they are not as likely to seek dangerous and unhealthy avenues for emotional and physical contact.

Class Time Change for 3-6 year olds!

Beginning Tuesday, October 16, 2012 the Tues/Thur 3-6 year old class @ Bliss Yoga Shala (1615 Thacker Avenue, Jacksonville, FL) will move from 11-12 to 3:00pm-3:55pm!  Hoping this change will accommodate ½ day preschoolers and more home school children!  Also, the 7-12 year old class will now begin at 4:05pm, instead of 4.  Spread the word J

Massage Series Part 2 of 6: Benefits of Massage for Children

In the first part to this six part series on massage I focused on the benefits that infants enjoy as a result of regular massage.  This second part looks at why it is important to massage children who are no longer infants. 

Our lifestyles today are largely lacking in quality family time and as a result we are touching each other less.  The ancient practice of massage can serve to reaffirm a close bond with each other, including our children, and to convey a comforting sense of security and trust.

Every child, no matter the age, should be massaged on a regular basis.  Ultimately, it is best to develop a daily routine, probably at bedtime, that includes 15-minute massage. 

Touch is the first sense to develop in humans. It is essential to our health and well-being.  Children who learn healthy views of touch and are provided with positive tactile experience by their caregivers are more likely to grow up to be adults with healthy self-esteem, a sense of appropriate boundaries and long-lasting intimate relationships.

Massage is a wonderful stress-buster for children.  Though we often think of adults when we hear the word ‘stress,’ there are many situations in which children experience stress as well: starting school for the first time; going to a new school; death of a relative; financial problems in the home; parents fighting; even vacation!  During emotional upsets massage can soothe children.  It can also relieve the discomforts of illness.  In fact, when stress is reduced stress hormones are also reduced, which in turn allows the immune system to bounce back and work effectively.  Massage can help ease the pain of tension headaches and muscle aches or cramps. 

Children who are massaged regularly also exhibit healthier behavior.  They are happier, calmer, more relaxed, and maintain a better mood!  Children diagnosed with attention deficit disorder or hyperactivity who receive massage often concentrate better, cry less, and sleep better. 

With infants, a gentle gliding stroke is applied to the body, but as the child grows older, the massage may become more sophisticated to include work on the feet, fingers and toes, and use of more extensive types of strokes and techniques.  At this age the child will still be comfortable receiving massages from their caregiver. 

My next post will focus on massage for teenagers…who often prefer to be massaged by a therapist, as oppose to a caregiver. 

Benefits of Healthy Breathing Habits

At the beginning of every Story and Stretch class my monkey puppet, Wanamisi, teaches the children a variety of beneficial breathing techniques for both on and off the mat, as well as how our breath affects our lives. 

The following are some of the fun, interesting, and surprising facts about breath that your child may learn from Miss Wanamisi:

* The nose has a 4-stage filtration system. By breathing into the mouth we go straight to stage 4. This easily results in sore throats, tonsillitis, and even ear infections!

* Over time, breathing through the mouth can shrink the jaw.  This results in crooked teeth, which translates into a relapse after having braces removed!

* Breathing through the mouth is one cause for children developing a lisp when they talk.

* The urge to urinate during the night is likely due to breathing with the mouth open.  When we breathe through our mouths our bladders shrink, resulting in more trips to the bathroom!

* The more breaths you take the hungrier you will be & the more acidic your body will become.

* You should exercise to the intensity that you can keep your mouth closed.

* Asthma is mostly misdiagnosed. It is often hereditary, and if you’re born with it, you will have it for life – however, through a breathing program and a change in external factors you can potentially be inhaler and steroid free for the remainder of your life!

* We naturally change sides in our sleep approximately every 30 minutes, and this is mostly due to the balancing of the breath through each of the nostrils.

* If the lungs were open flat they would cover the size of a tennis court!

* Breathing properly eases physical tension by relaxing your muscles.  When this happens your blood vessels dilate allowing your blood pressure to return to a normal level.  

* Long, slow, deep breaths allow fresh oxygen to pour into every cell in your body.  This improves the functionality of every system in your body...digestive system, immune system, nervous system, respiratory system, lymphatic system, etc.

* Long, slow, deep breaths improve your mental concentration and physical stamina.  It also triggers the release of endorphins, which improve your feelings of we-being and relieves pain!  

* Healthy breathing habits encourage the release of harmful toxins stuck in your body.  By cleansing the body in this manner you are able to direct more energy to other bodily functions.