Graduation is here or almost here for those who aren’t quite out of school yet for the Summer!

Here are a couple great gift suggestions!

The new book, Real Artists Don’t Starve: Timeless Strategies for Thriving in the New Creative Age [June 6, 2017; Thomas Nelson/Harper Collins] offers a set of twelve easy-to-follow rules for artists to live by that translate artistic success to business success. The author Jeff Goins is a marketing expert, bestselling author and creative thinker.

This book has some real sound advice and I highly recommend it for those who are creative. It truly explains how you can survive and not give up on your dreams. My favorite thing I read was to not wait for inspiration. 

Real Artists Don’t Starve launched on  June 6th, 2017 and can be found at Thomas Nelson and wherever books are sold.

Girls Graduation Gift: Notebook Doodles Go Girl!

I love how positive this one is! This one is great for  middle grade age girls. Jess Volinski’s coloring book Notebook Doodles Go Girl!: Coloring & Activity Book is an inspiring and empowering book for girls. I would even recommend for younger girls transitioning to middle school. 

Notebook Doodles Go Girl! is not just another kid’s coloring book! It is designed specifically for the design-savvy TWEEN who thinks kids books are too juvenile and mom’s adult coloring books are too, well…adult! Inside this book, youthful readers will discover 30 interactive art activities that are just waiting to be filled with color. They will also find a coloring art lesson, 20 inspiring color palettes, 8 pages of colored examples, and inspiring quotes to go with every design. Watercolors, colored pencils, markers, crayons, and gel pens will all look stunning on high-quality, extra-thick paper. Each page is perforated, so when it’s finished, it can easily be removed to hang up or give as a gift.

Connect with Jess Volinski on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and at http://jessv.com.

Self Disclosure: I received free copies of the above books to facilitate this post. Happy Graduation!

It’s June and Father’s Day will be here soon! It’s time to start thinking about what to get Dad this upcoming holiday!

Natural Soaps with Caffeine for the  Active Lifestyle: DIRTYBIRD ENERGY!

DirtyBird Energy is dedicated to creating products to help productivity for active, busy lifestyles.  Whether it is at the office, during a workout, or raising children, they want to help everyone be at their best and most productive!

Each DirtyBird Energy Bar is infused with ingredients to help achieve this goal.

The Energy Soap bars are infused with caffeine and peppermint oil to energize the body and mind.  Scientific studies show caffeine absorbs through pores and hair follicles, which will energize the body even before your first cup of coffee in the morning.  Caffeine has also been used for years in spas on the skin as an anti-oxidant to reduce the look of aging and cellulite.

The Relax Soap bars are infused with lavender, chamomile, rosemary, and ylang ylang essential oils.  Each of these oils absorbs to relax the body and mind as well as soothe the skin.  An evening shower with Relax helps to promote a restful sleep allowing you to wake up refreshed and ready for the day ahead.

My favorite is actually the Relax Soap! I love how this one smells and I really do love to use it in the shower before bed. I do feel that I am falling asleep easier! 

And the soap isn’t the only thing that’s special! DirtyBird Energy soap comes packaged in their patented reusable container, that snaps shut and allows you to take your soap anywhere; the gym, camping, vacation, anywhere….or use it to keep other goodies in.

And DirtyBird Energy is proudly made in the U.S.A….another plus!

DirtyBird Energy Soaps are available in singles, a 2-pack variety, 6 packs or in a monthly subscription, delivered right to your door ever month!

For more information, please visit: https://dirtybirdenergy.com/

Here’s another great choice for Dad!

Jack Black

With over 15 years of experience, Jack Black prides itself on formulating grooming, skincare, haircare, and body products from the finest ingredients.

By combining plant extracts, herbs, and healing botanicals into time tested natural remedies, the Jack Black brand has become the #1 best-selling prestige men’s skincare brand in the U.S. With a wide range of personal care for men and women, skin is treated to natural ingredients and luxury.

Available on: www.getjackblack.com

Does Dad love Video games?

Nintendo Switch ($299.99) is a home gaming console with the mobility of a hand-held system. In addition to providing single- and multiplayer thrills at home, the system can be taken on the go so players can enjoy a full home console experience anytime, anywhere.

ARMS (Nintendo Switch, $59.99) is the newest creation from the team behind the hit game Mario Kart 8 Deluxe. Choose a unique fighting champion, equip your own combination of extendable arms and then battle it out with friends and family!* Using a mix of button presses and quick hand motions, ARMS allows you to throw tactical punches or avoid incoming attacks. Unleash your inner fighter in this unbelievable sporting event!

ARMS launches exclusively for Nintendo Switch on June 16. For more information, check out http://arms.nintendo.com/.

*Additional accessories required for multiplayer and are sold separately.

This next one is a real must!

Whether you’re a guy or a gal buying for your father, grandfather, brother or life partner, choosing a gift can be a stressful…even painful process! Men are notoriously hard to buy for, no matter what the occasion.

Thankfully, there’s now a real solution designed to make it virtually impossible to mess up your loved one’s gift. The BroBasket.com offers the coolest choices of custom baskets that scream masculine… delivered right to his door.

They are really quite unique! TheBroBasket’s gifts include craft beer, fine wines and spirits along with their favorite brand name gear and goodies. All baskets are 100% customizable and come in non-alcoholic versions too!

I received a great product with Beef Jerky for my hubby! (Shh! He hasn’t seen it yet and hoping he doesn’t see this post!)

I just love that there are so many different options! Maybe, your hubby (or dad) is a coffee lover? BroBasket has you covered!

Check out their website!

This next one is a really cute idea! If Dad has young children…this is a must!

Celebrate Dad with a Personalized Gift from PutMeInTheStory.com!

Put Me In The Story is the #1 personalized books platform in the United States. Celebrate Dad this Father’s Day with an incredible personalized book from Put Me In The Story!

Dad, Dada, Daddy, Pappa, Pa, Pops, Papi – what you call your father can differ at different times in your life. The one constant is the story you and he write every day and through the years.

For all his dedication and love, sometimes it’s hard to show just how much you appreciate him. Our personalized books for dads – superheroes all – are truly special keepsakes he’ll treasure and return to often. You can definitely say this is “My Dad, My Story” and many of Put Me In The Story’s personalized books for dad below.

Don’t miss your chance to get a free downloadable coloring sheet for dad! Visit their site HERE to access the downloadable.

Plus, Put Me In The Story is offering all of you a chance to win a personalized gift for Dad or Grandpa in their giveaway. Scroll down to enter! Giveaway ends Monday, June 5th. Open to U.S. and Canada only.

My Dad Loves Me! by Marianne Richmond

$34.99 – personalized book

Create a personalized keepsake for the kids to give to Dad this year! This heartwarming story celebrates all the ways fathers show their children that they care. Featuring adorable illustrations by Marianne Richmond, My Dad Loves Me reminds little ones that dads are special because they protect, teach, and play with their children. This delightful bestselling book is sure to be one that is treasured at nighttime to show all of the wonderful ways that love is shared.

(Ships: to U.S., Canada, U.K., Guam and Puerto Rico)

My Dad, My Hero by Ethan Long

$34.99 – personalized book

A young child starts off this laugh-out-loud picture story by listing all the ways his dad is NOT a superhero: he can’t leap tall buildings, run faster than a speeding bullet, or shoot webs out of his wrists.

But even though Dad may not be “super-hero worthy,” he’s still a hero at heart. The sweet ending depicts all the cool—if not super—activities Dad does do with him like throwing a baseball, playing checkers and going toy shopping.

“And although he may not be a super-hero, He’s my Dad…and he’s definitely my hero.”

My Dad, My Hero is the perfect personalized gift for Father’s Day, Dad’s birthday, or any other time you want Dad to know just how great he is. Personalize this book with a name, photo, and special dedication message that will last for many celebrations to come.

(Ships to: U.S., Canada, U.K., Guam and Puerto Rico)

Why a Son Needs a Dad by Gregory E. Lang

$34.99 – personalized book

With stunning photography and heartwarming sentiments, Why a Son Needs a Dad describes a father and son’s relationship in a powerful way. Dad taught you so much, from simple lessons like tying a tie to profound ones like loving others unconditionally. Add your own photo and dedication to this New York Times bestseller to show your father how proud you are to be his son.

(Ships to: United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Guam, Puerto Rico, U.S. Outlying Islands and U.S. Virgin Islands)

Why a Daughter Needs a Dad by Gregory E. Lang

$34.99 – personalized book

Let your father know that he has played an irreplaceable role in your life with Why a Daughter Needs a Dad. A New York Times bestseller, this book brings back memories of daddy-daughter dances, summer fishing trips, and more. Personalize this gift with a photo and dedication message to create an unforgettable keepsake for Father’s Day, a birthday, or any other celebration.

(Ships to: United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Guam, Puerto Rico, U.S. Outlying Islands and U.S. Virgin Islands)

Grandpa Loves Me! by Marianne Richmond

$34.99 – personalized book

Perfect for a grandchild of any age, Grandpa Loves Me! is as sweet as can be. This book shows your grandson or granddaughter how much you care about him or her every time they read it.

Personalize to include your grandchild’s name and Grandpa’s custom name (e.g. Opa, Granddad) to appear on the front cover of the book and to be incorporated throughout the text. You’ll also create a special dedication message with a personal note from you and your grandchild’s photo.

(Ships to: United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Guam and Puerto Rico)

Why I Love Grandpa by Gregory E. Lang

$34.99 – personalized book

No one can take the place of Grandpa in your life. He shares with you a lifetime of wisdom and makes you feel as though you are the most important person in the world. He teaches you the value of hard work and how to have fun. Show Grandpa the type of love he deserves in the most special way—a book personalized with his photo and a dedication message from you.

(Ships to: United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Guam, Puerto Rico, U.S. Outlying Islands and U.S. Virgin Islands)

Superhero Dad Frame

$34.95 – personalized picture frame

Make Dad feel like a Superhero with this personalized frame!

Our exclusive design features the phrase “The Only Superhero I Know Is Dad.” At the bottom you make it extra special by adding any two lines of personalization you choose.

Overall frame dimension is 8″ x 10″
Holds a 4″ x 6″ photo
Sits on a table or wall mounts
Personalize two lines, up to 18 characters on each

Note: This personalized gift takes 5-7 business days to be created and shipped, and will ship separately from other products on your order.

(Ships to: United States)

PERSONALIZED FATHER’S DAY BOOK – 5 WINNERS!

5 winners will receive one personalized Father’s Day book. Giveaway starts 5/16/2017 and ends 6/7/2017.

URL:

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/54ca7af7528/

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Terms & Conditions:

No purchase necessary to enter or win. A purchase does not improve your chances of winning. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

Open to legal residents of USA who are 18 years or older. Giveaway begins on May 16, 2017 at 11:59 CST and ends on June 7, 2017 at 12:00 am (“Promotion Period”). Enter the Giveaway during the Promotion Period online by submitting the entry form. The entry form can be found on the following website at http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/54ca7af7528/. Winner will be selected by Random.org and be notified by email. Winner has 48 hours to respond before a new winner is selected. Five (5) winner(s) will receive one (1) copy of a personalized Father’s Day book of their choice (approximate retail value or “ARV”: $34.99). By providing your information in this form, you are providing your information to Put Me In The Story. Put Me In The Story does not share or sell information and will use any information only for the purpose of this giveaway. Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram are in no way associated with this giveaway.

This next one is a subscription that all Dads will love! 

Dollar Shave Club, the subscription-based grooming brand that sends high quality razors and men’s grooming products directly to your door is the affordable solution to overpriced shaving needs. For just a few dollars a month, DSC members can customize their monthly box with grooming, skincare and haircare essentials – like Dr. Carver’s Shave Butter, Post-Shave and Repair Serum, One Wipe Charlie’s, Boogie’s hair styling collection, Wanderer shower line, Big Cloud protective skincare, and more.

A membership to Dollar Shave Club is the solution to the inconvenience and high costs of purchasing grooming products for the men in your household.

I had my husband try out their skincare and haircare products and they were a hit! 

Find out more at https://www.dollarshaveclub.com/

Ties are Out, Beards are In!

US Organic Offers a Unique and Stylish Gift Idea for the Bearded Dad this Father’s Day

 According to Infoplease.com, Americans spend more than $1 billion each year buying 100 million ties for dad on Father’s Day. But are ties really cool?  Often seen as cliché and not always in line with dad’s personal taste or style, ties are out this year. Instead, let’s be thoughtful and support dad’s individual style and his preference of facial hair. Whether he sports a Van Dyke, a Goatee, Mutton Chops, a Soul Patch, Hipster Stubble, a Magnum P.I. moustache, or anything in between, 100% natural Beard Oil from US Organic has him covered.  

US Organic’s Beard Oil is made with natural antimicrobial properties created to condition and protect hair follicles, remove knots and prevent ingrown hairs, itching and dandruff.  Available in a 2oz bottle, the oil softens facial hair, adds body and shine and moisturizes skin, plus it keeps facial hair flake-free and smelling fresh all day long.  And US Organic Beard Oil is certified “Cruelty Free” by the Leaping Bunny Program and made in the USA.

To further support dad’s facial hair fad, US Organic recommends a basic, daily, four-step regiment to healthy facial hair hygiene:

1.     Clean it daily

2.     Moisturize both the face and the hair

3.     Keep hair trimmed

4.     Groom it (comb or brush) daily

US Organic Group Corporation, is a leading provider of certified organic 

products, and offers a one-stop-shop for skin care needs this Father’s Day and all year round. 

US Organic Offers Products that are Great for the Skin, 100% Natural, and great for everyone!

I had the opportunity to try out their Essential Oils and just love them! These can be used in so many different ways from beauty to even household cleaning! My favorite is the Lavender but my husband loves to use the Peppermint, which is great for household cleaning.

US Organic’s Essential Oils can be used in various ways from aromatherapy and personal beauty care to household cleaning products. Available in various sizes from 10ml – 16oz, the scents include: Citronella, Lavender, Lemongrass, Peppermint, Sweet Orange & Tee Tree.  

ABOUT US ORGANIC GROUP 

US Organic uses powerful, healthy and natural ingredients to gently treat and nourish the skin. The company has extended its product line to organic repellents, body oils and baby oils. A certified organic products’ manufacturing company, US Organic appreciates what nature has provided us—powerful yet gentle ingredients.

Does Dad need a New Wallet?

I received a few wallets from Kinzd to check out and highly recommend for this Father’s Day! Kinzd is a famous brand in Amazon, Ebay, selling slim wallets, card holders, accessories etc. I like that these are all thin and compact so it is easy for Dad to take along with him! There are different styles and they are made out of top quality materials. The leather is soft and I like the different variety of styles. Find them at https://www.kinzd.com/

You can also find on Amazon:

Self Disclosure: SoCal City Kids received free samples of the above items except for Nintendo. Images were also provided.

National Donut Day is tomorrow!  

Entenmann’s^® Bakery, a division of Bimbo Bakeries USA, is making donuts the star of New York by bringing its 2017 National Donut Day celebration to Times Square, on June 2.  Fans will have the opportunity to sample delicious Entenmann’s Donuts, take part in fun activities and be wowed by the world famous Harlem Globetrotters.

Thousands of donuts will be given away throughout the 2017 National Donut Day celebration. Fans who cannot be in New York can join the festivities Live on Entenmann’s^® Facebook page and share in the fun using #NationalDonutDay and #Entenmanns.

Starting today, specially marked National Donut Day boxes of delicious Rich Frosted Donuts are available for purchase, and consumers can enter into the “Win Free Donuts for a Year” sweepstakes via Entenmann’s^® Facebook page. For each entry, $1 will be donated to charity partner Feeding America, up to $10,000. With 200 Food Banks and 60,000 food pantries and meal programs throughout the U.S., Feeding America is able to serve 1 in 7 Americans and continue the fight against hunger in our country.  More information about the sweepstakes and donation program is available www.entenmanns.com/nationaldonutday.

“We are excited to bring our National Donut Day celebration to Times Square and raise funds for Feeding America,” said Lorraine Hale, Senior Director of Marketing for Entenmann’s Bakery, part of Bimbo Bakeries USA. “Our ‘Win Free Donuts for a Year’ sweepstakes is a fun way for Entenmann’s^® to engage with our fans and a National Donut Day tradition. Who wouldn’t want a year’s worth of donuts!”

Entenmann’s^® got its start 119 years ago in Brooklyn, New York and today, the brand produces more than 780 million donuts annually. In fact, Entenmann’s has made more than 4 billion donuts, which, if laid end-to-end, would wrap around the earth almost nine times.

Entenmann’s also launched a new line of specialty donuts.  The brand new Donut Shoppe Donuts feature a colorful new top iced coating, sprinkle topping and will be served in a retro style donut shop design flat box.  The varieties include:

• Black and White Donut – This vanilla flavored yellow cake donut with rich chocolate frosted and vanilla flavored white coating is a delicious rendition of the popular New York classic cookie
• Party Sprinkled Donut – A moist yellow cake donut with a sweet party flavored glaze, white frosted coating and topped with fun party sprinkles
• Seasonal Flower Donut – A fun, festive and flower shaped vanilla flavored yellow cake donut topped with a colorful sweet coating and pastel colored sprinkles

These delicious new treats hit store shelves in April 2017 in the Northeast, Metro and Midwest regions right in time for this year’s National Donut Day celebration.

Donut Shoppe Donuts are a tasty addition to the Entenmann’s donut family which includes the renowned Rich Frosted and Crumb Topped Donuts (aka Mr. and Mrs. Rich Frosted), in addition to seasonal favorites like the Lemon, Harvest Pumpkin and Cider Donuts.

Starting today, consumers nationwide can purchase specially marked National Donut Day boxes of delicious Rich Frosted Donuts and enter into the “Win Free Donuts for a Year” sweepstakes via Entenmann’s® Facebook page! Share the fun using #NationalDonutDay and #Entenmanns.

They do have delicious chocolate donuts! Yum!! I can’t wait to eat one tomorrow!

About Entenmann’s® Bakery

Entenmann’s history dates back over 119 years to 1898 when William Entenmann opened his first bakery in Brooklyn, New York.  By the 1960s the company was selling delicious donuts throughout the New York metropolitan area; by the 1970s it began selling nationwide.  Today, Entenmann’s markets over 100 different baked goods in the U.S., producing 780 million donuts a year – one of which is the #1-best-selling classic Entenmann’s Rich Frosted Donut introduced in 1973.

Self Disclosure: I received free delicious chocolate covered donuts to post. No other compensation was received. 

Do you want a Whiter & Brighter Smile? Colgate Optic White is a must-try! I just love how this makes my smile look brighter!  It also doesn’t leave a bad after taste in your mouth. I highly recommend!

Radiant™ includes Pro-Oxide™ Complex, with hydrogen peroxide, the professionally recommended whitening ingredient to both whiten below the tooth surface and remove surface stains.

• This premium toothpaste is also formulated with a new unique cooling technology so that you may enjoy an intense freshening experience.
• Contains the highest level of fluoride in an everyday toothpaste to prevent cavities.

• Suggested retail price: 3.0 oz toothpaste for $6.99
• Availability: Mass, Food and Drug stores nationwide.

Self Disclosure: I received a free sample to facilitate this post. Photo Image was also provided.

Are you ready for Memorial Day weekend? Time to fire up the grill!

This BBQ season, Heinz has you covered with 7 delicious flavors from America’s most famous BBQ regions – Kansas City Sweet & Smoky, Memphis Sweet & Spicy, Texas Bold & Spicy, Carolina Tangy Vinegar and NEW this year, Kentucky Bourbon Rich & Savory, Hawaii Style Sweet & Smoky and Carolina Mustard Style…yum!

I haven’t had a chance to try them all since I am planning to do that this weekend but I did just try the Hawaii Style and it is delicious! I can’t wait to try the others this weekend!

Heinz worked with award-winning Pitmaster Partners and used only 100% natural, locally-inspired ingredients and recipes to craft each delicious BBQ sauce – Kansas CitySweet & Smoky, Memphis Sweet & Spicy, Texas Bold & Spicy, Carolina Tangy Vinegar and NEW this year Kentucky Bourbon Rich & Savory, Hawaii Style Sweet & Smoky and Carolina Mustard Style – each with flavor as distinct as the regional barbecue taste it represents.

 You have to check out these recipes!

Kansas City: “Sweet and smoky” lends to the signature flavor profiles of this city’s sought-after barbeque. A thick sauce shadowed by a sweet tang takes traditional pit-style Kansas City BBQ up a crowd-pleasing notch.

Pitmaster Partner: Joe & Mike Pearce of Slap’s BBQ

Regionally Inspired Recipe: Kansas City BBQ Ribs

• Texas: In Texas, there’s nothing shy about barbecue, and a great Texas style sauce means bold flavors and big personality. This sauce captures the very best of Texas barbecue – combining spices like cumin and chili powder for a sauce that’s bold and flavorful with just the right kick.

Pitmaster Partner: Robert Sierra of S&S Pit Crew competition barbecue team

Regionally Inspired Recipe: BBQ Beef Brisket Sandwiches with Coleslaw

• Carolina Vinegar: Carolina is all about the traditions of whole-hog barbecue slow-cooked over wood coals. Meet a true Carolina style sauce that blends the tang of apple cider vinegar, with just the right balance of sweet and spice to make it the perfect addition to pulled pork.

Pitmaster Partner: Sam Jones of Skylight Inn

Regionally Inspired Recipe: Carolina-Style BBQ Pulled Pork Sliders

• Carolina Mustard-Style: South Carolina’s ‘mustard belt’ is where mustard-based BBQ sauce reigns supreme. From slow cooked pulled pork to ribs on the grill, this deep golden sauce delivers the right balance of sweetness and spice that will redefine swine.

Pitmaster Partner: Bryan Furman of B’s Cracklin’ BBQ

Regionally Inspired Recipe: Carolina Style BBQ Baby Back Pork Ribs

• Memphis: Rock-n-Roll isn’t the only revolutionary combo courtesy of Memphis. The city’s barbecue also shakes things up. With sweet brown sugar and the flavors of the region’s traditional dry rubs, this is a sweet and spicy sauce that’s sure to please.

Pitmaster Partner: Dan Brown of Leonard’s PIT Barbecue

Regionally Inspired Recipe: Memphis-Style Sweet and Spicy BBQ Chicken

• Hawaii: Hawaii is home to a rich food heritage that brings sweet tropical fruit and the smoked flavor of Kalua Pig together in one delicious luau feast. This sauce delivers a mouthwatering balance of pineapple and mango, savory Asian soy, and subtle smoke that is distinctly Hawai’ian.

Pitmaster Partner: Mark “Gooch” Noguchi of Pili Hawaii

Regionally Inspired Recipe: Slow-Cooker Hawaiian Pulled Pork and Slaw Sliders

• Kentucky Bourbon Style:  Kentucky is home to great bluegrass, great bourbon and great barbecue. This rich & savory sauce reflects the deep heritage of Kentucky BBQ – real bourbon, a hint of smoke, and the seasonings of the region’s traditional “dip”.

Pitmaster Partner: John Foreman of Old Hickory BBQ

Regionally Inspired Recipe: Spatchcock BBQ Chicken with Grilled Green Bean Salad

Self Disclosure: I received free samples to facilitate this Memorial Day holiday post. Recipes and photo were also provided.

Are you looking for really adorable and comfy shoes for your little one this Spring? IFME has you covered! Their shoes are just too cute! I love the colors and little girls will love them too! I received a pair of Fuchsia/Lavender shoes for a toddler and she just loved them! They really are her favorite new shoes!

I wish that they made these in my size! They are also very comfortable (my little reviewer told me so!). The shoe collections are fo baby and young children. Check out their shoes here! There is a great variety for both boys and girls.

Self Disclosure: I received a free sample to facilitate this post. 

This month, ClassDojo and the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence announced a partnership to bring mindfulness to millions of kids around the world. Together, ClassDojo and Yale have created a set of activities related to ‘Mindfulness’ for home and school, to be made available to all ClassDojo teachers and parents over the coming weeks.

It has been shown that regular mindfulness practice — even just a few minutes per day — improves students’ optimism, reduces stress, and increases students’ ability to feel empathy for others.

“Practicing mindfulness helps to reduce stress and enhance attention — factors critical to a child’s success, not only in school but later in life,” says Marc Brackett Ph.D., Director of the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence and Professor in the Child Study Center at Yale University. “The challenge is ensuring that students, regardless of where their school is located, have the opportunity to benefit from mindfulness. ClassDojo provides an exciting opportunity to extend the powerful benefits of mindfulness to tens of millions of students.”

ClassDojo also conducted a new, national survey which found that even though only 13% of teachers and parents report having a mindfulness practice at their school, 70% want one.

“Learning to center yourself, stay focused, and be aware of others’ feelings are all things I know will benefit my students far into the future,” said Cindy Price a first grade teacher in New Castle, Delaware. “When my class found out the ClassDojo monsters will be talking about mindfulness, they all insisted on doing their own mindful yoga poses that afternoon in preparation!”

ClassDojo’s previous activity series on Growth Mindset and Empathy have been seen by 1 in 3 kids under the age of 14 in the U.S.

As with ClassDojo’s previous collaborations with Stanford (PERTS) and Harvard (Making Caring Common Project), the Mindfulness activities will be made available to all ClassDojo classrooms around the world.

“We believe that to create incredible classrooms at scale, classrooms need to be connected to the best ideas in the world,” said Chris Frank, head of research at ClassDojo. “In partnering with Yale, we have the ability to help millions of kids learn about mindfulness — from the US to Turkey to South Korea. For many of them, May will be the month of Mindfulness: we can’t wait to see the reaction!”

ClassDojo now reaches 90% of K-8 schools in the U.S. as well as schools in over 180 countries.

“The companies that get my attention are the ones transforming education at an unprecedented scale. ClassDojo is one of those companies,” said Deborah Quazzo, Co-Founder and Managing Partner at GSV Acceleration. “This partnership with Yale is another step in ClassDojo’s vision of helping any teacher, anywhere, create an incredible, modern classroom.”

ClassDojo: Mindfulness will begin on May 8, with activity guides and short videos for home and school released over the course of following two weeks.

For more information on ClassDojo’s Mindfulness activities, please visit https://www.classdojo.com/ideas and https://www.classdojo.com/about.

“5 Tips to Teach your Kids Mindfulness”

Paying attention to your own, and to your children’s, emotions and responding mindfully

1. Recognize emotions: Paying attention to emotions – both one’s own and others – is a critical step toward building self-and social-awareness. Our facial expressions, body language, and vocal tones convey important messages, from, “I’m here for you” to “stay away!”
2. Understand emotions: Learning what caused your child to feel the way they do, and sharing the reasons why we feel the way we do as parents, deepens communication and builds mutual respect. Asking open-ended questions such as, “what happened?” or “what do you believe caused you to feel this way?” helps to build this skill.
3. Label emotions: We use language to inform thinking and communication. Try using specific emotion words such as disappointed instead of upset, or peaceful instead of good. The more nuanced our emotion vocabulary becomes as parents, the more advanced our children become at effectively communicating their feelings.
4. Express emotions: Each home has an “emotional climate.” Creating a home where all emotions matter and can be talked about – the pleasant and unpleasant – helps to build trust, safety, openness, and authentic communication among all family members. As parents, we need to be comfortable discussing the full range of emotions with our children.
5. Regulate emotions: Each day, we are modeling both effective and ineffective ways to manage emotions. Be mindful of modeling “positive self-talk” (e.g., it will all work out) as opposed to “negative self-talk” (e.g., nothing ever turns out the way it’s supposed to”) will help your child to learn helpful, as opposed to unhelpful, ways to deal with emotions.

* Tips from the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence

Credit:

About ClassDojo

ClassDojo’s mission is to give teachers, parents, and students the power to create incredible classrooms. Founded in 2011 and based in San Francisco, California, ClassDojo is a communication platform that helps students build important life skills while creating a simple way for teachers, parents, and students to share what’s happening during the school day through photos, videos, and messages. Today, 90% of K-8 schools in the U.S., as well as a further 180 countries, have joined ClassDojo. To learn more, visit: https://www.classdojo.com/ or Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

About the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence

Emotions drive learning, decision making, creativity, relationships, and health. The Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence uses the power of emotions to create a healthier, and more equitable, productive, and compassionate society, today and for future generations. We conduct research and design educational approaches that support people of all ages in developing emotional intelligence and the skills to thrive and contribute to society. We do this work because the well-being and sustainability of our society depends on each of us using our emotions intelligently. To learn more, visit: http://ei.yale.edu/ or Facebook and Twitter.