Healthy Chicks

Our November card of the month from my “Mindful & Magical Me“ Deck is…

[Drumroll please…]

The Maple Leaf.

Here’s your mindful moment to do with your child: Simply trace your hand on a piece of paper to create your own maple leaf! On each of the five lobes (your fingers), write down something or someone you are grateful for. Take time to reflect on what you wrote and share out loud.

I love this mindfulness activity for children ages 3 & up! Fun tip: for those who can’t yet write themselves, you can write for them or even ask them to draw what they’re grateful for. The answers always melt my heart.

What are YOU grateful for today?

Here are some more simple ways to practice gratitude this holiday season!… Read More!

This past week, I had the opportunity by The Profitability Project and The Mama Ladder to enter my business for a grant given to mom entrepreneurs. For my entry, I was asked to share my WHY. The reason I do what I do.

So here goes:

My WHY = creating a brighter, kinder future for our children (and their grownups) through yoga, education and mindfulness.

I’m a firm believer in the Ripple Effect. When you have a positive impact on a child or parent’s life, that good energy pours out into the world ten-fold.

That’s why I’m on a BIG mission to spread mindfulness to as many kids, families and caregivers as possible. After all, studies have shown that mindful activities can improve focus, reduce stress & anxiety, and even boost compassion. And our children deserve a brighter, kinder future!

Thank you to all the families, kids, teachers and special people in my life for joining me on this journey! … Read More!

I kicked off the week back on Great Day at 9A “Mommy Monday” sharing simple ideas to stay cool, calm & collected with your kiddos this summer.

Summer can put a lot of pressure on parents to do everything. And with no school, kids may feel over-stimulated, complain they’re “bored” or even act out. Trust me, I feel your pain!

The good news is, there are simple things we can do as parents to help — and you don’t have to break the bank or lose your cool in the process! In this fun interview, I share:

• How to create a calm down box/basket with your children
• A fun DIY bubble wand craft you can make at home
• Why you should go camping in your own backyard
• Upcoming kids yoga events in Connecticut

Catch the replay here on WFSB!

Looking for more mindful tips? Grab my “Mindful & Magical Me” Kids Inspiration Deck on Amazon!

… Read More!

Did you SEE the news?

This mama was featured on Great Day at 9a local CT news Monday chatting mindfulness tips & yoga poses for families! I had such a great morning sharing my work and greatest passion with the lovely Nicole Nalepa and Scot Haney.

During the segment, we covered:  

• the benefits of mindfulness exercises for all
• slowing down and tuning in with flower breathing
• kids yoga: mountain pose, tree pose & windmill pose for Earth Day
• creating a sensory snack picnic outside in nature

Catch the replay here, and keep shining bright! Want more mindfulness? Take a peek at the “Mindful & Magical Me” Kids Inspiration Deck. … Read More!

Let me paint the picture for you. It’s time for bed, you’re at your wits end and your kid(s) are off the walls.

It’s been a long day, and you’re trying hard not to completely lose your sh*t. So you attempt everything in the books, and none of the go-to tricks are working (not even deep breaths and lullabies). “Calm down, it’s time for bed!” “Stop that!” you shout.

But it’s only getting worse, and then the giggles kick in…and your sweet child is turning into a total monster. You’re starting to lose your mind. What’s a parent to do?

Hi, hello this was me the other night. And sometimes, even as a kids yoga & mindfulness teacher, I forget to lean on these tools.

💎 But here’s a lil trick I use in my kids yoga classes too that works like a charm every time: MATCH THEIR ENERGY. 💎

Yup, get kooky with them!

Some ideas to help your child calm down by matching their energy:

• If they’re roaring like a lion, go ahead and make silly animal sounds with them.
• If they can’t sit still and won’t get in bed, have a mini dance party and shake

… Read More!

Being kind is cool and I always say kindness begins with what you say to yourself. Here’s the thing: kids are listening and kindness is taught, which is a big part of my WHY. How can we speak kinder to one another…to ourselves?

Every kids yoga session I lead, we always incorporate positive affirmations. It’s been magical to watch the children get more confident using their voices and expressing themselves as the weeks go by. And it dawned on me recently, for some, they may not hear those kind words as often. That’s why it’s so freakin’ powerful. It truly is a ripple effect.

This month on the blog, I’m sharing five helpful tools to help foster kindness in children.

This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

5 Tools to Foster Kindness in Children

1. “Mindful & Magical Me” Kids Inspiration Deck by Healthy Chicks
2. Positive Affirmation Wall Prints by Healthy Chicks
3. My Favorite Books About Kindness (various authors)
4. “Every Voice” Album by Kira Wiley
5. Be Kind Cubes by Learning Resources

1. “Mindful & Magical Me” Kids Inspiration Deck by Healthy Chicks

As a mom of two and kids yoga teacher, … Read More!

Winter is here and with the cold weather, snow and school vacations, you’re likely spending more time indoors with your children. And soon enough, the cabin fever starts to creep in. After all, there’s only so many Disney movies, toddler tantrums and crafts you can handle. Trust me, I get it!

If you’re looking for a screen-free alternative to entertain your kids (while keeping the house calm), I’ve got you covered.

One of my go-to parenting hacks is creating a “Calm Corner” (also known as a Cozy Corner) in your home — a little space for you or your child to spend some quiet time simply being. It doesn’t have to be anything fancy; ours is a small closet-sized corner in our chalkboard room, and sometimes it’s just sitting quietly on the couch.

Once you’ve picked a spot for your “Calm Corner,” you can fill it with mindfulness tools to foster calm in the chaos. Today on the blog, I’m going to show you how to make your own “Calm Down Box” with your child.

How to Make a “Calm Down Box” with Your Kid

“Calm Down” boxes are wonderful to have on hand when you and your child … Read More!

‘Tis the season for giving thanks and practicing gratitude. The word gratitude can be such a big concept for children, so I’m here to simplify it for you to make it fun and kid-friendly. Here are four simple activities to practice gratitude with your little ones this holiday season (or any time of year)!

4 Ways to Teach Gratitude to Children

1. 5 Finger Maple Breathing
2. Grateful Maple Exercise
3. Gratitude Bell Pass
4. Gratitude Jar

5 Finger Maple Breathing:

Hold up your hands like two maple leaves! Using your opposite pointer finger, trace up each finger as you breathe in, and breathe out as your trace down. Think about what you’re grateful for/what makes you happy as you breathe together.

Grateful Maple Exercise:

This one comes straight from my “Mindful & Magical Me” Kids Inspiration Deck. Trace your hand on a piece of paper to create your own maple leaf! On each of the five lobes (your fingers), write down something or someone you’re grateful for. You can write for them if need be, or even have them draw pictures instead!

Gratitude Bell Pass:

This one is great for a group of kids such as in school … Read More!