Meditation Education

Good News Good Planet

For more delicious news, go to www.GoodNewsGoodPlanet.com, and scroll to bottom for more ways to find the feel good stuff!* MEDITATION EDUCATION You've heard the term "mind over matter," but how about mind over detention? In America, schools nationwide are replacing detention and discipline with mindfulness programs and meditation, garnering some amazing results: suspensions have been cut in half, attendance is up and so are grade point averages. How? By teaching children to recognize and deal with stress before it becomes a disciplinary issue in the first place. In Baltimore, Maryland seventeen schools are participating in the Mindful Moment Program. Classrooms are guided through daily breathing and meditation, during 15-minute recorded sessions. Teachers are taught how to check in with students for emotional issues throughout the day, and help them practice mindfulness skills when they're having a rough time. Overwhelmed students can request a break in the "Mindful Moment Room" or be sent there. Instructors talk to each child and help them engage in mindfulness practices, including breathing exercises and yoga. Many of the staff are former students themselves and can relate firsthand to the issues the children face. The goal is to help kids identify and process their emotions, rather than bury them or lash out. Studies show a mindfulness approach reduces problematic responses to stress. Outbursts and tantrums are down and teaching minutes are up with students of all ages. Parents are getting in on the act too as many kids are teaching them to breathe out their stress and tension. The impact has been especially felt in urban communities where stress levels are high and in the long term can affect a child's ability to focus and learn. Teaching children mindfulness skills at a young age will serve them and benefit all far beyond the classroom and into adulthood, leading to better choices and a more peaceful existence. And that’s good news for a peaceful planet. #### *Hungry for more of the Good Stuff? Search "Good News Good Planet" on YouTube, Instagram, Patreon, Alexa and wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts.