Cultivating Contemplative Skills
Media reports of a mental health crisis among young people have appeared regularly in the last two years. Psychologists…
MorePosts tagged: Practice
Experiencing Gratitude
“Thanks, mom!” Every time one of my kids says those words, my heart does a happy dance. Not only am I pleased that…
MoreA NeuroSpicy Spiritual Practice for Managing Medical Visits
Children may find medical, dental, and therapy visits stressful for many different reasons. They could be afraid of…
MoreA NeuroSpicy Spiritual Practice for Visit Anxiety
For some neurodivergent children, not knowing what to expect when visiting others outside the family home can be…
MoreA NeuroSpicy Stimming Spiritual Practice
Many neurodiverse children use a practice called ‘stimming’ (self-stimulating through repetitive actions or sounds)…
MoreBuilding Good Habits on Earth Day
Blue-green drawings of the earth decorate family refrigerators this month as children learn about Earth Day. Held…
MoreA NeuroSpicy Mealtime Spiritual Practice
Meals are culturally and historically a time for nourishment and connection with others. For some neurodivergent…
MoreA NeuroSpicy Movement Meditation
Thoughts of school or preschool can generate anxious or nervous sensations in both neurodivergent and neurotypical…
MoreA NeuroSpicy Spiritual Practice for Easing Separations
Separating from a loved one can be particularly distressing for neurodivergent children. They may feel unsafe or…
MoreAffirming Children
Saying something positive to a child seems easy. We tell kids, “you’re amazing!” and exclaim “That’s the best…
MoreBreath Meditation
Children (and adults) sometimes struggle to manage their emotions when stressful events occur. They feel anxious and…
MoreTeaching Young Children to Journal
As preschoolers, my children loved the ‘books’ their teachers created for them to use. They were simple…
MorePracticing Courage
Learning to be courageous takes a lot of work. It’s not the same as just being fearless or comfortable taking risks.…
MoreMemory Games
Almost everything we do with children involves things they need to remember. Spiritual stories have characters and…
MoreWhen Kids Need to Calm Down
I watched a mom hurriedly feeding an infant while another child hopped up and down next to the table. “But mommy,”…
MoreHelping Kids Find Their Anchors
My uncle took me fishing on his boat for my tenth birthday. Partway through the trip, his line snagged something and…
MoreBuilding Connections through Magical Gifts
As children head back to school, anxieties about relationships rise. Some wonder whether friends from last year will…
MorePracticing Gratitude
Gratitude may seem like a natural attitude, but studies show it is primarily a skill that children learn from others.…
MorePathways to Wonder & Awe
The first time I saw flying fish, I was overcome with amazement. They looked like silvery stars twinkling in the waves…
MoreEveryday Rituals
When we think of rituals, we often recall major life or religious events like weddings, funerals, baptisms, bar…
MoreCreating a Calming Corner
December can be an overwhelming month for kids. Seasonal changes prompt a shift in clothing and outdoor activities.…
MorePracticing Thanks-Giving
“Let’s go around the room and say something we’re thankful for,” says the teacher. “I’m thankful for apple…
MoreKindness Projects
My children's elementary school had a student committee that planned service projects for every grade. Kids from…
MorePracticing Calm
When my kids were little, getting everyone out of the house on time without tears or tantrums was a daily challenge.…
MoreMaking Kindness a Goal
My social media feeds have been flooded with ‘first day of school’ photos. Children stand holding signs proclaiming…
MoreCelebrating Eid al Fitr
After 30 days of fasting, Muslim worldwide mark the end of Ramadan with Eid al Fitr, literally a festival of breaking…
MoreHow Kids Learn to Remember
What’s your earliest autobiographical memory? If you are like most people, it’s probably a significant event from…
MoreExploring Ramadan
Six years ago, I visited Istanbul with two of my children. We were there during Ramadan, which meant we observed…
MoreShifting Bad Habits to Good Practices
When I was a child, I bit my nails. It was a reflexive action whenever I felt stressed or anxious. I don’t really…
MoreFamily Hygge
It’s snowing outside, and all anyone wants to do is bundle up in a blanket, sip hot chocolate, and read. Maybe…
MoreCelebrating Kwanzaa with Children
Seven candles stand tall in a kinara, ready for lighting. Their number and colors (red, black, and green) suggest this…
MoreMeditation On Light
The winter months can be hard. Short days and long nights leave us longing for more sunlight. Cold temperatures chill…
MoreDeveloping Patience
“How many more days, mom? How many more?” Every December, my kids would be hyper-charged with excitement for the…
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…
MoreEncouraging Authenticity
Authenticity is trending as a value. Parents and children want to speak their truth and advocate for what they believe…
MoreStarters That Support Well-Being
“Can’t I just be 10 minutes late?” pleaded my daughter. We were driving to her Brownie troop meeting and I could…
MoreHow Gratitude Builds Community
We hear a lot about supply chain ‘issues’ right now. Store shelves are emptier than in pre-pandemic days. Online…
MoreExercising Attention
It’s the usual afterschool chaos in my house. Classic rock plays loudly and all three kids are gyrating in an…
MorePlease Don’t Praise the Kids
“You’re so smart!” These three words come easily to mind when children do or say something that demonstrates…
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…
MoreTaking Flight with The Year We Learned to Fly
Cultural and spiritual heritages are often passed on to new generations through stories and teachings by elders.…
MoreEmoji Spirituality
Kids love emojis. As fun visual substitutes for words, they help children share how they’re feeling and communicate…
MoreMindful Art
Self-awareness and emotional regulation are spiritual skills that every child needs. Research shows that art activities…
MoreTaming Anxiety
One of my children goes quiet when she’s anxious. Another talks incessantly and blows up when he gets overwhelmed.…
MoreA 5E Model of Spiritual Education
One of my eldest child’s favorite memories is a series of 5th grade class sessions where they explored scientific…
MoreFinding Our Calm
When my middle child was in third grade, she was very anxious about taking tests. Her stomach would hurt and she would…
MoreSpiritual Reflection with Turning Red
Pixar’s newest release is a coming-of-age story about a Chinese Canadian girl accepting both her changing body and…
MoreSharing Personal Spiritual Practices
Children’s group leaders often wonder how much to share about their personal lives with young people. We…
MoreNew Year’s Examen
Examen is a reflective practice that originated in the 15th century. It’s purpose is to help children and adults…
MoreExpressing Gratitude
An American celebration of Thanksgiving generally involves liberal helpings of turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, and…
MoreGuided Meditation for Peacefulness
Stress and anxiety are common occurrences in contemporary family life. Parents and children have a lot to do each day,…
MoreCreating a Mindfulness Space
Mindfulness practices help children to become more self-aware. When they spend time being present with themselves, they…
MoreColoring as a Mindfulness Practice
As children return to in-person gatherings, they may feel anxious and stressed. An art-based mindfulness practice can…
MoreTeaching Hope
I’ll admit that I have generally thought of hope as an emotional state: an optimistic feeling of possibilities…
MoreSpiritual Mirrors, Windows & Doors
“But mom,” my eldest complained, “why do I have to go to church school? They never talk about anything…
MoreManaging Big Emotions with Mindfulness
When my children were little and dealing with sibling arguments, I taught them a quick mindfulness practice to help…
MoreFamily Spiritual Rules
Family spiritual rules are a little like superhero codes of conduct: they outline our values and the activities we…
MoreExamining Our Conscience
Many cultural and religious traditions have some kind of spiritual practice that involves reflecting on one’s…
MoreFamily Hospitality
“Look at what I made,” says my son, holding up to me his newest drawing. I respond, “Just one more second,…
MoreStimulating Spiritual Curiosity
When my children were younger, they regularly asked deep spiritual questions. Preschool drop-off conversations were…
MoreGuided Meditation for Justice Seekers
Children and adults often use guided meditation to help them relax or fall asleep. A soothing voice inviting you to…
MoreA Lament How-To
When life gets tough, a spiritual practice that deals with anxiety can make the difference between a whiny child and…
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