Practicing Mindfulness

​Our recent field trip to Port Kells Pumpkin Patch is an unforgettable experience for us and a perfect way to welcome the fall season.

​The journey to Port Kells is filled with anticipation as we chat excitedly about what we will find. Upon arrival, our eyes light up at the sight of the sprawling pumpkin patch. Rows of pumpkins of all sizes and shapes stretch before us, offering a beautiful backdrop for our adventure.

The wagon becomes a popular spot for us to climb into, sit on the soft hay, and explore the pumpkins around us. It offers a cozy and immersive setting where we can enjoy the fall atmosphere while surrounded by pumpkins. Inside the wagon, we take turns ringing a bell that is connected to it, adding an extra element of fun and excitement as we fill the air with joyful sounds

The stationary wagon also features playful cutouts of animals and flowers where we can poke our faces through for photos. This is a big hit, as we eagerly take turns becoming different characters and animals, laughing and posing for pictures. These photo moments allow us to play with our imaginations while making memories together.

One of the highlights of the day is watching us engage in hands-on exploration. At Port Kells, we have the opportunity to touch and feel pumpkins of all textures and sizes. Some are smooth, others are bumpy, and a few have long, curling stems, sparking curiosity and rich conversations about why pumpkins look different. It is wonderful to see us using our senses to explore and giving comments to what we see and saying, Look how big that pumpkin is.

​Fides eagerly volunteers to pull the trolley filled with the pumpkins we have picked. It is heartwarming to see how much joy and pride Fides takes in this responsibility, eagerly leading the group and helping to transport our harvest. It is a wonderful example of how outdoor learning fosters independence and teamwork.

​At the end of our adventure, Pranssi steps up to help pay for the pumpkins we have picked. It is a proud and responsible moment for Pranssi, and it adds a special touch to the experience, showing us the importance of responsibility and contribution in group learning experience. This simple act of helping at checkout allows Pranssi to feel like an important part of the team, reinforcing the value of collaboration.

In addition to our exciting and fun field trip, we too honor the extraordinary of our our ordinary moments. A storybook I Am Peace: A Book of Mindfulness by Susan Verde discovers the power of mindfulness. 

Mindfulness means being fully in the present moment. We can learn how to ...

• manage our emotions.
• make good choices, 
• balance our busy lives by learning to be mindful,
• express emotions through speech,
• find empathy through imagination,
• and wonder at the beauty of the natural world.

Many times in our days we encounter challenges in navigating our emotions. The whole experience sometimes requires some support for us to deal with. For instance, when we need to approach adults to be the mediator. However, there are times when we are nurtured to learn it more independently. 

Here are some common situations that require us to apply mindfulness as our emotional regulation skills:

• learning/stress management (i.e. learning a new skill like how to ride a bicycle)
• transitioning between tasks
• resolving conflict with others
• showing empathy toward others
• behaving appropriately in different environments (i.e. speaking quietly in a library)
• having conversations (i.e. taking turns talking and controlling the impulse to interrupt others)

Listening is hard work, Michael. P. Nichols, PhD, professor of psychological sciences and author of The Lost Art of Listening, says, it takes concentration and effort and self-restraint.

Learning to paying full attention to the sights, smells and sounds around us requires us to practice from time to time. The above shared experience to feel the pumpkin while spinning the wooden turntable underneath gently helps us dig deeper the essence of mindfulness. Using our hands to explore the texture of a pumpkin, Emily, Kai, Pranssi, and Kalyan nourish our understanding on how to respond accordingly with our immediate reaction. This  awareness creates a space between feeling an emotion and responding to it. Over time, this practice can foster a deeper understanding and ability to manage our emotions.

Through our small little interactions we find just as much, or even more, joy in the little things we do. Strolling along the little path while holding hands ... or sometimes skipping together ... are part of our everyday moments. Our days are filled with everyday ordinary moments, such as coming in the morning or leaving at the end of the day; washing hands and eating lunch; going outside and coming back in; cleaning up; gathering on the rug for conversations and stories. 

It is indeed within the context of these ordinary moments that we begin to make sense of our world. It is also in these small moments of time when we experience the cumulative effect of repeated rituals and routines, which have a lasting impression. 

Kindest,
Children & Friends.