Jan
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Mindfulness for Children – new courses in Hong Kong
Mindfulness Matters! and it’s mascot, The Little Green Frog, is now available in Hong Kong.
Mindfulness paves the way to be alert and make kind, conscious choices in the present moment. Janet Etty-Leal
Mindfulness is paying attention to the present moment, without judgment. More simply, it is purposefully bringing attention to what is being experienced. Though it sounds simple it is actually increasingly difficult for adults and children to be consciously mindful throughout the day. Our lives are filled with distractions and challenges making it difficult to focus and retain attention. After meeting someone for the first time, or buying something new, or beginning something new we can’t hold our attention on that person,thing or activity for time, we become mindless about our interaction with it, how it affects us, how we feel about it. Learning skills to hold our attention, to notice what is happening right now, and pause before reacting, are some of what mindfulness teaches.
For children, learning mindfulness techniques can help them create space, to change impulsive reactions to thoughtful responses, and to be calm when before there may have been stress and anxiety. They learn to focus attention, to listen to and marvel at their bodies and minds and how they are connected, to notice what is going on inside. With research increasing exponentially in the field of mindfulness for children, results are also offering positive outcomes in cognitive and academic performance for children practicing mindfulness.
The Courses – See course links for new and additional courses
Mindfulness Matters! is an 8-10 week awareness training course for children. Developed by Eline Snel from the Academy of Mindful Teaching in Holland, the course has been taught to primary and secondary aged children the world over for the past six years, and is now available in Hong Kong.
Based on the core principles of the Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction course for adults, Mindfulness Matters was designed specifically with children and young people in mind. Courses are tailored to four different age groups: 5-7, 8-11, 112-14 and 15-19.
I am trained to teach Mindfulness Matters and have conducted two pilot groups as well as jointly teaching a group in Mui Wo with Janneke Nefs of Happy Kids. Janneke and I will commence a new series of classes in Central (Hong Kong) for 8-11 yo and 12-14 yo.
To enrol your child(ren) please contact me or Janneke per the contact details below.
I will start further courses in Discovery Bay and Mui Wo on Lantau after Chinese New Year, and possibly in the Sai Kung / Clearwater Bay area after Easter. Sign up to the website if you’d like to receive information about future courses.
I wish you a very mindful day.
