Copy

Tuesday, September 3, 2019

The power of your breath is incredible!  How you breathe can actually alter your brain.  It can change your mood, your outlook, your performance on a test.  It can help you to focus, make better decisions, regulate your body and your emotions, and connect with others. 

That's why breathing is at the center of the powerful practice of mindfulness. 

In its simplest terms, mindfulness is a mental state of being where you are open and actively attentive in the present.  As James Baraz says, "Mindfulness is simply being aware of what is happening right now without wishing it were different. Enjoying the pleasant without holding on when it changes (which it will). Being with the unpleasant without fearing it will always be this way (which it won’t)."

Mindfulness allows us to listen to our bodies, be aware of both the world around us and our inner thoughts and feelings, and creates the space for gratitude, empathy, and compassion for ourselves and others to grow. 

This summer, the BStrong Together Programming Committee met with Eleni Keller, a Hough Street Elementary School teacher who has been trained in the Mindful School model.  We were interested in learning about the powerful effects of mindfulness that she is seeing in the classroom and strategies that families can use at home.

Practicing mindfulness can start as simply as: 

  1. Find a comfortable spot and position in which to sit or lie down. 

  1. You may close your eyes or leave them open – whichever is more comfortable for you. 

  1. Begin to breathe from your belly, exhaling longer than you are inhaling. 

  1. You can set a timer for when to stop if you like.  You will be amazed at how restorative just 1 or 2 minutes of mindful breathing can be. 

There are lots of ways to teach kids how to breathe mindfully (square breathing, balloon blowing, candle breath, hot chocolate breathing, etc.).  If you would like a guided breathing exercise to get started, click here.  There are lots of other mindful exercises that you can try – Buddy Breathingbody scans, go on a mindful walk, or try other mindful games

If you have teenagers, check out Christopher Willard’s TEDxYouth Talk Growing up Stressed or Growing up Mindful? and watch it with them.  Willard does a great job of explaining stress and how simple mindfulness exercises can not only physically change the brain, but includes tips for how teens can learn to manage and optimize the stress that they are so often navigating. 

If you are a parent or educator, be sure to check out Kira Willey’s TedX Talk Bite-Sized Mindfulness: An Easy Way for Kids to be Happy and Healthy to learn more about the benefits of the calming, centering power of consistent small moments of mindfulness inside and outside of the classroom.  Learn simple, easy techniques that can be used in the classroom or in the home to help to build self-regulation, self-awareness, and kindness.  If you want help, Kira’s Mindful Moments for Kids CD with 30 one-minute mindfulness activities will help you practice these techniques at home, in the classroom, or in the car.  

There are also apps to learn about mindfulness and mindful breathing including HeadspaceSmiling Mind, Breathing Bubbles, Calm, and Stop, Breathe, Think.  For more mindfulness apps, check out this  list from Common Sense Media. 

Mindfulness keeps us grounded in today, allowing us to let go of the past and not yet focus on the future, and when done together, mindfulness activities can create moments of connection with each other in our busy, chaotic world. 

So, as we settle into the new school year, try out some mindfulness activities in your home to reduce stress and build connection.  


Kyle Kick

Executive Director
BStrong Together


To learn more about BStrong Together, our mission and programs, or to volunteer, please visit www.bstrongtogether.org

 
Join us in our mission to enhance the health and well-being of our community's children and youth in mind, body, and spirit by making a donation to BStrong Together. 
 
What Happens When Mindfulness Enters Schools
 
"It may not be the typical way to start an English class, but Gonzalez’s students were familiar with these five-minute mindfulness exercises—from counting breaths and focusing on the sensations of breathing, to visualizing thoughts and feelings—that he uses to help train their attention, quiet their thoughts, and regulate their emotions."

Learn how scientific research is fueling the momentum behind introducing mindfulness in class.
25 Fun Mindfulness Activities for Children and Teens (+Tips!)
 
"Mindfulness can boost the quality of our lives in numerous ways...nurture inner peace, improve the quality of exercise, enhance self-confidence, and facilitate more meaningful relationships with others."

Learn mindfulness activities and tips on how to teach mindfulness to kids of all ages.
Mindfulness for Children
 
"Mindfulness for kids is an effective technique that helps children develop a deeper sense of self-awareness, better control of their emotions and improved concentration. Some of the exercises are simple enough for any child to perform. In mindful listening, for instance, children are guided through a brief meditation session during which they pay attention to different sounds. A regular practice of mindful listening helps children settle and relax before they have to work on homework or other tasks and chores."

Learn how to bring a mindfulness practice into your child's daily routine.
Why and How to Teach Your Kids Mindfulness
 
"Practicing mindfulness can help kids learn to focus, manage stress, regulate emotions, and develop a positive outlook. Here's how to teach them the skill."
Teaching Mindfulness to Teens: 5 Ways to Get "Buy-In"
 
"Teenagers may see mindfulness as completely unrelated to their busy and connected lives. But there are many ways that adolescents {and adults!} can benefit from a mindfulness and meditation practice."

Teens need to understand why a mindfulness practice is important. These 5 tips will get them interested.
The Best Science-Backed Mindfulness Practices for Stress
 
"A new study compares different mindfulness practices with the aim of discovering which one is most helpful for dealing with stress."

Discover different mindfulness practices and how they can work for you and your family.
How Making Time for Mindfulness Helps Students
 
"A new study suggests that mindfulness education — lessons on techniques to calm the mind and body — can reduce the negative effects of stress and increase students’ ability to stay engaged, helping them stay on track academically and avoid behavior problems."

Read about the scientific findings and learn how to bring mindfulness into our schools.
Mindfulness Meditation for Children
A short fun whiteboard animation teaching kids mindfulness meditation.
Find Help...If you or someone you know needs help, you’re in the right place. Healthy Barrington can help you find local mental health and substance abuse resources. The Healthier Barrington Coalition is a partnership of 25 organizations that work together to improve quality of life in our community.
 
Do you like to attend your school’s PTO meetings? Would you like to join BStrong Together’s efforts to support parents, kids, and the community as we strive to raise happy, healthy, resilient kids capable of facing the challenges of today and the future?  BECOME A BSTRONG TOGETHER AMBASSADOR!!

BStrong Together is looking for 2 volunteers in each Barrington area school to attend their local PTO meetings during the 2019-2020 school year to share information about BStrong Together, our programs and events, and act as a liaison between your school community and BStrong Together to let us know how we can best support the needs of your students and parents.

If you are interested in becoming a BStrong Together Ambassador, please click here to complete the form and we will contact you.
Click here to learn more about ways that you can be involved in BStrong Together!
Run/Walk & Family Fun Festival
Sunday, September 8th
8:00 – 10:30 am
Registration opens at 7:00 am
Citizens Park
Barrington

 
Join BStrong Together and Broncos Committed for this wonderful community event which includes 5k and 1-mile timed runs, place medal awards, community walk, entertainment from Bob the DJ, food, games and crafts with Broncos Committed mentors from BHS, and fun for all ages to benefit BStrong Together. 
REGISTER TODAY!
Volunteer at the BStrong Together Run/Walk & Family Fun Festival

Join us as we host the 3rd Annual BStrong Together Joe Kelsch Memorial Run/Walk and Family Fun Festival. Volunteer to assist with registration,  set-up the course and marshal runners and walkers along the route, cheer on runners as they come into the finish line, and assist BStrong Together to make this year's run a HUGE success.
VOLUNTEER TODAY!
Family Game Day
Sunday, September 22nd
2:00 - 4:30 pm
Barrington Area Library

 
Bring your family, large or small, school-age to senior citizens. We’ll provide light snacks, instruction on several collaborative new games, and time to play. You may also bring gently-used games or puzzles your family has outgrown, and swap for some that are new-to-you.

Join BStrong Together, Broncos Committed mentors from BHS, the Barrington Area Library and Game Dave for this FREE fun-filled family event. Register here.
Anxiety in Children and Teens: Symptoms and Interventions
Wednesday, September 25th
9:30 - 11:00 am
Campus Life Center

In February, therapists Kim Rapach and Josette Day joined us to talk with parents about the symptoms of anxiety in children and teens and what parents can do to help.  We felt that it is such an important topic that we have invited Kim and Josette back to continue the discussion.  We hope you will join us as we continue to build a community of support for our children and teens.
TWO NEW EVENING CIRCLES ADDED IN 2019-20!!

CIRCLES BEGIN IN OCTOBER!  REGISTER TODAY!
 
Are you looking for ways to connect with other parents? Are you interested in learning new tools and strategies for raising kids in today's world?

Come join the conversation at a BStrong Together Conversation Circle!

FREE and open to all parents, caregivers, educators, and community members inside the geographic boundaries of Barrington 220 School District (affiliation with the District is not required), the Conversation Circles aim to build a community of support focused on the issues, concerns, joys and challenges of raising children in today’s complex world.

Circles meet monthly from October thru May. Click here to learn more.

Space is limited and registration is required!
REGISTER TODAY!
Oaktober Fest
Sunday, October 6, 2019
12:00 - 3:00 pm
Far Field Nature Preserve
Corner of Lake Cook & Old Sutton
Barrington Hills
Barrington

 
Come join us for a wonderful family planting day at our preserve.  There’s a little bit of something for everyone.  Dress appropriately for the weather and to get dirty.  You can plant a tree or shrub to help with our restoration efforts, enjoy creating a craft or sit by the bonfire with a snack.
Courageous Conversations: Defining Courage
Wednesday, September 11th
7:00 - 9:00 pm
Barrington’s White House
145 W. Main Street
Barrington

 
What are we afraid of? What does it mean to have courage? Join us for the first monthly session of A Year of Courageous Conversations at Barrington’s White House. Let’s learn about the neuroscience of fear and courage, what is really going on inside our brains, and what tools and techniques we can use to control and respond to fear when it rises in us and blocks our progress. Led by guest expert Dr. Arin N. Reeves.

Click here to learn more about this series or register for future events (the first event in the series is currently full).
Ignite the Night with Citizens for Conservation
Saturday, September 14th (rain or shine)
5:00 - 10:00 pm
Spring Creek Forest Preserve
361 Bateman Road
Barrington Hills
 
Enjoy a cookout dinner, unique raffle, dancing in the grass with live music, narrated horse-drawn wagon rides, stargazing with professional telescopes, educational flashlight tours for kids and an artistically arranged, truly magnificent bonfire.
 
Save the Date...

Stand Up for a Kinder Community
Tuesday, October 22nd
7:00 - 8:30 pm
Main Floor Meeting Room
Barrington Area Library
Barrington
 
Humanity Rising, BStrong Together, and the Barrignton Area library will host Kirk Smalley, founder of Stand for the Silent, as he discusses the impact of bullying and its connection to suicide. In this moving and empowering talk, he offers motivation and practical tools to increase empathy, encourage hope, and end bullying. 

All are welcome, but especially middle and high school students, parents, and other concerned adults. 
 
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
Website
Email
BStrong Together    
110 South Hager Avenue, Suite 202, Barrington, IL  60010
(224) 848-4548
www.bstrongtogether.org
Copyright © 2019 BStrong Together, All rights reserved.

Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.






This email was sent to <<Email Address>>
why did I get this?    unsubscribe from this list    update subscription preferences
BStrong Together · 106 Barrington Commons Court · #1203 · Barrington, Il 60010 · USA

Email Marketing Powered by Mailchimp