top of page
Holding Hands
NEW TRAINING FOR SCHOOLS

Embodiment for children:
30 classroom strategies for connection, grounding and compassion (2 hours)

Are you ever trying to teach when you feel like the class needs a reset button? 

Do you ever look around and children are flying out of their seats with pencils catapulting about? 

Do you ever wish you had a magic wand to make your children just stop, think about things, and breathe?

Like adults, children lose touch with their thoughts, feelings and physical regulation. Unlike adults, children have had even less chance to experience and learn how to regain a sense of 'embodiment'. With recent events (e.g. Covid-19) and what they could predict suddenly being unpredictable, many children will need to learn or be reminded of ways to come back to the present moment, to feel safe and feel a sense of control.

In this training I will share 30 x5 minute strategies for all of the above. They draw on a trauma informed practice, mindfulness, play, yoga, breathwork and embodiment. The impact of all of them includes physical regulation first, followed by targeted elements of connection (to self and others), grounding (calming, centering) or compassion (kindness and gratitude).

These can be built into the day at points you know are difficult, such as straight after lunch or Monday mornings, or pulled out of the bag whenever you need. Even better, have them all written on little laminates or lollypop sticks and get children to pick one having encouraged reflection on what they think they need right now.

This is particularly aimed at class teachers.

Connection

These 10 activities help students to reflect on who else is in the room and the support network they have. They encourage reconnection to peers, feelings of belonging and safety within their class. A good time to use these might be when arguments are happening or children don’t seem to be working together.

Grounding

These 10 activities are great for when children are flighty. They will help children (and teacher!) come back to the present moment and calm the nervous system, allowing everyone to be ready to learn again. These will help when there is a sense of anxiety in the room, heightened feelings or just an observation that there is a lot of fidgeting.

Compassion

These 10 activities are really around ‘self’ compassion. They give children a mini-boost of self-esteem whilst reminding them how good it feels to be kind to others. These activities teach a valuable life skill of giving ourselves a break, not always listening to that critical little voice and remembering we make our own choices. Or, if a few look to have forgotten their strength and if the class just needs an overall virtual hug.

These three elements follow the practice of 'embodied intelligence' with the 'ABC' three core elements of 'Awareness' (connecting), 'Balancing' (grounding') and 'Compassion' (choosing how to act)

WHAT WILL I COME AWAY WITH?

  • An awareness of 'Embodiment', an approach using a 'bottom up' approach of putting physical regulation and body-mind connection first

  • Greater understanding of these three key elements for wellbeing

  • Ready to go strategies for any time of your teaching day

  • Ability to help children to reflect on these essential wellbeing skills

  • Be able to use the most current, evidence-based methods as part of your core practice

  • Reflect on your own needs as a teacher and individual

  • Be able to quickly share any of these ideas with other staff at school

PRICES

  • £250 per school (in-person training)

  • £25 per person to attend via Zoom training: dates TBC

THIS IS THE FIRST TRAINING IN SHEFFIELD FOR CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE WHICH CENTRES SPECIFICALLY ON EMBODIMENT. EMBODIMENT ENCOMPASSES A TRAUMA INFORMED APPROACH 

 

Due to Covid-19, we can discuss the best way to deliver this, including delivering to smaller groups of staff at a time. This training can be delivered virtually or in schools with safe social distancing.

bottom of page