Mindful Parenting

November 18, 2013
Psychologist Race, founder of the Mindful Life program, offers a thoughtful, science-based plan that helps today’s parents (“Generation Stress”) and their kids use mindfulness techniques. The Colorado-based mother of two presents a dire scenario—kids and parents are stressed out due to factors including over-use of technology, too much homework, not enough sleep, over-scheduling, and insufficient time for free play. Race explains that all this stress plays out in the brain: the prefrontal cortex, which helps kids pay attention, problem-solve, and make good choices, takes a back seat to the fight-or-flight amygdala, the “fire alarm” of the limbic system. Through mindfulness (“paying attention to the present moment with kindness”), kids and parents learn to approach life from a calmer, clearer perspective. Race provides age-appropriate mindfulness activities for children, teens, and adults. Along with such expected tips about breathing and yoga, she suggests activities like stargazing, taking a hike, or using the non-dominant hand to help kids slow down and be present. She also differentiates between good stress (learning to swim, rock climbing) and bad stress (not enough sleep, too much TV). Busy parents will benefit from Race’s balanced approach and bounty of family-friendly ways to decompress. Agent: Stephanie Kip Rostan, Levine Greenberg Agency.