Crafting Calm: Art and Activities for Mindful Kids
Chapter 1 Catch Your Calm every day we encounter situations that can upset us These situations might fill us with worry and panic Or they might lead us to angry shouting and tears And that's not all There are also times when we find ourselves overcome with nervous energy or excitement On days like this we may find it difficult to focus on the here and now It's healthy to feel all kinds of emotions It's also good to respectfully share your emotions with others when it feels right But when your emotions rise to a point where you might lose control of your actions or where your thoughts feel overwhelming it's a good idea to pause and take a breath This chapter includes activities and exercises to help you slow down and regain control of your behavior or thoughts Settle your thoughts by making a glitter jar or shake off tension by twisting like a tree Find peace while blowing paint or work out anger as you knead dough Then the next time you start to feel swept away by your emotions you'll know just what to do to catch your calm 5
Glitter Jar Having something to focus on can help you relax when your thoughts start to overwhelm you Make your own relaxation tool by creating a glitter jar STUFF you'll NEED Clear jar with a tight fitting lid Water Glitter glue Glitter PUT IT TOGETHER 1 Choose your materials mindfully If you can use a jar that feels nice in your hand Pick calming colors for the glitter and glitter glue 2 Pour one part water and one part glitter glue into the jar Fill the jar about halfway 3 Add a few pinches of glitter to the jar Then fill it the rest of the way with water and screw the lid on tightly 6
PUT IT TO USE Pick up the jar and study it Notice how it feels in your hands is it cool or warm Is it smooth or rough Turn the jar upside down and set it in front of you Watch the glitter slowly flow from the top and settle in the bottom of the jar During this time try to focus only on the glitter and the way it moves The Empty Boat A parable attributed to Chinese Daoist philosopher Chuang tzu tells of a man fishing in his boat As he crosses a river an empty boat collides with his own If the other boat had held a driver the man would have been angry He would have blamed the driver for the collision But because the boat was empty the man remains calm This parable teaches us the power of perception When we come by obstacles we can choose how to perceive them We can consider them attacks by others Or we can think of them as experiences we must work with instead of against The Empty Boat parable demonstrates that viewing our trials as empty boats instead of personal attacks can bring us peace and happiness 7
