Lovingkindness Meditation
Try this 6-minute lovingkindness meditation with your family. It was recorded for us by the Barbara Verrochi and Kristin Leigh, co-directors of The Shala Yoga House in Brooklyn. The Shala also holds daily morning meditation practices via Zoom that we highly recommend for beginners and more advanced adults. These sessions are a great way to commit to a mindfulness […]
Raising Resilience, A Workshop for Parents with Christopher Willard at P.S. 321, December 2018 (video)
With his expertise in mindfulness and psychology, Dr. Christopher Willard, PSYD, offers an exploration of how to cultivate a mindful family amidst the chaos of our modern world, planting compassionate and wise seeds for our children and our future.
Raising Resilience: The Wisdom and Science of Happy Families and Thriving Children by Christopher Willard PsyD
In every spiritual tradition, we find teachings on the virtues and qualities that we most want to pass on to our kids—such as generosity, kindness, honesty, determination, and patience. Today, a growing body of research from neuroscience and social psychology supports these teachings, offering insights into cultivating these virtues in ourselves and in our families. […]
Growing Up Mindful: Essential Practices to Help Children, Teens, and Families Find Balance, Calm, and Resilience by Christopher Willard, PsyD
Growing Up Mindful helps parents, educators, and counselors learn how to embody and share the skills of mindfulness that will empower our children with resilience throughout their lives. With more than 75 accessible exercises and practices, along with adaptations for the individual needs of a wide range of children and teens
Alphabreaths: The ABC’s of Mindful Breathing by Christopher Willard and Daniel Rechtschaffen (ages 4-8)
Children learn both their ABCs and the basics of mindfulness through playful exercises and vivid illustrations. Each letter of the alphabet teaches a simple mindfulness or compassion-based practice.
Peaceful Piggy Meditation by Kerry Lee MacLean (ages 4-7)
A meditation therapist’s case for deep relaxation in terms pitched straight at kids with suggestions like visualizing the quieting of one’s mind as the settling of particles in a muddied jar of water.
It’s Hard to be a Verb by Julia Cook (ages 5-8)
Louis is a verb! He has a lot of trouble focusing and he is always doing something, but the problem is usually it’s the wrong something. Louis mom teaches him how to focus by showing him a few hands on ideas that anyone can try. A must have book for all who struggle with paying […]
Be Where Your Feet Are! by Julia Cook (ages 5-8)
Each day, there are so many things to think about. Getting ready for school, turning in homework, taking a math test, band solo tryouts, soccer practice…and it is a long way from your head to your feet. Be Where Your Feet Are! reinforces the concepts of mindfulness and being present in a fun way children […]
Sitting Still Like a Frog: Mindfulness Exercises for Kids (and Their Parents) (ages 5-12)
Simple mindfulness practices to help your child deal with anxiety, improve concentration, and handle difficult emotions
A Handful of Quiet: Happiness in Four Pebbles by Thich Nhat Hanh (ages 5-9)
A Handful of Quiet presents one of the best known and most innovative meditation practices developed by Thich Nhat Hanh as part of the Plum Village community’s practice with children. Pebble meditation is a playful and fun activity that parents and educators can do with their children to introduce them to meditation. It is designed […]