Virginia Association for Early Childhood Education
“Every Child, Everywhere”
“Mindfulness for Educators”
Presentation by: J. Robin Albertson-Wren
“What is Mindfulness?”
“Mindfulness is paying attention in a particular way: on purpose, in the present
moment, and non-judgmentally.” (Jon Kabat-Zinn)
History:
* Buddhist practice for thousands of years
* Jon Kabat-Zinn’s secular mindfulness as stress reduction: MBSR (Mindfulness
Based Stress Reduction) for adults beginning in 1979
Research:
(Adapted and used with permission from Mindful Schools)
* Benefits observed in adults during past 30 years of research:
* Decreased physical and psychological symptoms
* Increased ability to relax
* Reduced pain levels
* Enhanced energy and enthusiasm for life
* Improved self-esteem
* Increased ability to cope more effectively with stressful situations
(Center for Mindfulness, University of Massachusetts)
* Benefits observed in adolescents:
* 80% reversal in DSM Diagnoses
(including depression, anxiety, anorexia, bulimia and cutting)
(MBSR study on young adults - Gina Biegel, MFT, Kaiser Permanente
Hospital Conglomeration)
* Significant impact on depression, stress and well-being
* Follow up indicated over 20% continued to use mindfulness
practice at least once a week after course completion
(Depression, Stress and Well-Being Course Study - 522 Adolescents,
12 schools in Great Britain British Journal of Psychiatry – 2013)
* Attention and behavior problems reduced
* Executive functioning improved
(Research study on Attention and Behavior with Adolescents with ADHD
Journal of Child & Family Studies 2012)
* Benefits observed in children:
* Increased attention
* Greater calmness and self-control
* Improved self-care and participation
* More care and respect for others
(Mindful Schools Controlled Study 2011-2012 829 students,
47 teachers, three schools K-5 http://www.mindfulschools.org)
Neuroscience behind mindfulness:
* Positively affects three areas of the brain:
1) Prefrontal cortex – higher level thinking
2) Amygdala- fight or flight response
3) Hippocampus – memory storage and recall
Recommended children’s literature:
Peaceful Piggy Meditation by: Kerry Lee MacLean
Moody Cow Meditates by: Kerry Lee MacLean
Zen Shorts by: Jon J. Muth (a collection of stories)
The Three Questions by: Jon J. Muth
Breathe by: Scott Magoon
What Does it Mean to be Present? by: Rana DiOrio
Each Kindness by: Jacqueline Woodson
Puppy Mind by: Andrew Jordan Nance
Ahn's Anger & Steps and Stones by: Gail Silver
A Handful of Quiet Moments & Mindful Movements by: Thich Nhat Hanh
Mindfulness Apps and links for practice at home:
Stop, Breathe, Think
Head Space
Inner Balance
Inner Timer
Mindfulness
Mindfulness II Simply Being
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=glv565nlmEc&feature=youtu.be
http://www.medicine.virginia.edu/clinical/departments/medicine/divisions/generalmed/wellness/the-mindfulness-center/audio
Additional Links to Current Research and Articles on Mindfulness in Education:
Scientific American Mind (Volume 25, Number 2), presented a scientific analysis ranking
the 10 most effective child-rearing practices
Daniel Siegel TEDx Neural Integration - Hand model of the brain
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LiyaSr5aeho
Raising the Mindful Family
http://www.mindful.org/raising-the-mindful-family/
Interested in a follow up conversation/presentation
for your school or workplace?
Contact :
J. Robin Albertson-Wren [email protected]
www.mind-awake.weebly.com