Last year, I piloted a program in Kindergarten called MindUp. It is a program which fosters focused classrooms, mindful learning and resilient children. I felt that implementing this curriculum would be a good first step in trying to combat some of the stressors and pressures our children face that were highlighted in the documentary, "Race to Nowhere." And what better population to start with than our very youngest students! I was completely amazed at how much these 5 and 6-year olds were able to take in regarding their brain anatomy and how it functions; in the process gaining insight into their own minds and behaviors as well as those of the people around them. It provided them with terminology and an understanding of how they were in control of their emotional state. Guiding them through activities that highlighted how much more we can take in if we use our senses mindfully, allowed them to understand that focusing their attention had quite a lot of benefits.
This year, we are continuing the program in Kindergarten and we are branching out to provide this instruction to our second graders as well. It thrills me when a student approaches me after learning about the parts of their brain with a comment like, "My amygdala was going nuts and made me 'flee' when I heard my house alarm go off last night!", or "I did great on my last math test because I was using my Prefrontal Cortex!" They are now connecting brain activity with their own behavior and performance. This provides them with a great deal of control over their reactions to life events.
Over the last 24 years that I have been in this field, I have seen a tremendous increase in the number of children who suffer from some form of anxiety. It may be transient in relation to a particular life event, or it may be more chronic anxiety stemming from persistent familial or financial difficulties within the family. Either way, these stressors interfere with a child's ability to learn and interact appropriately with others. MindUp addresses these road-blocks to learning and living by providing children and teachers with tools for self-regulation and self-reliance and optimistic thinking!
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| 2nd graders visualizing how to calm an excited brain. |
