January 07, 2022

Quote of the Week

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Editors' Spotlight: Top 10 Kindful Kids Of 2021

Dear Kindful Kids Community,

We are beyond grateful to each of you for joining us on this journey through yet another pandemic year around the world.  We wish you and your families a happy and healthy 2022 filled with love and joy.

Your Kindful Kids Volunteer Team :)
(Brinda, Deven, Meghna and Trishna)

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8-Year-Old on the Meaning of Love :)

A few days ago, 8-year old Afton spontaneously wrote some poems and shared them on a video call that left us deeply inspired. One of them was titled "The Meaning of Love."

Sitting there, snuggling with your mom, that's love.
But what's the meaning?
What's the meaning of giving a hug, just because you're feeling a burst of gratitude at the moment?
The meaning is telling the one you love that they matter.
That they're a huge part of you.
The meaning of Love is showing.
Showing you see something in them.
Love has a part.


Teach Your Kids That Perfection Is Out And Authenticity Is In

Countering the media's obsession with perfection, there is beginning to be a groundswell of messages about how important it is to be yourself and to live a life that is true to who you are. Perfection is out, authenticity is in.  If we can reinforce it in schools and at home, our kids may be lucky enough to grow up wanting to be no one other than their beautiful selves. 

The Great Spiritual Lessons Every Child Should Learn

"All humans have a spiritual dimension. You don’t have to believe in a supreme being to teach your child the great spiritual lessons. Whatever your beliefs, you probably want your child to know that life is sacred, that their choices matter, that nature deserves a certain reverence, that their presence in the world contributes to joy and goodness, that things have a way of working out (not always as we expect), that the greatest joy usually comes from connecting and sharing with others, that being uncomfortable can push us to grow, and that while we don't always get what we want, we can always choose to make the most of what we get."

What Humble Kids Have In Common

Kids today are growing up on social media, which—as much as it connects us to others in new ways—seems to offer an endless frenzy of opportunities for self-promotion and self-absorption. Learning a habit of humility can be a peaceful counterbalance to help our kids remain kind and grounded. On a personal level, humble people have a secure identity that is neither arrogant nor self-deprecating, and they are open-minded about new information. On a social level, humble people focus on others and see others as having the same inherent worth as themselves.

Poet Amanda Gorman Inspires Kids With Speech Disorders

“Poetry has never been the language of barriers, it’s always been the language of bridges,” says Amanda Gorman, the youth poet laureate who wowed the nation at the 2021 US presidential inauguration. Born prematurely with her twin sister, Gorman’s auditory processing disorder as well as articulation concerns have presented challenges for the young poet, but she has chosen to use those challenges to encourage other kids following in her footsteps.

Wellbeing For Children: Resilience

"Have you ever been knocked down and found it difficult to get back up again? Or has something happened that was really tough to deal with and you've not known how to cope with it? This Miniclip follows Hugo as he learns to understand his challenging emotions better and explores ways to develop his resilience using four easy-to-follow tips—helping him to bounce back in the face of adversity!"

Six Ways To Deal With Parental Burnout

My recovery from parental burnout taught me many powerful lessons about resilience that happen to be even more relevant these days, as we transition into this next phase of pandemic life. There’s a pull to go back to “normal,” high-speed living. And yet we’re still holding—somewhere inside—the stress and grief of this last year-plus. While it’s tempting to push ahead and try to forget about what we’ve been through, we need to process it so that we can move forward in a healthy way, for ourselves and our kids.

Should Pediatricians Prescribe Kindness?

When parents take their children to a pediatrician for a wellness check, they expect to get reports on their children’s healthy development—if they’re growing properly, eating and sleeping well, or in need of vaccines.  They probably don’t expect to get a prescription for kindness.  But at Senders Pediatrics, a private practice in Cleveland, Ohio this is exactly what parents are getting.  

How To Teach Kids Forgiveness Skills

Forgiveness might seem like an impossible feat for a child who doesn’t yet have all the tools in her toolbox that adults do to handle emotions like anger and the desire for vengeance. But a wide range of studies have found that forgiveness programs can help kids of different ages feel better, strengthen their relationships, and improve their academic performance.

A Slow School

One of the key aspects of education is about equipping our children with the ability to act responsibly in a complex society. The idea of a 'Slow School' brings to mind an institution where students have time to discuss, argue, and reflect upon knowledge and ideas, and so come to understand themselves and the culture they will inherit.
 

Reading Corner

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Be the Change

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