Corona, Kids & Screens

So many parents I know feel like they’re drowning in screens right now, myself included. Maybe it feels like a never-ending battle, or perhaps you’ve completely relented in the face of this extraordinary time. I’m here to say that either way, no matter what’s going on, we will get through this.

How does a conscious parent navigate this sea of media and screen usage with small kids? My solution is to have an incredibly compassionate view, and still remember to pursue presence with your child.

At the onset of COVID-19, our kids (ages 5&3) went from having 30-60 minutes of screen-time a week to that per day. And now it’s more like 90 minutes a day on average, although we’ve been able to cut it down over the last few weeks. My philosophy on screens is that my kids are still incredibly young, and have their entire lives to immerse themselves in screens. During these early years, it’s my hope to instill in them a lack of dependence on screens and a greater dependence on the outdoors, and real life connection. This is rooted in many things, but a big part of it has to do with screens’ natural stress-induction, and nature’s natural stress-relief. In an incredibly over-stressful world, I want my kids to have a deep-ingrained antidote to the harming effects of stress. The best antidote out there, I believe, is connection to nature, which includes the outdoors and their own bodies.

While I strive and maintain pretty strict boundaries around screen-time in our home, the most important thing right now is that we let go of our screen-time shame. Shame for anything on behalf of anyone, parents or children should be forsaken. Glennon Doyle shared about this early on in the pandemic - during such a volatile time as this, we need to simply survive, get done some work, and end up smiling at the end of the day. If MANY hours of screen time for your family is what achieves this, let it be. No shame for it. It won’t be like this forever.

And if you’ve got the resources and ability to keep your screen time minimal, keep at it. Appleseed has a list of Approved screen programs coming your way that keeps our children grounded, supports our family values, and serves to teach them the things that matter! We can’t wait to share these with you.

I leave you with two indelible quotes:

“The world is obsessed with its children. Meanwhile the children want presence. They yearn for face-to-face presence.” - David Fitch.
A little screen time and a little presence, on repeat may be a great way to get through your days.

"Take a deep breath and affirm your intention to be fully present — here and now — at peace with What Is." - Scott Noelle.
Doing what you need to do to take care of yourself and remain present in your home will be the greatest gift you can give your kids - screen time included or not.

Peace and go easy on yourself,

Megan

Nature Crafts at Appleseed

So, you want a place where your child can connect with nature and continue to be mystified by the scent of a pine needle or the burst of wind rushing through their hair.  You want your child to fully sense the moment in all its complexity, not one who walks through this world desensitized, cut off from what’s natural, and finding the simple brilliance of life mundane and boring. 

When my son was young, I was getting frustrated when I realized that so many of the typical crafting materials on the market were full of so many harmful chemicals and substances.  Since I'd gone through this with our food, cosmetic products, and cleaning products, it didn’t take me long to realize the label “non-toxic” on crafting materials is also a complete joke. Aside from the consumption to make the craft, what do we do about the bins and bins of art and crafts that our children will make over their lifetime? The best will be kept, and the rest left to landfill.

And then I realized quite quickly that we could make very natural, beautiful and environmentally-friendly crafts if we turn toward simplicity and the outdoors. A win-win for us and the environment! The benefits to kids crafting with nature include: broad-range sensory stimulation (we even include essential oils as much as possible), develops fine motor skills, boosts self-esteem, encourages self-expression and enhances decision making skills!

Each yoga camp and yoga birthday party with Appleseed includes a themed nature craft.  Our nature crafts are simple (easy for little brains and hands), chemical-free, eco-friendly, and as earth-focused as possible.  We love and value vegan crafting and also enjoy using organic, fairly traded wool, beeswax, and other animal products when we see fit.

Through nature crafts, we also maintain our corporate commitment to our beautiful Mother Earth as we use less packaging and overall consume less.  Even searching for the craft materials is a mindful and yogic endeavour! We use yoga and mindfulness from craft inception to finished product; choosing where to find the appropriate materials, scouting them out, dreaming up the process of crafting, and assembling the product!

Appleseed loves committing to the things that matter, so the generations after us have a space to do the same. 

With Love,
Megan

{The nature craft pictured is from our latest PA Day Yoga Camp under the theme Winter Wonderland. We made Winter Wonderland scenes with homemade salt dough (salt, flour, water, high-quality fir essential oil for scent), recycled cardboard, and added branches, small wooden animals, second hand miniature animal figurines, pine, cedar and other tree branch/leaf clippings, pine cones, acorn hats, birch stumps, etc.}

How Yoga Can Help With Starting School

September is a tough time of year, no matter how you slice it.  Our hearts especially go out to those sweet families and children who are starting Kindergarten! It’s a new place, new people, and the beginning of a new part of life.  No matter the grade, your child’s wellbeing is incredibly important to you and you want this to be as positive of an experience as possible.  Every parent that sends their child to school goes through these September transitions, and they’re hard!  You’re not alone.

Yoga can help you and your child with all transitions, even starting school!  Notice how I said ‘you’ - as a parent our histories, beliefs, and way we move through life greatly affects our children.  In my experience of sending my oldest off to kindergarten, I realized that mostly i’m not ok - and my child is mostly just fine!

Ultimately it’s about creating a lifestyle of health for your family.  Practicing your own yoga and yoga with your child centres you both and will greatly help them in their growing years.  As I’ve said before, I wish I had yoga as a child!  

Here are a few ways yoga can help a child at any age start school:

1. Confidence - At Appleseed, your child is accepted and loved just as they are.  Their whole self is celebrated, including their differences!  Building on their poses and skills each week through games and fun stories creates a safe space for our kids to grow and build confidence.

2. Positive Self-Talk - Throughout class and especially during meditation and relaxation, children are led through inspiring imagery that focuses on all that’s beautiful, right and good in them.  These truths settle deep in their whole bodies and over time become part of their inner dialogue!  That’s the kind of thing I want my 4 year old to remember when he’s at school and misses me.

3. Deeper Connection - At our Toddler and Family Yoga classes, families stay together to strengthen and deepen our bonds with each other.  Touch, play, and resting together creates a sense of mutual trust between you and your child(ren).  Your child knows they are with you, has your attention, and is in a safe place. Quality time together will fill their reserves and assure them when you’re apart that you love them.

4.  A Positive Relationship with Rest - Yay for REST!  When our children are in school, they get TIRED.  Especially in the early years, during the after school hours they are starving and exhausted, which can make for a tricky bedtime (delaying the sleep they desperately need).  If they have established rest rituals and see rest as positive, this can greatly support their overall health and make the evenings more positive for everyone.

 All the best in your unique transition to school this September!

For the love and health of our families,  

Megan

Our Top 10 Kids Yoga and Mindfulness Books

Over here at Appleseed we are OBSESSED with Kids Yoga and Mindfulness books.  After almost 3 years of extensive research and testing (on the kids I teach and my own babies), I've curated a list of books that will capture the attention of your child and truly edify their soul during these formative years!  You can find a book in this list for children between the ages of 1 and 12.

This list is sure to expand, evolve and change as this genre of material continues to grow, but here is Appleseed’s Top 10 Yoga and Mindfulness Books for 2019!

1.  Yoga Bug by Sarah Jane Hinder - This sweet boardbook is loved by every Appleseed toddler that has come into contact with it!  Each page associates a well-known bug with a pose and children love to move their bodies as the pages turn.  The Bug theme is expansive and sweet. (Ages birth-4)

2.  I’m The Biggest Thing In The Ocean by Kevin Sherry - Technically not a yoga book, this one makes the cut with it’s simple text and sweet oceanic creatures on each page!  Children are taken up by the story and looooove the buildup and surprise ending! (Ages 18 mos - 5)

3.  Meddy Teddy: Mindful Poses for Little Yogis - This board book goes well with a Meddy Teddy as a gift for your child!  Kids are always inspired to move their Meddy Teddy and their own bodies as they turn each page.  We sometimes use this book in our Namastuffy classes! (Ages 2 - 12)

4.  You Are A Lion! By Taeeun Yoo - This book is a great one as each page includes sweet children in various animal poses and also inspires their natural sounds!  The famous lion’s breath is always a hit with kids of any age - something they often aren’t encouraged to do outside of yoga class!  (Ages 2-8)

5.  I Am Human: A Book of Empathy by Susan Verde and Peter H. Reynolds - This book is part of a fantastic series that will have great philosophical impact on the next generation.   Just as Appleseed hopes to ultimately accomplish in this world, this book highlights the fundamental connectedness of humans and their natural state of perfect imperfection. (Ages 6-12)

6. ABC Mindful Me by Christiane Engel - We love this book in our home since the boys can enjoy it on their own accord! The pictures are simple, colourful, and remind us of some of the values we hold close: love of nature, presence, and creativity! (Ages 2-8)

7. Breathe Like A Bear by Kira Willey & Anni Betts- If you teach kids (no matter the setting), or are a parent, this book is a fantastic tool. It is comprised of 30 exercises to calm, focus, imagine, energize, and relax children. These lessons are invaluable in connecting to kids and supporting them (and yourself) regardless of the situation! (Ages 2-12)

8. Yoga Bunny by Brian Russo - Each kid I read this book to loves it! The natural progression of Bunny’s yoga adventure captures a child’s attention beautifully. We also learn a few key benefits to yoga alongside sweet and simple illustrations! (Ages 3-8)

9. The Yoga Game: In The Garden by Kathy Beliveau & Denise Holmes - Children are magnetized to this book. The game that takes place through the pages holds each child’s focus and they enjoy guessing the animal and then performing the pose! Look out for the By The Sea version too! (Ages 4-8)

10. Good Night Yoga by Mariam Gates - Who can’t use a book with poses to help calm and prepare their child for sleep? This book does just that and also is helpful for the mindful parent as well. Children love looking for the sweet moon kitten through the story. There is optional text instructing the pose which makes this book easily adapted for younger or older children. (Ages 2-8)

Do you have any other favourite Kids Yoga and Mindfulness books? We’d love to hear!

Peace!

Megan

What Your Toddler Really Wants

This little rainbow baby of mine makes my heart explode often. His love for movement and natural agility blows us away - not to mention moments like these when I know his weekly yoga classes are creating a deep and lasting impact on his life. (I caught him here in legs up the wall by his own accord just a few weeks after his second birthday.)

It’s true, you may bring your child to Toddler Yoga and never stop wondering why you’re there and what good it’s doing because your child is running in circles during savasana (and the teacher is happy about it).

But these healthy patterns and environments don’t create impact in just 45 minutes one time on a wet Saturday morning in April. It’s consistency, community, and the family connection over time that makes yoga what it is.

And kids get it. Toddlers get it. They love and crave this freedom, this play with their parents and siblings, this creative space where they can be themselves.

A place to freely be themselves.

For the Love of our Families,

Megan