HEALTHY FAMILY
as to help combat job stress and burnout
for themselves. (Non-teachers will find
great tips there, too.)
One important step anyone can take in
creating positivity for the year ahead is to
declare intent. “Intention setting is a pow-
erful practice,” Kane says. An intention is a
guiding principle that brings your heart and
mind into alignment and evokes feeling and
purpose (i.e., practice being nonjudgmen-
tal of oneself and others or let go of fear).

“It gives children an opportunity to create
a sense of purpose in the school year,” Kane
explains. When they commit and focus
deeply on a specifi c intention, it helps turn
that thought into reality.

lish practice as habit. Older students may
be more likely to recognize and appreciate
the benefi ts of the strategies, which may
motivate them to practice more often.

“Certainly adolescents are a bit more
skeptical,” Kane says. “Also, the social
pressures of peers may influence their
willingness to try. But I have worked with
2-year-olds through 18-year-olds and find
that these practices can help all of them
reduce anxiety, find greater ease in their
development and, overall, just be happier
individuals.” And it’s not just those who
seem like they would need it the most
who benefit from mindfulness. Creating
a calmer, more positive classroom climate
helps all students.

short on time, the fi rst human attribute to
go is kindness,” says Kane. “A simple prac-
tice to cultivate kindness for oneself and
others is the practice of peace wishes. This is
a beautiful practice to share with your child
that can be done upon rising, at the dinner
table, at bedtime or anytime.

Place your hands on your heart, say out loud
to yourself:
May I be peaceful. May I be happy. May
I be safe.

(Pause between the three statements, so
the child can repeat them.)
Next, tell your child “Let’s send our peace
wishes to one another,” and say:
May you be peaceful. May you be happy.

May you be safe.

Everyone can benefit
Think of the whole world, everyone and
Like with learning a new language, can Give it a try
younger children pick up on mindfulness Here is one short practice you can try with everything, and say:
May all beings be peaceful. May all beings
practices more readily? Not so, it seems. your children to incorporate mindfulness
be happy. May all beings be safe.

Everyone can benefi t from being mindful, into your lives:
Then, close your eyes for just a moment,
if they’ll give it a chance. Formal, struc-
and take a breath. You have wished the
tured practice may work best with children, Kindness Wishes
and consistency and repetition help estab- “Research shows that when humans feel whole world, including yourself, peace. ■
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