Healthychild

April is Autism Awareness and Acceptance Month. With rising awareness, there is a need to move from "awareness" to "acceptance." As our very own Dr. Molly Matsik explains, "Thanks to IDEA, school inclusion, various advocacy groups, and the DSM-5, awareness about autism is prevalent... However, now with raised awareness, we also have to consider what that means and how culture can change to be more accepting and supportive in ways that are socially significant for these individuals. It's not about making them like "us" rather, more so, making the environment supportive and safe for them to be them."

Welcome to the Week of the Young Child! It's the 50th anniversary of NAEYC's yearly event that celebrates young children and their teachers, families, and communities! For more info, check out NAEYC's Facebook or click this link: https://www.naeyc.org/events/woyc #WOYC21

Activity Avenue Looking for a silly craft? Here's a new pet that will be all the fun and none of the mess! Yarn Monsters will make a great new addition to any atmosphere! Click below for more in depth directions and examples! https://www.bluebearwood.co.uk/yarn-monsters/

Mindful Message If you only have a minute or two, the Five Senses Exercise can help you bring awareness to a mindful state quickly. All you need is to notice something you are experiencing with each of the five senses: see, feel, hear, smell, and taste.

Throughout this year online shopping sure has boomed! If you have extra shipping boxes lying around you can use them to create awesome things with your kids! Everything from forts to slides to ramps! Enjoy creating!

Morning Affirmation Here are some morning affirmations to think about as you begin your day! Remember to be kind to yourself and take your time with what needs to be done. Getting to where you are took strength - you can handle anything! What are you looking forward to doing today? . .... . . #mindfulness #affirmations #selfcare #selflove #strength #gratitude #socialemotional #mentalhealth #mantras See more

Happy Kwanzaa to all who are celebrating! We wish you a happy and healthy celebration

Good morning and happy Boxing Day to those celebrating. Our team is wishing you and yours a healthy and happy day!

Happy Monday everyone - We hope you are all doing well! As we step into the second week of December and prepare for the holidays, let's remember that our little ones benefit much from those positive interactions we have with them. This includes playing with our children, taking an interest in what they would like to show us, encouraging them to explore their surroundings safely with our attention, encouragement, and guidance. We hope this week is a wonderful week for you all,... and that you also can engage in some needed self-care! . . . . . #socialemotionallearning #socialemotional #earlychildhood #zerotothree #childdevelopment #mentalhealth #relationships #attachment #playislearning #quoteoftheday See more

Wishing all who are celebrating a very merry and mindful Christmas!

Compassion Corner Taking care of ourselves isn't something that we typically think to schedule into our days, but we all should start doing it! The boundaries between work, school, and home are blurrier than ever, and it's easy to forget to take a few minutes for ourselves amongst all our other commitments. So, to make sure that you don't forget about you, schedule some time just for you every day!

Cozy Corner As the winter season approaches, there are lots of fun activities to do as a family! One idea is decorating with paper snowflakes - all you need is paper and scissors for some fun winter decor. Music playlists can help you feel mindful and relaxed as the days get shorter, too! What are your favorite activities to do in the winter? . . . .... . . . . #family #papersnowflakes #mindfulness #socialemotional #relaxation #cozy #fun #music #wintertime #earlychildhood #mentalhealth See more

Mindful Message The best way to show children how to be mindful is to practice it in our daily life. The Heartbeat Exercise is definitely one of the engaging mindfulness activities you should try with your child. If you haven’t yet tried it, now may be the time to give it a shot.

Mindful Message During a complicated, emotional year like this, it's easy to get caught up in negative feelings, even for children. Take this opportunity to encourage a child that may seem like they are going through a hard time to express how they feel. After chatting about their big feelings, look for the good things in their lives to inspire hope and resiliency. This is also a great practice to do yourself as adults - Try talking it out with a friend or using this as a journaling prompt!

Mindful Message When we are trying something for the first time, it can feel like a voice keeps saying I can’t do it. The best way to throw this I can’t thought away is to think YES I CAN!. Next time when you try new things and the I can’t thought appears again, grab it, toss it, and shout out I CAN DO IT!

Mindful Message Take a moment to stop and take some mindful breaths (while stopping to smell the flowers) during this stressful week. The lotus flower breathing technique can make it easier to focus on the motions of breathing in and out for kids and adults when you need help relaxing.