Family Learning Summer Programme – Week 5 Challenge

• Simply stated, Mindfulness means maintaining a moment-by-moment awareness of our thoughts, feelings, bodily sensations, and surrounding environment. As a parent it is important to model to your children that your mental health and happiness is important too, and you can show them how to look after their health too.
• Breathing – This skill is easily taught to children and can be practiced by both you and your child. Lie down on your back with a favourite stuffed animal resting on your tummy. Now, notice the rise and fall as you slowly breathe in and out. Fast forward to your child being extremely sad or angry. Ask your child to take 20 deep breaths (with their stuffed animal) before you continue the conversation you’re having. Of course, it won’t hurt if you’re also taking deep breaths during this time so you can both come back to the issue a little calmer.
• It is important when creating a wellbeing box as a family to make sure that your children have an equal say on what is included in the box. This is a great exercise to help all members of the family to practice mindfulness listening.
• Sometimes music is great to focus the mind – gives yourself 5 minutes to put on some headphones, choose 1 song to listen to that you know will relax you…. Or sit outside for five minutes and notice sounds. This is something we can encourage our children to do to be in the moment. At the end of 5 minutes it opens up conversation and stimulates discussion.
• Prepare in advance – collect drawings, paper, sketch book or pictures and then place them somewhere that you can access when you need 5 minutes – and practice drawing, colouring, where a picture takes you. Stay in the moment/subconscious thought. Enjoy!

Homemade Scrubs

Ingredients:

• 1 cup of exfoliant
• ½ cup of liquid
• 2-3 tablespoons of fun add ins

Method:

Exfoliant Options:

• Salt
• Sugar
• Coffee grounds
• Baking soda
• Oatmeal
• Ground rice

Liquid Options:

• Honey
• Milk
• Coconut oil
• Olive oil

Fun ad-ins:

• Citrus
• Herbs and spices
• Tropical fruit
• Chocolate
• Essential oils