Mindful Moments Blog

Browse by Theme

Loading articles…

Social Emotional Learning in the Classroom: Simple Tools for the New School Year

by Suzanne Tucker

Social emotional learning starts in everyday classroom moments. Explore simple SEL strategies teachers can use to build emotional literacy, support regulation, strengthen relationships, and create a classroom where children feel safe, understood, and ready to learn.

Woman kneeling to comfort a young boy, with illustrated hands exchanging a gray cloud for a red heart in the background

Positive vs. Negative Reinforcement: A Guide for Parents

by Alex Petrou

Learn how positive vs. negative reinforcement influence your parenting style and the ways positive reinforcers can support your child’s development.

Mother comforting her highly sensitive teenage son during an emotional moment, illustrating parental support, empathy, and teen mental health.

Helping Your Highly Sensitive Child Gain Confidence

by Rebecca Eanes

When our children are highly sensitive, rejection and criticism hurt more deeply. They get embarrassed easily and have strong emotional reactions, which can make them the target for bullying. Here are 5 tools to boost your child's confidence.

Woman looking at an old childhood photo of herself, surrounded by illustrated hearts and clouds

Healing From A Childhood You Don't Remember

by Ashley Patek

While we may not remember our childhood with our mind and verbal words, our body keeps the score and stores the information it receives from our formative years, namely which parts of us to grow and which to shrink. These downloads show up as patterns in adulthood and in our parenting. Read more.

Woman with eyes closed and hand on her chest, staying calm, with a flower graphic beside her

9 Mantras I Use When Low On Patience With My Kids

by Ashley Patek

Mantras can change the wiring of our brain and create a new lens to see ourselves, our kids, and the world at large. Here are 9 parenting mantras I use when low on patience with my kids.

of two young girls/ siblings fighting, one pulling hair

End Sibling Rivalry And Bring Peace Into Your Home

by Ashley Patek

Siblings are natural competitors for attachment, bidding for our love and attention. Here's 3 Parenting Do's and Don'ts when it comes to sibling relationships.

No articles found for this theme.

Emotional Education Helps Woman Finds Self-Love After Childhood Accident

by Guest Author

After being in a traumatic accident, I viewed the world differently than every other eleven-year-old. My brain didn’t adapt as well as my body, and I wondered, "What's wrong with me?" Then, I found the one thing that was lacking in my childhood: emotional education. Here's my journey.

Teaching Academics and Social-Emotional Skills in the Montessori Classroom

by Ashley Patek

Emily Canibano, a Montessori teacher with a classroom of 16 students ranging in age from 1.2 to 5.5 years, was looking for a way to teach social-emotional skills in her classroom, both in feeling emotions and in the safe expression of them.

Reducing Toddler Tantrums

by Alex Petrou

One family’s journey using time-ins to manage their toddler's big feelings, going from 33 to 3 tantrums a day in just one week.

Autistic Mama and Sons Request: See Us for Us, Not our Labels

by Ashley Patek

Tiffany Hammond is an autistic mama to two autistic sons. She shares that their diagnosis is not a one-size-fits-all expression. Rather, Tiffany sees this as part of her family’s unique human experience.

Reclaiming Authenticity Through Self-Love

by Guest Author

A mama shares a poem about shedding old narratives and expectations so that she can be her authentic self, and in doing so, her six-year-old son is empowered to do the same.

Breaking The Cycle: A Shift from Punitive to Positive Parenting

by Ashley Patek

A shift from punitive punishment to positive parenting. One mama shares her story of breaking the generational cycle of spanking to connection-based childrearing.

Morning Meetings and Connecting a Classroom

by Ashley Patek

A the school counselor shares how her school transformed its classroom culture by using SnuggleBuddies plush toys to teach students about their emotions.

How One Child Learned To Manage His Emotions By Watching His Sister

by Ashley Patek

With the use of the Time-In-Toolkit and SnuggleBuddies Plush Toys, one child learned how to manage his emotions by modeling his older sister.

Using Art for Emotional Regulation

by Alex Petrou

A mama warrior overcomes frustration to make a teachable moment through art for her son. Three tips to incorporate art into positive parenting.

An Itch Saved My Life

by Ashley Patek

Diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 33, Dulci navigated treatment, working full time, and parenting her son. This is what she says others need to know, and it could save a life.

Why This Four-Year-Old's Video On Skin Color Needs To Go Viral

by Ashley Patek

As an African American woman married to a white man, Ebony and her husband Michael have made it their mission to teach their four-year-old son, Max, about emotions and inclusion.

When Your Child Fears The Coronavirus: 8 Tips for Taming Anxiety

by Ashley Patek

As a parent, what do you do when your child has fears that feel out of their control - things like viral outbreaks and global warming? Learn 8 tips for taming fears and anxieties through connection.

School Program Uses PeaceMakers to Aide Social-Emotional Skill Building

by Alex Petrou

Fit Abilities Yoga program in the Ferguson MO School District are empowering students by using Generation Mindful's PeaceMakers mantra cards.

Harlow

by Ashley Patek

This mama uses a poem to capture her experience of telling her son about his sister ... "What happened, mama? Why didn’t she come home? ... Her body laid so still at birth, I said, But her soul knew where to go."

The Trauma-Aware Classroom: We All Need Compassion

by Guest Author

I am a teacher. In order to associate with the trauma of my students, I become aware of my own trauma.

Raising Emotionally-Intelligent Boys: One Mom's Journey

by Ashley Patek

What do you do when the world around you tells you that you are too sensitive? Do you adapt to the social norms and shift who you are, or do you hush the noise of society to listen to your inner wisdom?

Building Strong Foundations: Insight from an Early Childhood Professional

by Ashley Martin

Rosemarie Lawton is the Director of Professional Development at The Child Care Council of Orange County and longtime GENM advocate. Her company works diligently with families and childcare providers, with their primary purpose being to coordinate, assist, strengthen, and expand child care in Orange County for all children.

Bringing The Shadows To Light: Reparenting Yourself In Motherhood

by Ashley Patek

One mama went into the shadows of her youth to heal the wounds of emotional neglect. And in doing so, she reparented herself, and transformed the connection with her daughter.

What Two Young Boys Taught Their Grandma About Anger

by Alex Petrou

I gave SnuggleBuddies to my grandsons while they were visiting for Christmas to help them learn about feelings, but what happened next surprised me. You see, that Christmas morning, we had a situation, one that caused my dog to get very, very sick. My dog had gotten into some chocolate candy. My grandson tried to comfort our dog with the things that comfort them. Hank the elf, their SnuggleBuddies Red Bear and Orange Fox, blankets, and a balloon. When I found out that my husband had left the chocolates out where the dog got into them, I was furious. Having to deal with a sick puppy is bad enough, but to make matters worse, I have a rare neuromuscular condition (Myasthenia Gravis) that greatly affects my activity and breathing, and extra activity lands me in bed and on my noninvasive ventilator. I knew from past experience that a dog eating chocolate results in a very ill pooch with lots of cleaning up and a special diet. I wanted to enjoy our visit with the kids and the holidays...but I was angry. I knew my husband did not intend for this to happen, and I did not want to be in a bad mood for the evening while my family was visiting. But I was! That was when my daughter suggested the boys ask NayNay (me) if she wanted to “do her feelings”. They were excited about that and ran to get their SnuggleBuddies to share with me. Everyone listened and supported me as I went through my feelings. I began to feel better, and it dawned on me that I was actually setting an example for my grandsons. I also realized that had my grandsons and their SnuggleBuddies not been there, I wouldn't have talked about or worked through my angry feelings that quickly. I just love those things; they are so cuddly! I ordered myself a Red Bear. And don't tell, but Red Bear has already helped my husband with some of his feelings too. As a grandma, I love Generation Mindful. It makes me feel like I can really add to my grandson's lives in a lasting way. They live 15 hours away, so I don’t see them in person often. But it is so important to me that they know I SEE THEM!!! Sometimes my grandsons call/facetime me to tell me their sad or mad feelings...and I think, I can do this! I can be there for them. Despite any amount of distance or disability, I can listen. _____________ Generation Mindful creates tools, toys, and programs that nurture emotional intelligence through play and positive discipline. Join us and receive joy in your inbox each week.

Social worker and mom uses yoga and positive affirmations to heal herself and her family

by Ashley Patek

One mom shares how she uses her training in social work and yoga to heal herself, her family, and her community.