Lezione 1
Three Grateful Things Exercise
Gratitude helps combat negative self-talk, increases self-esteem, rewires the brain for more positive thought processes, and changes mindset especially when things are feeling challenging.
Gratitude is the quickest route to helping children take on challenges, including life and academic challenges, it helps them learn new information, rewrites the brain.
This lesson goes through the simple exercise of pausing to reflect on 3 things you and your child are grateful for. Take a moment to look at the simple things around you that bring a smile to your heart and life.
For any parent who has a child calling themselves "stupid," gratitude is the easiest way to rework this outlook in life and change their perception. Adding small academic successes also helps with increasing their self-esteem and creating a perception change to positivity so that they can trust in themselves and their own intelligence.
Lezione 2
3-4-5 Breath
This simple technique uses a 3-4-5 breath count for one minute. 3-second slow inhale through the nose or mouth. 4 second hold. And a 5-second slow exhalation. This long exhale allows a child to ground more and ground the energy a little more to be more present. This breathwork can be done with the eyes opened or closed, kids can wiggle or lounge if they need to.
We're using the 3-4-5 breath to create ease in the body while breathing. So remember when holding to keep a soft body, face, jaw, cheeks, shoulders etc.
You can play with it and extend beyond one minute, but one simple minute is enough to create change!
Lezione 3
Nose Breathing
This lesson walks you through the process of nose breathing, or traditional Nadi Shodana breathing, which can be adapted easily and simply to help kids process and learn better in academics. It helps the two brain hemispheres (the left and right) communicate better and helps build a stronger corpus callosum connecting the two better!
I use this breathwork at the beginning of each tutoring session- it's great to do and helps kids ground right before starting homework or any other academic task.
Through breathwork and neuroplasticity, we can help create a stronger processing system in children that helps with their academics, focus, and retention of material, as well as boosts self-confidence and the feeling of calm. When we help kids connect to their own bodies and breathe, it makes them more present, more mindful, and more confident learners.
Lezione 4
Eyes-Closed Breathing
This lesson walks you through how to introduce to your child to simple eyes-closed breathing (aka stillness and meditation). Start with one minute and then go from there with the goal of working up to 5 minutes of eyes-closed breathing and stillness.
Kids can lie down or sit, whatever is easiest for them. This helps with extending their attention and focus as well as learning to be still with themselves.
If when you tried the first minute of eyes-closed breathing you found it hard, try the lesson again and see if it feels easier the second time. Also, try counting your inhales or exhales for the 60-second timeframe to see if that makes keeping your eyes closed and breathing with a balanced breath easier.
Stay with 1 minute of eyes closed breathing until it feels easier and natural before moving on; then building to 2 minutes, then 3 minutes, up to 5 minutes.
As a side note: Breathwork can be as simple as taking 3-5 mindful breaths before any big assignment before homework is started, or anything that gives them anxiety. It can be as simple as coming back to the body and breathing to help a child learn.