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By Anne Broderius, West Elementary Principal

Mindfulness is the mind’s ability to be fully aware in the moment, to what is happening, to what you are doing, and being aware of the space you are currently in. Everyone of us has the ability to be mindful, we just have to learn how to access and practice it. The first thing to become mindful requires us to minimize the amount of multitasking we do throughout the day. 

Our worlds are moving so fast and so full of noise. Pause for just a moment and listen to the environment you are in right now. How many different sounds do you hear? Do you have multiple technology devices nearby or actually accessing right now? How many tabs do you have up on your computer? Do you have a TV or music playing in the background? Many think being able to multitask seems like a great way to get a lot done at once, but new research is showing that our brains are not as good at handling several tasks at one time like we think it can. Several researchers suggest that multitasking can actually cause harm to productivity and reduce our ability to attend and comprehend. It also prevents us from being mindful and exhausts our brains. How many times have you started one project and then quickly become distracted by something you hear or see causing you to start doing something else and then feeling frustrated that you didn’t get anything accomplished? As we learn more about mindfulness we also need to realize that stress and multitasking can actually hinder a child’s ability to apply executive functions, the cognitive, emotional, and behavioral skills needed to navigate through life. Begin to be ok with single tasking some parts of your day. Our children, who are watching and learning from everything we do, may actually thank us for it someday. 

We can all begin by creating a bit more quietude in our lives. Silence for even as little as two minutes can be relaxing and good for our brains. Research has shown pausing for just a few minutes can help to regenerate cells within the hippocampus, which is the part of the brain that is responsible for memory and learning. Slowing down and enjoying a little silence each day is beneficial for children and adults. Give it a try. Just sit for a few minutes while looking around at things in your environment. Are there details you’ve never noticed before, what shadows are being created by the light in the room. What sounds do you hear that you’ve maybe never heard before? Next time you are waiting with your child for an appointment, challenge yourself to not use any devices to pass the time. Talk with your child about what they see and hear. What details do they notice, what sounds do they hear, what are they curious about?  When you are sitting down for a meal together ensure there are no devices being used. Talk about the day – the lessons learned, the highs and lows, favorite moments. When you are traveling in the car, talk about the day ahead, what you notice out the car window, or just enjoy the silence. Best of all, enjoy and savor your child’s company while in any daily routine and find pleasure in just slowing down and being together without distractions or trying to multitask for even just a few minutes. 

When we teach slowing down and mindfulness to our children we are giving them the tools to build confidence, reduce stress, and move through life’s challenges. We can begin this as early as the toddler years and practice even as adults, helping each of us to develop resilience, pay attention to detail, hold information in our brains, successfully play and interact with others, and regulate our emotions. These are all parts of executive functioning and are considered essential for more advanced life skills like planning and prioritizing, problem solving, emotional control, reasoning, and social relationships. 

Three major benefits of mindfulness have been shown in studies. The benefits noted are decreased levels of stress, including depression, anxiety, and disruptive behavior, improved academic performance, including conflict resolution and an overall feeling of well-being, and increased focus, including attention to detail, self-control, compassion, and participation. 

Our children are watching and learning from each of us right now. It’s time we model and practice slowing down and being mindful in daily life. A quote from a famous 1980s movie might say it best: “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.”​

Registration is now open for the ECFE Winter classes.

Register online – click here (for the full Community Education Brochure – click here). Or, call ECFE at 320-234-2624 (email [email protected]

By Jessica Bouta, Counselor, West Elementary

The hustle and bustle of the holiday season is upon us, often leaving us searching for time with loved ones or for the “perfect” gift.  At West Elementary, our students recently started a unit in our social/emotional curriculum, Second Step, about the power of kindness. Our students have learned a kind act is being intentional with words and/or actions to do something nice for someone else.  Together we have explored how others feel when they receive kindness and how sharing kindness makes us feel.  

Teaching about and practicing kindness takes place throughout the entire year in our building through the use of picture books, modeling kind acts, and classroom discussions. Being kind is also one of our school-wide “Be Rules”. People who regularly practice showing kindness often appear happier, have higher self esteem, and have more meaningful relationships with their peers. They may also show a greater sense of appreciation for the people around them, as well as the things they have.

Here are some simple ways to teach and/or share kindness with your family:

• Use picture books to cultivate a discussion of what kindness can look, sound, and feel like.
• Create a daily kindness challenge as a family with simple ideas and check in at the end of the day to see how the kind act went.
• Have a conversation about what kind acts you and your child witnessed throughout the day and explore how this made the person feel.
• Show your appreciation or thanks when kindness is shared with you.

As we embark on this holiday season, we invite you and your families to join us at West Elementary by being intentional with your time and gifts to show kindness to those around you. Remember that “Kindness is a gift that everyone can afford to give” – Author Unknown.

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