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Introducing mindfulness into the lives of our children and teenagers is perhaps the greatest gift we can offer. Mindfulness builds emotional intelligence, boosts happiness, increases curiosity and engagement, reduces anxiety and depression, soothes the pain of trauma, and helps kids (and adults) focus, learn, and make better choices. If that weren’t enough, research in neuroscience now shows that mindfulness significantly enhances what psychologists call “flourishing”—the opposite of depression and avoidance.
Clinical psychologist Dr. Christopher Willard is here to share the practical skills of mindfulness . In this inspiring presentation participants will gain real-world insights and tools to help all parents and family members evolve and grow into our best selves. Topics to be covered:
- Less is More Parenting — how letting go of what’s no longer necessary creates space, freedom, and the possibility for something new
- Building Wisdom and a Wiser Brain ― how to steer kids’ “under-construction” minds toward wise action
- Releasing anxiety about over or under parenting and the desire for the “perfect” family
- Growing Up with a Grit and Growth Mindset ― the best ways to encourage resilience and determination through reinforcing and rewarding the “growth mindset”
- Finding Balance in a Broken World and Staying Steady through the Stress ― how to abide life’s inevitable ups and downs through the attitude of equanimity
- The mindful use of technology and social media
At 9:30am Wednesday, March 11 at the Marquardt D 15 Administration Center, 1860 Glen Ellyn Road in Glendale Heights. Dr Willard will present Mindfulness Practices to Foster, Relaxed and Happy Children (ages 3-8). Also, at noon on March 11 Dr Willard will speak at the Marquardt Administration Center in a repeat of his March 10, 7pm program, Growing Up Mindful, Capable and Resilient.
Dr. Willard is an international educational consultant and author or over 10 books on mindfulness. He teaches at Harvard Medical School and is the president of the Mindfulness in Education Network. He has presented at several TedX conferences, and he is frequently profiled in the national media.
This free event is open to the public. Students are encouraged to attend.
Continuing professional development units are available.
The Helen M. Plum Memorial Library and the Glen Ellyn Public Library are partnering with the Glenbard Parent Series: (GPS) Navigating Healthy Families for discussions of the bestselling book “Growing Up Mindful: Essential Practices to Help Children, Teens and Families to Find Balance, Calm and Resilience” by Christopher Willard. Gilda Ross, Glenbard student and community projects coordinator, will lead the two book chats.
The conversations happen at the Helen Plum Library in Lombard at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 5, and at the Glen Ellyn Public Library at 7 p.m. Monday, March 9.
Additional support for these program comes from the Coalition of Schools Educating Mindfully.
Printable flyer for Dr. Christopher Willard’s events (PDF) HERE
Dr. Christopher Willard’s web site HERE
