THEME: SELF-CARE AND APPRECIATION
“LET’S BE GOOD TO OURSELVES”
When there is a lot going on around us, people hurting and in need of our energy and support, we can forget about our own needs. It is important to care for yourself not only for you, but also to show those around you what it means to care for and love yourself. We aren’t machines and we need refilling every now and again!
We also need to remind ourselves of all that we are, and all that we can appreciate in each moment. This can really help ground us and bring positive feelings in those times we need it the most. Self-care practices can come in all forms, big and small. Whatever the age, we can all benefit from self-care practices!
Move through this month’s program with an open heart, creating space to fill it with practices that you and the little ones you help take care of so greatly deserve. Use this as a time to show your classrooms what self-care and appreciation means, and to be thankful for all that you are and have. With this infant program, use sensory props like music, scarfs, and smells to refocus their attention and settle in with peaceful classroom time.
Join our private facebook group for additional support
GUIDED MEDITATION
Watch the short explainer video by Jen, that describes how to settle in with a meditation.
“THE POWER OF APPRECIATION” meditation
This month we are taking the time to simply give back to ourselves, and top up our energy by focusing on our full being. Take these few minutes to go inward and practice appreciation of yourself and the present moment. It is important to remind ourselves of those things that tend to pass us by and we can take for granted.
Time: 12 minutes
When to practice: As often as you need
For the next few minutes you will be led through a guided meditation. All you have to do is to listen to the words. Try to stay still and relaxed in the body and mind if you can, but don’t worry if you wiggle or your mind gets a little busy at times. Know you can come back to the words, to the body, and to the breath.
Find a nice comfortable laying down position. Take any pillows or blankets that might make you feel more comfortable (Maybe turn down the lights too!) Make sure you are warm and cosy, and once you’ve made final wriggles and shuffles, then begin to close the eyes. If it helps maybe place a jumper or scarf over your eyes so less light comes through.
So are you ready? Is your body floppy? Let’s begin!
Simply click on the video and settle in. We are here for you, for them.
BREATHING EXERCISE: HUMMING BEE BREATH
Humming bee breath serves to benefit us in many ways! The healing humming sound helps alleviate stress, lower the heart rate and can even release the love hormone, oxytocin, which increases connection to the self and overall wellbeing.
Let’s begin by finding our easy pose, sitting cross legged with our spine nice and long. Next we will take our index fingers and lightly press our ears closed to block out any external sounds. Take a nice deep inhale through the nose and make the sound ‘hmmm’ as you breathe out of the nose slowly and calmly, taking your time.
Repeat as many times as needed.
Watch the video below for guidance from Jen!
SELF CARE MANTRA
“I am cared for, I am thankful, I love who I am.” Follow along with Jen for this mantra that will help build courage and resilience. This is a lovely mantra you can do with your classroom before an activity, or before nap time to help build resilience and bring calm.
STANLEY THE SLOTH LEARNS TO LOVE HIMSELF
yoga poses and movement
These poses are here this month to help care for our whole bodies, and show the little ones around us how to do the same. All of these poses can be done on your own as an adult, alongside a toddler, and there are also variations to do with a baby. Remember to take your time with the poses, practice slowly and with care, and don’t forget to slow down your breath!
DOUBLE WATERFALL POSE (option with sensory scarf)
Let’s support each other by having each others backs and shower ourselves with love. Sit down back to back with your partner (adult or toddler), making sure the whole of your spines are connected to each other, and no poor vertebras feel left out! With infants as an alternative, you can sit up against a wall. Your legs are out long in front of you and you can have a little one laying on your legs looking up at you. Option to grab a sensory scarf for this. At the same time breathe in and reach up with your arms taking the scarf over your head, imagine filling a bucket of love in your hands (you can even hold hands here for a moment!) then ‘woosahh!’ Breathe out, forward fold and imagine covering yourself and your little one in all that love, then slowly come back up to connected straight spines. Let’s do this two more times.
SILENT FOREST POSE
This is a group pose. Make a circle and stand up tall. Slowly bring all of your weight into one leg, and start to lift your other leg away from the ground, bend the knee and rest your foot on your ankle or inner thigh (making sure you don’t rest the foot on your knee!). As you stand strong, you can either hold onto your little one by resting them on your hip, or you can bring your palm to touch a child’s palm who might be standing next to you ~ Let’s make a silent forest! Imagine you have roots coming from under your foot on the ground, you are so still and are fully supporting each other. Take a few breaths. Gently lower your foot and then switch sides so you can repeat the pose on the other leg.
HAPPY BABY POSE
Lay on your back and hug your knees into your chest. Then take your two peace sign fingers and wrap both around your big toes. Knees stay bent and your arms are on the inside of your knees. Then you can roll around from side to side like a happy baby! Take a few breaths here with the eyes closed, then hug the knees back into the body.
BUTTERFLY POSE
Sitting up tall with our legs crossed and the little ones either on your lap or by your side and doing the pose with you! We can sit up tall and hold onto our feet like an open book (you can show yourself some love here by massaging the soles of your feet!) We are all Butterflies ready to spread our wings and fly. Babies can also lay on their backs and you can lift and lower their legs like a butterfly, this can help ease any trapped wind and calm the baby down. You can play the ‘Fly Like a Butterfly’ song here too!
ADDITIONAL ACTIVITIES
CALMING music
We have offered these music selections, to use during any of your activities and/or quiet time. It’s even lovely music to have in the background while you’re doing schoolwork with the little ones, reading, before nap time, and any time you want to bring a sense of calm of comfort into the classroom.
WITH GRATITUDE
