Reddit reviews Sitting Still Like a Frog: Mindfulness Exercises for Kids (and Their Parents)
We found 10 Reddit comments about Sitting Still Like a Frog: Mindfulness Exercises for Kids (and Their Parents). Here are the top ones, ranked by their Reddit score.
Sitting Still Like a Frog
There's a book for teaching meditation techniques to kids that could work for you. It's very simple and since people are touchy about kids and religion, it stays away from the spiritual side.
It's called Sitting Still Like a Frog by Eline Snel.
https://www.amazon.com/Sitting-Still-Like-Frog-Mindfulness/dp/1611800587/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1496688809&sr=8-1&keywords=sitting+still+like+a+frog
My mom, a third grade teacher, uses this in her classroom and loves it.
And I've always thought that there's a lot of stuff someone could do with jedi meditation. They're all about mastering their emotions, seeing reality, etc. Just some quick thoughts. Great idea OP!
Howdy, children's behavioral specialist here.
Couple of questions. Has he suffered from any trauma? Is he violent when he's angry or sad or "pissed"? When you say "his behaviors" could you describe his acting out? (Examples of what he actually does, "not minding" is a bad example, "ignores me, stamps his foot, screams, yells" are good examples)
Firstly I'd direct you to "Sitting Still Like a Frog" It's got some excersises that are great for kids like this. I incentivize engagement with these activities with special games and prizes. I talk it up like they are "developing their superpowers".
Practice setting up an auto pilot program when he is escalated. Steps that you both will take when he's pissed. You might lock yourself in the bathroom for five. Do some deep breathing yourself. You might ask him to make a choice to stay in his room, or lose out on screen time privileges. Take an angle with it, and set a controlled box for him to freak out when he is at his limit. Don't struggle with him. Detail "taking a break" and what that looks like instead of "(you're in trouble) time out". Explain to him that everyone needs to take a break sometimes and when he's acting out you might take a break from him.
A good example of what I'm trying to explain: We did a summer camp activity "Summer Superheros". One week we discussed what superheros do when they go to a "Fortress of Solitude" or "Batcave". They plan, prepare and relax for the next activity. So we set up each kids room with fun things they like to do for calming down, (coloring, puzzles, matchbox cars whatever...) and put that on a list in the room. Now the parent can direct the child to choose an activity to do for five minutes. After that, tell the child you'll be in to talk about what's frustrating them.
Lastly, narrating the child's feelings sounds like horseshit, but sometimes its all they need. If they are communicative verbally, (I.e. The amygdala hasn't taken over and made them an animal) even if they are barely making sense, listen to them and validate what they are saying. "It sounds like it was frustrating when you lost your toy" Or "It's hard to change plans and now you're disappointed mom didn't have time to stop at McDonald's." and let them explain their feelings to themselves. Encourage them to do this.
Get back to me and let me know more about your smart kid. PM or here. It's good to hear that he's succeeding in a scholastic environment. It means he has some ability to self regulate. It's the smart ones that have trouble, and he's not throwing chairs through windows, setting fires, or taking a crescent wrench to your car. That's good news.
I don't know of any UU-specific books, but in the spirit of UU, maybe it's better to offer a variety of perspectives?
My favorite book for this is Sitting Still Like a Frog. I teach middle school band, and the main part of our building has been mostly chaos this year. I use techniques in this to get my class focused when they come in the door and keep them from bringing the chaos inside as much as possible.
It doesn't always work;I mean, cmon, they're 12 years old. It does, however, give me a fighting chance.
This is a great book for teaching mindfulness to youngsters: https://www.amazon.com/Sitting-Still-Like-Frog-Mindfulness/dp/1611800587/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1482599567&sr=8-1&keywords=sit+like+a+frog
It's wonderful that you are teaching mindfulness. I wish you well.
Activity level is one of the most basic pieces of temperament and is pretty solidly baked into most kids' cakes.
The skill he needs most is the ability to be still and quiet. You can teach him what "still and quiet" looks like by playing little games around it. "Your hands are quiet and your feet are quiet and your body is quiet and your mouth is quiet. You are being calm!" Etc.
Recommend daily practice around even a few seconds of being still. Paying attention to things. Noticing what something is like, in detail. When he is a bit older, start looking for little daily mindfulness stuff. He is a bit small for these now but take a look.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1937661571/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1611800587/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1626252904/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1
https://smilingmind.com.au/
It can get easier, over time, but it's best to be thoughtful and intervene early if he does have behavior problems. (Right now it doesn't sound like he's doing anything out of the ordinary for his age and stage.) You would want to look into good solid behavioral parent training programs like Boys Town's Common Sense Parenting classes or ones like it.
She sounds like a smart one. Generally kids solidify the concept of death's permanence around 6-9 years of age. At four she seems very advanced. Is she experiencing anxiety about other things? This was recommended to me by a child therapist and the kids and I like it. It comes with a CD that includes 11 short medications where you are walked though mindfulness. It calms us all down.
> I have a history of mental illness. I was also a highly emotional child and had a lot of the same issues we see with her. My family NEVER discussed feelings, nor did we ever hug or kiss and I grew up pretty messed up from that. Was diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder in my early 20's, did DBT, and have been symptom free for almost a decade.
Awesome that you put in all that effort and it paid off! It's not too early to start teaching her some of those DBT skills, in kid-friendly ways, to help her regulate her own emotions. (See my other reply for some ideas). There are also some great approaches to mindfulness for kids, you might check out Sitting Still Like a Frog, Mindful Games, or Planting Seeds: Practicing Mindfulness with Children. Should have mentioned this in my other reply as well, but there's a beautiful picture book called Visiting Feelings that takes a mindfulness approach to exploring emotions as well.
Check out the work of Eline Snel, who has successfully taught children to meditate in schools. She has a book called Sitting Still Like a Frog, which is very popular and is targeted at children as young as five.
https://www.amazon.com/Sitting-Still-Like-Frog-Mindfulness/dp/1611800587