Mindful Moments Blog

Helping Your Child With The Tough Transition Back To School

by Ashley Patek

Children bring so many different emotions to the first week of school: excitement and anticipation, fear and wonder. The change may lead to increased meltdowns and/or regressions. Make the transition less overwhelming with these 5 tools.

Mindful Moments Blog

Video Of Trader Joe's Employees Singing And Dancing To Stop Toddler Tantrum Goes Viral

by Ashley Patek

When this toddler had a meltdown at checkout, these Winter Park, Florida Trader Joe's employees jumped into action with an impromptu dance party. The video goes viral.

Mindful Moments Blog

A Mother’s Love: I Hope You Always Know

by Guest Author

A mother shares her perspective of Motherhood. No matter the doubt, or her questions of being enough, there is one thing she knows for sure, "despite all my questions, my immeasurable love for you is not one of them."

Mindful Moments Blog

A Mother’s Love: I Hope You Always Know

by Guest Author

Mindful Moments Blog

Moving Past Punishment With Compassion

by Ashley Patek

Maybe what she needed was to be seen, heard, and validated. For someone to tell her that she didn’t have to be that scared child anymore. Here are 5 ways to show compassion to a fellow parent and 3 ways to re-parent your inner child.

Play-based tool to reduce stress in the classroom

Mindful Moments Blog

A Play-Based Solution To Reducing Stress In The Classroom

by Guest Author

How can educators bring mindfulness practices into their classrooms? This educator shares tips and ideas for playful mindful minutes that can be added into the school day.

Mindful Moments Blog

Positive Affirmations are Helping Kids

by Ashley Patek

These printable mantra bracelets are a great way for parents to share comforting and empowering mantras with children as young as age two on up. Because when we feel worthy and loved, we respond as if we are worthy and loved. And when we feel powerless and not enough, we respond as if we are powerless and not enough.

Mindful Moments Blog

Finding Freedom From Guilt To Reclaim Your Authentic Self

by Guest Author

Motherhood can feel like the synonym of should. No matter what we do, there will always be someone to tell us we didn't do enough, or maybe that we did too much. Learn what your guilt is telling you, and how to move through it to find your authentic self!

Mindful Moments Blog

There's What Parents Say And What Kids Hear

by Ashley Patek

Does it ever feel like there is a disconnect between what you say and what your kids hear? Like, somehow, asking your child not to jump on the couch or slap her brother translates into more jumping and continued slapping. Here are common parenting phrases, what kids hear, and what we can say instead to get on the same page.

Mindful Moments Blog

The Myth of Self-Regulation

by Rebecca Eanes

Self-regulation is a myth. Regulation is never about the self because we are always drawing on internal representations of what we have previously experienced in relationships. So, before our kids can self-regulate, they must first learn to co-regulate. Here's how.

Mindful Moments Blog

Going With The Flow: Using Improv Games To Teach Flexibility

by Guest Author

Sam struggled with impulse control and emotional processing when he didn't get what he wanted. Does this sound familiar in your home? I created an improv game to help nurture emotional intelligence and bolster flexibility. Get this game and more in our E-Book: 10 Minutes of Play For 10 Days!

Mindful Moments Blog

Teaching (Not Training) Toddlers To Toilet

by Ashley Patek

Helping children transition from diapers to using the toilet is a big milestone, one often surrounded by stress. Here are tools to guide our tots in toileting without the power struggle.

Mindful Moments Blog

Parenting Still Takes a Village, Here’s 5 Fresh Reasons Why

by Ashley Patek

When we realize one truth - that we don’t have to do it all, all of the time, we buttress our child’s social and emotional development right alongside our own.

Using Social Stories To Nurture Connection During Home Visits

Mindful Moments Blog

Creating Safe Spaces and Nurturing Connection Using Social Stories and More

by Ashley Patek

Home visits can play an important role in alleviating the intergenerational transmission of trauma by helping parents and caregivers build positive and healthy attachments with their children. And, in using social stories for home visits, children can better navigate challenging situations. Here's how. Plus FREE Scripted Social Stories Printable.

Mindful Moments Blog

Until The Last

by Ashley Patek

A poem about savoring the little moments of parenting. "No one prepared me for the hardest part of parenting … letting go. Parenting is the longest, most gradual break-up. A story that grows in chapters, filled with firsts that turn into lasts."

Mindful Moments Blog

If It All Feels Heavy Today, Read This

by Rebecca Eanes

There are millions of beautiful moments in parenting and also, sometimes, it feels hard. If you’re finding yourself in a heavy season today, or if you are having trouble recognizing yourself, here are 5 pieces of encouragement.