Being in the moment is one of the hardest things to do when you have a 'to-do ' list screaming to be finished, dinner needs to be made, kids need carpooling to extra-curricular activities or you need to prep for the big meeting in the morning.  It seems life with kids is often running from one fire to the next on autopilot.  Take a deep breath because it won't be like this forever.  How you handle it is the key.  If we can learn to be in the moment and be aware of our thoughts and our surroundings, it can help us to deal with the chaos.  Today, if you go online, read your social media feed or watch the news, there is more and more awareness and discussion about "mindfulness" and being able to be aware of what is happening right now around us.  Mindfulness is the ability to pull your thoughts to the present moment and be aware of your surroundings.

This month, we introduce some products and books about mindfulness to help you to de-stress and in turn, teach your kids about being in the moment.  Becoming aware is the first step and can help you to take a breath, relax your body, and be calm.

 

 

FROG'S BREATHTAKING SPEECH:  HOW CHILDREN (AND FROGS) CAN USE THE BREATH TO DEAL WITH ANXIETY, ANGER AND TENSION
Written By Michael Chissick
Illustrator Sarah Peacock
~$16.57
Available online at Amazon.ca or at Jessica Kingsley Publishers (www.jkp.com/catalogue/book/9781848190917).

Frog needs to give a very important speech at his school assembly on breathing, but he is feeling the pressure to make the speech and he is not sure what to say about breathing.  With help from his friends, he learns the crocodile breath, the lion breath and the humming bird breath techniques.  This book introduces breathing and how it can help calm an individual and helps children (and adults too) to recognize their own anxiety and how to deal with it.  Written by Michael Chissick, a Yoga instructor who specializes in helping special needs kids deal with their anxiety, stress and worry through yoga.  Beautiful illustration by Sarah Peacock.

 

 

 

INDIGO DREAMS:  RELAXATION AND STRESS MANAGEMENT BEDTIME STORIES
$12.38/Amazon.ca
$7.99/iTunes dowload
Available online at www.stressfreekids.com or Amazon.ca

From the creator of Stress Free Kids, Lori Lite, brings you Indigo Dreams, a 60 minute interactive CD/Audiobook with four stories to help your child learn relaxation and stress management techniques.

For more great relaxation CD's and products for adults and kids, check out the www.stressfreekids.com.

 

 

 

 

 

STRESS BALL
~ $3.99 - 10.99
Available at Canadian Tire, Staples and London Drugs

This simple tool can help you and kids relieve some stress with good old fashioned squeezing it out.  A variety of colours available.  

 

 

 

 

EACH BREATH A SMILE
Written by Sister Thuc Nghiem and Thich Nhat Hanh
$10.00
Available online at  Parallax Press  or in Regina at Aware House Books  - 2734 13th Avenue, Regina, SK S4T 1N3

We are all connected.  A transformative book that introduces children to the power of breath.  This book shows us how breath can help you to connect to yourself, your loved ones, to be calm and be aware of life all around us.  28 pages of beautiful illustrations. 

 

 

 

 

 

SMILING MIND APP
By Smiling Mind
Free
Available at the iTUNES store for iPHONE, iPAD & iPOD Touch or online at www.smilingmind.com.au

Modern meditation for young people.  Smiling Mind is a free web-based and app program developed by a team of psychologists from Australia with an expertise in youth and adolescent therapy.  It was created to help young people who want to develop the skills to introduce calm and clarity in their lives. It is offered to children from 7 years old and up.  You can practice online or on your personal smartphone or tablet.
 

 

 

 

 

 

MEDITATION FOR BEGINNERS by GAIAM
$14.99/DVD
Available at London Drugs, Chapters, or Gaiam Canada online at www.gaiam.ca.

Meditation coach Maritza introduces guided meditation and awareness techniques to introduce you to meditation. 

 

 

 

 

MINDFUL MEDITATION CLASS WITH DANA ANJALI
Healing Through Meditation
$200.00/8 week course
www.healingthroughmeditation.ca

Sometimes you can read a book on how to do something but what you really need to learn is hands on through a class with a teacher to help you and  guide you.  If you have ever had an interest in learning about mindfulness or meditation, look no further than Healing Through Meditation with Dana Anjali.  She offers an 8 week course for beginners and the class is truly exceptional.  Whether you are a beginner who has no exposure to meditation or maybe you have taken a class before and need to brush up on your practice, Dana's class can help you.  For a complete schedule or to learn more, visit www.healingthroughmeditation.ca.

 

Do you have a suggestion to help parents & kids relax and be in the moment?  Share with us at 'editorial at kinderbuzz dot com".  Happy OM!