As we welcome a new month, we invite you to join us in Mindful March! Life moves fast and while working hard towards big goals is something we celebrate at Educated Nannies, we also love to focus on balance and fulfillment! A great way to tune into this is practicing mindfulness, or living in the moment and being present. Mindfulness is something that we can always work on and work towards! It is important to note that mindfulness is a practice or a journey. There is no “perfect” when it comes to mindfulness! So what are some examples of mindfulness and how can we pull it into our days as caregivers and parents?
Prioritize mindfulness as a caregiver or parent: If we wish to set children up for success in their practice, the first thing that we can do is get comfortable and acquainted with practicing mindfulness for ourselves! Finding time to put screens away each day, practicing deep breathing or meditation, practicing fixed awareness or noticing your environment with your senses, engaging in movement that allows us to tune into your body versus tuning out are some great ways to begin! And of course, your mindfulness routine can be something completely unique to you. Get creative and enjoy!
Modeling: As caregivers and parents, we are always teaching; Teaching with our actions, words, attitudes, and habits! We can prioritize mindfulness in our daily routines and also model it while caregiving! Some examples of modeling mindfulness while caregiving are “sportscasting” your experiences, engaging in deep breathing, slowing down, completing one task at a time with children, and being fully present with the children as they play. It is important to note, mindfulness in all moments may not be possible, but regularly incorporating aspects into the day is key!
Inviting children to join your routine: As we are modeling mindfulness, we can invite the children to join in! This can be as simple as asking the children if they would like to take three “big balloon breaths” with you or “blow out 5 candles with their breath,” to asking them if they would like to join in for yoga class, or play with making different shapes with their body. Another great way to model mindfulness is to name all the things you notice when on a walk or are in nature, or to scan or “check-in” with the body at bed time, thank their body, and say “time to rest!”
Inviting children to come up with their own idea: Just as mindfulness is not a one size fits all for adults, it is not for children either! Ask children if they have any ideas that feel of interest to them! Many times, when children are the driver of an activity, they are more inclined to be excited about the experience and take part in it! You might also learn from them as well!
Allow for free and undistracted play: If we wish to cultivate mindfulness in children, we will want to set the stage for it, and allow it to unfold! Children have a wonderful way of reminding us to slow down and tune into the little moments. When we observe children playing freely, creatively, uninterrupted and without distractions, we can let them lean into these moments without adding or changing their focus. We can sit back, observe, and take note of their interests, problem solving skills, and creativity. No one person thinks identically, and these quiet moments can provide insights into seeing children fully. What a gift!
We would love to hear about the ways you pull mindfulness into your day as a caregiver!
