Yoga and Meditation With Your Kids

One of my many New Year's resolutions (yes, I've jumped on the bandwagon full steam ahead), is to do 15 minutes of yoga and meditation in the mornings with my kids before school. I don't think it necessarily matters what time of day you choose to do it. I feel it's a nice way to begin the day, but it can also be a great way to end the day.

Yoga is very therapeutic to all children with all backgrounds (age, gender and special needs). There are so many reasons to add this practice into your daily routine.

A few of the many beneficial effects of yoga and meditation include:

1. Mind Relaxation and Self-Awareness 
-Concentration on breath and body increases total awareness. Learning how to focus energy and a busy mind into yoga posses or breathing techniques is relaxing, soothing, and calming. Learning these techniques allows your child/children to acquire another way of coping with stress and anxiety.   

2. Concentration and Confidence 
-Yoga and meditation can be difficult, especially when you're just starting. Encourage your kids and praise them for their efforts. You'll see that once they succeed in a yoga pose or a breathing technique, they'll become increasingly confident and eager to continue to grow in their practice. This is validation that with concentration and effort they can accomplish what they put their minds too. 

3. Balance, Flexibility and Strength
- Yoga tones and strengthens your muscles while stretching them and balancing your entire body all at the same time. Different poses engage your muscles with a focus on using core muscles first and foremost. I always tell my kids "belly button to the spine" which helps with them to visualize it.

To start, we've been doing 10 minutes of yoga (about 1-4 poses) and 5 minutes of deep breathing and meditation. I'm starting out with only 15 minutes a day because mornings are generally a busy time and changing daily routines can be tough. Eventually I hope to add more time. I'm trying to ease our way into something new and I feel as though starting out with only 15 minutes is a practical way to begin. 

So far the kids are loving it! Scarlett has complained about gravity once (maybe twice) and Troy always wants to do warrior pose. They both get the giggles when we do the breathing exercises and meditation, which I don't mind at all because they're doing it, enjoying themselves and they are trying (I can't really ask for much more). I'm confident that with time and practice they will be able to calm their minds more and more each day and learn to focus on their breath.

This should be an enjoyable and bonding experience with your kids, however, there are going to be restless and difficult days. Don't let those days discourage you. Love and patience is key!

Playing in the Rain

Don't get caught up in being a grown up all of the time. Show your kids the child in you and play in the rain! Don't worry about getting wet, a little rain never hurt anyone.

We decided to skip our way down the street and play in the rain at the park . Here's my cute little sweet pea smiling and my hubby giving me the "I married the silliest woman" smirk.

This is me and Scarlett catching raindrops on our tongues as we spin and laugh uncontrollably. 

Splash in all the puddles you can find! And when you're all done, take a nice warm bubble bath followed by hot chocolate and snuggles.

Paint with your Kids

My kids love love love to paint! I am not the best painter, but honestly, who cares?? My kids certainly don't. All they care about is that I'm doing the activity with them.

Being creative is good for the soul and a great way to bond with your children. While preparing the table with all of the art supplies, I like to talk about what we all want to paint. Sometimes my kids like to tell me what they think I should paint, but this is also an opportunity to express my creativity as well, so I tell them "lets all make our own decisions about what we want to create".

In the picture above, we're trying out water color. I usually get my supplies at Michaels. They also have step by step water coloring books that are really helpful as well.  

Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park

Hiking is fun, adventurous, and a great way to bond with your kiddos.

When hiking with your little ones, use the opportunity to teach them about how to respect nature. Point out the trees, plants, flowers and animals you come across.

My son, Troy, loves to throw rocks in the streams and rivers we come across. I like for us to find special rocks with unique shapes or colors, and make wishes on them before throwing them into the water.

https://www.google.com/search?q=cougar+mountain+hike&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8

Alice Keck Park

Alice Keck Park is in Santa Barbara CA, and is one of my all time favorite parks! It's just breathtakingly beautiful.

It's a perfect park for a family picnic. The flowers and trees throughout this park are gorgeous there's a duck pond in the middle of the park that has turtles, ducks, frogs, and different kinds of fish for the kids to feed and look at. However there's no fence around the pond, so watch your kids! Our daughter Scarlett actually did fall into the pond one time and made quite the scene. She was 5 years old at the time and when we pulled her out, the pond water went up to her neck.

At first when Brendan and I pulled Scarlett out of the pond she cried "how could this happen to such a sweet Scarlett"!?! Yes, she referred to herself in the third person. But then on the ride home she said "I can't stop my mouth from smiling".  I'm glad she was able to giggle at herself  (we all did after she was rescued). When we got home she got a shower, a bath, and another shower. Ponds may be pretty to look at, but they're disgusting to swim in. We don't recommend it. 

Alice Keck Park is also just as perfect for a romantic day date out with your honey bunny. It's where my husband and I had our third date. 

Beach Dinner Picnic

Make dinner even more fun by packing a picnic and heading to the beach! I know it's probably not the first thing you think of when you're wanting to go out to dinner with your family, but it's honestly not as much work as you may be anticipating.

There are so many benefits when you go to the beach in the evening;

1. You don't have to worry about sunscreen (depending on how late you go).
2. It's not as crowded.
3. Your kids can run around and get the wiggles out.
4. Your kids only need to get their feet wet.
5. You get to enjoy a beautiful sunset while eating your dinner.
6. It saves the money!

Don't forget the baby powder to get the damp sand off yours and the kiddos feet. Enjoy the sunset with your family!