Simplifying May Protect a Child's Mental Health
My husband and I just went through the process of dividing my Mother-in-Law’s things between her children in preparation of her living in a nursing home. All I could think as we sorted through it was that, in the end, it was just stuff. Why do we need it all? The experience encouraged me to simplify my life; eliminating that extra stuff that is filling spaces in my house, not filling spaces in my heart.
A few of my most precious childhood “things,” a half century later.
While decluttering my own life, I think about the childhood of students I serve and compare it to my own childhood. I remember having about 4 dresses, one pair of shoes, a few pair of socks and undergarments, one sweater and one coat. As far as toys go, I had one barbie doll, a Raggedy Ann, a tape player (because all I ever really wanted to be when I grew up was a radio DJ), a couple board games, and a few precious books. If I wanted more toys, I created them out of paper, pencils, sticks, or whatever else I could find. I was immersed in childhood, I ran, I climbed, I used up lots of band-aides and I explored the great outdoors.
I was reminded that childhood has not changed that much since my days when I watched my Granddaughter at a restaurant recently. Without any toys or tablets to keep her entertained, she took a pair of plastic forks and turned them into dancing people that performed for the family on the table. However, the world children are growing up in is changing. Now environments are artificially created for children though hours-upon-hours of sedentary video game playing, lavishly designed play-dates and classes, an arsenal of toys, clothes, stuff, and more stuff. According to a book by Kim John Payne, Simplicity Parenting, this world of too much is propelling children into the realm of disorder. A child who is systematic may be pushed into obsessive behaviors, a dreamy child may lose the ability to focus, and a child that jumps from thing-to-thing, game-to-game, task-to-task, ultimately looses concentration and whole brain function.
An interesting study was conducted by Payne in which he simplified the lives of children with attention deficit disorders. Within four months a staggering 68% went from being clinically dysfunctional to clinically functional. These children also increased in cognitive aptitude by 37%. This study demonstrates in a very real way that for children less is more! They need time to create their own activities, time to sit by a creek and meditate, time to watch an animal, time to read a book, time to gaze at the clouds, or the stars, time to think, explore, create. Children need to be “…immersed deeply and lost in their wild imaginations:” (Payne 2016).
Simplifying and filtering the unnecessary protects childhood. Yes, we can provide children with enrichment, opportunity, and possessions, but these things should be done with purpose and thought. Childhood serves a purpose! It is there for a reason. Childhood is the time to protect young minds from the adultness of our complex society; it is a time to protect little minds so they have the opportunity to grow into healthy and happy adults.
It’s a beautiful world! Give children the space, time, and opportunity to enjoy. Declutter the too-muchness in a child’s life. This will give our children a resiliency that will help them create genuine peace in their hearts.
So, as I personally load another box for Good Will, I plan to stick my feet in a puddle and enjoy this beautiful world a little less encumbered.
Also available at Teachers Pay Teachers!
Growth Mindset is a simple, yet powerful idea that can unlock the potential of all students.
The following monthly lessons will help you create a classroom community that fosters a growth mindset. We’ve spread the activities out over the year, but feel free to use them at whatever pace works best for your classroom!
Table of Contents
August: We Respect Ourselves, Our Classroom, and Each Other
Monthly Overview......................................................................6
Respect Poster.............................................................................7
Respect Song...............................................................................8
“Respect Land” Activity..............................................................9
“We Are All Different” Activity.................................................13
September: We Take Care of Each Other’s Feelings
Monthly Overview.....................................................................14
Care Poster.................................................................................15
Care Song..................................................................................16
“How Do I Feel” Activity..........................................................17
“Name That Feeling” Activity...................................................86
“S/he Feels, S/He Needs” Activity............................................90
“We Take Care of Feelings” Activity.........................................91
October: I Do My Personal Best
Monthly Overview.....................................................................95
Personal Best Poster..................................................................96
Personal Best Song....................................................................97
“I Am” Activity..........................................................................98
“We Work At Our Own Pace” Activity......................................99
“No Put Downs” Activity.........................................................101
“I Can Always Get Better” Activity.........................................102
November: We Can Grow Our Brains
Monthly Overview...................................................................103
Brain Poster..............................................................................104
Brain Song...............................................................................105
“The Brain Makes Connections” Activity...............................106
“I Can Make My Brain Work Hard” Activity.........................107
“My Brain Needs To Work”....................................................108
“My Brain Doesn’t Know How...Yet” Activity.......................110
December: We Love Mistakes
Monthly Overview...................................................................112
Mistakes Poster........................................................................113
Mistakes Song..........................................................................114
“Red Light, Green Light” Activity...........................................115
“Memory” Activity...................................................................116
“My Favorite Mistake” Activity...............................................118
“To The Next Level” Activity..................................................120
January: We Can Persevere
Monthly Overview...................................................................121
Perseverance Poster.................................................................122
Perseverance Song...................................................................123
“Don’t Tell Me” Activity.........................................................124
“My Persistence Pal” Activity.................................................125
“My Goals” Activity...............................................................127
“Toss The Ball” Activity..........................................................129
February: We Can Use Positive Self Talk
Monthly Overview.............................................................130
Positive Talk Poster............................................................131
Positive Talk Song..............................................................132
“I Am Kind To Myself” Activity........................................133
“I Talk Nicely To Myself” Activity....................................137
“What Are They Thinking” Activity...................................139
“I Am My Own Cheerleader” Activity...............................140
March: We Can Do Hard Things
Monthly Overview..............................................................141
Hard Things Poster..............................................................142
Hard Things Song................................................................143
“Tangram Puzzles” Activity.................................................144
“Nonsense Words Bam!” Activity........................................146
“Front Car-Back Car” Activity..............................................157
“Beat The Boss Activity........................................................159
April: We Can Solve Problems
Monthly Overview................................................................160
Problems Poster.....................................................................161
Problems Song......................................................................162
“Use Your Words” Activity...................................................163
“Brainstorm” Activity...........................................................164
“Think About It” Activity.....................................................165
“Take A Deep Breath” Activity.............................................166
May: We Are Always Growing
Monthly Overview.................................................................168
Growing Poster......................................................................169
Growing Song........................................................................170
Portfolio Pages.......................................................................171
Product Description
This book teaches young children that their body is valuable, not because of how it looks, but because of all the amazing things they can do with it: like running, swimming, jumping, smiling, and learning.
Body Positivity is an important lifeskill that needs to be fostered and developed. Physical and non-physical attributes need to be celebrated! In todays society, children need to feel their own value and self-worth rather than the reflection of air-brushed magazine role-models. We are all special in our own special ways.
The book contains both colored and black and white copies. May be used as a whole group storybook or used in small groups as a Level G reader.
Check out the full preview of the book here: https://www.blurb.com/books/9330794-my-body-is-an-instrument
Contains two companion worksheets
For games, songs, and ideas to instill a growth mindset, check out our:
Help your students learn the power of persistence and YET with this adorable read and color guided book.
Growth Mindset themed guided readers make learning to read fun and engaging! Kids LOVE these paper themed books!
Offering students a paper book that can be colored and taken home offers students authentic purpose for the guided reading instruction and opportunity to practice techniques at home. Plus your kiddos will love them! You will have students' begging for more by using these engaging guided readers.
Get a companion song free here
Get the full unit here
