Category: Mind

Integrating Mind, Body, and Spirit in Homeschooling

8/29/2023

© Lyn Lomasi; Owner|Ordained Shaman at Intent-sive Nature & Brand Shamans Content Community LLC

In homeschooling, we're like explorers with almost no limits on what we can learn about! Absolutely, academic success matters, but we shouldn't forget that looking after our kids wholistically is just as crucial. When we weave mind, body, and spirit into our homeschooling, something magical happens. It gives them a deep sense of being whole and capable, setting them on a path of self-discovery and mindfulness that will last their whole lives.

The Power of a Wholistic Homeschooling Approach

Holistic homeschooling embraces the interconnectedness of mind, body, and spirit. By acknowledging and nurturing these aspects of our children's development, we lay the foundation for balanced growth, self-awareness, and resilience. Let's explore how we can integrate these elements into our homeschooling journey.

Nurturing the Mind: Expanding Horizons

Traditional education often emphasizes rote learning and standardized tests, but homeschooling opens the door to a wider learning range. Encourage your children to explore diverse subjects, rather than focusing solely on core subjects. Foster their curiosity and let them indulge in intellectual endeavors that ignite their passion.

Empower your kids with critical thinking skills. Engage them in thought-provoking discussions and encourage them to question everything, including the status quo. A mind that questions is a mind that seeks truth and understanding.

Strengthening the Body: A Temple of Power

Incorporate physical activities into your homeschooling routine. Whether it's yoga, dancing, sports, or simply playing in the great outdoors, movement not only enhances physical health but also releases endorphins, promoting happiness and well-being. Teach your children the significance of nourishing their bodies with wholesome foods. Involve them in meal planning and preparation, creating a connection between the food they eat and its impact on their health. Also, be sure to include lessons on herbs and other natural healing to help prevent, as well as heal from many ailments.

Nourishing the Spirit: A Journey Within

Introduce mindfulness practices to your homeschooling curriculum. Meditation, breathing exercises, and moments of reflection allow kids to find stillness amidst the chaos and develop a deep connection with their inner selves. Foster an attitude of gratitude in your homeschooling environment. Encourage kids to express appreciation for the little things, teaching them that gratitude is a powerful tool for cultivating happiness.

The Wholistic Homeschooling Curriculum: A Journey of Self-Discovery

Incorporate mindful journaling into your homeschooling routine. Encourage your kids to pen down their thoughts, feelings, and reflections. Journaling is a magical gateway to self-discovery and personal growth. Embrace the power of creative expression. Art, music, and storytelling are potent ways for kids to externalize their emotions and connect with their inner worlds.

Nature is a profound teacher. Plan regular nature walks, letting your kids immerse themselves in the wonders of the natural world. These moments of communion foster a deep connection with the environment and oneself. Turn mealtimes into mindful rituals. Teach your children to savor each bite, acknowledging the effort put into growing, preparing, and serving the food.

Empowering Your Homeschooling Journey

Show your children the importance of a balanced life by living it yourself. Embrace mindfulness, physical activity, and continuous learning, inspiring them to do the same. Foster your kids' independence by allowing them to take charge of their learning journey. Let them explore their interests and passions, guiding them along the way.

Each child is a magical being with unique gifts and abilities. Celebrate their individuality and encourage them to express themselves authentically. Homeschooling is a magical journey of discovery. Embrace the joy of learning alongside your children, and let the enchantment of knowledge and growth unfold.

In Conclusion: Empowerment Through Wholistic Homeschooling

Unlock the power within your homeschooling experience by integrating mind, body, and spirit. Embrace the wholeness that comes from nurturing all three aspects of our being, and watch as your children blossom into mindful, confident, and empowered individuals. As we embark on this journey of wholistic education, let us remember that by empowering our children to control their own future, we are empowering them to embrace life's wonders and create a world of boundless possibilities.

0 Comments

Homeschool Tips & Advice For When Kids Won't Focus

12/4/2014

0 Comments

How Can I Help My Homeschooled Child Stay Focused on Schoolwork?

by Lyn Lomasi, Write W.A.V.E. Media Staff

What can you do when your homeschooled child won't focus on schoolwork? Staying on task is important during school time, regardless of whether a child attends home school or traditional school. In my years of experience as a parent and homeschool teacher, kids always like variety in education. The idea of doing schoolwork all day isn't exactly appealing to many of them when done the traditional way. But there are several things parents and homeschool teachers can do when kids aren't focusing. Here are some homeschool tips and advice for when kids won't focus.

Provide Variety

Books are a necessary and amazing source of knowledge for kids, but a well-rounded curriculum will include variety. Utilize books, worksheets, the computer, videos, manipulatives, board games, outdoor activities, outside classes, field trips, experiments, and more to create a varied curriculum. Doing the same thing day after day can create a lack of interest in studying and learning. If a child is disinterested and unfocused, he or she is not going to learn anything, no matter how many times someone tells them.

Take a Break

Sometimes a few minutes of downtime can help an unfocused child regain some interest and composure. Children in homeschool have the advantage of being able to attend school at any time of the day. If your kid just is not cooperating at all, wait until later. Find that perfect moment when your child is interested in something and use that as learning time instead. This flexibility in homeschool can help avoid parent (or teacher) and child frustration.

Understand Transition

If the kid without focus has recently transitioned to homeschool from traditional school, respect that. Perhaps your child has moved on to the next level or you've changed the schedule. Because the environment has changed, the child's mind may need some time to adjust. Ease the child into the transition by starting with smaller lessons and increasing study time to the ideal amount as needed. Because you are homeschooling, you can always add extra lessons to catch the child up later, if needed.

Add Some Fun

Does your homeschool day consists of all books and paper? Add some fun to the curriculum. This is not to say that books can't be fun, but they shouldn't be the only source of lessons. This falls in line with adding variety. But it also means you can use games and things the kids enjoy to enhance their interest, as well as their educational experiences. One example of that is in an article I wrote recently entitled “Use Basketball to Enhance Study Time." In that instance, I explained how parents can use the game of basketball to help their kids study and learn.

Get Some Exercise

Fitness has long been a proven method to get that brain working. As mentioned above, certain sports can be used to enhance study skills. Fitness can be used during any time of the day. Start off the day with some brain power yoga, like what I mentioned in the previous article "Using Yoga for Concentration and Focus in the Homeschool Classroom." Anytime anyone is frustrated or unfocused, take a fitness break. Go for a nature walk, head to the park, play a family sport, do some yoga, go for a bike ride - whatever your family enjoys. Remember to rotate between activities to keep it interesting.

Boost that Brain Power with Puzzles and Games

Brain boosting activities are a fun and exciting way to keep kids focused. Did you know that solving puzzles and playing memory skill games can help increase focus skills and even your kid's IQ? Reading is the only activity that causes new brain cells to grow. Combine that with puzzle solving and (such as with crossword puzzles, logic games, and word searches) you not only are increasing study skills and focus, but actually causing new brain cells to grow. Since these puzzles are fun for the kids, why not integrate them into the curriculum. That's part of the homeschool advantage. You have the ability to use innovative learning methods. Use them to boost your child's brain power and ability to focus.

*I originally published this via Yahoo Contributor Network

0 Comments

Yoga For Concentration & Focus in Homeschool Classrooms: Why & How

12/4/2014

0 Comments

Why Yoga Helps Kids Concentrate, Which Poses Work, and Other Tips

by Lyn Lomasi; Owner of Intent-sive Nature & Brand Shamans Content Community

Yoga has long been known for calming and rejuvenating effects. But, did you know that many researchers and scientists agree about the benefits of yoga on memory, concentration, and focus? Because of this, my kids and I start the homeschool day with yoga. I feel that memory, focus, and concentration poses help to prepare the kids minds for lessons and learning. There are numerous scientific studies that state these benefits of yoga to the mind, including on Alzheimer's patients. According to Wired Science, yoga can increase GABA levels in the brain. These increased GABA levels can help counteract anxiety and other neuropathic conditions. TheABC-Of-Yoga.com goes into further detail about yoga and the nervous system.

Yoga Poses Beneficial to Memory, Focus, and Concentration

YogaJournal.com gives excellent instructions that include pictures for those not familiar with how to do each pose. I am listing here the poses that are the easiest for the homeschool children to do. If your homeschooled child is at an advanced level in yoga, there are more listed at YogaJournal.com.

Bridge Pose
Cow Pose
Easy Pose
Cat Pose
Downward-Facing Dog
Lotus Pose
Staff Pose

Tips on Using Yoga For Concentration, Memory, and Focus

Use Native American Music - We have found that combining yoga with Native American spiritual music adds to the effect of yoga. There are many studies that agree and music has long been practiced by the Native American culture as a way to heal the mind and body.

Do the Yoga Before Other Homeschool Classes - In our experience, we have found that yoga helps to enhance focus, relaxation, memory, and concentration skills. Since these skills will come in handy throughout the homeschool day, it is best to have yoga "class" before other school subjects.

Consider a Private Instructor or a Class at a Gym - Those who have never done yoga before or want to advance to higher levels may consider taking classes at a local gym or through a private instructor. This could be in addition to the yoga done during the homeschool day or the instructor may come during the homeschool session.

Use Yoga in Combination With Positive Discipline - If kids test you during homeschool, use yoga in combination with positive discipline. Learn more about using positive discipline here. Yoga is a great exercise to use when a child has lost focus during a homeschool class. Not only can it help the child reflect on any misbehaviors if applicable, but it can also help that child regain focus and relax the nerves to allow for concentration on studies.

Focus Less on How Perfect the Pose is and More on Relaxation - A child may take longer to get the pose right than anticipated. Unless the child is doing the yoga pose in such a way that he or she could get injured, don't worry too much. If the yoga is practiced as a daily homeschool routine, the child will eventually get the pose right. This homeschool time with yoga is more about concentration, memory, focus, and relaxation than skills or abilities.

*I originally published this via Yahoo Contributor Network

Last updated on 12/11/2020

0 Comments

Integrating Mind, Body, and Spirit in Homeschooling

Homeschool Tips & Advice For When Kids Won't Focus

How Can I Help My Homeschooled Child Stay Focused on Schoolwork?

Yoga For Concentration & Focus in Homeschool Classrooms: Why & How

Why Yoga Helps Kids Concentrate, Which Poses Work, and Other Tips

Heart 'N Mind Homeschool Journal

Get new posts by email:

OWNER

FEATURED CONTRIBUTORS

Archives

Categories

COMPANY & SUPPORT

ALL SITES