Sara Marlowe, MSW, RSWwww.mindfulfamilies.ca

April 8, 2015

Copyright © 2015 Sara Marlowe MSW, RSW

Mindful Parenting: Building Resilience & Mindfulness in Children

Stop

Take a breath

Observe

Proceed

Reflection

Mindfulness = placing your attention in one placeAwareness = noticing when your mind has wandered away

Why Meditation?

PRACTICE

Attitudinal Foundations of Mindfulness

AcceptanceBeginner’s MindNon-judgmentLetting BePatienceNon-strivingTrustCompassion

Mindfulness & the Brain

Mindfulness practice strengthens our ability to:

• Notice & observe our experiences (mid prefrontal cortex)

• Respond to stress in a more calm way (amygdala)

• Regulate emotions (slows activity in the insula)

• Not be controlled by the negativity bias of the brain

• Be more compassionate & empathic (right hemisphere)

How Mindfulness Supports Parenting

• What’s most important now?

• Single-tasking

• Notice our ‘buttons’

• Self-awareness • (mirror neurons)

• Intentional parenting

• Self-kindness & compassion

Mindful Parents – Resilient Children

Foundations of Mindful Parenting

Sovereignty

Empathy

Acceptance

- Jon & Myla Kabat-Zinn

Mindful Parenting – Resilient Children

• Mirror neurons• Parental emotional-regulation – supports children’s

emotional-regulation • Mindfulness supports us to more fully show up for our

children– Less distracted & More Present for the fun times & the challenging ones

• Less likely to unconsciously pass on unwanted parenting practices that we experienced as children

“We have more possibilities available in each moment than we realize.” – Thich Nhat Hanh

Keeping the‘Brain in Mind’Dr. Daniel Siegel

Staying on the High Road(Conscious parenting)

Stress ↓

Pause (Awareness)↓

Response

“We have more possibilities available in each moment than we realize.” – Thich Nhat Hanh

Going Down the Low Road (Knee Jerk Parenting)

Stress ↓

Immediate Response

When we happen to go down the low road…

“Repairing ruptures is the most essential thing in

parenting…” Dr. Daniel

Siegel

How do we not “Flip our Lids” when we are REALLY

emotionally charged?

• Deep breaths• Take a time out• Tag team – when possible• Get active – (move around, go for a walk)• Personal mantra to help calm down

– E.g. “This too shall pass,” “I’m doing the best I can,” “I’m having a hard day”

Three Minute Breathing Space

Brain-based Communication

Dan Siegel: Key Concepts

• Connect and Redirect • Name It to Tame It• Engage, Don't Enrage • Move it or lose it

“Respond with the Right, Redirect with the Left”

Narrate your own Emotions

Self-kindness &

Compassion Practice

TIPS for Mindful Caregiving

Find time for yourself and be in stillness at least once a day, even if for 3 minutes…

Schedule time to just be with your children, with no agenda in mind.

Practice seeing the world through your child’s eyes, stepping into their experience.

Get to know yourself well... really, really well. Learn to become an observer of thoughts, emotions and body sensations and the messages they may be offering you

TIPS for Mindful Caregiving

Invite compassion to be the default when you’re just not sure what to do.

Check in with your body throughout the day and let go of any tension being held – our children are soaking up our emotional and bodily states (through mirror neurons).

Spend a few moments everyday reflecting on a pleasant moment you had with your child/ren and/or something you appreciate about them.

Be intentional with your use of technology.

Keep the brain in mind, especially during challenging parenting moments.

 

Give yourself permission to take a time out and ask for help.

Remember to breathe... lots

TIPS for Mindful Caregiving

Planting the Seeds of Mindfulness with Children:much more than sitting still…

• Modeling – practicing mindfulness yourself

• Making a family relaxation jar

• Stillness snow globes / mind jars

• Eating a meal together with no technology

• Sharing what you are grateful for

• Buddy breathing

• Spending time together in nature

• Coming together at a certain time each day to take a few breaths and connect (i.e. before school / work)

• Reflecting on a pleasant event that happened that day

• Narrating children’s emotions – as coming & going

• Teaching children about their brain & emotions

Take home intention

“Everyday Blessings”

• Sovereignty – makes it possible for children to show their true selves and find their own way

• Empathy – “what did I most want from my parents when I was a child?”

• Acceptance – acknowledges things as they are, whether they are the way we want them to be or not

Mirror Neurons

Observe

WHY MEDITATION?