Healthy Chicks

‘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!

Between busy back-to-school schedules and everyday life chaos, you may be craving a sense of calm in your life now more than ever. And even amidst the chaos (think: toddler tantrums and endless piles of laundry), it’s still possible to enjoy a moment of peace and quiet — seriously, I mean it. 

Sound too good to be true? Here are four simple ways to slow down and embrace the moment this fall (with your kiddos). 

1. Practice Positive Affirmations

Affirmations are a wonderful tool to instill self-love and confidence, and it’s never too early to start practicing with your littles. You can start by reciting simple “I Am” affirmations like “I am brave.” Grab the “Mindful & Magical Me” Kids Inspiration Deck for more kid-friendly prompts.

2. Start a Family Gratitude Jar

There’s no better way to appreciate the now than by practicing gratitude. Get the whole family involved by keeping a gratitude jar — where each family member writes down one thing they’re grateful for at the end of the day and pops it into the jar. This is such a wonderful way to honor all the blessings in your life while making room for more … Read More!

Last Monday was a dream for me. ICYMI, I was on the news! I was featured on WFSB Great Day at 9A for their “Mommy Monday” segment, talking about my new “Mindful & Magical Me” deck and mindfulness for kids.

Catch my interview on WFSB here!

It’s my vision to spread mindful, magical moments to kiddos (and their grownups) all over! 

Fun Fact: I took a tip from one of my cards and shook my sillies out in the waiting room so I could let go of the nerves and ground my energy. And it worked! 

Grab your Mindful & Magical Me Deck here  — it’s for parents, teachers, counselors or anyone who works with children in any capacity.… Read More!

I’ve been brewing up something special the past 9 months and it’s finally here…

I’m over-the-moon excited to introduce you to my newest creation, the “Mindful & Magical Me” Deck. This Inspiration Deck for Kids is packed with 35 colorful cards filled with mindful activities for little ones. 

I had the idea to create this deck in the fall, and then got right to work in collaboration with my amazing “Aunti Di” who made the cards come to life with her watercolor “magic.”

You can grab your deck on Amazon here. Happy news: $1 from every purchase in June goes to Everyone Outside, a CT based nonprofit encouraging connecting people with nature.

It would mean the world to me & my small business for you to buy/share/gift to a friend or even just send some good vibes my way! Hint: they’d make great end of year teacher gifts.

P.S. I’m running an epic “Mama & Me” giveaway this month packed with $100 in goodies (think: affirmation cards, journal, children’s book & more!) Here’s how it works…

1.) Mention the deck and tag me on social media @healthychicks = 1 point
2.) Leave a review on Amazon = 2 … Read More!

We take turns putting the kids to bed, and even on the nights my husband puts our daughter to bed she 99% of the time calls me back up for one more snuggle.

I cuddle up with her, and we usually do some simple repeat-after-me bedtime affirmations to help calm her body and busy mind. After we finished them last night, my little one told me she came up with some of her own.

“Do you want to hear?” she enthusiastically asked. And then she proudly exclaimed:

“I am love-full.”

“I am sweet”

“I am beautiful.”

“I am Isabella.”

“Were those good affirmations, mommy?” she asked. Yes, yes they were sweetie.

Hearing this made my mama heart so full. And if you have little ones, you can practice simple bedtime affirmations too!

In fact, my new Mindfulness Deck for Kids, coming out this spring, includes several affirmation exercises I use with my own kiddos and in my kids yoga classes — including a go-to bedtime affirmation.

Get on the wait list for my Kids Mindfulness Deck here!

P.S. Here are some other ways to bring more mindfulness into your kids bedtime routine!… Read More!

I’m beaming as I just taught a “Gingerbread Man” themed yoga class to 13 preschoolers this afternoon. And let me tell you — it was quite the adventure!

• We practiced belly breathing while sipping “hot chocolate” followed by a “Hot Chocolate” Polar Express dance party to explore Mountain
• We warmed up by sneaking past the gingerbread animals to escape the house!
• Then we ventured off for a magical sleigh ride adventure through the park at night (where we spotted some horse, a tree with twinkly lights, stars in the sky, and more)
• To end the class, we shook our worries out then rocked our beanie animal friends to sleep once we got back to the gingerbread house (for the sweetest savasana).

That moment witnessing 13 little ones laying still cuddled up with their animal friends made my heart so very full.

Here’s your reminder to embrace your inner child this weekend, BREATHE and have fun! … Read More!

Kids thrive on routines. From breakfast to bedtime, children like to know what’s going on. That’s why you’ll notice they even ask for the same shows over and over again. (Right now in our house it’s Curious George Christmas.)

Among all the routines, the bedtime routine is probably the most talked about in the parenting world. It’s a way for children to “wind down” before bed, and typically includes a mix of tubby time, lullabies/songs, books and good night kisses.

The other night, my 4-year-old daughter was a little worked up before bed — moody, whiny way overtired and on the verge of a meltdown, and all of our usual bedtime tricks simply weren’t cutting it.

Here are 3 simple steps we took to help calm her body and mind — infusing more mindfulness to her bedtime routine.

3 Mindful Bedtime Tips for Children

Breathing: As Danielle Tiger always says, “When you feel so mad that you want to roar, take a deep breath and count to four.” Deep breathing is a wonderful way to help regulate our emotions.

However, sometimes when I encourage my kids to take a deep breath I am met with resistance. Before bed … Read More!

Having a morning or evening ritual can be a wonderful way to incorporate feel-good habits into your day — and over the years I’ve changed up my routine based on my current lifestyle. While evening rituals are popular among adults, kids thrive on them even more so.

Creating a bedtime routine for your littles is a great way to wind down after a busy day and give them a sense of stability. Ever since Bella was a baby, we’ve adapted a bedtime ritual that works for our family and she’s been a dream sleeper ever since. I have to admit: we got super lucky with her as our little Ollie is still getting there (baby steps)!

Lately, we’re loving our Pact Dream Big Pajamas to add to the mix! Note: I received this product for free from Moms Meet to review but all opinions are my own and I only recommend products I love.

P.S. Be sure to read on for a special offer just for you below! 😉

Here’s a Peek into Bella’s Bedtime Routine

• Tubby time with some gentle tunes (lately we’ve been loving Beatles lullabies and my calming birth playlist)
• Brush our teeth + rub a

… Read More!