Last Thursday was International Mindfulness Day, which is a good opportunity to remind ourselves of the power of being mindful and present in the moment.

Remember that you can be mindful by:

• Stepping outside for a mindful walk

• Taking time to do some meditation

• Using a gratitude and reflection journal 

• Mindfully eating a snack or drinking a cup of tea

• Doing some mindful movements, such as yoga

• Mindful breathing (see the ‘Filling the balloon’ resource)

• Pausing to take notice of sounds, sights, smells and other sensations around you
  

Any and every part of your child’s day can be mindful, it just requires them to be present. By developing mindfulness as a regular part of your child’s day you will be giving them the skills to effectively cope with challenges, to reset their emotions when they need to and to prioritise their wellbeing. When being mindful, remind your child not to worry if their mind wanders (it will do that!), they just need to gently bring their attention back to what they are doing. In sharing mindfulness with your child you may discover the power of developing it as a daily practice for yourself as well. 

This newsletter has drawn on information and resources from Pause Breathe Smile. I would encourage you to have a look at the website as there are free resources available for parents and caregivers to use at home. 

Image sourced from: https://pausebreathesmile.nz/

Jenelle Hooson

Jenelle is a fully registered member with NZAC (New Zealand Association of Counsellors).

If you wish to discuss the services the School Counsellor can provide, please talk to your child’s homeroom teacher or make contact with Jenelle directly: jenelle.hooson@medbury.school.nz