mindful parenting: cultivating greater awareness of self, children, and your relationship with them...

Mindful Parenting: Cultivating Mindful Parenting: Cultivating greater awareness of self, children, greater awareness of self, children,

and your relationship with themand your relationship with them

UW Early Learning ConferenceUW Early Learning ConferenceJune 5, 2010June 5, 2010

Rebecca C. CortesRebecca C. CortesYaffa MaritzYaffa Maritz

Workshop GoalsWorkshop Goals

• Background on mindfulness

• Awareness of self

• Awareness of children

• Awareness of relationships with children

• Background on mindfulness

• Awareness of self

• Awareness of children

• Awareness of relationships with children

For more information please contact Dr. Patricia Jennings, [email protected] or 845.424.4800.

IntentionIntention

IntentionIntention

• Intention as different from goals

• State your intention to the person sitting next to you

Examples: Listen Be open to new ideas Participate Be non-judgmental Be present

• Intention as different from goals

• State your intention to the person sitting next to you

Examples: Listen Be open to new ideas Participate Be non-judgmental Be present

BreathingBreathing

MindMind BodyBodyBreathingBreathing

Mindfulness is . . .Mindfulness is . . .

Paying attention in a particular way :

• With intention, on purpose

• With open-hearted, non-judgmental awareness

• In the present moment

Paying attention in a particular way :

• With intention, on purpose

• With open-hearted, non-judgmental awareness

• In the present moment

“Everyday Blessings” by Myla and Jon Kabat-Zinn, 1997

Brief Background on MindfulnessBrief Background on Mindfulness

• Buddhism

• Judaism

• Islam

• Christianity

• Indigenous cultures

• Education: Teachers, students, incorporated in social emotional learning curricula, such as PATHS® and MindUP™

• Medicine: psoriasis, high blood pressure, chronic pain,

• Psychology: anxiety, depression, substance abuse

• Buddhism

• Judaism

• Islam

• Christianity

• Indigenous cultures

• Education: Teachers, students, incorporated in social emotional learning curricula, such as PATHS® and MindUP™

• Medicine: psoriasis, high blood pressure, chronic pain,

• Psychology: anxiety, depression, substance abuse

The Mind-Body ConnectionThe Mind-Body Connection

MindMind BodyBodyHealth, Calmness, Health, Calmness,

CompassionCompassion

Mindfulness is . . .Mindfulness is . . .

• Not a relaxation technique, although one can feel relaxed when being mindful

• Not an activity that takes up extra time during the day, rather it is a way of sensing time differently (chronos vs. kairos time)

• Either a set of skills, or a “quality of consciousness” or a way of being that begins with the self

• Not a relaxation technique, although one can feel relaxed when being mindful

• Not an activity that takes up extra time during the day, rather it is a way of sensing time differently (chronos vs. kairos time)

• Either a set of skills, or a “quality of consciousness” or a way of being that begins with the self

Mindful Parenting DimensionsMindful Parenting Dimensions

• Listening with full attention

• Nonjudgmental acceptance of self and child

• Emotional awareness of self and child

• Self-regulation in the parenting relationship

• Compassion for self and child

Duncan, Coatsworth, & Greenberg (2009)

• Listening with full attention

• Nonjudgmental acceptance of self and child

• Emotional awareness of self and child

• Self-regulation in the parenting relationship

• Compassion for self and child

Duncan, Coatsworth, & Greenberg (2009)

The Parenting TreeThe Parenting Tree

Inner Resources

Presence (self)

Relationships

Mindful Listening ActivityMindful Listening Activity

Listening Mothers™ and Reflective Listening Mothers™ and Reflective Parenting: Discipline from the HeartParenting: Discipline from the Heart

Our mission is to empower parents of children under 5 years old to become more effective parents. The research based curriculums promote strong family bonds and sets the foundation for long lasting emotional health.

Our mission is to empower parents of children under 5 years old to become more effective parents. The research based curriculums promote strong family bonds and sets the foundation for long lasting emotional health.


Mindful parenting is a way of approaching all experiences with an open mind and open heart (COAL). Through mindfulness, parents:

•Develop self awareness

•Become attuned with their children

•Learn more effective ways to communicate

•Create greater capacity to help children regulate their emotions to nurture resiliency and well-being in their children

Mindful parenting is a way of approaching all experiences with an open mind and open heart (COAL). Through mindfulness, parents:

•Develop self awareness

•Become attuned with their children

•Learn more effective ways to communicate

•Create greater capacity to help children regulate their emotions to nurture resiliency and well-being in their children


•Presence – The ability to observe your internal self (form healthy relationship with oneself)

•Attunement –Focused attention on the internal world of the other

•Resonance – Feeling felt

•Presence – The ability to observe your internal self (form healthy relationship with oneself)

•Attunement –Focused attention on the internal world of the other

•Resonance – Feeling felt

““Mindsight”Mindsight”

“. . . the ability for the human mind to see itself. It is a powerful lens through which we can understand our inner lives with more clarity, transform the brain and enhance our relationships with others.”

Dr. Dan SiegelExecutive DirectorMindsight Institute

“. . . the ability for the human mind to see itself. It is a powerful lens through which we can understand our inner lives with more clarity, transform the brain and enhance our relationships with others.”

Dr. Dan SiegelExecutive DirectorMindsight Institute

A mindful story . . .A mindful story . . .

Ways to Be Mindful Ways to Be Mindful in Our Daily Lifein Our Daily Life

•Short mindfulness practice first thing in the morning

•Use breathing on your way to work, shopping, dropping off children at daycare or school

•Set intention for the day in the car or walking into work setting or at home

•Use breathing to address tension

•Bring mindfulness to everyday tasks

•Short mindfulness practice first thing in the morning

•Use breathing on your way to work, shopping, dropping off children at daycare or school

•Set intention for the day in the car or walking into work setting or at home

•Use breathing to address tension

•Bring mindfulness to everyday tasks

Mindfulness ResourcesMindfulness Resources•http://greatergood.berkeley.edu/

•http://www.umassmed.edu/cfm/home/index.aspx

•http://www.parentmindfully.com/

•http://www.mindandlife.org/

•www.garrisoninstitute.org/

•http://drdansiegel.com/

•http://greatergood.berkeley.edu/

•http://www.umassmed.edu/cfm/home/index.aspx

•http://www.parentmindfully.com/

•http://www.mindandlife.org/

•www.garrisoninstitute.org/

•http://drdansiegel.com/

mindful parenting: cultivating greater awareness of self, children, and your relationship with them...

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