people’s houses down (or pretend to) like the wolf in the Three Little Pigs story. We can huff (and puff!) when we breathe, or we can huff and puff softly and quietly … Being aware of our breathing can help bring us back to what’s happening inside of us, no matter what’s happening outside of us. 01. Take a great big breath in … and now huff it out like a horse or puff it out like a dragon! 02. Feel the air come in and go out. Feel what happens in your body as the air comes in and goes out … 03. Now take a tiny little breath in … and let it out very softly and gently … Feel the air come in and go out. 04. Feel what happens in your body as the air comes in and goes out … 05. Now just breathe like you usually do. Feel the air come in and go out. 06. Feel what happens in your body as the air comes in and goes out … What was it like being aware of your breath? If you feel like too much is happening — inside your body or outside it, just feel your breath — going in and coming out. Draw like an artist Drawing is a wonderful way of being alert, attentive, calm and happy, because it helps us make connections: to what we’re drawing, to what we’re drawing with, to what we’re drawing on, and to the act of drawing itself. Find something fun to draw. It might be something that looks beautiful, or it might be something that doesn’t look beautiful — yet. Really look at what you have chosen to draw — whether it’s a person, or an animal, or a The mindfulness games are extracted from Mindfulness at Play by Dr Stephen McKenzie & Angela North, published by Exisle Publishing, RRP: $34.99. tree, or anything. Then draw it very carefully. Pay attention to the pencil or crayon or brush strokes on the paper as you draw. What was it like drawing with full attention? Was it fun? Create like a magician Giving our full attention to what’s real, like the nose on our face or the rose in our garden, doesn’t mean that we can’t create, imagine and invent worlds of make believe. We can give all our attention to what we have just made real, just as we can give all our attention to what’s already real. 01. Let’s pretend that you are whoever and whatever you would like to be — right here, right now! 02. Let’s pretend that a magic genie has magically appeared — right here, right now! 03. The magic genie offers to turn you into whatever you would like to be. 04. You can be a pirate, a princess, a pony or a person that you like … or even a person that you don’t like! 05. Let go of what you think you are. 06. Let go of what you usually are. 07. In this game you can be anybody at all. 08. In this game you can play any game. 09. In this game you can play with whoever you like … 10. Give your full attention to what you have created. 11. Give your full attention to what you have made real. How did you go? Was it fun letting go of what you usually are and creating something new? THE PREFERRED MULTI-SEAT STROLLER FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION. 4Quickly & Safely seat up to six young children in an evacuation event 4One double stroller & up to twelve different seating arrangements (you choose) 4Walk a mix of 0-4 year olds on excursions 4Easily folds down for storage Walking kids is healthy for our planet. Facebook Instagram Linkedin 0273693487 patricia@kinderpod.com WWW.KINDERPOD.COM December 2023 { 37 }
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