Flourish Yoga

Playdough is an excellent resource to have in a calming corner or calming toolbox

This is why we have a playdough station during centers time. So important!

https://www.theottoolbox.com/benefits-of-play-dough/

Hmmm I think we could at least 1 more socially distant greeting 🙏🏼

According to research, greeting each student at the door with a positive message daily brings benefits for both students and educators. Educators have the ability to make students want to come to school or stay away.

Greetings can still happen during Covid times. Socially distanced greetings can replace some of the more traditional options.

I felt that I was doing enough by raising / educating my littles to be accepting of all races, but now I have realized I need to go further than being an inclusive parent and need to educate my children on being anti-racist.

I’ve gotten a lot of responses from parents asking why we need to teach anti-racism. Why can’t we just teach children to be kind and inclusive?

The problem with strategies based solely on inclusivity and diversity is that they assume a level playing field for all. Anti-racism recognizes that racist beliefs have permeated our culture and created systemic problems. Rather than just talking about it, anti-racism asks that we actively work against it.

“White parents especially don’t talk about [race], because they believe that kids should be colorblind. But studies show that as early as the age of 2 children begin to define people based on race.” - Ibram X. Kendi

A few years back, a black girl joined my classroom of mostly white two-year-olds halfway through the school year. LIving in mostly-white Portland, meeting her was the first direct experience many of them had with someone who didn’t look like them.

One child asked if her skin was dirty. Another child told her she couldn’t be Elsa, she could only be Moana.

It is never too early to talk to kids about race. If we don’t do it, children of color have to bear the brunt of our silence.

For more resources on raising anti-racist kids, check out the resources The Conscious Kid, Teaching Tolerance, and Mamademics have created.

Someone messaged me to call me out on my silence. My first reaction was defensive. It’s not my story. What’s on the news isn’t even my country. My opinion is irrelevant. Whatever I say, I know I will say the wrong thing. But being scared of saying the wrong thing isn’t a reason to not say anything. Amongst my many privileges is the privilege of having an audience who are in a similar position to me. Responsible for raising tomorrow’s adults. I take that responsibility very seriously. This IS my story. It’s all of our story. 🖤

Hi Guys! It’s Ms Kyrstin... remember me?!

It’s been quiet over here lately... like hear the crickets quiet. 🦗 As a family we’ve also noticed how much we have enjoyed the quiet in the world around us, sitting outside in the evening, listening to the birds chirp and sing, little animals, sounds of the trees in the wind, voices of children riding along the path near our house and sometimes even the waves. Listening has allowed us to be in the present moment when our mind has wandered.

I haven’t forgotten about you all! Unfortunately when I come here my mind wanders off to things that are uncertain... when will I get to resume teaching, when will I see my little yoga friends again, and it makes me a bit sad. I miss teaching in schools, classrooms, preschools etc. I miss seeing all my regular little yogis.

I hope you are all doing well, embracing these moments of simple times and slower paced a time to nurture our souls.

Teachers!!!

Here is a wonderful mindfulness and meditation resource!

We love & appreciate all of the hard work you do, each and every day to support students wellbeing and learning! 💕

Sincerely,

The parents & students who miss you dearly!

If my attempt at homeschooling has taught me anything it's the value of teachers. I want to deeply thank teachers all over the world with free access to the Ten Percent Happier app. http://tenpercent.com/care

May The Force Be With You!

We are over here having the monday-est of quarantine Monday’s that we can and my mindfulness muscles are being worked extra hard today.

I am grateful that my mindset and mindfulness practice has been with me during our quarantine, even though we’ve all had our moments of frustrations and emotions being mindful has made these moments few and easily recoverable.

Follow along over the next 4 weeks for a Family Mindfulness Challenge. Sharing SIMPLE tips and activities to help you and your child grow their mindset, move your bodies and practice mindfulness in your everyday lives.

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Next week is Earth Day, unfortunately all organized Earth Day Celebrations have been cancelled. We have been celebrating Earth Day as a family cleaning up the beach at for years now however the national parks and beaches are closed. I have encouraged my daughter to look at our daily lives, what we do and how we live and how those choices impact the earth, the animals, people and environment around us.

Tonight we set the kids up with a movie and us parents began watching . There are definitely moments that are upsetting but also moments that are encouraging. They mention nurdles, which I often find washed up along the shore of Lake Huron. Our eldest I mentioned earlier watch a good portion of the doc with us. Even though she’s only 6 she really does have a fair understanding about our choices. We talked about what we purchase can make an impact in the environment. Earlier this week we planted trees with our codes and I reminded her about the bracelet I wear. We also avoid single use plastics, pack litter less lunches and compost our food waste. It’s also incredible how much fuel we have NOT consumed this last month.

How are you honouring & helping the earth next week?

@ Tecumseh, Ontario

A few weeks into quarantine mode we noticed a change in our older daughters behaviour... it was mostly baby talk, using words a toddler would, not speaking in full sentences. We were not sure if it was from spending so much time with her younger sister who has a slight speech delay or if it was something along these lines. As we’ve all settled into our routine and rolls in the new normal it has corrected.

Have you noticed any regressions with your little ones?

And with regards to the speech delay... don’t wait and see! We were so glad that we were on top of it and able to get her into Talk2Me as well as having her hearing tested. She couldn’t hear, or her hearing was equivalent to being underwater and she had fluid in her ear canal. Once it was corrected and she could hear, along with the support of her speech pathologist, there have been amazing improvements!!

This is why your child is acting like a baby right now Nighttime waking, potty accidents and other regression can accompany new stress or anxiety.