MESSAGE FROM THE EDGEWOOD HEALTH & WELLNESS COMMITTEE

Mindfulness Techniques for Calm, Focus and Peace

Living in the world can be stressful and uncertain. The practice of mindfulness allows us to learn to understand and navigate our thoughts and emotions in a healthy way.  With continued practice, we can slowly shift our attention inward to observe our thoughts, feelings and actions without judgement.  This ability allows us to live more fully in the present moment without fear and self-doubt.  When our 5 senses are fully engaged our minds are quiet, and our hearts are open.  It is a life-long process and a goal worth pursuing.

The Health and Wellness Committee will be supporting your understanding and experience of mindfulness throughout this coming month.  We will be sharing with you different activities to integrate mindfulness into your family’s life via the Edgewood Extra. The focus on developing practices to quiet the mind and regulate emotions is a daily practice that we hope you and your family will continue throughout the year. 

Here are some resources we recommend to either begin or continue turning inward as a way to quiet the mind and experience calm, focus and peace: 

BOOKS FOR KIDS

1. Meditate with Me: A Step-By-Step Mindfulness Journey by Mariam Gates

2. Peaceful Piggy Meditation by Kerry Lee MacLean

3. Master of Mindfulness: How to Be Your Own Superhero in Times of Stress by Laurie Grossman

4. Sitting Still Like a Frog: Mindfulness Exercises for Kids (and their Parents) by Eline Snel

5. The Lemonade Hurricane: A Story of Mindfulness and Meditation by Licia Morelli

6. I am Peace by Susan Verde

BOOKS FOR ADULTS

1. Ready, Set, Breathe: Practicing Mindfulness with Your Children for Fewer Meltdowns and a More Peaceful Family by Carla Naumburg

2. 10 Mindful Minutes: Giving Our Children- and Ourselves- the Social and Emotional Skills to Reduce Stress and Anxiety by Goldie Hawn

MEDITATION APPS

1. Headspace

2. Breathe, Think, Do!

3. Settle Your Glitter

4. Calm

5. Breathing Bubbles

ACTIVITY CARDS

1. Mindful Games Activity Cards: 55 Fun Ways to Share Mindfulness with Kids and Teens by Susan Kaiser Greenland and Annaka Harris

2. Mindful Kids: 50 Activities for Calm, Focus and Peace by Whitney Stewart and Mina Braun

Let us know if there is a particular health/wellness topic you’d like to hear more about.

Thank you!

The Health and Wellness Committee