Exploring mindfulness and universal values in playful ways
This new and innovative 12-hour course based on the 16 Guidelines for Life aims to empower parents, teachers, educators and carers to explore mindfulness and ethical values with children and teenagers. The course was developed for FDCW by Cecilia Buzón, a teacher and neuro-psychoeducator from Argentina. There are fifteen facilitators worldwide ready to deliver the course in English or Spanish.
We each create our understanding of ourselves and the world based on our experience.
The course methodology is based on this simple, yet profound insight and introduces age-appropriate activities allowing space for three stages of learning:
Encounter: watch, listen, read - with engagement. Provide children and teens with direct experiences so they can explore and be curious. Encounter develops into understanding.
Examine: reflect and check up on what is encountered. This can happen consciously or subconsciously. Ideally it is a rational process. After activities lead debriefs to help learners reflect and develop their critical enquiry. Examining develops into expressing.
Experience: integration - turn what we learn into a natural part of our attitude, thinking and behaviour. This is a subtle process - often overlooked. Through this, help children and teens to develop understanding of their minds and to share and apply their inner wisdom. Experience develops into embodying.
Through encounter, examination and experience, information becomes embodied learning.
Practising mindfulness in Mongolia, September 2019
The Four Wisdom Themes of the 16 Guidelines
The four wisdom themes of the 16 Guidelines offer a simple, robust framework to help develop emotional resilience and essential social skills.
How we think – the way we use our mind determines the way we live
How we act – every skilful action makes a better world
How we relate – to take care of others is to take care of ourselves
How we find meaning–if everything is changing, many things are possible
The more deeply children and teens explore the four philosophical themes underpining the Guidelines, the more profound their experience of them.
