ML Interest Tag: mindful

11 Important Things Dads Should Say to Their Sons

by Kipp Jarecke-Cheng

These should all make an appearance in future father-son talks

From simple, everyday interactions to more serious, big-picture issues, there are important life lessons we dads can—and should—share to help a young boy grow into a courageous, honorable, and kind adult. That said, we realize that not all families include fathers, so these words of wisdom for a father-son talk apply to any parent figure who wants to help their child stand a little taller and do good in the world.

I’ll always be here for you.
Anyone can be a father, but it takes someone special to be a dad. Reminding your son that you always are available to him and mindful of his needs will go a long way in establishing and building trust over time. Mindful parenting means being present in the moment and aware of what’s happening. Modeling positive, supportive behavior while your son is young will show him that good men are reliable and responsible.

Treat others with compassion and empathy.
The Golden Rule may be a simple principle to follow, but teaching empathy can provide a deeper framework for how people should behave regardless of circumstance. Fostering empathy can help young boys to find commonalities between themselves and others who are seemingly different—and encourages them to positively and proactively think about and care for others.

Related: Daughters (Who’ll Conquer the World) Need to Hear These 8 Things

father-son-talk-playing-basketball
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Winning is great, but losing with grace and humility is just as important.
Good sportsmanship is a beneficial trait that goes well beyond what happens on the playing field. By teaching our sons how to win and lose with dignity, we’re giving them strong interpersonal relationship skills that will serve them well in many other aspects of their lives besides sports. Telling them that the main point of competition is to have fun will alleviate the feeling of needing to win at any cost, and allows them to enjoy themselves.

Surround yourself with people you admire.
Dads can’t always pick our son’s friends, but we can encourage them to choose their friendships wisely. Find out who your son admires and who his heroes are, and you’ll quickly discover the kinds of people he wants to emulate. Real friendships are fundamental in early childhood development, so teaching our sons how to find good friends and be good friends will help guide them in the right direction.

I can teach you how to throw a punch, but never start a fight… and always know when to walk away.
A parent should teach their son when to stand their ground and when to walk away. Establishing a baseline that it’s never appropriate to hurt others for no reason is a critical, essential first step.

Never make an important decision on an empty stomach.
Over the course of a young boy’s life, he’ll have to make many important decisions. These are just warm-ups to the big ones that he’ll have to make as an adult, and every dad knows that important decisions should never be made on an empty stomach. There’s a science to explain why people become grumpy or have poorer judgment when they are hungry. Remind your kid to have a full belly before making any major decisions.

It’s OK to play with dolls.
Or dress up as Beyoncé. Or sing like Beyoncé. Or dance like Beyoncé. By the time most boys are five years old, they’ve already learned lots of things that perpetuate toxic masculinity. Break the cycle by letting your son know that there are no such things as “girls-only toys” or “girls-only behaviors.” Instead, teach your son that there’s more than one way to be a man.

Honesty matters.
Whether it’s telling the truth about a broken window/bike/toy or speaking up against bullies, honestly is always the best policy.

What was the best part of your day?
At the end of a long day of work and school, many dads will simply ask their sons, “How was your day?” And the typical response is a bluntly delivered, “Fine.” Rather than try to start a conversation with a generic question, be specific. Avoid questions that can be answered with a single word. As our kids get older—particularly as they enter their tween and teen years—they may be less inclined to volunteer information about what’s happening in their lives. Asking pointed questions will help tease out what’s really going on and what’s really on their minds.

Let’s talk about sex, drugs, and rock and roll.
Because if you’re not the person who’s initiating conversations with your son about topics as important as these, then someone else inevitably will, and that someone else may not always have your kid’s best interests in mind. There are plenty of resources to help parents talk to their kids about sensitive and sometimes awkward topics. At the very least, make sure your son has a handle on the basics from the school of rock.

I’m so lucky that I get to be your dad.
And while you’re at it, tell your son that you love him every day, and give him lots of hugs and kisses, especially while he’s still young so that he gets used to receiving affection from (and giving it to) his old man.

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I Love Each of My Children Differently & It’s Worked Out Great for Everyone

By Cindy Price

As my kids grow into adulthood, I’m learning how to love them differently.

Don’t get me wrong, I love them equally and fiercely—sometimes with an intensity that frightens me. But as they move from teenager to adulthood and I get glimpses of the young adults they’re becoming, I realize that they see and hear love in very different ways.

Take my eldest daughter, Skylar, for instance. She’s bright, cheery, and lights up a room when she walks into it. She’s also warm, affectionate, and very free with her hugs. We can converse for hours and simply telling her I love her is enough to start the waterworks.

Her sister, Elise, couldn’t be more different if she tried. She’s strong-spirited, independent, and determined. She hates asking for help, and parenting her has been a tricky, intense experience especially since she has struggled with depression in the past. Seeing my baby girl going through depression for most of her adolescence broke my heart. It wasn’t until she was on her way to recovery, and I learned how to show her love differently, that we started connecting.

Then there’s my son, Ryan. Like most teen boys, he would rather eat dirt than be seen hugging his mom. He’s uncomfortable with overt shows of affection and prefers a pat on the back or a fist bump to a hug from his father or me.

Raising kids with such varying personalities means that I needed to find new ways to show and give them love, even when it’s not always reciprocated:

I show them that I love them by being present.

Both Elise and Ryan play sports, and I dutifully show up to all their games. Most times they don’t acknowledge my presence because it’s just “not cool,” but I love being there, and it matters to me that they know they have my support. So I show up, cheer them on, listen when they talk or vent, and do my best to give them my time and attention.

I’ve learned to speak love in other languages.

Sometimes the best way to express love is with actions. I leave notes or send my kids texts, letting them know how proud I am of them. I make sure we’re fully stocked with the protein bars my son wolfs down after practice and ensure Elise’s shampoo never runs out. These small acts of service might not seem like much, but they’re my way of showing my kids how much I care.

I’m learning that love exists in small moments.

Mindful parenting has taught me that there are dozens of small, wonderful moments that I should be grateful for every day. I’ve learned to be thankful for all the awesome things my teens bring into my life. The moments Elise strikes up a conversation or when Skylar makes dinner or when Ryan, ever the comedian, has us in stitches.

For me, these are the moments that make parenting worth it.

I still say, “I love you.”

I still say these words even when they’re not acknowledged or returned by my children because no matter what, they’re still true, and it is important to me that my children can look back and know I actively expressed that I loved them.

Loving children is easy: It’s showing them love in a way that they can understand and appreciate that’s the hard part. I’m still learning, changing, and adapting as I go, but as of right now, I am happy knowing that I am always trying to let my loved ones know that I genuinely care.

Cindy Price would like to say she's a parenting expert but she knows better than to do that. As a parent educator and writer for over 15 years, she's well-aware how quickly parenting practices evolve. Family is her greatest joy and she hopes her writing can help make families stronger. 

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Take a 60-Second Mindful Break with Your Kids Each Day

By Joy Turner

School is officially back in session, whatever it may look like. Whether you’re still doing virtual learning or your children are attending child care or classes in-person, routines have been dramatically altered to accommodate life in an ongoing pandemic. And these routines may already be exhausting you and your family.

One effective way to deal with the stress of “normal” life in a not-so-normal time is to make space each day to practice mindfulness. It’s a lot easier said than done, especially when you look at your to-do list filled with professional and personal tasks. However, when you practice mindfulness, you’re practicing the art of creating space for yourself—space to think, breathe, slow down, connect and be fully present.

“Mindfulness is to pay attention on purpose, in the present moment, to just slow down and notice all the beautiful things around you,” said Sandra Graham, Kiddie Academy’s director of training. “It can help children focus, manage stress, self-regulate emotions and develop a positive outlook. Particularly right now, it can offer them relief from the stress and difficulties that may be occurring in their lives and help build resiliency.”

Practicing Mindfulness Each Day

We’ve developed a few activities for “Mindful Minutes,” suggestions of things you can do with your child to achieve mindfulness each day. These Mindful Minutes reflect the Kiddie Academy Life Essentials philosophy and help children concentrate on the positives around them, developing a sense of appreciation, gratitude and contentment.

In a playful way, use these activities and games to introduce your child to breathing practices and other techniques to develop focus and sensory awareness, while reducing stress and regulating emotions.

  • Take your children for a walk outside. Invite your little ones to listen to how the leaves blow in the wind. Direct their attention to the warm sun as it bathes their faces. Listen to birds in the distance as they chirp. Focusing on the surroundings helps your children connect to their environment. It brings their attention to the here and now.
  • Encourage your little one to think from head to toe about how they’re feeling. This can be a good way to start the day or just something to do when you think your children need to center themselves.
  • Find a relaxing place, or a “happy” place. Sit comfortably in a quiet place that’s free from too many distractions and set a timer for one minute. Breathe deeply in and out, slowly. Let your mind and body rest and relax from any pressures.

The busyness and hurry of life shows no signs of slowing down, but that doesn’t mean you can’t take time when you and your child need it. So, remember to take a minute (or more!) each day with your kid(s) to practice mindfulness and center yourself in the present moment. You may come out with a sense of gratitude or energy for the days ahead of you.

Joy has over 20 years of experience in early childhood education. As Vice President of Education at Kiddie Academy Educational Child Care, she oversees all things curriculum, assessment, training and more. Joy earned a B.S. in Education from Salisbury University.

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Expert Tips to Throwing the Best Birthday Party with Animals

By Amanda Plante
Partner Content

As the Founder of Zovargo, a zoo that brings animals to you—I have had the honor of sharing our animals with thousands of children over the years and I’ve seen a lot of parties. And while some are over-the-top, most are successful for the reasons listed below. So if you’re thinking of adding animals to your next special celebration, here are the things to consider to make your party the happiest celebration yet.

1. Location, Location, Location
Having animals at your party will certainly be an exciting, if not, the most exciting part of your party. Try to avoid parks and busy public locations because you don’t want other children from the playground to drop into your party. It’s distracting from your special event, and can be challenging for the animal handlers because they have to keep track of which children are part of your party or just drop-ins. Choose a private location, like your home, but also make sure there’s enough space for the guests to spread out and be comfortable.

2. Animal Selections
While picking the animals is sometimes the most fun part of planning your animal party, keep in mind which animals the children will really enjoy. And while it’s hard to stray away from impressing your own friends, remember—it’s a kid’s party, not an adult party. Experts that are bringing the animals have lots of experience. Trust me on this and listen to their suggestions! The animal handlers know their animals, and they know what species works best for different age groups. So many times I have had people request the “largest animal you have” for a toddler party. This never works out well as tiny people are scared of large animals. Listen to the experts and go with what you know your child will love!

3. Look for a Unique Experience
The days of traditional petting zoos are fading as more people become aware that lots of tiny people trampling around a corral of animals isn’t the perfect idea of a party. This is old-school and is unsafe, unsanitary, and stressful for animals. Zoos like Zovargo, travel to you and bring enough staff to provide a safe experience that is manageable and highlights each special animal one at a time.

It’s also helpful to look for places that offer a special experience with the animals instead of just an opportunity to pet them. For example, who can say they’ve shaken the hand of a duck? This is just one type of extra-special experience that will leave some lasting memories for the children and your guests.

4. Manage Your Wild Guests
Plan ahead for late arrivals. To do this, have your guests arrive 30-60 minutes ahead of the animal program start time. As the animal handler, we have had to delay our start for late guests more times than I can count. While this is not a problem, consider that the animals are sitting in crates just waiting for their time with the children. They may have traveled an hour (or hours) to get to your party already and then we all wait which is unfair to everyone. Another party tip? Mind the adult chatter. Yes, it’s a party, and parents sometimes like to let loose, but be mindful that adult chatter can cause a distraction from the animal program forcing the animal presenters to have to speak louder than the parents so the kids can hear. To prevent this, I suggest having an “adult area” if some parents want to catch up while the children are entertained.

5. Avoid Too Many Activities at the Same Time
Usually, the animals are the main attraction, but sometimes there are five other activities happening at the same time! Be mindful, that booking other services like face painting, magicians, caterers, and jumpy houses are all great, but be careful with scheduling too many things. You don’t want to waste money by giving a small group of kids too many things to do while at your party. It’s sometimes best to have one main attraction or activity, and let the kids play the rest of the time. As one of “the animal people,” it’s always a let-down when kids hear pizza has arrived, then they quickly run off to eat. Be mindful of distractions like this and keep a schedule in mind to be considerate of the people you’re booking for your celebration.

6. COVID Considerations
It’s nothing new to consider doing a virtual party, but a ZoomFari virtual animal party takes things up a notch! There are many zoos that offer virtual animal celebrations.  Zovargo offers the reasonably-priced ZoomFari virtual party that allows guests to see animals literally eye-to-eye. This type of party can unite family from all of the world and provide everyone a unique experience together.

 

I'm a conservationist, animal-lover, and I wear many hats! I'm the Founder of Zovargo and with that comes responsibilites for animals, for our clients and for our team of amazing educators and animal handlers!

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If Your Kids are Anxious about Back to School & How to Help

By Meghan Fitzgerald

Photo: Tinkergarten

I can still remember not being able to sleep the night before the first day of school. The curiosity about my new teacher, the smell of fresh pencils and paper, and the excitement of being back among classmates—it all thrilled me. As a mom, I’d love to feel the same thrill for my own kids. Part of me does, but as the first day nears, that excitement is tinged with the realization that the pandemic is still in the mix.

And, I’m not alone, in a study this summer by JAMA pediatrics, 31% of parents were likely planning not to send their kids ages 5-12 to in-person schools, when only about 4% of school-eligible kids in the U.S. are typically homeschooled.

And our kids are likely worried, too.

As we adults are musing about the return to school, how are our kids doing? In any year, the transition back-to-school is exciting and disruptive.

This year, on top of the typical back-to-school anxiety, our perceptive kiddos are also likely sensing our COVID-inspired concern. Other adults around your kids may be expressing concern as well.

You may see all of this anxiety come out in different ways—for example, kids may cling to you more, cry more readily, seem more fidgety, complain of belly aches or express more negative thoughts or feelings than usual.

Luckily, no matter how you see your child responding, there are easy ways to help ground kids and reduce their anxiety. Learning these early arms them with a toolkit of ways to cultivate calm throughout their lives!

Head Outside

Studies and our own experiences show that when kids get outdoors, they enjoy reduced anxiety and enhanced mood. According to research, you only need two hours per week to start to feel the benefits, and the more the better!

Even though new fall schedules can feel full compared to the lazy days of summer, there are easy ways to build in more outside time. Turn meals and snacks into picnics. Make the most of morning and evening time, starting or ending your day with a walk or even just a glance up at the sky. Park a little farther away from the grocery store and enjoy the stroll.

If you can’t get outside as much as you’d like, bring the outside in! Gather up a few natural objects and offer them for play. Make the most of windows and natural light. Turn on nature sounds using apps on Google Play or the Apple App Store, search in Spotify, or listen for free online at Calmsounds. Get even more ideas for bringing nature into your home here.

Uncover “Hidden” Senses

While you’re outside, you can look for ways to balance your kids’ “hidden” senses to center and calm their bodies and minds. Even though we often think about our “5 senses” (sight, hearing, smell, taste, touch), there are others that help us to navigate the world and regulate ourselves. One of those hidden senses, proprioception, is the sensing of pressure in the joints, ligaments and muscles of the body—what we feel when our body hits something and gets feedback—as when we jump, push or pull something heavy.

Proprioception helps our brains know where we are in space and gives us a literal feeling of being grounded. Without this input, our brain spends cycles trying to figure out where we are and this often comes out in behavior like tapping, fidgeting or general restlessness.

Young children get this from activities like chewing, jumping, stomping, crawling, climbing, dancing, rolling or stretching. There are so many ways to weave these movements in, and being outside often inspires them naturally.

Another sense that kids need to activate is their vestibular system. Located in the inner ear, it senses changes in the movement of our heads. If kids sit in one position all day long—something that tends to happen more in formal schools—they don’t get the vestibular input they need to feel centered and focused.

Kids can activate their vestibular systems by doing activities that change the position of their heads. Start by trading screen time for active time outside that includes looking up, down and all around, spinning, rolling, swinging and bending.

Practice Mindful Activities

Try one of these simple activities when you’re outside to cultivate extra calm.

  • Play with Shapes—Looking for shapes in nature or creating them using found objects gives kids a sense of order, calm and delight.
  • Spirals—There’s something extra special about spirals. Try these ways to create or move in spirals that are sure to calm your kids (and you).
  • Climb a Tree—Sometimes it’s hard to know how to help little kids climb trees. A few tips can help you manage the risks and help kids fall in love with climbing.
  • Mud Play—Our all-time favorite at Tinkergarten, the chance to dig, mix and create with mud fires multiple senses, gives kids a sense of creative freedom, and sparks tremendous joy—the perfect balance to worries! If mud is not a perfect fit for you or your kiddo, watch this quick video for alternatives!

Mindful Movement & Breath

We know that mind and body are closely connected, and when we combine certain movements with intentional thought, we can bring ourselves into the moment, strengthen our bodies and calm our minds. This is true for kids, too.

Teaching kids breathing exercises and poses inspired by the yoga tradition helps them regroup and calm themselves. These movements don’t eliminate big feelings or frustration but they help soften those rough moments.

Use stories or metaphors from real life to help kids learn movements and activate their imagination. At Tinkergarten, we move like animals, plants or natural phenomena to deepens kids’ connection to nature.

Find easy steps to help kids center themselves like a snake, stand still and strong like a mountain or summon and send out joy like a star.

Lessons Last a Lifetime

At the end of the day, being able to calm one’s body and mind engenders a lasting sense of empowerment and resilience in kids. Knowing ways to help kids regain their calm can make both teaching and parenting smoother. Cultivating calming techniques teaches them how to weather whatever life sends their way.

This post originally appeared on Tinkergarten.

After 18 years as an educator, curriculum developer and school leader, Meghan has her dream gig—an entrepreneur/educator/mom who helps families everywhere, including hers, learn outside. Today, Meghan serves as co-founder and Chief Learning Officer of Tinkergarten, the national leader in outdoor play-based learning. 

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Want to Raise Respectful Kids? Then You Need to Do This First

By Florence Ann Romano

When I was little, I always knew I was in trouble by the size of my mother’s eyes. If I did something wrong, her eyes widened to reveal every inch of white and her disappointment. My Mom was never a yeller—she always spoke in an even tone, and communicated very well about what we needed to correct regarding our behavior or attitude. I believe the way she reacted taught me and my siblings many lessons about respect.

Remember respect? I feel like this is a lost virtue in the world today, especially between children and adults. Somehow we have communicated to children that they are equal with adults, and I don’t know about you, but that’s not the world I grew up in! We were taught to respect our elders; to learn from our elders.

Now, let me clarify: respecting our elders does NOT mean we teach our children to not respect themselves, or suppress their voices or discourage them from even finding their voices. Respect is something we have to teach by example, and once that is accomplished, respect should be a mutual dance that is done easily and instinctively. But, it starts in the sandbox. And it starts with you.

First, it’s gut-check time: how are you showing your children what respect means and what respect is? I am a visual learner, and I believe most kids are. You want to show them how to treat people, not just tell them. As a parent or caretaker, let’s take inventory of how you treat your friends, family, strangers, etc? More importantly, how do you treat others when you don’t agree with them?

I see parents yelling at the TV because they’re watching the news and they disagree with commentators. To think your kids aren’t watching you, hearing you, or taking in your energy is shortsighted. That moment, as small as you may think it is, speaks volumes. What you are teaching your child, as they watch your emotions get the best of you, is that if you disagree with someone or something, you can yell/scream/cuss—whatever you want because you “feel like it.”

I understand that we can’t edit our reactions, nor should we try and suppress emotions, but I do believe we need to teach our children that there is a right and wrong way to react and to communicate our feelings. Perhaps they are just getting in tussles on the playground right now, but they will have bigger problems later in life that you need to prepare them for now. They will be faced with challenging moments that stress them out; hurt them; incite them, etc. It’s our job to give them the tools to react to whatever arena they’re dropped in with the self-respect, and respect of others, that they and we all deserve.

This may sound like a daunting task what I am asking, but if you step back, I am not asking anything from you that isn’t basic: it comes down to manners. Saying “please,” “thank you,” “pardon me,” “I appreciate you,” etc. We need to give our kids this language and we need to remember to practice it, too. Holding doors for people, being a helper when we see someone in need, approaching people from a place of empathy and compassion, etc—these are all lessons we need to teach our children, and the only way to successfully do that is by showing them how we treat others and how we treat them. Yes, you read that right—treating our children with respect is how they learn to respect themselves and respect others.

We also have to be mindful of our village: the people influencing our children. Maybe this is extended family, grandparents, friends, teachers, or even our children’s friends. You are the company you keep, as they say. This is yet another lesson our kids need to learn from the jump. If they hang around troublemakers, chances are they are going to get into more mischief. You can’t always control who your children choose as friends, but you certainly need to be paying attention to it. Sometimes your child’s behavior, especially if erratic or if you’re seeing changes over time, is being influenced by something or, more likely, someone.

If you ever witness your children’s friends being disrespectful, I give you permission to step in. I am not telling you to spank or punish, but you certainly have the authority to let that child know that there are rules in your house and specific behavior won’t be tolerated. Of course, there is a fine line we don’t want to cross when it comes to correcting or disciplining other people’s children, but try to remember that you’re measuring it based on the values of your home. It’s simple: either they align with your values or they don’t. And, if they don’t, then maybe that friendship isn’t meant to be.

Regardless of your definition of respect, there is one thing we can all agree on: we want the best for our kids, and we want to raise them to be kind and spread it. The way to do that? Respect.

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Florence Ann Romano
Tinybeans Voices Contributor

Florence Ann Romano, The Windy City Nanny™ (WindyCityNanny.com), is an author, philanthropist and web series star/host who has always had a special place in her heart for children. 

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All the New Movies & Shows Coming Your Way with “Summer of Disney Plus”

by Sarah Shebek

Whether or not you’re making a trek to a Disney park this summer, you can still make it a Disney summer. That’s thanks to the reveal of the Disney+ programming over the next few months, including hit movies, original series and documentaries. It’s quite the list watch for, so read on for more!

The Summer of Disney+ kicked off over the weekend with the release of Raya and the Last Dragon, free to all subscribers on the platform. On Wednesday, you can start watching a new series, Marvel Studios’ Loki and keep up with the God of Mischief. And on Friday, the second season of Zenimation premieres, giving you a mindful soundscape experience with clips from eight decades of Disney films.

You’ll want to tune in to Luca starting June 18, a new original animated movie about a boy having an unforgettable summer in Italy. Monsters at Work premiers July 2 and brings back your favorites from the Academy Award-winning movie, Monsters Inc. On July 30 another big drop, Jungle Cruise, stars Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt in an adventure down the Amazon. And all summer beloved classics will pop up on the platform, like The Sandlot, Ice Age: The Meltdown and Ms. Doubtfire.

Which one will your family be most excited to see? Grab the popcorn (or have an outdoor movie night), pull up Disney+ and get ready for hours of entertainment this summer!

—Sarah Shebek

Featured image courtesy of August de Richelieu from Pexels

 

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Mindy Kaling Curated an Airbnb Wishlist for Moms & We Are Booking Right Now

by Amber Guetebier

It’s been a year and then some, and you have very likely spent most of that time at home, probably hunched over a computer—yours or your kids. This is why for Mother’s Day, something that goes a little beyond the typical bouquet of flowers is in order. You know who agrees? Mindy Kaling! She put together this “Mindful Retreats by Mindy Kaling” wishlist. Scroll down to learn more of her favorite stays and experiences on Airbnb (including one our editor tried out.)

Airbnb

Kaling's picks are all about peace, tranquility, and the great outdoors. Whether traveling with kids in tow or solo, Mindy’s wishlist of mindful stays and experiences are immersed in nature, from a peaceful treehouse with an ocean view in Aptos, California to a mountain bliss yoga hike in Phoenix, Arizona.

“The best feeling, as a mom, is when I get to travel with my kids and show them something they have never seen before. I’m like this friendly wizard who shows them new places and experiences! I’ve been dreaming of a relaxing vacation with my kids for a while, getting them outdoors somewhere away from the noise and routine of the city,” said Mindy. “Over the last year, I’ve spent some time wanderlusting on Airbnb and planning our next escape, and I’m excited to share my very own wishlist with you all!”

“Mindful Retreats by Mindy Kaling” Wishlist

Airbnb

Stays:

Vineyard Retreat with Spa and Pool (Occidental, California)

Malibu Airstream Eco Retreat Above The Clouds (Malibu, California)

Vereda-Palapa Moringa- Dream with Art in Paradise (Yelapa, Jalisco, Mexico)

Skyhouse Canyon Lake (Canyon Lake, Texas)

La Bastide du Baou « Les Rosiers » (Callian, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France)

Alkira Eco-Glamping Retreat (Emerald, Victoria, Australia)

Invisible House Joshua Tree (Joshua Tree, California)

Huard - Private Spa - Lake - Near Gatineau Ottawa (Val-des-Monts, Québec, Canada)

Peaceful Treehouse with Ocean View (Aptos, California)

Experiences:

Mountain Bliss Yoga Hike (Phoenix, Arizona)

Soak in a hot spring under the stars (Boulder City, Nevada)

Jungle Singing Bowls Healing Meditation (Kecamatan Tegallalang, Indonesia)

Aerial Yoga on the Beach (Rincon, Puerto Rico)

Meditative Mountain Hike (Seattle, Washington)

Native Spirit Guide (Sedona, Arizona)

Editor's picks:

Privacy, Stunning Sunsets on a Lake (Loon Lake, Minnesota)

Back to Eden Farm & Animal Experience (Gilroy, CA)

Click here for other wishlist-worthy stays and experiences in the greatest outdoors. If you’re not able to celebrate Mother’s Day in person, here are Online Experiences to gift or take together, allowing you to connect and explore the world with others virtually.

Happy trails!

—Amber Guetebier

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How to Start the Conversation Around Tech With Your Kids

by Kenzie Kramer
Partner Content

From how we buy groceries to the way we teach our kids to the ways we bond as a family, technology is now a huge part of our day-to-day lives—and our kids’ lives. Navigating the digital playground can be confusing for parents anytime, but it’s been especially complicated over the past year. According to a study done by Google, 2 in 5 parents do not feel confident to have The Tech Talk with their kids discussing topics like online safety and wellbeing, screen time, discovering quality content and more.

The online world can be an intimidating place for parents, but it can also bring families closer together. The same study by Google also found that 42% of families discovered new passions and activities online and that 25% of families surveyed grew closer to family and friends through video calls. The keys to using tech as a positive tool in your family: building healthy habits and teaching your kids how to stay safe online. Here are some tips for improving your family’s digital wellbeing from our friends at Google.

Make the Conversation Engaging

Kids (and adults) are drawn to technology that keeps us engaged, whether that's entertaining us, teaching us something or helping us connect with others. Google Families has tons of tips to help parents have a family tech talk that'll resonate with their kids, including tips on talking to kids about their interests to find the best apps and games for them, teaching kids about healthy screentime by showing them the tools you can use to monitor their tech usage and much more. To help kids navigate online safety, Google also created a free online game that is both fun and informative. Interland lets your child control a character that explores the different lands that teach them how to Be Internet Awesome. As they explore places like Mindful Mountain, they'll learn about sharing with care and being kind online. 

Make It Age-Appropriate

If your child is too young to have social media accounts, talking to them about being intentional in what they post may not resonate with them just yet. Start the conversation by asking your child how they feel about technology: What do they think of using computers for learning? What apps or websites do their friends talk about? Have they seen people post unkind things online, and what do they think about them? Asking open-ended questions will help you lead the conversation in a way that resonates with them and their current interests. Once you’ve figured out what to talk about, families.google has loads of resources to figure out how to talk about these topics.

Make It About Balance

Between school, work, connecting with others and entertainment, some tech time is inevitable. What’s important is to make sure we’re creating a healthy relationship with our technology and balancing online and offline activities. According to a survey done by Google, 3 in 5 parents allowed increased screen time for kids over the last year. Each family’s balance with technology will look different, and families.google has helpful tools to help you decide what works best for your family! To get started, check out Google's digital wellbeing guide or practice finding balance with the new Headspace Breathers series for families.

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11 Ways to Build Resiliency in Children

By Joy Turner

We’ve heard a lot about how resilient our children are and have been throughout this pandemic, and it’s true. But we also must remember that children, and adults, are not born resilient. Resiliency is a learned skill that requires constant practice.

When children experience a traumatic event, like this year-long pandemic, where they can’t see their friends, can’t hug grandparents, can’t celebrate birthdays and holidays, you may notice they get angry or act out, and that is because they need help regaining control and establishing a more positive mindset. Other behaviors you may see that indicate this need for control are hitting/biting, tantrums, becoming overly emotional, trying to escape or hiding.

If you start to notice your child exhibiting one or more of these behaviors, there are areas you, as a parent, can focus on to help them bounce back, maintain a positive attitude and cope with stress. Validating feelings, promoting quality relationships and interactions, and creating safe, secure environments, are all ways you can help your child flex their resiliency muscle.

The most important way to promote resiliency is by following a pathway of validating feelings and expressing understanding for what children are going through. It is important for them to know that we understand and care about how they’re feeling. Quality interactions and strong family relationships can help children identify their feelings. Even the youngest of children, who might not know the emotion they are feeling or be able to give it a name, can share how they feel through visuals or by reading a book about the feeling. It’s imperative to let children know that not only are they going to be safe and secure, but that these feelings are real and valid. The ability to identify those feelings is what leads to resiliency.

Additionally, creating a safe, secure environment for your children also helps build resiliency. During the pandemic, children have largely spent most of their time at home or at school/childcare, so focus on safety and security in both of those environments.

Here is a list of specific things you and your children can do at home and at school to help build resiliency:

1. Create a routine so they know what’s going to happen every day
2. Build visual schedules that show their routine via pictures so they see the events of their day.
3. Provide continuity of care for children
4. Make sure interactions with teachers, other children and at home are positive
5. Build and focus on those “how are you feeling” type questions
6. Validate your child’s feelings by helping them name the feelings and give them techniques for moving through those feelings
7. Establish cozy corners – a quiet place children can go when they’re having “big emotions”
8. Make a sensory bin of things they can touch, squeeze, look at etc.
9. Look in the mirror with your child so they can see their emotions
10. Set up “mindful minutes” to practice breathing exercises, empathy exercises, discuss book recommendations and other activities found at our Facebook page
11. Seek help if you are a parent or caregiver who demonstrates loss of control of your emotions and actions in response to stress – children pick up on how people around them react

Resilience is the foundation of a child’s mental health, confidence, self-regulation, stress management and response to difficult events. We all want our children to feel and be resilient so that they can go grow stronger, even through an event like the pandemic!

Joy has over 20 years of experience in early childhood education. As Vice President of Education at Kiddie Academy Educational Child Care, she oversees all things curriculum, assessment, training and more. Joy earned a B.S. in Education from Salisbury University.

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