Be.mindful.mt

Be.mindful.mt Two teachers, who are also mums, on a journey of educating parents and their children about mindfulness.

➡️ Mindfulness Jenga ⬅️What better way to knock down those walls and navigate a conversation than through a game‼️This i...
09/07/2022

➡️ Mindfulness Jenga ⬅️

What better way to knock down those walls and navigate a conversation than through a game‼️

This is a game that I personally play in the classroom with teenagers, and at home with my children. It is such a fantastic resource for teachers - parents - students.

By tweaking the rules ever so slightly, you can turn the classic game of Jenga into a game of mindful conversation, and take the game you know and love to a heightened level of meaning.

How to play? It’s simple! The official Jenga rules state that each player on each turn should follow these steps:
- Remove one block from any level of the tower
- Place the block on the topmost level of the tower
- The game ends when the tower falls

Mindful Jenga Rules:
The mindful Jenga rules are the same, just with one added mindful step. Using the Mindful Jenga downloadable, write a statement/question on each wooden piece. As you play, after the block is removed from the tower and before you place the block back on top, hold the block in your hand and read aloud the statement/question. You then must complete it - either individually or the whole group.

Simply visit our Etsy store to purchase:
Mindfulness Jenga - Be Mindful - Etsy Australia

♥be.mindful.mt

// Conversing with your Child // As teachers we phone home and communicate with parents regularly, and I honestly cannot...
08/07/2022

// Conversing with your Child //

As teachers we phone home and communicate with parents regularly, and I honestly cannot count the amount of times that I have parents pleading for help in regards to communicating with their child (cough * teenagers*). So, after contemplation, here are our tidbits for creating a safe and supportive environment when having meaningful conversations with your child.

🟠 Find the right time 🟠
Whether this be dinner time, while having a cuddle, or my mum's favourite - when we were (trapped) in the car 🤣. Choose a time when everyone is calm and open to discussion.

🟡 Allow questions 🟡
Ask your child if they have any questions and answer them. If you don't know how to answer them, find out the answer together.

🟢 Listen 🟢
Whole body listening. Get down to their level, eye contact, open body, encouraging non-verbal communication (touch, nod, soft eyes, smile).

🔵 Respect their feelings 🔵
Everyone has a right to how they feel. Acknowledge their feelings, validate them, work through them together.

🟣 Be honest 🟣
Give facts, give opinions, give feelings. Be open, be honest and remember it is okay to share your vulnerabilities - it makes you human.

🔴 Repeat 🔴
Remember, if you want your kids to talk to you about the big things, talk to them about the little things. Start young, talk often, be available.

Children will learn from watching, learn from doing. You are their teacher. Open up the conversation.

What age have you found the hardest to have deep and meaningful conversations with your child? ⬇

♥be.mindful.mt

Will you be brave enough?♥be.mindful.mt
07/07/2022

Will you be brave enough?

♥be.mindful.mt

Join in the conversation, ask us anything!DM 💌 or comment below ⬇♥be.mindful.mt
06/07/2022

Join in the conversation, ask us anything!

DM 💌 or comment below ⬇

♥be.mindful.mt

05/07/2022

This week we challenge you to start a conversation with someone you do not know! Whether it be someone standing in line with you at the grocery store, someone at the next table, or simply someone at work that you do not know well… be brave, be mindful and have a conversation that matters.

This is your opportunity to grow: your conversation skills and your empathy, all the while simply valuing another human being.

Let us know what you talked about! ⬇

♥be.mindful.mt

Conversations are key to language development, the exchange of thoughts and ideas and listening to each other. People le...
04/07/2022

Conversations are key to language development, the exchange of thoughts and ideas and listening to each other. People learn by hearing each other’s thoughts while observing facial and body expressions that show emotions.

“Face to face conversation is the most human and humanizing thing we do,” says Sherry Turkle in her book Reclaiming Conversation – The Power of Talk in a Digital Age. “Fully present to one another, we learn to listen. It is where we develop the capacity for empathy. It’s where we experience the joy of being heard and of being understood. Conversation advances self-reflection, the conversations with ourselves that are the cornerstone of early development and continue throughout life.”

Conversation is really important for our wellbeing.

A 2010 study by the University of Michigan found that passing the time of day with colleagues in the kitchen can improve our cognitive functions in the same way brain-teasing exercises do. Small talk makes us better problem-solvers.

By opening ourselves up to discussion of new ideas and opinions – even ones that we disagree with – we get a deeper understanding of topics and issues that we might otherwise take for granted. Information shared through conversation could change our points of view, or validate our original stance. We can’t be right about everything all the time. Conversation reminds us of this.

Conversation gives you social support. Whether you talk to your friends, colleagues and family members for information-sharing, advice-giving, or just to vent, this process helps you put things in perspective which helps build your resilience and cope better when things don’t go to plan.

When was the last time you had a meaningful conversation? ⬇

♥be.mindful.mt



Credit: robertsoncooper.com;

To be empathetic, children first need to understand emotions. This week, take a peek into my life…My son has been coming...
02/07/2022

To be empathetic, children first need to understand emotions.

This week, take a peek into my life…

My son has been coming home from Kindy for the past few weeks and telling me all about these colourful monsters and how they are feeling. So, of course, being all about mindfulness (and not knowing what he was talking about!), I had to investigate.

I learnt that the educators have been reading, to the class, 'The Color Monster', by Anna Llenas.

I sat down, I read the book, and was left in wonderment and awe.
The kindy class is learning about empathy. 🤯🥳

I felt like giving my son's teachers a clap, seriously. How amazing that they are implementing mindfulness activities into their teaching and learning sequences.

In life we purposely teach children to identify colours, numbers, letters, shapes, etc. But what about their feelings?

The Color Monster is an innocent, yet powerful tool, which allows children to learn about - and make sense of - emotions, within a safe environment. By illustrating such common emotions: happiness, sadness, anger, fear, calm, this book encourages children to open up and discuss how they are feeling, even when their thoughts are confusing.

I don't know about you, but I am adding to cart! (You can purchase from any major book outlet)

Or, you can watch a read aloud: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W6wIEp-M4tg

How does your children's school teach mindfulness, let us know ⬇️.

♥be.mindful.mt

Children are sponges; they watch, they learn, they grow. 🌱We need to allow our children to see kindness, to be present i...
01/07/2022

Children are sponges; they watch, they learn, they grow. 🌱

We need to allow our children to see kindness, to be present in the moment, to experience empathy.

We need to model this.
We are their life teachers.

Whenever my children and I are out and about (riding, scooting, walking etc.) and we pass strangers, I look up, smile and say hello. My son has a lot to say about this…
"Mum, why do you say hello?"
"Mum, why do you know so many people?"
"Mum, why didn’t they say hello back?"
"Mum, do you know that person?"
"Mum, why didn't I say hello?"
It goes on 🤣🥴...

It is such a simple act; a random act of kindness, and yet it teaches so much. In that fleeting moment I am teaching my son that every single person is valued, how to be respectful, and how to be kind.

The philosophy behind Random Acts of Kindness is altruism; a selfless concern for the welfare of others; a desire to do good or help others without a reward. Our aim is to make kindness the norm. By completing random acts of kindness, with your child, you are enhancing their social emotional learning. Do not expect kindness, teach it.

Here are some ideas to help you get started. Be sure to save for later!

Or, you can visit our Etsy store to download an extensive list.

Do you engage in random acts of kindness❓ Do you purposely let your children watch ❓Let us know, what you do. ⬇️

♥be.mindful.mt

What echoes do you hear? ♥be.mindful.mt
30/06/2022

What echoes do you hear?

♥be.mindful.mt

Walk in my shoes. The teacher in me HAD to use this photo. Do you know its origins? ⬇️I'll give you a hint: 110, 000 pai...
29/06/2022

Walk in my shoes.

The teacher in me HAD to use this photo. Do you know its origins? ⬇️

I'll give you a hint: 110, 000 pairs remained, at this site.

Do you talk to your children about historical moments? It is such a rich teaching and learning moment - especially in empathy. If so, which moments have you touched on, so far? ⬇️

🖤 be.mindful.mt

Teaching empathy and perspective with… OPTICAL ILLUSIONS 🤯 Sometimes all you have to do is look at things a little diffe...
28/06/2022

Teaching empathy and perspective with… OPTICAL ILLUSIONS 🤯

Sometimes all you have to do is look at things a little differently to understand other people's opinions and views.

This week we challenge you to open up a discussion with your child about perspective; about empathy.

Optical illusions will allow you to navigate a conversation about how everyone views and thinks differently, and most importantly, that it is okay!

Simply show your children these optical illusions and have them tell you what they see. Then, tell your child what you see. Are they the same? Do they differ? How? Why?

Your children will soon begin to realise that we don't all see the same thing.

♥be.mindful.mt

Acknowledging the importance of empathy is easy, but teaching empathy is difficult because empathy is an elusive idea. T...
27/06/2022

Acknowledging the importance of empathy is easy, but teaching empathy is difficult because empathy is an elusive idea. The word is derived from the Greek empatheia, which means emotions and feelings. In simple terms, empathy is the ability to understand things from another person's perspective. It's the ability to share someone else's feelings and emotions and understand why they're having those feelings.

Types of empathy:
🖤Cognitive empathy.
🖤Emotional empathy.
🖤Compassionate empathy.

Empathy is important in all aspects of life; personal, work and globally. All those aspects involve relationships and healthy relationships require nurture, care, and understanding.

We came across a great article from Forbes.com titled 'Empathy Is the Most Important Leadership Skill According To Research'. We found this article interesting and important because as mum's/parents we are all raising leaders of the future. We also know how important the early years are in building a solid foundation (of empathy (wink face) - of all skills). Ultimately it states that when a leader has empathy, they are more understanding, which is helpful in a world where there is increased stress at home, at work and an increased mental health crisis. Here are some great takeaways from the article:

A new study of 889 employees found empathy has some significant constructive effects:
- When people reported their leaders were empathetic, they were more likely to report they were able to be innovative—61% of employees.
- 76% of people who experienced empathy from their leaders reported they were engaged.
- 59% of women said they were unlikely to think of leaving their companies when they felt their life circumstances were respected and valued by their companies.
- 50% of people with empathetic leaders reported their workplace was inclusive.
- When people felt their leaders were more empathetic, 86% reported they are able to navigate the demands of their work and life.

♥be.mindful.mt



Credit: forbes.com

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