Let Them Play, Let Them Struggle, Let Them Learn

"The adults observing the children look over at me with worried looks. I instruct them to observe but stay close and hidden among the trees. Secretly, I’m wondering if we should intervene now, but something tells me to wait."

An excerpt from Why adults have to stop trying so darn hard to control how children play by Valerie Strauss, The Washington Post, December 11th, 2015.  An oldie but a goodie about why we should supervise our children's play but understand that there is a balance between supporting and hovering.

Holiday Family Skate

A Minion Reasons to be Thankful

"Hate" has 4 letters, but so does "Love"

"Enemies" has 7 letters, but so does "Friends"

"Lying" has 5 letters, but so does "Truth"

"Hurt" has 4 letters, but so does "Heal"

Transform every negative energy into an aura of "Possibility".  

It is our perception that makes the difference in the way we feel.

Wisdom from Stuart, who will be joining the board tomorrow~

Grieving a Beloved Pet

In her article,  "Take It From a Family Who JUST Lost a Pet: This Research About Kids' Grief Will Help", Melissa Willets shares her family's loss of a beloved pet while drawing useful snippets from the October publication of "New research explores what it means when a child loses a pet". Below the article, in the comment section, Candi Wingate shares some practical advise on how to communicate the death to and how to support our children through the experience.

A worthwhile "cup of coffee" read.

World Kindness Day - Early Start

Gratitude as the Antidote

“Piglet noticed that even though he had a Very Small Heart, it could hold a rather large amount of Gratitude.” - A.A. Milne, Winnie-the-Pooh

For many years, we have been reading research on the connections between the practice of gratitude and happiness, health, improvements in personal or professional relationships.  Though the definition of gratitude varies, most studies confirm that there is much to be gained by recognizing, reflecting on, and articulating experiences or things that are valuable and meaningful to us.  In Praise of Gratitude, published several years ago around the Thanksgiving season in America, lists some easy "Ways for Cultivating Gratitude"from thanking someone mentally to keeping a gratitude journal.

In her "Creativity in Therapy" blog, Carolyn Mehlomakulu shared the idea of using a "Gratitude Jar" as a tool to "increasing awareness of positive things in one's life".

I believe I will start with being grateful for the jar of Strawberry Rhubarb jam which will put me on my journey of gratitude this school year!

How to Disagree - Wisdom from Kid President

Quoting Mandela, Gandhi, and Meowth!