Exploring People Are Wild with Children
“Do they bite?” asked Marcus* when we spotted a family of mule deer during a camping trip. Our group was excited…
MorePosts tagged: Attention
Using Room Decorations to Support Spiritual Learning
The walls of my son’s pre-K classroom were covered with posters and children’s artwork. It was like walking into a…
MoreHoliday Lights Scavenger Hunt
I love holiday lights! Strings of colored bulbs wrapped around trees, icicle lights hanging from rooftops and fences, a…
MoreDeveloping Patience
“How many more days, mom? How many more?” Every December, my kids would be hyper-charged with excitement for the…
MoreWhy Kids Need Silence
As a parent, I used to be suspicious of silence. If I wasn’t hearing sounds from the next room, I would wonder what…
MoreExploring Just Help! with Kids
How can children learn to build a better world? According to Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, the answer is in…
MoreChildren, Community Science & Climate Change
Earlier this month, the Pacific Ocean made news because it is shrinking faster than scientists expected. One reason…
MoreExercising Attention
It’s the usual afterschool chaos in my house. Classic rock plays loudly and all three kids are gyrating in an…
MoreBeing Antiracist with Kids
As a white researcher and teacher, I know I am susceptible to implicit bias. Even though I am committed to antiracism,…
MoreExploring Lightyear with Children
As long time fans of Toy Story, my children were excited to learn Buzz’s backstory. They watched as Buzz and Alesha…
MoreModeling Gratitude
“Thank you.” Two simple words we teach children when they’re small and hope they will use often. Giving thanks…
MoreDaily Intentions
Setting small spiritual goals each day is one way that children can take responsibility for their own moral and ethical…
MoreSetting Spiritual Goals
A few years ago, I taught a child who struggled with managing his emotions in group settings. He was unhappy about his…
MoreUsing Story Circles to Build Empathy
Sorting through a box of old school papers, I found a story one of my children wrote in 2nd grade. Her teacher had…
MoreCreating a Mindfulness Space
Mindfulness practices help children to become more self-aware. When they spend time being present with themselves, they…
MoreEmpathy Maps
Getting to know the children with whom we work is essential. We learn their names and perhaps ask about their favorite…
MoreExplaining Gun Violence
Mass shootings have become commonplace in the U.S. No matter how a parent feels about gun control, the thought of…
MoreFocused Attention
Mindfulness is all the rage these days, and rightly so. When children take a few moments to focus their attention, they…
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